قُلْ أَرَءَيْتُمْ إِن جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ ٱلنَّهَارَ سَرْمَدًا إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ ٱلْقِيَـٰمَةِ مَنْ إِلَـٰهٌ غَيْرُ ٱللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُم بِلَيْلٍ تَسْكُنُونَ فِيهِ ۖ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ 72
Translations
Say, "Have you considered: if Allāh should make for you the day continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allāh could bring you a night in which you may rest? Then will you not see?"
Transliteration
Qul arayaytum in jaala Allahu alaikumu alnnihara sarmadan ila yawmi alqqiyamati man ilahun ghayru Allahi yatikum biallayli taskunun fihi afalaa tubsirun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents a rhetorical argument challenging the polytheists to imagine if Allah made the day perpetual until the Day of Judgment—who else besides Allah could bring them the night in which they rest? The verse emphasizes Allah's exclusive divine power and wisdom in creating the alternation of day and night, which sustains human life. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this as evidence against shirk (associating partners with Allah), demonstrating that no false god possesses such creative authority or ability to provide humanity's fundamental needs.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears within Surah Al-Qasas, a Meccan chapter addressing the polytheists of Mecca. It is part of a series of rhetorical arguments (verses 71-73) designed to convince the disbelievers of Allah's oneness by highlighting the blessings and necessities He alone provides. The context reflects the early Meccan period's focus on tawhid (monotheism) and refutation of idolatry.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly cites this verse, Sahih Bukhari and Muslim contain numerous ahadith on the creation of day and night as signs of Allah's power. The Prophet (ﷺ) emphasized gratitude for these blessings in various contexts, including the evening and morning supplications (du'a).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to recognize the fundamental blessings we often take for granted—the alternation of day and night—as evidence of Allah's singular divine authority and wisdom. We should cultivate gratitude for these necessities and use reason to strengthen our conviction in tawhid, understanding that only Allah possesses the power to sustain creation's order.
Related Ayahs
لَّن يَسْتَنكِفَ ٱلْمَسِيحُ أَن يَكُونَ عَبْدًا لِّلَّهِ وَلَا ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةُ ٱلْمُقَرَّبُونَ ۚ وَمَن يَسْتَنكِفْ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَيَسْتَكْبِرْ فَسَيَحْشُرُهُمْ إِلَيْهِ جَمِيعًا
Never would the Messiah disdain to be a servant of Allāh, nor would the angels near [to Him]. And whoever disdains His worship and is arrogant - He will gather them to Himself all together.
وَمَن يَدْعُ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ لَا بُرْهَـٰنَ لَهُۥ بِهِۦ فَإِنَّمَا حِسَابُهُۥ عِندَ رَبِّهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ لَا يُفْلِحُ ٱلْكَـٰفِرُونَ
And whoever invokes besides Allāh another deity for which he has no proof - then his account is only with his Lord. Indeed, the disbelievers will not succeed.
فَلَمَّا رَأَوْا۟ بَأْسَنَا قَالُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا بِٱللَّهِ وَحْدَهُۥ وَكَفَرْنَا بِمَا كُنَّا بِهِۦ مُشْرِكِينَ
And when they saw Our punishment, they said, "We believe in Allāh alone and disbelieve in that which we used to associate with Him."
۞ وَقَالَ ٱللَّهُ لَا تَتَّخِذُوٓا۟ إِلَـٰهَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ ۖ إِنَّمَا هُوَ إِلَـٰهٌ وَٰحِدٌ ۖ فَإِيَّـٰىَ فَٱرْهَبُونِ
And Allāh has said, "Do not take for yourselves two deities. He [i.e., Allāh] is but one God, so fear only Me."