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
۞ وَقَيَّضْنَا لَهُمْ قُرَنَآءَ فَزَيَّنُوا۟ لَهُم مَّا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَحَقَّ عَلَيْهِمُ ٱلْقَوْلُ فِىٓ أُمَمٍ قَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِم مِّنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا۟ خَـٰسِرِينَ
And We appointed for them companions who made attractive to them what was before them and what was behind them [of sin], and the word [i.e., decree] has come into effect upon them among nations which had passed on before them of jinn and men. Indeed, they [all] were losers.
وَمَا كُنتُمْ تَسْتَتِرُونَ أَن يَشْهَدَ عَلَيْكُمْ سَمْعُكُمْ وَلَآ أَبْصَـٰرُكُمْ وَلَا جُلُودُكُمْ وَلَـٰكِن ظَنَنتُمْ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَعْلَمُ كَثِيرًا مِّمَّا تَعْمَلُونَ
And you were not covering [i.e., protecting] yourselves, lest your hearing testify against you or your sight or your skins, but you assumed that Allāh does not know much of what you do.
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?
وَقَالُوا۟ لِجُلُودِهِمْ لِمَ شَهِدتُّمْ عَلَيْنَا ۖ قَالُوٓا۟ أَنطَقَنَا ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنطَقَ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ وَهُوَ خَلَقَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
And they will say to their skins, "Why have you testified against us?" They will say, "We were made to speak by Allāh, who has made everything speak; and He created you the first time, and to Him you are returned.