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
وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَنَّكَ تَرَى ٱلْأَرْضَ خَـٰشِعَةً فَإِذَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا ٱلْمَآءَ ٱهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحْيَاهَا لَمُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
And of His signs is that you see the earth stilled, but when We send down upon it rain, it quivers and grows. Indeed, He who has given it life is the Giver of Life to the dead. Indeed, He is over all things competent.
تَنزِيلٌ مِّنَ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
[This is] a revelation from the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful -
وَيَوْمَ يُحْشَرُ أَعْدَآءُ ٱللَّهِ إِلَى ٱلنَّارِ فَهُمْ يُوزَعُونَ
And [mention, O Muḥammad], the Day when the enemies of Allāh will be gathered to the Fire while they are [driven], assembled in rows,
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَرِنَا ٱلَّذَيْنِ أَضَلَّانَا مِنَ ٱلْجِنِّ وَٱلْإِنسِ نَجْعَلْهُمَا تَحْتَ أَقْدَامِنَا لِيَكُونَا مِنَ ٱلْأَسْفَلِينَ
And those who disbelieved will [then] say, "Our Lord, show us those who misled us of the jinn and men [so] we may put them under our feet that they will be among the lowest."