وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ وَٱلنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَٰتٌۢ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ 12
Translations
And He has subjected for you the night and day and the sun and moon, and the stars are subjected by His command. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason.
Transliteration
Wa sakhkhara lakumul-layla wan-nahara wash-shamsa wal-qamar, wan-nujoomu musakhkharatun bi-amrihi, inna fee dhalika la-ayatin li-qawmin ya'qiloon.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah has subjected the night and day, the sun and moon, and the stars to serve humanity according to His divine command. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this subjugation (taskheer) is a sign of Allah's perfect power and wisdom, demonstrating His care for human sustenance and guidance. Al-Qurtubi notes that these celestial bodies operating in precise order demonstrate the existence of an All-Wise Creator, and such signs are only recognized by those who possess understanding and intellect.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nahl (The Bee), a Meccan surah that emphasizes divine blessings and mercies bestowed upon humanity. The broader context of the surah catalogs Allah's favors (ni'am) to guide the Quraysh to monotheism, and this particular ayah is part of a series discussing the subjugation of natural phenomena for human benefit.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: 'The best of you are those who learn the Quran and teach it' (Sahih Bukhari 5027), emphasizing the importance of understanding signs like those mentioned here. Additionally, there are numerous hadiths encouraging reflection upon creation, such as in Jami' at-Tirmidhi regarding the contemplation of the heavens and earth.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to recognize Allah's majesty through observable natural phenomena and to use their God-given intellect to reflect upon creation as a path to stronger faith and gratitude. In our modern era, scientific understanding of celestial mechanics should deepen, not diminish, our appreciation for the Divine order underlying the universe.