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
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يُلْحِدُونَ فِىٓ ءَايَـٰتِنَا لَا يَخْفَوْنَ عَلَيْنَآ ۗ أَفَمَن يُلْقَىٰ فِى ٱلنَّارِ خَيْرٌ أَم مَّن يَأْتِىٓ ءَامِنًا يَوْمَ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ ۚ ٱعْمَلُوا۟ مَا شِئْتُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرٌ
Indeed, those who inject deviation into Our verses are not concealed from Us. So, is he who is cast into the Fire better or he who comes secure on the Day of Resurrection? Do whatever you will; indeed, He is Seeing of what you do.
حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا مَا جَآءُوهَا شَهِدَ عَلَيْهِمْ سَمْعُهُمْ وَأَبْصَـٰرُهُمْ وَجُلُودُهُم بِمَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Until, when they reach it, their hearing and their eyes and their skins will testify against them of what they used to do.
فَلَنُذِيقَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ عَذَابًا شَدِيدًا وَلَنَجْزِيَنَّهُمْ أَسْوَأَ ٱلَّذِى كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
But We will surely cause those who disbelieve to taste a severe punishment, and We will surely recompense them for the worst of what they had been doing.
سَنُرِيهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فِى ٱلْـَٔافَاقِ وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ
We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. But is it not sufficient concerning your Lord that He is, over all things, a Witness?