أَفَعَيِينَا بِٱلْخَلْقِ ٱلْأَوَّلِ ۚ بَلْ هُمْ فِى لَبْسٍ مِّنْ خَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ 15
Translations
Did We fail in the first creation? But they are in confusion over a new creation.
Transliteration
Afa'ayina bil-khalqi al-awwali bala hum fi labsin min khalqin jadid
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah rhetorically questions the disbelievers' doubt about resurrection, essentially asking: 'Were We exhausted or incapable by the first creation?' The ayah asserts that if Allah created humanity from nothing initially, recreating them is far easier. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that this is a powerful argument against those who deny the possibility of resurrection—the greater creative act (first creation) has already been accomplished, so the lesser act (resurrection) must be possible. The phrase 'they are in confusion about a new creation' indicates the disbelievers' uncertainty and denial regarding resurrection despite this logical proof.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Qaf, a Meccan chapter primarily concerned with refuting polytheists' doubts about resurrection and divine omnipotence. The broader context of the surah emphasizes that Allah's awareness encompasses all creation and that the resurrection is certain. This particular ayah addresses a common objection among the Quraysh who questioned how bodies could be reconstituted after death and decomposition.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The easiest thing for Allah is to resurrect people after death' (referenced in various tafsir works). Additionally, Sahih Bukhari contains narrations about the Prophet explaining resurrection through the analogy of creation: just as Allah created us the first time, so shall He recreate us.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that doubting Allah's power to resurrect us is illogical—if He created us from nothing once, He can certainly do it again. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder that our skepticism about divine matters often stems from limited perspective rather than actual logical inconsistency, encouraging us to have firm conviction in Allah's absolute power.