رَفَعَ سَمْكَهَا فَسَوَّىٰهَا 28
Translations
He raised its ceiling and proportioned it.
Transliteration
Rafa'a samkaha fasawwaha
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's creation of the sky/heaven (samaa'), where He raised its height and made it perfectly proportioned and balanced. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari and Ibn Kathir explain that 'samk' refers to the height or expanse of the heavens, indicating Allah's divine craftsmanship in creating the celestial vault with perfect symmetry and order. The ayah emphasizes the majesty and precision of divine creation as evidence of Allah's power and wisdom.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah An-Nazi'at, a Meccan surah that focuses on the power of Allah displayed through creation and the inevitable Day of Judgment. The passage is part of a broader description (verses 27-33) detailing the stages of creation—the earth, mountains, vegetation, and heavens—meant to inspire awe and conviction in Allah's oneness among the Meccan polytheists.
Related Hadiths
The hadith from Sahih Bukhari (3191) in which the Prophet ﷺ said, 'The greatest ayah in the Quran is Ayat al-Kursi,' while not directly about this ayah, relates thematically to ayahs describing Allah's cosmic power and majesty.
Themes
Key Lesson
Contemplating the precise structure and vastness of the heavens should fill our hearts with reverence for Allah's creative power and remind us that the One who created such perfect order deserves our complete obedience and devotion.