وَٱللَّهُ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَحْيَا بِهِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَآ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ 65
Translations
And Allāh has sent down rain from the sky and given life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who listen.
Transliteration
Wa-Allahu anzala mina as-sama'i ma'an fa-ahya bihi al-arda ba'da mawtiha. Inna fi dhalika la-ayatan li-qawmin yasma'un.
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah sends down rain from the sky, by which He revives the dead earth and brings forth vegetation and life after its barrenness. This phenomenon serves as a clear sign (ayah) of Allah's power, wisdom, and sustenance for those who listen and reflect upon His signs. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir emphasize that this cycle of death and revival of the earth is a manifestation of Allah's ability to resurrect the dead on the Day of Judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah is part of Surah An-Nahl, a Meccan chapter that elaborates on the signs (ayat) of Allah's creation and His blessings upon humanity. The surah repeatedly invites reflection on natural phenomena as evidence of divine power. This particular verse emphasizes the tangible miracle of rain and agricultural revival, which would have been especially meaningful to the Arabic audience living in an arid environment where rainfall was precious and life-giving.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'The best charity is water' (Sunan Ibn Majah). Additionally, the Quran itself connects this theme in Surah Al-A'raf 57: 'And it is He who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy, until when they have lifted heavy clouds, We direct them to a dead land and We send down rain thereupon.'
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to observe the natural cycles around us—particularly rain and the earth's revival—as profound reminders of Allah's creative power and an analogy for spiritual and physical resurrection. For believers today, it calls us to develop conscious awareness (tafakkur) of creation as a means of strengthening faith and gratitude.