أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَلَكَهُۥ يَنَـٰبِيعَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرْعًا مُّخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُۥ حُطَـٰمًا ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ 21
Translations
Do you not see that Allāh sends down rain from the sky and makes it flow as springs [and rivers] in the earth; then He produces thereby crops of varying colors; then they dry and you see them turned yellow; then He makes them [scattered] debris. Indeed in that is a reminder for those of understanding.
Transliteration
Alam tara anna Allaha anzala mina as-sama'i ma'an fasalakahu yanabi'a fi al-ardi thumma yukhriju bihi zar'an mukhtalifan alwanuhu thumma yahiju fatarahu musfarran thumma yaj'aluhu hutaman, inna fi dhalika latadhkirra li-uli al-albab
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a comprehensive cycle of creation demonstrating Allah's divine power: water descends from the sky, flows through the earth as springs, produces vegetation of varied colors, which then withers and turns yellow, and finally becomes scattered debris. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this natural progression symbolizes the cycle of life and death, serving as a profound reminder of human mortality and resurrection, while Al-Qurtubi notes the emphasis on the diversity of creation (ختلف الوان) as evidence of Allah's infinite wisdom and detailed design in nature.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Az-Zumar, which focuses on monotheism and the majesty of Allah's creation. The context addresses the disbelievers' rejection of the resurrection; by directing attention to observable natural phenomena—the water cycle and agricultural production—the ayah provides tangible evidence that one who can resurrect vegetation from barren earth can certainly resurrect human beings.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Consider from the creation of Allah, the creation of animals, the creation of plants, and the creation of minerals' (Ahmad and others). Additionally, the Quran itself in Surah Qaf 50:9-11 presents a similar agricultural cycle as evidence of resurrection and divine power.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should observe the natural world as a mirror of spiritual truths—just as Allah brings dead earth to life through water and then returns it to dust, He brings souls into existence and will resurrect them. This ayah invites those possessed of sound intellect (uli al-albab) to move beyond superficial observation to profound reflection on their own mortality and accountability before Allah.