خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ تَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشْرِكُونَ 3
Translations
He created the heavens and earth in truth. High is He above what they associate with Him.
Transliteration
Khalaqa as-samawati wa-al-arda bi-al-haqq. Ta'ala 'amma yushrikun.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah declares that Allah created the heavens and the earth with truth and purpose, not in vain. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi interpret 'bi-al-haqq' (with truth/justice) to mean that creation serves divine wisdom and justice, refuting the polytheists' false beliefs. The phrase 'Ta'ala 'amma yushrikun' (exalted is He above what they associate with Him) emphasizes Allah's complete transcendence and rejection of shirk (associating partners with Allah).
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nahl, a Meccan surah that focuses on Allah's signs and blessings in creation. The verse occurs within a passage refuting polytheism and establishing tawhid (monotheism) by pointing to the purposeful creation of the universe as evidence of Allah's oneness and transcendence.
Related Hadiths
Hadith Qudsi: 'I created all things for a purpose' - emphasizing that creation is not without design. Also related to the hadith in Sahih Muslim where the Prophet (ﷺ) said that whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should know that everything created has wisdom behind it.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that the orderly universe around us is clear evidence of one Creator with perfect wisdom, inviting us to reflect on creation as a means of strengthening faith and rejecting false associations with the Divine. It also humbles us to recognize that our purpose aligns with the greater divine plan in creation.
Related Ayahs
لَا يُسْـَٔلُ عَمَّا يَفْعَلُ وَهُمْ يُسْـَٔلُونَ
He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُولِجُ ٱلَّيْلَ فِى ٱلنَّهَارِ وَيُولِجُ ٱلنَّهَارَ فِى ٱلَّيْلِ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ يَجْرِىٓ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ خَبِيرٌ
Do you not see [i.e., know] that Allāh causes the night to enter the day and causes the day to enter the night and has subjected the sun and the moon, each running [its course] for a specified term, and that Allāh, of whatever you do, is Aware?
مِن شَرِّ مَا خَلَقَ
From the evil of that which He created
لِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌۢ
To Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is within them. And He is over all things competent.