قَالَ لَهُۥ صَاحِبُهُۥ وَهُوَ يُحَاوِرُهُۥٓ أَكَفَرْتَ بِٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكَ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ سَوَّىٰكَ رَجُلًا 37
Translations
His companion said to him while he was conversing with him, "Have you disbelieved in He who created you from dust and then from a sperm-drop and then proportioned you [as] a man?
Transliteration
Qala lahu sahibuhu wa huwa yuhawiruhu akafarta billathi khalaqaka min turab thumma min nutfah thumma sawwaka rajula
Tafsir (Explanation)
The believing companion rebukes his wealthy, arrogant companion by reminding him of Allah's creative power and grace in bringing him into existence from dust, then from a sperm-drop, and finally shaping him into a perfect human form. This rhetorical question serves to awaken the arrogant man's consciousness and challenge his ingratitude and denial of his Creator's dominion, as mentioned by Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari. The ayah emphasizes that denying Allah's existence and power is tantamount to rejecting the very signs of creation evident within oneself.
Revelation Context
This ayah occurs within the story of two men in Surah Al-Kahf—one righteous and one arrogant and wealthy. The context depicts a dialogue where the believing companion attempts to guide his companion away from arrogance and disbelief. While the story itself is illustrative rather than tied to a specific historical event, it reflects themes central to Meccan revelation concerning tawhid (monotheism) and the rejection of arrogance as a barrier to faith.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The most hated of people to Allah is the most arrogant' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, the Quran states elsewhere: 'Verily, those who do not believe in the Hereafter, We have prepared for them a painful torment' (Surah An-Nisa 4:37), reflecting the theme of ingratitude leading to punishment.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that recognition of Allah's creative power should instill humility rather than arrogance, regardless of wealth or status, and that sincere believers have a responsibility to advise others away from denial and toward gratitude for the divine gifts we possess.
Related Ayahs
إِنَّمَا سُلْطَـٰنُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلَّذِينَ يَتَوَلَّوْنَهُۥ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِهِۦ مُشْرِكُونَ
His authority is only over those who take him as an ally and those who through him associate others with Allāh.
وَرَبَطْنَا عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ إِذْ قَامُوا۟ فَقَالُوا۟ رَبُّنَا رَبُّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ لَن نَّدْعُوَا۟ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَـٰهًا ۖ لَّقَدْ قُلْنَآ إِذًا شَطَطًا
And We bound [i.e., made firm] their hearts when they stood up and said, "Our Lord is the Lord of the heavens and the earth. Never will we invoke besides Him any deity. We would have certainly spoken, then, an excessive transgression.
۞ وَمَن يَقُلْ مِنْهُمْ إِنِّىٓ إِلَـٰهٌ مِّن دُونِهِۦ فَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِيهِ جَهَنَّمَ ۚ كَذَٰلِكَ نَجْزِى ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَ
And whoever of them should say, "Indeed, I am a god besides Him" - that one We would recompense with Hell. Thus do We recompense the wrongdoers.
وَجَعَلُوا۟ لِلَّهِ شُرَكَآءَ ٱلْجِنَّ وَخَلَقَهُمْ ۖ وَخَرَقُوا۟ لَهُۥ بَنِينَ وَبَنَـٰتٍۭ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ ۚ سُبْحَـٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يَصِفُونَ
But they have attributed to Allāh partners - the jinn, while He has created them - and have fabricated for Him sons and daughters without knowledge. Exalted is He and high above what they describe.