وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى مَدَّ ٱلْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَٰسِىَ وَأَنْهَـٰرًا ۖ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَٰتِ جَعَلَ فِيهَا زَوْجَيْنِ ٱثْنَيْنِ ۖ يُغْشِى ٱلَّيْلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ 3
Translations
And it is He who spread the earth and placed therein firmly set mountains and rivers; and from all of the fruits He made therein two mates; He causes the night to cover the day. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.
Transliteration
Wa huwa alladhī madda al-arda wa jaʿala fīha rawāsī wa anhāran, wa min kulli al-thamarāt jaʿala fīha zawjayn ithnayn, yughshī al-layla al-nahāra, inna fī dhālika la-āyāt li-qawm yatafakkarūn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's creative power in establishing the earth with mountains as stabilizers, rivers for sustenance, and pairs of fruits for nourishment—demonstrating His perfect design and provision. The mention of night covering the day illustrates the cosmic order and Allah's control over time and celestial movements. Classical scholars like Al-Tabari emphasize that these signs are directed toward those who reflect and contemplate, making this ayah a call to intellectual engagement with creation as evidence of divine wisdom.
Revelation Context
Surah Ar-Ra'd, revealed in Medina, addresses the disbelievers' denial of Allah's signs and the Day of Judgment. This particular ayah falls within a section emphasizing Allah's sovereignty over creation and the natural phenomena surrounding the Meccan disbelievers, serving as rational evidence (ayāt) for those willing to ponder.
Related Hadiths
Hadith from Jābir ibn ʿAbdullāh (Sahih Muslim): The Prophet ﷺ said, 'The best act of worship is to contemplate Allah's creation.' This reinforces the ayah's emphasis on reflection (tafakkur). Additionally, the Prophet ﷺ said regarding mountains: 'Mountains are like pegs for the earth' (a concept affirmed in various hadith collections), supporting the ayah's mention of 'rawāsī' (mountains as stabilizers).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches Muslims to observe and appreciate the intricate balance of creation—from mountains stabilizing the earth to the regular cycles of day and night—as manifestations of Allah's infinite wisdom, inspiring awe and gratitude. Modern believers should cultivate the habit of tafakkur (deep reflection) on creation as a means of strengthening their faith and understanding Allah's majesty.
Related Ayahs
وَيَسْتَعْجِلُونَكَ بِٱلسَّيِّئَةِ قَبْلَ ٱلْحَسَنَةِ وَقَدْ خَلَتْ مِن قَبْلِهِمُ ٱلْمَثُلَـٰتُ ۗ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلَىٰ ظُلْمِهِمْ ۖ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ ٱلْعِقَابِ
They impatiently urge you to bring about evil before good, while there has already occurred before them similar punishments [to what they demand]. And indeed, your Lord is the possessor of forgiveness for the people despite their wrongdoing, and indeed, your Lord is severe in penalty.
وَلَقَدِ ٱسْتُهْزِئَ بِرُسُلٍ مِّن قَبْلِكَ فَأَمْلَيْتُ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ ثُمَّ أَخَذْتُهُمْ ۖ فَكَيْفَ كَانَ عِقَابِ
And already were [other] messengers ridiculed before you, and I extended the time of those who disbelieved; then I seized them, and how [terrible] was My penalty.
وَٱلَّذِينَ يَنقُضُونَ عَهْدَ ٱللَّهِ مِنۢ بَعْدِ مِيثَـٰقِهِۦ وَيَقْطَعُونَ مَآ أَمَرَ ٱللَّهُ بِهِۦٓ أَن يُوصَلَ وَيُفْسِدُونَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ۙ أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ لَهُمُ ٱللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلدَّارِ
But those who break the covenant of Allāh after contracting it and sever that which Allāh has ordered to be joined and spread corruption on earth - for them is the curse, and they will have the worst home.
سَلَـٰمٌ عَلَيْكُم بِمَا صَبَرْتُمْ ۚ فَنِعْمَ عُقْبَى ٱلدَّارِ
"Peace [i.e., security] be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home."