وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْمَآءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۗ وَلَئِن قُلْتَ إِنَّكُم مَّبْعُوثُونَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلْمَوْتِ لَيَقُولَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ 7
Translations
And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne had been upon water - that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed. But if you say, "Indeed, you are resurrected after death," those who disbelieve will surely say, "This is not but obvious magic."
Transliteration
Wa huwa alladhī khalaqa as-samāwāti wa-al-arda fī sittati ayyāmin wa kāna 'arshuhu 'alā al-māi li-yabluwa-kum ayyukum ahsan 'amalan wa-la-in qulta innaкum mab'ūthūna min ba'di al-mawti la-yaqūlanna alladhīna kafarū in hādhā illā sihrun mubīn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's creation of the heavens and earth in six days with His throne upon the water, emphasizing that this creation serves as a test (balā) to determine who performs the best deeds. The ayah then addresses the disbelievers' rejection of the concept of resurrection, dismissing it as mere sorcery. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari note that the mention of Allah's throne being upon the water before creation signifies His absolute power and pre-existence before any created thing, while the emphasis on testing through creation underscores the moral responsibility upon humanity.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Hud, a Meccan surah primarily concerned with refuting polytheism and affirming monotheism, resurrection, and divine accountability. The context addresses the Meccan polytheists' mockery of the Prophet's message, particularly their ridicule of the resurrection (ba'th), which was a central point of contention between believers and disbelievers in Mecca.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'Verily, the best of you are those who are best in character' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, in Sahih Bukhari, 'Aisha reported that the Messenger of Allah would be asked about which deeds are best, connecting to the ayah's emphasis on ahsan 'amal (best deeds).
Themes
Key Lesson
Life is a test from Allah designed to reveal which of us performs the best deeds with sincere intention and character; believers should focus on excellence in actions rather than being deterred by the mockery of those who deny the resurrection and final judgment.
Related Ayahs
قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن كُنتُ عَلَىٰ بَيِّنَةٍ مِّن رَّبِّى وَرَزَقَنِى مِنْهُ رِزْقًا حَسَنًا ۚ وَمَآ أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُخَالِفَكُمْ إِلَىٰ مَآ أَنْهَىٰكُمْ عَنْهُ ۚ إِنْ أُرِيدُ إِلَّا ٱلْإِصْلَـٰحَ مَا ٱسْتَطَعْتُ ۚ وَمَا تَوْفِيقِىٓ إِلَّا بِٱللَّهِ ۚ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ وَإِلَيْهِ أُنِيبُ
He said, "O my people, have you considered: if I am upon clear evidence from my Lord and He has provided me with a good provision from Him...? And I do not intend to differ from you in that which I have forbidden you; I only intend reform as much as I am able. And my success is not but through Allāh. Upon Him I have relied, and to Him I return.
فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا۟ فَقَدْ أَبْلَغْتُكُم مَّآ أُرْسِلْتُ بِهِۦٓ إِلَيْكُمْ ۚ وَيَسْتَخْلِفُ رَبِّى قَوْمًا غَيْرَكُمْ وَلَا تَضُرُّونَهُۥ شَيْـًٔا ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ حَفِيظٌ
But if you turn away, then I have already conveyed that with which I was sent to you. My Lord will give succession to a people other than you, and you will not harm Him at all. Indeed my Lord is, over all things, Guardian."
أَمْ يَقُولُونَ ٱفْتَرَىٰهُ ۖ قُلْ إِنِ ٱفْتَرَيْتُهُۥ فَعَلَىَّ إِجْرَامِى وَأَنَا۠ بَرِىٓءٌ مِّمَّا تُجْرِمُونَ
Or do they say [about Prophet Muḥammad (ﷺ)], "He invented it"? Say, "If I have invented it, then upon me is [the consequence of] my crime; but I am innocent of what [crimes] you commit."
قَالُوا۟ يَـٰنُوحُ قَدْ جَـٰدَلْتَنَا فَأَكْثَرْتَ جِدَٰلَنَا فَأْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَآ إِن كُنتَ مِنَ ٱلصَّـٰدِقِينَ
They said, "O Noah, you have disputed [i.e., opposed] us and been frequent in dispute of us. So bring us what you threaten us, if you should be of the truthful."