وَٱللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنۢ بُيُوتِكُمْ سَكَنًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُم مِّن جُلُودِ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ بُيُوتًا تَسْتَخِفُّونَهَا يَوْمَ ظَعْنِكُمْ وَيَوْمَ إِقَامَتِكُمْ ۙ وَمِنْ أَصْوَافِهَا وَأَوْبَارِهَا وَأَشْعَارِهَآ أَثَـٰثًا وَمَتَـٰعًا إِلَىٰ حِينٍ 80
Translations
And Allāh has made for you from your homes a place of rest and made for you from the hides of the animals tents which you find light on your day of travel and your day of encampment; and from their wool, fur and hair is furnishing and enjoyment [i.e., provision] for a time.
Transliteration
Wallahu jaʿala lakum min buyutikum sakanan wa jaʿala lakum min juludi al-anʿami buyutan tastakhiffunaha yawma ẓaʿnikum wa yawma iqamatikum wa min aswafiha wa awbariha wa ashʿariha athathan wa metaʿan ila hin
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah has made your homes places of rest and tranquility, and has given you portable dwellings made from the hides of livestock that you can easily carry when traveling and when settling, along with furnishings and goods made from their wool, fur, and hair that serve you for a time. According to Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir, this ayah emphasizes Allah's provision of both stationary and portable shelter suited to different lifestyles—permanent homes for settled communities and tents for nomadic peoples—demonstrating divine wisdom in meeting varied human needs. The mention of leather tents specifically addressed the Arabian nomadic context while illustrating universal principles of divine care.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan section of Surah An-Nahl and is part of a broader passage (16:80-81) enumerating Allah's blessings upon humanity. It directly addresses the desert Arab audience of Mecca, many of whom were nomadic or semi-nomadic, making reference to their practical use of livestock-derived dwellings highly relevant to their daily experience. The ayah serves to remind believers of often-overlooked divine mercies in their mundane material provisions.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly explicates this verse, Hadith Qudsi related in various collections reminds that 'I am as My servant thinks I am' (Sahih Bukhari 7405), connecting to the broader theme of recognizing Allah's provision. Additionally, the Prophet (ﷺ) encouraged gratitude for sustenance, saying 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3895), relating to the home as a blessing.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to recognize and be grateful for Allah's provision in the smallest details of our daily lives—from the homes we inhabit to the materials that serve us—rather than taking these blessings for granted. It reminds modern readers that whether settled or in transition, Allah has provided for our comfort and needs, encouraging both humility and conscious thankfulness in all conditions.
Related Ayahs
وَلَا تَكُونُوا۟ كَٱلَّتِى نَقَضَتْ غَزْلَهَا مِنۢ بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ أَنكَـٰثًا تَتَّخِذُونَ أَيْمَـٰنَكُمْ دَخَلًۢا بَيْنَكُمْ أَن تَكُونَ أُمَّةٌ هِىَ أَرْبَىٰ مِنْ أُمَّةٍ ۚ إِنَّمَا يَبْلُوكُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦ ۚ وَلَيُبَيِّنَنَّ لَكُمْ يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَا كُنتُمْ فِيهِ تَخْتَلِفُونَ
And do not be like she who untwisted her spun thread after it was strong [by] taking your oaths as [means of] deceit between you because one community is more plentiful [in number or wealth] than another community. Allāh only tries you thereby. And He will surely make clear to you on the Day of Resurrection that over which you used to differ.
مَن كَفَرَ بِٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ إِيمَـٰنِهِۦٓ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُۥ مُطْمَئِنٌّۢ بِٱلْإِيمَـٰنِ وَلَـٰكِن مَّن شَرَحَ بِٱلْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Whoever disbelieves in [i.e., denies] Allāh after his belief... except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion] while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their breasts to disbelief, upon them is wrath from Allāh, and for them is a great punishment;
وَأَلْقَوْا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ يَوْمَئِذٍ ٱلسَّلَمَ ۖ وَضَلَّ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَفْتَرُونَ
And they will impart to Allāh that Day [their] submission, and lost from them is what they used to invent.
أَتَىٰٓ أَمْرُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَسْتَعْجِلُوهُ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ
The command of Allāh is coming, so be not impatient for it. Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him.