أَوَلَمْ يَرَ ٱلْإِنسَـٰنُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰهُ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌ مُّبِينٌ 77
Translations
Does man not consider that We created him from a [mere] sperm-drop - then at once he is a clear adversary?
Transliteration
Awa lam yara al-insanu anna khalaqnahu min nutfatin fa-idha huwa khasimun mubeen
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah addresses human ingratitude and arrogance by pointing out the miraculous nature of human creation from a mere sperm drop, yet despite this humble origin, humans become argumentative and quarrelsome, denying the signs of Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this verse highlights the contradiction between humanity's weak physical origins and their bold rejection of divine truth, while Al-Qurtubi notes that 'khasimun mubeen' (manifest opponent) refers to those who dispute the existence of Allah and the Hereafter with clear stubbornness.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Ya-Sin, which focuses on the Oneness of Allah and the certainty of the Day of Judgment. It comes within a section (verses 77-83) emphasizing signs of Allah's power through creation, particularly the resurrection and human origins, addressing the Meccan disbelievers' denials of the Hereafter and their argumentative rejection of the Prophet Muhammad's message.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The most despicable person in the sight of Allah is the one who is most argumentative' (Sahih Muslim). Additionally, the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah emphasizes that humans were created weak, relating to the theme of human vulnerability at origin despite their later arrogance.
Themes
Key Lesson
Despite our miraculous creation and dependence on Allah for every moment of existence, we often become heedless and argumentative about divine truth; this ayah calls us to reflect on our humble origins as a source of humility and gratitude, recognizing that intellectual arrogance without spiritual submission leads us away from recognizing Allah's clear signs.