وَإِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ كَيْفَ رُفِعَتْ 18
Translations
And at the sky - how it is raised?
Transliteration
Wa-ilā as-samā'i kayfa rufi'at
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah directs humanity to observe and reflect upon the sky and how it has been raised and constructed without visible pillars or supports. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi explain this as an invitation to contemplate the magnificent creation of Allah, emphasizing the vastness and perfect engineering of the heavens as evidence of Divine power. The rhetorical question "how it was raised" (kayfa rufi'at) prompts believers to recognize the signs (ayat) of Allah's majesty and architectural brilliance in the celestial sphere.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Ghashiyah, a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period of Islam when polytheists denied the resurrection and Divine power. The surah contains a series of rhetorical questions inviting disbelievers to contemplate creation as proof of Allah's existence and ability to resurrect humanity. This ayah is part of a sequence encouraging reflection on five natural phenomena: camels, the sky, mountains, and the earth.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who are best to their families, and I am the best among you to my family' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). More directly related: 'Reflect upon the creation of Allah, but do not reflect upon Allah Himself' (Sunan Ibn Majah), encouraging contemplation of creation as a path to understanding the Creator.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that observing the natural world—particularly the heavens—is a profound form of worship and a means of strengthening faith in Allah's omnipotence. For modern readers, it encourages stepping back from material distractions to contemplate the universe's design as a reminder of our Creator and our spiritual purpose.