خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ تَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ 3
Translations
He created the heavens and earth in truth. High is He above what they associate with Him.
Transliteration
Khalaqa as-samawati wa-al-arda bi-al-haqq. Ta'ala 'amma yushrikun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah declares that Allah created the heavens and the earth with truth and purpose, not in vain. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret 'bi-al-haqq' (with truth/justice) to mean that creation serves divine wisdom and justice, refuting the polytheists' false beliefs. The phrase 'Ta'ala 'amma yushrikun' (exalted is He above what they associate with Him) emphasizes Allah's complete transcendence and rejection of shirk (associating partners with Allah).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nahl, a Meccan surah that focuses on Allah's signs and blessings in creation. The verse occurs within a passage refuting polytheism and establishing tawhid (monotheism) by pointing to the purposeful creation of the universe as evidence of Allah's oneness and transcendence.
Related Hadiths
Hadith Qudsi: 'I created all things for a purpose' - emphasizing that creation is not without design. Also related to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said that whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should know that everything created has wisdom behind it.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that the orderly universe around us is clear evidence of one Creator with perfect wisdom, inviting us to reflect on creation as a means of strengthening faith and rejecting false associations with the Divine. It also humbles us to recognize that our purpose aligns with the greater divine plan in creation.
Related Ayahs
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Allāh - there is no deity except Him. And upon Allāh let the believers rely.
وَلَآ أَنتُمْ عَـٰبِدُونَ مَآ أَعْبُدُ
Nor are you worshippers of what I worship.
ذَٰلِكُم بِأَنَّهُۥٓ إِذَا دُعِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَحْدَهُۥ كَفَرْتُمْ ۖ وَإِن يُشْرَكْ بِهِۦ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ فَٱلْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ ٱلْعَلِىِّ ٱلْكَبِيرِ
[They will be told], "That is because, when Allāh was called upon alone, you disbelieved; but if others were associated with Him, you believed. So the judgement is with Allāh, the Most High, the Grand."
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ وَمَن يُشْرِكْ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱفْتَرَىٰٓ إِثْمًا عَظِيمًا
Indeed, Allāh does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allāh has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin.