أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَتُصْبِحُ ٱلْأَرْضُ مُخْضَرَّةً ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ 63
Translations
Do you not see that Allāh has sent down rain from the sky and the earth becomes green? Indeed, Allāh is Subtle and Aware.
Transliteration
Alam tara anna Allaha anzala mina as-sama'i maan fatasbih al-ardu mukhdarrah. Inna Allaha latifun khabir.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah draws attention to the miraculous cycle of rainfall and vegetation as evidence of Allah's divine power and wisdom. When rain descends from the sky, the barren earth becomes verdant and green, demonstrating Allah's ability to give life to what was dead. The concluding attributes—'Latif' (The Subtle/Gracious) and 'Khabir' (The All-Aware)—emphasize that Allah's management of these natural processes is both delicate and perfectly informed; He knows precisely when, where, and how much water to send, reflecting His intimate knowledge and gentle care over creation.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Hajj, a Medinan chapter primarily discussing the pilgrimage and related spiritual matters. Within the broader context (22:59-63), it serves as one of several ayahs using natural phenomena as signs (ayat) of Allah's oneness and power, inviting reflection on the tangible evidences of divine wisdom manifest in the creation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best charity is water' (Sunan Ibn Majah 3793), emphasizing the precious and life-giving nature of water. Additionally, Hadith Qudsi relates: 'I was a hidden treasure and I loved to be known, so I created creation...' reinforcing Allah's creative wisdom evident in sustaining life through water.
Themes
Key Lesson
Believers should observe the natural world—particularly how rain revives dead earth—as a reminder of Allah's infinite power and their own spiritual revival through faith and obedience. This ayah invites us to recognize Allah's subtle care in all aspects of creation and to reflect on how divine wisdom operates through seemingly ordinary natural processes.