أَمْ خُلِقُوا۟ مِنْ غَيْرِ شَىْءٍ أَمْ هُمُ ٱلْخَـٰلِقُونَ 35
Translations
Or were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of themselves]?
Transliteration
Am khuliqoo min ghayri shay'in am hum al-khaliqoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a rhetorical argument challenging the polytheists' belief in false deities by posing three logical possibilities: either humans were created from nothing (which is impossible), or they created themselves (which is absurd), or they were created by Allah (the only rational conclusion). Ibn Kathir explains this as a powerful refutation of shirk, emphasizing that the very existence of creation testifies to the necessity of a Creator. Al-Tabari notes that this verse uses logical reasoning (istidlal) to guide people toward monotheism, as denying Allah's creation contradicts observable reality and human reason.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah At-Tur, which addresses the fundamental questions of creation and resurrection that the early Meccan polytheists denied. It comes within a broader section (52:33-48) that confronts disbelievers with logical arguments about creation, divine power, and the certainty of the Day of Judgment. The context reflects the early Islamic period when pagan Arabs rejected the message of tawhid (monotheism).
Related Hadiths
The principle underlying this ayah is supported by the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (peace be upon him) described how Allah created all creation in six days, emphasizing Allah's complete authority over creation. Additionally, Sahih Bukhari records the Prophet's teaching about the creation of the fetus in the womb, illustrating divine creative power.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that denial of Allah's oneness contradicts both reason and observable reality—we should reflect on our own creation and existence as evidence of Allah's power and wisdom, and use logical thinking as a tool to strengthen our faith and convey Islam's message to others.