وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ مِن فَوْقِهَا وَبَـٰرَكَ فِيهَا وَقَدَّرَ فِيهَآ أَقْوَٰتَهَا فِىٓ أَرْبَعَةِ أَيَّامٍ سَوَآءً لِّلسَّآئِلِينَ 10
Translations
And He placed on it [i.e., the earth] firmly set mountains over its surface, and He blessed it and determined therein its [creatures'] sustenance in four days without distinction - for [the information of] those who ask.
Transliteration
Wa ja'ala feeha rawāsiya min fawqihā wa bārak feeha wa qaddara feehā aqwātahā fee arba'ati ayyām sawā'an li-assā'ileen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's creation of the earth in the second stage, where He placed mountains upon it as stabilizers, blessed it with fertility and resources, and determined all its sustenance for all creatures in four days—a process of proportioned distribution. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the 'four days' refers to the second phase of creation (after the creation of the heavens), where mountains were fixed to prevent the earth from shaking, and provisions were appointed for all those who would ask for them, reflecting divine wisdom and generosity.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah Fussilat (41), a Meccan surah that elaborates on the creation narrative. The surah begins by describing how the earth and heavens were created in six days total (41:9-12), and this particular ayah focuses on the creation of the earth's features and the ordaining of sustenance, addressing the Meccan polytheists' denial of resurrection and divine provision.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best charity is water' (related to the blessing and provision in the earth mentioned in this ayah). Additionally, a hadith in Sahih Bukhari emphasizes how Allah has made the earth suitable for life: 'The whole earth is a mosque and water is pure for ablution.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds us that all provisions and sustenance come from Allah's deliberate planning and generosity, not by chance, and that we should trust in His provision while recognizing His meticulous design in creation. It encourages gratitude for the blessings of the earth and humility in asking Allah for our needs.
Related Ayahs
۞ قُلْ أَئِنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُونَ بِٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْأَرْضَ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ وَتَجْعَلُونَ لَهُۥٓ أَندَادًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ رَبُّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
Say, "Do you indeed disbelieve in He who created the earth in two days and attribute to Him equals? That is the Lord of the worlds."
وَلَوْ جَعَلْنَـٰهُ قُرْءَانًا أَعْجَمِيًّا لَّقَالُوا۟ لَوْلَا فُصِّلَتْ ءَايَـٰتُهُۥٓ ۖ ءَا۬عْجَمِىٌّ وَعَرَبِىٌّ ۗ قُلْ هُوَ لِلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ هُدًى وَشِفَآءٌ ۖ وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ فِىٓ ءَاذَانِهِمْ وَقْرٌ وَهُوَ عَلَيْهِمْ عَمًى ۚ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ يُنَادَوْنَ مِن مَّكَانٍۭ بَعِيدٍ
And if We had made it a foreign [i.e., non-Arabic] Qur’ān, they would have said, "Why are its verses not explained in detail [in our language]? Is it a foreign [recitation] and an Arab [messenger]?" Say, "It is, for those who believe, a guidance and cure." And those who do not believe - in their ears is deafness, and it is upon them blindness. Those are being called from a distant place.
وَلَا تَسْتَوِى ٱلْحَسَنَةُ وَلَا ٱلسَّيِّئَةُ ۚ ٱدْفَعْ بِٱلَّتِى هِىَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا ٱلَّذِى بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُۥ عَدَٰوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُۥ وَلِىٌّ حَمِيمٌ
And not equal are the good deed and the bad. Repel [evil] by that [deed] which is better; and thereupon, the one whom between you and him is enmity [will become] as though he was a devoted friend.
ٱلَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَهُم بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ هُمْ كَـٰفِرُونَ
Those who do not give zakāh, and in the Hereafter they are disbelievers.