أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦ ثَمَرَٰتٍ مُّخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهَا ۚ وَمِنَ ٱلْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌۢ بِيضٌ وَحُمْرٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٌ 27
Translations
Do you not see that Allāh sends down rain from the sky, and We produce thereby fruits of varying colors? And in the mountains are tracts, white and red of varying shades and [some] extremely black.
Transliteration
Alam tara anna Allaha anzala mina as-sama'i maan fa-akhrajnā bihi thamarātin mukhtalifan alwānuhā wa min al-jibāli judadun bīdun wa humrun mukhtalifun alwānuhā wa gharābību sūdun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah directs attention to Allah's creative power demonstrated through the diversity of creation: the rain that brings forth fruits of varied colors, and the mountains striped with varied hues of white, red, and black. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize this as evidence of Allah's wisdom and artistry in design, showcasing how a single cause (rain) produces multiple varied effects, reflecting the divine knowledge that orchestrates all creation. The diversity itself becomes a sign (ayah) of the Creator's uniqueness and intentionality.
Revelation Context
Surah Fatir is Meccan and addresses the fundamental theme of tawhid (monotheism) through contemplation of creation. This ayah occurs in a section (35:24-35) that challenges the disbelievers to observe and reflect upon the signs of Allah in nature—water, fruits, mountains, and the variations within them—as proofs of divine existence and unique creative power.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027). More thematically, 'Whoever reflects upon the creation of the heavens and earth will realize the signs of Allah's power' - a concept reflected in multiple Quranic contexts encouraging reflection on creation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to move beyond passive observation of nature to active reflection on the Creator's wisdom, recognizing that the magnificent diversity and precision in creation—from fruits to mountains—should inspire awe, gratitude, and deeper faith in Allah's singular mastery over all things.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ شُرَكَآءَكُمُ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ أَرُونِى مَاذَا خَلَقُوا۟ مِنَ ٱلْأَرْضِ أَمْ لَهُمْ شِرْكٌ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ أَمْ ءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمْ كِتَـٰبًا فَهُمْ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَتٍ مِّنْهُ ۚ بَلْ إِن يَعِدُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمُونَ بَعْضُهُم بَعْضًا إِلَّا غُرُورًا
Say, "Have you considered your 'partners' whom you invoke besides Allāh? Show me what they have created from the earth, or have they partnership [with Him] in the heavens? Or have We given them a book so they are [standing] on evidence therefrom? [No], rather, the wrongdoers do not promise each other except delusion."
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ جَاعِلِ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُو۟لِىٓ أَجْنِحَةٍ مَّثْنَىٰ وَثُلَـٰثَ وَرُبَـٰعَ ۚ يَزِيدُ فِى ٱلْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Creator of the heavens and the earth, [who] made the angels messengers having wings, two or three or four. He increases in creation what He wills. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
وَإِن يُكَذِّبُوكَ فَقَدْ كُذِّبَتْ رُسُلٌ مِّن قَبْلِكَ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ تُرْجَعُ ٱلْأُمُورُ
And if they deny you, [O Muḥammad] - already were messengers denied before you. And to Allāh are returned [all] matters.
ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ نَكِيرِ
Then I seized the ones who disbelieved, and how [terrible] was My reproach.