أَلَمْ تَرَوْا۟ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَمَا فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُۥ ظَـٰهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً ۗ وَمِنَ ٱلنَّاسِ مَن يُجَـٰدِلُ فِى ٱللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَلَا هُدًى وَلَا كِتَـٰبٍ مُّنِيرٍ 20
Translations
Do you not see that Allāh has made subject to you whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth and amply bestowed upon you His favors, [both] apparent and unapparent? But of the people is he who disputes about Allāh without knowledge or guidance or an enlightening Book [from Him].
Transliteration
Alam taraw anna Allaha sakhkhara lakum ma fee alssamawati wama fee al-ardi wa-asbagha alaikum niamahu zahirah wa-batinah. Wamina alnnasi man yujadilu fee Allahi bighayri ilmin wala hudan wala kitabin munir.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a rhetorical question challenging humans to observe how Allah has subjugated all creation in the heavens and earth for their benefit, bestowing upon them both visible blessings (health, wealth, sustenance) and hidden blessings (intellect, faith, guidance). The ayah then condemns those who argue against Allah's existence and oneness without knowledge, guidance, or illuminating scripture—a reproach directed at the polytheists and skeptics of Mecca. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari emphasize that this passage combines divine grace with an indictment of arrogance and baseless disputation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Luqman, a Meccan surah focused on moral instruction and monotheistic theology. It serves as part of the broader Quranic argument for tawhid (divine oneness) by highlighting the signs of Allah's power and provision evident in creation—a common Meccan theme addressing polytheistic arguments prevalent in pre-Islamic Arabia.
Related Hadiths
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Tirmidhi 3895)—related to Luqman's overall theme of moral guidance. Additionally, 'Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak good or remain silent' (Sahih Bukhari 6018) relates to the ayah's condemnation of baseless argumentation.
Themes
Key Lesson
Muslims should cultivate awareness and gratitude for both visible and invisible blessings surrounding them daily, recognizing these as signs of Allah's majesty and care. Additionally, believers are encouraged to avoid engaging in theological disputes without sound knowledge and scriptural foundation, prioritizing wisdom and evidence-based discourse in matters of faith.
Related Ayahs
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ ۚ قُلِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ۚ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
And if you asked them, "Who created the heavens and earth?" they would surely say, "Allāh." Say, "[All] praise is [due] to Allāh"; but most of them do not know.
خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا ۖ وَأَلْقَىٰ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ رَوَٰسِىَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٍ ۚ وَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَنۢبَتْنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍ كَرِيمٍ
He created the heavens without pillars that you see and has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it should shift with you, and dispersed therein from every creature. And We sent down rain from the sky and made grow therein [plants] of every noble kind.
مَّا خَلْقُكُمْ وَلَا بَعْثُكُمْ إِلَّا كَنَفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
Your creation and your resurrection will not be but as that of a single soul. Indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِهِ ٱلْبَـٰطِلُ وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْكَبِيرُ
That is because Allāh is the True Reality, and that what they call upon other than Him is falsehood, and because Allāh is the Most High, the Grand.