وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلنُّجُومَ لِتَهْتَدُوا۟ بِهَا فِى ظُلُمَـٰتِ ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ ۗ قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ 97
Translations
And it is He who placed for you the stars that you may be guided by them through the darknesses of the land and sea. We have detailed the signs for a people who know.
Transliteration
Wa huwa alladhī ja'ala lakumu an-nujūma lita'tahdū bihā fī ẓulumāti al-barri wa-al-baḥri, qad faṣṣalnā al-āyāti liqawmin ya'lamūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah has created the stars as signs and means of guidance for travelers to navigate through the darkness of land and sea. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah demonstrates Allah's mercy in providing practical navigational tools while simultaneously serving as spiritual signs of His creation and wisdom. The concluding phrase indicates that these revelations are detailed for those who possess knowledge and understanding, suggesting that reflection upon creation requires intellectual capacity and sincere seeking.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Al-An'am, which comprehensively presents the proofs of Allah's oneness and His care for creation. The surah emphasizes divine signs (ayāt) scattered throughout the natural world as evidence of Allah's power and beneficence. This particular verse is part of a series highlighting various blessings and signs that should lead people to recognize and obey Allah.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Qur'an and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), as reflection upon creation and signs requires knowledge. Additionally, the Prophet encouraged seeking knowledge about the creation, as seen in various narrations about understanding the cosmos as a path to knowing the Creator.
Themes
Key Lesson
The stars represent both practical guidance and spiritual reminders of Allah's infinite wisdom and care—modern believers should cultivate awareness of such signs in creation as a means of strengthening faith and gratitude. Additionally, understanding the purpose and benefit of creation encourages us to use knowledge as a bridge to recognizing our Creator's magnificence.
Related Ayahs
لِّكُلِّ نَبَإٍ مُّسْتَقَرٌّ ۚ وَسَوْفَ تَعْلَمُونَ
For every news [i.e., happening] is a finality; and you are going to know.
وَهُوَ ٱللَّهُ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ يَعْلَمُ سِرَّكُمْ وَجَهْرَكُمْ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَكْسِبُونَ
And He is Allāh, [the only deity] in the heavens and the earth. He knows your secret and what you make public, and He knows that which you earn.
قُلْ أَنَدْعُوا۟ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَنفَعُنَا وَلَا يَضُرُّنَا وَنُرَدُّ عَلَىٰٓ أَعْقَابِنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَىٰنَا ٱللَّهُ كَٱلَّذِى ٱسْتَهْوَتْهُ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ حَيْرَانَ لَهُۥٓ أَصْحَـٰبٌ يَدْعُونَهُۥٓ إِلَى ٱلْهُدَى ٱئْتِنَا ۗ قُلْ إِنَّ هُدَى ٱللَّهِ هُوَ ٱلْهُدَىٰ ۖ وَأُمِرْنَا لِنُسْلِمَ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
Say, "Shall we invoke instead of Allāh that which neither benefits us nor harms us and be turned back on our heels after Allāh has guided us? [We would then be] like one whom the devils enticed [to wander] upon the earth confused, [while] he has companions inviting him to guidance, [calling], 'Come to us.'" Say, "Indeed, the guidance of Allāh is the [only] guidance; and we have been commanded to submit to the Lord of the worlds.
وَلَا تَطْرُدِ ٱلَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُم بِٱلْغَدَوٰةِ وَٱلْعَشِىِّ يُرِيدُونَ وَجْهَهُۥ ۖ مَا عَلَيْكَ مِنْ حِسَابِهِم مِّن شَىْءٍ وَمَا مِنْ حِسَابِكَ عَلَيْهِم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَتَطْرُدَهُمْ فَتَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And do not send away those who call upon their Lord morning and afternoon, seeking His face [i.e., favor]. Not upon you is anything of their account and not upon them is anything of your account. So were you to send them away, you would [then] be of the wrongdoers.