إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَىْءٍ إِذَآ أَرَدْنَـٰهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ 40
Translations
Indeed, Our word to a thing when We intend it is but that We say to it, "Be," and it is.
Transliteration
Innama qawluna li-shay'in idha aradnahu an naqula lahu kun fayakun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah expresses the absolute power and effortless nature of Allah's creation, where His command is simply to say 'Be' (kun) and the thing comes into existence (fayakun). According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, this demonstrates that Allah's creative act requires no effort, preparation, or time—it is instantaneous and absolute, contrasting sharply with human creation which requires means and processes. Al-Qurtubi emphasizes this as evidence of Allah's complete mastery over existence and His transcendence above all limitations.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nahl (a Meccan surah) within a passage refuting polytheistic arguments and establishing the oneness of Allah's power. The context addresses those who deny resurrection and Allah's ability to create, providing logical proof of His creative power through the observable creation of the heavens and earth as evidence that resurrection is entirely possible for the All-Powerful.
Related Hadiths
The concept relates to Hadith Qudsi: 'When I have created him and breathed into him my spirit, fall down before him prostrating' (Sahih Bukhari), which demonstrates Allah's direct creative power. Additionally, Surah Ya-Sin (36:82) contains an identical phrase, emphasizing this principle throughout the Quran.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that Allah's power is absolute and unlimited, requiring no intermediaries or processes—a profound reminder to place complete trust in Allah's will and abilities. For modern readers, it offers reassurance that with Allah, all things are possible, encouraging reliance on divine wisdom rather than anxious striving based solely on material means.
Related Ayahs
وَرَبُّكَ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ وَيَخْتَارُ ۗ مَا كَانَ لَهُمُ ٱلْخِيَرَةُ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱللَّهِ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
And your Lord creates what He wills and chooses; not for them was the choice. Exalted is Allāh and high above what they associate with Him.
أَفَأَمِنَ أَهْلُ ٱلْقُرَىٰٓ أَن يَأْتِيَهُم بَأْسُنَا بَيَـٰتًا وَهُمْ نَآئِمُونَ
Then, did the people of the cities feel secure from Our punishment coming to them at night while they were asleep?
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ جَاعِلِ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُو۟لِىٓ أَجْنِحَةٍ مَّثْنَىٰ وَثُلَـٰثَ وَرُبَـٰعَ ۚ يَزِيدُ فِى ٱلْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Creator of the heavens and the earth, [who] made the angels messengers having wings, two or three or four. He increases in creation what He wills. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
إِنَّمَآ أَمْرُهُۥٓ إِذَآ أَرَادَ شَيْـًٔا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ
His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, "Be," and it is.