ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مَهْدًا وَسَلَكَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًا وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِۦٓ أَزْوَٰجًا مِّن نَّبَاتٍ شَتَّىٰ 53
Translations
[It is He] who has made for you the earth as a bed [spread out] and inserted therein for you roadways and sent down from the sky, rain and produced thereby categories of various plants.
Transliteration
Al-ladhi ja'ala lakumu al-arda mahdan wa salaka lakum fiha subulan wa anzala mina as-sama'i ma'an fa-akhrajnā bihi azwājan min nabātin shattā
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's provision and mercies toward humanity by highlighting His creation of the earth as a comfortable dwelling place (mahd), the establishment of pathways upon it, and the sending down of water from the sky to produce diverse varieties of vegetation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that these are signs of Allah's wisdom and power, demonstrating His careful provision for human sustenance and survival. Al-Qurtubi notes that the plural form 'azwāj' (pairs/varieties) underscores the remarkable diversity of plant life created from a single water source, pointing to divine excellence in creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Taha (a Meccan chapter) within Allah's address to Musa (Moses) at Mount Sinai. The broader context deals with divine signs and Allah's favors, which serve as evidence of His oneness and ability. The ayah is part of an extended section emphasizing Allah's blessings as proof of His lordship, relevant to the Meccan audience's need to recognize monotheism.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The best charity is water' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi), relating to water's essential role in sustenance. Additionally, 'Whoever plants a tree and guards it until it bears fruit, for him is a reward' (Musnad Ahmad), reflecting the blessing of vegetation mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to recognize Allah's continuous mercies in everyday provision—the stable earth beneath us, accessible pathways, and abundant plant life all testify to His care. For modern readers, it encourages gratitude for natural resources and environmental stewardship, reminding us that the diversity and abundance of creation reflect divine wisdom.
Related Ayahs
۞ فَلَمَّا قَضَىٰ مُوسَى ٱلْأَجَلَ وَسَارَ بِأَهْلِهِۦٓ ءَانَسَ مِن جَانِبِ ٱلطُّورِ نَارًا قَالَ لِأَهْلِهِ ٱمْكُثُوٓا۟ إِنِّىٓ ءَانَسْتُ نَارًا لَّعَلِّىٓ ءَاتِيكُم مِّنْهَا بِخَبَرٍ أَوْ جَذْوَةٍ مِّنَ ٱلنَّارِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَصْطَلُونَ
And when Moses had completed the term and was traveling with his family, he perceived from the direction of the mount a fire. He said to his family, "Stay here; indeed, I have perceived a fire. Perhaps I will bring you from there [some] information or burning wood from the fire that you may warm yourselves."
يُوسُفُ أَيُّهَا ٱلصِّدِّيقُ أَفْتِنَا فِى سَبْعِ بَقَرَٰتٍ سِمَانٍ يَأْكُلُهُنَّ سَبْعٌ عِجَافٌ وَسَبْعِ سُنۢبُلَـٰتٍ خُضْرٍ وَأُخَرَ يَابِسَـٰتٍ لَّعَلِّىٓ أَرْجِعُ إِلَى ٱلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ
[He said], "Joseph, O man of truth, explain to us about seven fat cows eaten by seven [that were] lean, and seven green spikes [of grain] and others [that were] dry - that I may return to the people [i.e., the king and his court]; perhaps they will know [about you]."
ٱللَّهُ خَـٰلِقُ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ وَكِيلٌ
Allāh is the Creator of all things, and He is, over all things, Disposer of affairs.
فَأَجَآءَهَا ٱلْمَخَاضُ إِلَىٰ جِذْعِ ٱلنَّخْلَةِ قَالَتْ يَـٰلَيْتَنِى مِتُّ قَبْلَ هَـٰذَا وَكُنتُ نَسْيًا مَّنسِيًّا
And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm tree. She said, "Oh, I wish I had died before this and was in oblivion, forgotten."