وَكَأَيِّن مِّنْ ءَايَةٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ يَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ عَنْهَا مُعْرِضُونَ 105
Translations
And how many a sign within the heavens and earth do they pass over while they, therefrom, are turning away.
Transliteration
Wa-ka-ayyin min ayatin fi al-samawati wa-al-ardi yamurrun alayha wa-hum anha mu'ridun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah highlights how countless signs (ayat) of Allah's power and wisdom are manifest in the heavens and the earth, yet many people pass by them heedlessly, turning away in indifference. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that these signs—from the celestial bodies to earthly phenomena—are clear proofs of Allah's existence and oneness, but human heedlessness and spiritual blindness prevent people from contemplating and benefiting from them. Al-Qurtubi notes that this aversion is a form of deliberate rejection despite the clarity of evidence.
Revelation Context
While no specific asbab al-nuzul is recorded for this ayah, it appears within Surah Yusuf's broader Meccan context of addressing the disbelievers of Mecca who rejected the Prophet's message. The ayah serves as a general rebuke to those who possess the cognitive ability to reflect upon creation yet choose willful ignorance instead.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'Reflect upon creation, but do not reflect upon the Creator' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet emphasizes that 'In every creature there is a sign of Allah's oneness' relates to the theme of recognizing divine signs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches that spiritual blindness is often a choice rather than an inability—we are surrounded by undeniable proofs of Allah's majesty, yet our hearts must be actively willing to observe and reflect. For modern believers, this is a call to cultivate conscious awareness of the divine in nature and to examine whether we too pass through life heedless of the signs meant to draw us closer to our Creator.
Related Ayahs
وَجَآءُو عَلَىٰ قَمِيصِهِۦ بِدَمٍ كَذِبٍ ۚ قَالَ بَلْ سَوَّلَتْ لَكُمْ أَنفُسُكُمْ أَمْرًا ۖ فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ ۖ وَٱللَّهُ ٱلْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَىٰ مَا تَصِفُونَ
And they brought upon his shirt false blood. [Jacob] said, "Rather, your souls have enticed you to something, so patience is most fitting. And Allāh is the one sought for help against that which you describe."
قَالُوا۟ تَٱللَّهِ تَفْتَؤُا۟ تَذْكُرُ يُوسُفَ حَتَّىٰ تَكُونَ حَرَضًا أَوْ تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْهَـٰلِكِينَ
They said, "By Allāh, you will not cease remembering Joseph until you become fatally ill or become of those who perish."
قَالُوٓا۟ أَءِنَّكَ لَأَنتَ يُوسُفُ ۖ قَالَ أَنَا۠ يُوسُفُ وَهَـٰذَآ أَخِى ۖ قَدْ مَنَّ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْنَآ ۖ إِنَّهُۥ مَن يَتَّقِ وَيَصْبِرْ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُضِيعُ أَجْرَ ٱلْمُحْسِنِينَ
They said, "Are you indeed Joseph?" He said, "I am Joseph, and this is my brother. Allāh has certainly favored us. Indeed, he who fears Allāh and is patient, then indeed, Allāh does not allow to be lost the reward of those who do good."
۞ قَالُوٓا۟ إِن يَسْرِقْ فَقَدْ سَرَقَ أَخٌ لَّهُۥ مِن قَبْلُ ۚ فَأَسَرَّهَا يُوسُفُ فِى نَفْسِهِۦ وَلَمْ يُبْدِهَا لَهُمْ ۚ قَالَ أَنتُمْ شَرٌّ مَّكَانًا ۖ وَٱللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا تَصِفُونَ
They said, "If he steals - a brother of his has stolen before." But Joseph kept it within himself and did not reveal it to them. He said, "You are worse in position, and Allāh is most knowing of what you describe."