أَلَمْ نَجْعَلِ ٱلْأَرْضَ كِفَاتًا 25
Translations
Have We not made the earth a container
Transliteration
Alam naj'al al-arda kifatan
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah asks, 'Have We not made the earth a receptacle (or container)?' referring to Allah's creation of the earth with the capacity to sustain and contain all life forms—both the living and the dead. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret 'kifatan' (كفاتًا) as meaning the earth receives and embraces the living upon its surface and receives the dead within its soil, demonstrating Allah's perfect design for human existence and the natural cycle of life and death.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Al-Mursalat, a Meccan surah that emphasizes Allah's creative power and signs in nature as evidence of His oneness and the reality of the Hereafter. The surah uses rhetorical questions to remind the Meccans of Allah's blessings and His power over creation, with this particular ayah highlighting the earth's remarkable function in sustaining life.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The earth will be told on the Day of Judgment, 'Vomit out what you have swallowed,' and it will bring forth whatever has been buried in it from treasures and the like' (Sahih Bukhari). This hadith relates to the earth's role as a container of both life and what is buried within it.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites reflection on Allah's meticulous design of our earthly home and our complete dependence on His creation for survival. It should inspire gratitude for the earth's provisions and humility before our Creator, while reminding us that this earthly abode is temporary and all will eventually return to the earth.