أَفَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِن نَّشَأْ نَخْسِفْ بِهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ أَوْ نُسْقِطْ عَلَيْهِمْ كِسَفًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مُّنِيبٍ 9
Translations
Then, do they not look at what is before them and what is behind them of the heaven and earth? If We should will, We could cause the earth to swallow them or [could] let fall upon them fragments from the sky. Indeed in that is a sign for every servant turning back [to Allāh].
Transliteration
Afalam yaraw ila ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum mina assama'i wa al-ard. In nasha nakhsif bihimu al-ard aw nusqit alayhim kisafan mina assama'. Inna fi dhalika la-ayatan li-kulli abdin munib.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah calls the disbelievers to observe the creation of the heavens and earth surrounding them, reminding them of Allah's absolute power and control. Allah warns that He can cause the earth to swallow them or send down fragments of the sky upon them as punishment, emphasizing His capability to bring about destruction. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir interpret this as a powerful deterrent against arrogance and disbelief, indicating that such signs of divine power should humble the hearts of those who turn back to Allah (al-munibun).
Revelation Context
This surah addresses the context of Meccan opposition to the Prophet Muhammad's message. The ayah occurs within a section addressing those who rejected the signs of Allah and the message of Tawhid (monotheism), particularly relevant to the deniers among Quraysh who witnessed clear signs yet persisted in their disbelief.
Related Hadiths
The concept of divine punishment for rejecting signs is reflected in hadith regarding the people of 'Ad and Thamud. Sahih Muslim records traditions about the destruction of nations who rejected the prophets, demonstrating the reality of such punishments mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to recognize Allah's absolute power through observing creation and to maintain humility and obedience before Him. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder that no power on earth can stand against Allah's will, and that sincere repentance and turning back to Allah is the path to safety and salvation.
Related Ayahs
وَلَقَدْ صَدَّقَ عَلَيْهِمْ إِبْلِيسُ ظَنَّهُۥ فَٱتَّبَعُوهُ إِلَّا فَرِيقًا مِّنَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
And Iblees had already confirmed through them his assumption, so they followed him, except for a party of believers.
قُلْ إِنَّ رَبِّى يَبْسُطُ ٱلرِّزْقَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ مِنْ عِبَادِهِۦ وَيَقْدِرُ لَهُۥ ۚ وَمَآ أَنفَقْتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَهُوَ يُخْلِفُهُۥ ۖ وَهُوَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰزِقِينَ
Say, "Indeed, my Lord extends provision for whom He wills of His servants and restricts [it] for him. But whatever thing you spend [in His cause] - He will compensate it; and He is the best of providers."
وَقَالَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱسْتُضْعِفُوا۟ لِلَّذِينَ ٱسْتَكْبَرُوا۟ بَلْ مَكْرُ ٱلَّيْلِ وَٱلنَّهَارِ إِذْ تَأْمُرُونَنَآ أَن نَّكْفُرَ بِٱللَّهِ وَنَجْعَلَ لَهُۥٓ أَندَادًا ۚ وَأَسَرُّوا۟ ٱلنَّدَامَةَ لَمَّا رَأَوُا۟ ٱلْعَذَابَ وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلْأَغْلَـٰلَ فِىٓ أَعْنَاقِ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ۚ هَلْ يُجْزَوْنَ إِلَّا مَا كَانُوا۟ يَعْمَلُونَ
Those who were oppressed will say to those who were arrogant, "Rather, [it was your] conspiracy of night and day when you were ordering us to disbelieve in Allāh and attribute to Him equals." But they will [all] confide regret when they see the punishment; and We will put shackles on the necks of those who disbelieved. Will they be recompensed except for what they used to do?
وَلَا تَنفَعُ ٱلشَّفَـٰعَةُ عِندَهُۥٓ إِلَّا لِمَنْ أَذِنَ لَهُۥ ۚ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا فُزِّعَ عَن قُلُوبِهِمْ قَالُوا۟ مَاذَا قَالَ رَبُّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ ٱلْحَقَّ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَلِىُّ ٱلْكَبِيرُ
And intercession does not benefit with Him except for one whom He permits. [And those wait] until, when terror is removed from their hearts, they will say [to one another], "What has your Lord said?" They will say, "The truth." And He is the Most High, the Grand.