قُلْ هُوَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَنشَأَكُمْ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلسَّمْعَ وَٱلْأَبْصَـٰرَ وَٱلْأَفْـِٔدَةَ ۖ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ 23
Translations
Say, "It is He who has produced you and made for you hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect]; little are you grateful."
Transliteration
Qul huwa alladhī ansha'akum wa ja'ala lakumu as-sam'a wa al-absāra wa al-af'ida qalīlan mā tashkurūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet to proclaim that He alone is the Creator who brought humans into existence and granted them the faculties of hearing, sight, and hearts (understanding/intellect). The ayah concludes with a profound rebuke that despite these countless blessings, people rarely show gratitude to their Creator. Ibn Kathir emphasizes that these three faculties represent all means of knowledge and perception—hearing for receiving information, sight for observation, and the heart for comprehension and wisdom—making ingratitude a grave offense when one possesses such divine gifts.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Mulk, a Meccan chapter that emphasizes Allah's absolute sovereignty and dominion over creation. The broader context of this surah focuses on monotheism and refuting polytheism by highlighting the signs of Allah's creation. This particular verse serves as evidence for tawhīd (monotheism) by reminding people that only Allah possesses the power to create and grant such essential blessings.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Whoever among you wakes up secure in his property, healthy in his body, with food for the day, it is as if the whole world has been given to him' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi). This hadith relates to the theme of gratitude for blessings including health and sustenance.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah challenges believers to recognize that hearing, sight, and intellect are precious divine gifts that most people take for granted, and to cultivate genuine gratitude by acknowledging Allah as their sole Creator and sustainer. Modern readers should reflect on how often they forget to thank Allah for these fundamental blessings and use these faculties wisely in obedience to Him.