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
لَّا تَجْعَلْ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ فَتَقْعُدَ مَذْمُومًا مَّخْذُولًا
Do not make [as equal] with Allāh another deity and [thereby] become censured and forsaken.
إِلَـٰهُكُمْ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۚ فَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ قُلُوبُهُم مُّنكِرَةٌ وَهُم مُّسْتَكْبِرُونَ
Your god is one God. But those who do not believe in the Hereafter - their hearts are disapproving, and they are arrogant.
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ
To Allāh belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth. And to Allāh will [all] matters be returned.
وَأَنَّهُۥ هُوَ أَمَاتَ وَأَحْيَا
And that it is He who causes death and gives life