مَّا خَلْقُكُمْ وَلَا بَعْثُكُمْ إِلَّا كَنَفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ 28
Translations
Your creation and your resurrection will not be but as that of a single soul. Indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.
Transliteration
Mā khalqakum wa lā baʿthukum illā ka-nafsin wāḥidah. Inna Allāha samīʿun baṣīr.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah emphasizes that Allah's creation of humanity and their resurrection are as easy for Him as creating or resurrecting a single soul, highlighting the infinite power and effortlessness of divine action. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi note this demonstrates that the magnitude of creation—whether one person or billions—presents no difficulty to Allah, refuting the disbelievers' doubts about resurrection. The ayah also conveys that Allah is fully aware (Samīʿ) of all utterances and completely seeing (Baṣīr) of all actions, emphasizing His omniscience alongside His omnipotence.
Revelation Context
Surah Luqman is Meccan and addresses fundamental Islamic beliefs including tawhīd (monotheism) and the certainty of the Day of Judgment. This particular ayah responds to the polytheists' skepticism about resurrection, a central theme of Meccan revelation when disbelievers questioned how Allah could resurrect scattered bones and bodies.
Related Hadiths
The hadith in Sahih Bukhari (6:236) where the Prophet ﷺ said: 'The creation of each one of you is brought together in his mother's belly for forty days' relates to Allah's creative power over individuals. Additionally, Surah At-Tawbah 9:28 paired with hadiths about resurrection emphasize Allah's knowledge of all creation.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that no task is difficult for Allah and should strengthen our conviction in the certainty of resurrection; it should also inspire consciousness of Allah's constant awareness of our words and deeds, motivating righteous conduct in all circumstances.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ فَلِلَّهِ ٱلْحُجَّةُ ٱلْبَـٰلِغَةُ ۖ فَلَوْ شَآءَ لَهَدَىٰكُمْ أَجْمَعِينَ
Say, "With Allāh is the far-reaching [i.e., conclusive] argument. If He had willed, He would have guided you all."
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ لَيَقُولُنَّ ٱللَّهُ ۚ قُلْ أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ إِنْ أَرَادَنِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِضُرٍّ هَلْ هُنَّ كَـٰشِفَـٰتُ ضُرِّهِۦٓ أَوْ أَرَادَنِى بِرَحْمَةٍ هَلْ هُنَّ مُمْسِكَـٰتُ رَحْمَتِهِۦ ۚ قُلْ حَسْبِىَ ٱللَّهُ ۖ عَلَيْهِ يَتَوَكَّلُ ٱلْمُتَوَكِّلُونَ
And if you asked them, "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they would surely say, "Allāh." Say, "Then have you considered what you invoke besides Allāh? If Allāh intended me harm, are they removers of His harm; or if He intended me mercy, are they withholders of His mercy?" Say, "Sufficient for me is Allāh; upon Him [alone] rely the [wise] reliers."
وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ
And that is not difficult for Allāh.
وَأَنَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلنَّشْأَةَ ٱلْأُخْرَىٰ
And that [incumbent] upon Him is the other [i.e., next] creation.