ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِۦ مِنَ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْفُلْكَ لِتَجْرِىَ فِى ٱلْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِۦ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَنْهَـٰرَ 32
Translations
It is Allāh who created the heavens and the earth and sent down rain from the sky and produced thereby some fruits as provision for you and subjected for you the ships to sail through the sea by His command and subjected for you the rivers.
Transliteration
Allahu alladhi khalaqa as-samawati wa-al-arda wa anzala mina as-sama'i ma'an fa akhreja bihi mina ath-thrimarati rizqan lakum wa sakhkhara lakumu al-fulka litajri fi al-bahri bi-amrihi wa sakhkhara lakumu al-anhara
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents Allah's divine attributes and benevolence by highlighting His creation of the heavens and earth, His provision of rain that produces fruits as sustenance, and His subjugation of ships to sail the seas and rivers for human benefit. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the verse emphasizes Allah's complete sovereignty and the intricate system of provisions He has arranged for mankind, demonstrating that all blessings flow from His divine wisdom and power. The mention of water, fruits, ships, and rivers illustrates the comprehensive nature of Allah's provision across different domains of human need.
Revelation Context
Surah Ibrahim is a Meccan chapter revealed during a period when the pagans of Mecca were rejecting the message of monotheism. This ayah appears in a section where Prophet Abraham's prayer and the responses to his supplication are being discussed, serving as evidence of Allah's oneness and His care for creation as a response to those who deny divine provision and favor.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best charity is water' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim regarding the seven whom Allah will shade on the Day of Judgment includes 'a man who gives charity and conceals it,' reflecting the gratitude owed for Allah's provisions mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to recognize that every blessing—from the rain that falls to the crops that grow to the vessels that carry us—is a manifestation of Allah's mercy and care, obligating us to be grateful to Him and to use these provisions responsibly as trustees rather than owners. It invites reflection on the complex interconnectedness of creation and our dependence on Allah for survival, which should inspire humility, gratitude, and conscious stewardship of natural resources.
Related Ayahs
وَمَا لَنَآ أَلَّا نَتَوَكَّلَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ وَقَدْ هَدَىٰنَا سُبُلَنَا ۚ وَلَنَصْبِرَنَّ عَلَىٰ مَآ ءَاذَيْتُمُونَا ۚ وَعَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ
And why should we not rely upon Allāh while He has guided us to our [good] ways. And we will surely be patient against whatever harm you should cause us. And upon Allāh let those who would rely [indeed] rely."
وَأَنذِرِ ٱلنَّاسَ يَوْمَ يَأْتِيهِمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ فَيَقُولُ ٱلَّذِينَ ظَلَمُوا۟ رَبَّنَآ أَخِّرْنَآ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ قَرِيبٍ نُّجِبْ دَعْوَتَكَ وَنَتَّبِعِ ٱلرُّسُلَ ۗ أَوَلَمْ تَكُونُوٓا۟ أَقْسَمْتُم مِّن قَبْلُ مَا لَكُم مِّن زَوَالٍ
And, [O Muḥammad], warn the people of a Day when the punishment will come to them and those who did wrong will say, "Our Lord, delay us for a short term; we will answer Your call and follow the messengers." [But it will be said], "Had you not sworn, before, that for you there would be no cessation?
وَإِذْ تَأَذَّنَ رَبُّكُمْ لَئِن شَكَرْتُمْ لَأَزِيدَنَّكُمْ ۖ وَلَئِن كَفَرْتُمْ إِنَّ عَذَابِى لَشَدِيدٌ
And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.'"
وَلَقَدْ أَرْسَلْنَا مُوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ أَنْ أَخْرِجْ قَوْمَكَ مِنَ ٱلظُّلُمَـٰتِ إِلَى ٱلنُّورِ وَذَكِّرْهُم بِأَيَّىٰمِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ
And We certainly sent Moses with Our signs, [saying], "Bring out your people from darknesses into the light and remind them of the days of Allāh." Indeed in that are signs for everyone patient and grateful.