لَخَلْقُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ أَكْبَرُ مِنْ خَلْقِ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ 57
Translations
The creation of the heavens and earth is greater than the creation of mankind, but most of the people do not know.
Transliteration
Lakhalqu as-samawati wa-al-ardi akbaru min khalqi an-nasi wa-lakinna akthara an-nasi la ya'lamun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah asserts that the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater and more magnificent than the creation of mankind, yet most people lack the knowledge or awareness to comprehend this truth. Ibn Kathir explains this as a reminder of Allah's supreme power and the relative insignificance of human creation compared to the vastness of the cosmos, while Al-Qurtubi emphasizes that this statement aims to humble human pride and redirect focus toward Allah's incomparable grandeur.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ghafir (a Meccan surah) within the context of refuting polytheism and reminding the Quraysh of Allah's overwhelming power and creativity. The broader thematic context addresses the disbelievers' arrogance and their denial of resurrection and divine signs, using the argument that if Allah can create the heavens and earth, He can certainly resurrect humans.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most perfect believer in faith is the one whose character is the best.' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, 'Glorify Allah in the morning and evening' (An-Nasa'i) relates to recognizing Allah's creation and greatness.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to cultivate humility by recognizing the vastness of Allah's creation and their own comparative smallness, encouraging contemplation of the universe as evidence of divine wisdom. For modern readers, it serves as an antidote to materialism and human-centered worldviews, inviting deeper reflection on one's place in the cosmos and dependence upon the Creator.
Related Ayahs
أَفَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوٓا۟ أَكْثَرَ مِنْهُمْ وَأَشَدَّ قُوَّةً وَءَاثَارًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَمَآ أَغْنَىٰ عَنْهُم مَّا كَانُوا۟ يَكْسِبُونَ
Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those before them? They were more numerous than themselves and greater in strength and in impression on the land, but they were not availed by what they used to earn.
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ قَرَارًا وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بِنَآءً وَصَوَّرَكُمْ فَأَحْسَنَ صُوَرَكُمْ وَرَزَقَكُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ فَتَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
It is Allāh who made for you the earth a place of settlement and the sky a structure [i.e., ceiling] and formed you and perfected your forms and provided you with good things. That is Allāh, your Lord; then blessed is Allāh, Lord of the worlds.
ذَٰلِكُم بِأَنَّهُۥٓ إِذَا دُعِىَ ٱللَّهُ وَحْدَهُۥ كَفَرْتُمْ ۖ وَإِن يُشْرَكْ بِهِۦ تُؤْمِنُوا۟ ۚ فَٱلْحُكْمُ لِلَّهِ ٱلْعَلِىِّ ٱلْكَبِيرِ
[They will be told], "That is because, when Allāh was called upon alone, you disbelieved; but if others were associated with Him, you believed. So the judgement is with Allāh, the Most High, the Grand."
۞ أَوَلَمْ يَسِيرُوا۟ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَيَنظُرُوا۟ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةُ ٱلَّذِينَ كَانُوا۟ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۚ كَانُوا۟ هُمْ أَشَدَّ مِنْهُمْ قُوَّةً وَءَاثَارًا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَأَخَذَهُمُ ٱللَّهُ بِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَا كَانَ لَهُم مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ مِن وَاقٍ
Have they not traveled through the land and observed how was the end of those who were before them? They were greater than them in strength and in impression on the land, but Allāh seized them for their sins. And they had not from Allāh any protector.