وَقَدْ خَلَقَكُمْ أَطْوَارًا 14
Translations
While He has created you in stages?
Transliteration
wa-qad khalaqakum atwāran
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah reminds humanity that He created them in stages (atwar) - referring to the gradual developmental stages from nutfah (sperm drop) to 'alaqah (clot) to mudghah (lump of flesh) to the formation of bones and flesh, ultimately becoming a living being. This ayah is part of Noah's reminder to his people of Allah's creative power and nurturing care, emphasizing that just as Allah perfectly created them through these stages, He is capable of resurrecting them. Ibn Kathir notes this demonstrates Allah's complete mastery and the logical necessity of acknowledging His oneness and power.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Noah's preaching to his people over 950 years, wherein he calls them to monotheism and warns them of the consequences of disbelief. The surah is Meccan and uses the example of Noah's patient message to comfort the Prophet Muhammad. This particular ayah serves as evidence for the Resurrection—if Allah created us in multiple stages, He can certainly recreate us.
Related Hadiths
Sahih Bukhari (3208): The Prophet Muhammad described the creation of a child in the womb in stages corresponding to this concept: 40 days as a nutfah, 40 days as an 'alaqah, and 40 days as a mudghah. This hadith directly illustrates the 'atwar (stages) mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
Reflecting on the miraculous stages of our own creation should inspire gratitude toward Allah and conviction in His power to resurrect us, which naturally leads to accountability for our deeds. This awareness should strengthen our faith and encourage us to recognize Allah's signs in ourselves and creation.
Related Ayahs
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمْ فِى رَيْبٍ مِّنَ ٱلْبَعْثِ فَإِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍ ثُمَّ مِن مُّضْغَةٍ مُّخَلَّقَةٍ وَغَيْرِ مُخَلَّقَةٍ لِّنُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ ۚ وَنُقِرُّ فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ مَا نَشَآءُ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ثُمَّ نُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًا ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟ أَشُدَّكُمْ ۖ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّىٰ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَرْذَلِ ٱلْعُمُرِ لِكَيْلَا يَعْلَمَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ عِلْمٍ شَيْـًٔا ۚ وَتَرَى ٱلْأَرْضَ هَامِدَةً فَإِذَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا ٱلْمَآءَ ٱهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ وَأَنۢبَتَتْ مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍۭ بَهِيجٍ
O people, if you should be in doubt about the Resurrection, then [consider that] indeed, We created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot, and then from a lump of flesh, formed and unformed - that We may show you. And We settle in the wombs whom We will for a specified term, then We bring you out as a child, and then [We develop you] that you may reach your [time of] maturity. And among you is he who is taken in [early] death, and among you is he who is returned to the most decrepit [old] age so that he knows, after [once having] knowledge, nothing. And you see the earth barren, but when We send down upon it rain, it quivers and swells and grows [something] of every beautiful kind.
مِن نُّطْفَةٍ خَلَقَهُۥ فَقَدَّرَهُۥ
From a sperm-drop He created him and destined for him;
سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلْأَزْوَٰجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنۢبِتُ ٱلْأَرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
Exalted is He who created all pairs - from what the earth grows and from themselves and from that which they do not know.
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.