وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ وَٱلدَّوَآبِّ وَٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ كَذَٰلِكَ ۗ إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى ٱللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ ٱلْعُلَمَـٰٓؤُا۟ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ 28
Translations
And among people and moving creatures and grazing livestock are various colors similarly. Only those fear Allāh, from among His servants, who have knowledge. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Forgiving.
Transliteration
Wa mina an-nasi wa ad-dawwabi wa al-an'ami mukhtalifun alwanuhu, kazalika. Innama yakhsha Allah min 'ibadih al-'ulama'u. Inna Allah 'azizun ghafur.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents two interconnected themes: the diversity of creation (humans, animals, and livestock) in their colors and forms as evidence of Allah's power and wisdom, and the affirmation that true fear and reverence of Allah belongs exclusively to the scholars ('ulama') among His servants. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi, the diversity in creation demonstrates Allah's infinite wisdom, while the mention of scholars emphasizes that knowledge ('ilm) is the foundation of true God-consciousness, as understanding the signs of Allah naturally leads to greater fear and obedience.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Fatir, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes tawhid (monotheism) and reflection upon the signs of Allah in creation. The surah contextually addresses the polytheists' denial and presents logical arguments for Allah's oneness through the observation of natural phenomena. This particular ayah follows verses discussing creation and serves to connect observable diversity in nature with the intellectual and spiritual capacity needed to comprehend it.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The best among you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), which relates to the elevated status of scholars. Additionally, 'Whoever Allah intends good for, He grants him understanding of the religion' (Sahih Bukhari 71), connecting knowledge with divine favor and fear of Allah.
Themes
Key Lesson
True reverence for Allah is not merely emotional but rooted in knowledge and intellectual understanding of His signs and wisdom in creation. The pursuit of Islamic knowledge is therefore not merely academic but a means of drawing closer to Allah and increasing in piety.
Related Ayahs
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦ ثَمَرَٰتٍ مُّخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهَا ۚ وَمِنَ ٱلْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌۢ بِيضٌ وَحُمْرٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَٰنُهَا وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٌ
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.
إِنْ أَنتَ إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ
You, [O Muḥammad], are not but a warner.
وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۚ وَإِن تَدْعُ مُثْقَلَةٌ إِلَىٰ حِمْلِهَا لَا يُحْمَلْ مِنْهُ شَىْءٌ وَلَوْ كَانَ ذَا قُرْبَىٰٓ ۗ إِنَّمَا تُنذِرُ ٱلَّذِينَ يَخْشَوْنَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَيْبِ وَأَقَامُوا۟ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۚ وَمَن تَزَكَّىٰ فَإِنَّمَا يَتَزَكَّىٰ لِنَفْسِهِۦ ۚ وَإِلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ
And no bearer of burdens will bear the burden of another. And if a heavily laden soul calls [another] to [carry some of] its load, nothing of it will be carried, even if he should be a close relative. You can only warn those who fear their Lord unseen and have established prayer. And whoever purifies himself only purifies himself for [the benefit of] his soul. And to Allāh is the [final] destination.
وَلَا ٱلظِّلُّ وَلَا ٱلْحَرُورُ
Nor are the shade and the heat,