وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَ كُلَّ دَآبَّةٍ مِّن مَّآءٍ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَىٰ بَطْنِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَىٰ رِجْلَيْنِ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَىٰٓ أَرْبَعٍ ۚ يَخْلُقُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 45
Translations
Allāh has created every [living] creature from water. And of them are those that move on their bellies, and of them are those that walk on two legs, and of them are those that walk on four. Allāh creates what He wills. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
Transliteration
Wa-Allahu khalaqa kulla dabbatin min maa'in faminhum man yamshi ala batnihi wa minhum man yamshi ala rijlayhi wa minhum man yamshi ala arba'in yakhlqu-Allahu ma yashaa inna-Allaha ala kulli shay'in qadeer
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah created all living creatures from water, demonstrating His divine wisdom in creating diverse forms of locomotion—some crawl on their bellies (snakes, fish), some walk on two legs (humans, birds), and some on four legs (quadrupeds). Ibn Kathir explains that this diversity in creation reflects Allah's infinite power and wisdom, and the phrase 'Allah creates what He wills' emphasizes His absolute sovereignty in determining the form and nature of all creatures.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nur (The Light), a Medinan surah that addresses various aspects of Islamic jurisprudence and ethics. This particular verse is part of a broader context (24:40-50) discussing signs of Allah's creation and power, serving to redirect believers' focus from worldly distractions to contemplating divine creation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Verily, Allah has written down the good deeds and the bad deeds. Then He clarified [how to distinguish between them]: whosoever intends to do a good deed and does not do it, then Allah writes it down with Him as a complete good deed' (Sahih Bukhari 3321). This relates thematically to Allah's knowledge of all creation. Additionally, the Prophet encouraged reflection on creation as a form of worship.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to observe the natural world as evidence of Allah's supreme wisdom and power, cultivating humility and wonder at the Creator's handiwork. It teaches that diversity in creation is not accidental but purposeful, reminding us that Allah's will encompasses all aspects of existence and should inspire gratitude and obedience.
Related Ayahs
سُورَةٌ أَنزَلْنَـٰهَا وَفَرَضْنَـٰهَا وَأَنزَلْنَا فِيهَآ ءَايَـٰتٍۭ بَيِّنَـٰتٍ لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَذَكَّرُونَ
[This is] a sūrah which We have sent down and made [that within it] obligatory and revealed therein verses of clear evidence that you might remember.
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُزْجِى سَحَابًا ثُمَّ يُؤَلِّفُ بَيْنَهُۥ ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُۥ رُكَامًا فَتَرَى ٱلْوَدْقَ يَخْرُجُ مِنْ خِلَـٰلِهِۦ وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مِن جِبَالٍ فِيهَا مِنۢ بَرَدٍ فَيُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَصْرِفُهُۥ عَن مَّن يَشَآءُ ۖ يَكَادُ سَنَا بَرْقِهِۦ يَذْهَبُ بِٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ
Do you not see that Allāh drives clouds? Then He brings them together; then He makes them into a mass, and you see the rain emerge from within it. And He sends down from the sky, mountains [of clouds] within which is hail, and He strikes with it whom He wills and averts it from whom He wills. The flash of its lightning almost takes away the eyesight.
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ جَآءُو بِٱلْإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِّنكُمْ ۚ لَا تَحْسَبُوهُ شَرًّا لَّكُم ۖ بَلْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۚ لِكُلِّ ٱمْرِئٍ مِّنْهُم مَّا ٱكْتَسَبَ مِنَ ٱلْإِثْمِ ۚ وَٱلَّذِى تَوَلَّىٰ كِبْرَهُۥ مِنْهُمْ لَهُۥ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
Indeed, those who came with falsehood are a group among you. Do not think it bad for you; rather, it is good for you. For every person among them is what [punishment] he has earned from the sin, and he who took upon himself the greater portion thereof - for him is a great punishment [i.e., Hellfire].
وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ ٱللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُۥ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ تَوَّابٌ حَكِيمٌ
And if not for the favor of Allāh upon you and His mercy... and because Allāh is Accepting of Repentance and Wise.