وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ 21
Translations
And in yourselves. Then will you not see?
Transliteration
Wa fī anfusikum, afalā tubṣirūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah, which concludes the discussion of divine signs in creation, directs believers to observe the signs of Allah within themselves—their own bodies, faculties, and souls. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that the human form itself is a profound miracle: the organization of limbs, the faculties of sight and hearing, the intellect, and the soul all testify to the wisdom and power of the Creator. The ayah concludes with an urgent rhetorical question ('Will you not then see?'), calling believers to reflect upon these inner signs rather than remain heedless.
Revelation Context
Surah Adh-Dhariyat is a Meccan surah focused on refuting polytheism and establishing belief in Allah's oneness through contemplation of creation. This ayah appears within a passage (verses 20-23) that systematically presents signs of Allah's existence and power: in the heavens, on earth, and within human beings themselves, addressing the denial of the Meccan polytheists.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ṣallallāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam) said: 'There is no disease that Allah has sent down except that He has also sent down its cure' (Sahih Bukhari 7:71:644), reflecting the wisdom embedded within the human body. Additionally, 'The most perfect believer in faith is the one whose character is finest and best; and the best of you are those who are best to their wives' (Tirmidhi 3895) relates to understanding and developing the faculties within ourselves.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to move beyond external observation of the world to introspection—recognizing that our own existence, consciousness, and bodily functions are profound signs of Allah's creative power. For modern readers, it encourages mindful awareness of our physical and spiritual nature as a pathway to deeper faith and gratitude.