لِتَسْتَوُۥا۟ عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِۦ ثُمَّ تَذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ رَبِّكُمْ إِذَا ٱسْتَوَيْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَتَقُولُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَـٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُۥ مُقْرِنِينَ 13
Translations
That you may settle yourselves upon their backs and then remember the favor of your Lord when you have settled upon them and say, "Exalted is He who has subjected this to us, and we could not have [otherwise] subdued it.
Transliteration
Litastawawu ʿalā ẓuhūrih thumma tadhkarū niʿmat rabbikum idhā isttawaitum ʿalayh wa taqūlū subḥāna alladhī sakhkhara lanā hādhā wa mā kunnā lahu muqrinīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah instructs believers to remember Allah's blessing when riding upon animals (specifically camels/mounts) that have been subjugated for human use. The verse emphasizes that when one has settled upon the mount, they should glorify Allah with the statement 'Glory be to Him Who has subdued this for us' and acknowledge that without Allah's power, humans would be incapable of controlling such creatures. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note that this ayah encourages constant remembrance of divine favors and the recognition that all provision comes from Allah's will and grace.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Az-Zukhruf, a Meccan surah that addresses polytheistic practices and emphasizes monotheism and divine blessings. The broader context discusses various signs of Allah's power and favors granted to humanity, with this particular verse fitting within the theme of subjugated animals as evidence of Allah's dominion and generosity to mankind.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever rides an animal should say: Subḥān allāh, al-hamdu lillāh, lā ilāha illā allāh, wallāhu akbar' (Muslim 2292). This hadith reflects the practice of remembrance while using Allah's subjugated creation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This verse teaches us to maintain constant awareness of Allah's blessings in our daily lives and to express gratitude through remembrance, transforming ordinary activities into spiritual practices. It reminds us that our ability to benefit from creation is entirely dependent on Allah's will, fostering humility and continuous praise.