وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦ خَلْقُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَٱخْتِلَـٰفُ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَلْوَٰنِكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّلْعَـٰلِمِينَ 22
Translations
And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and your colors. Indeed in that are signs for those of knowledge.
Transliteration
Wa min ayatihi khalqu as-samawati wa al-ardi wa ikhtilāfu alsinatikum wa alwānikum. Inna fi dhālika la-āyātin li al-ālimīn.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the creation of the heavens and earth, along with the diversity of human languages and colors, as signs (āyāt) of Allah's power and wisdom. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that these visible variations demonstrate Allah's creative ability and serve as evidence for the wise design of creation, particularly addressing those with knowledge ('al-ālimīn') who can perceive and reflect upon these signs. The ayah refutes fatalistic or deterministic views by highlighting how Allah's will manifests in the remarkable diversity within an ordered creation.
Revelation Context
Surah Ar-Rum is a Meccan surah revealed during the early Islamic period when Muslims were facing ridicule for their monotheistic beliefs. This ayah appears within a passage addressing the signs of Allah's existence and oneness, serving as evidence against polytheism and encouraging reflection on the natural world as proof of divine creation.
Related Hadiths
Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Every child is born in a state of fitrah (natural disposition toward monotheism), but his parents make him Jewish, Christian, or Magian' (Sahih Bukhari 1385). This hadith relates to the theme of human diversity mentioned in the ayah. Additionally, the hadith about the creation of the fetus in Sahih Muslim connects to reflection on Allah's creative signs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to contemplate the natural world—including human diversity in language and appearance—as evidence of Allah's existence and wisdom, encouraging intellectual engagement with faith rather than blind acceptance. The emphasis on 'al-ālimīn' (those with knowledge) suggests that deeper understanding of creation strengthens one's conviction and should promote appreciation for human diversity as part of divine design.
Related Ayahs
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ ۚ وَلَهُ ٱلْمَثَلُ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
And it is He who begins creation; then He repeats it, and that is [even] easier for Him. To Him belongs the highest description [i.e., attribute] in the heavens and earth. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُم مِّن شُرَكَآئِهِمْ شُفَعَـٰٓؤُا۟ وَكَانُوا۟ بِشُرَكَآئِهِمْ كَـٰفِرِينَ
And there will not be for them among their [alleged] partners any intercessors, and they will [then] be disbelievers in their partners.
وَعْدَ ٱللَّهِ ۖ لَا يُخْلِفُ ٱللَّهُ وَعْدَهُۥ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ
[It is] the promise of Allāh. Allāh does not fail in His promise, but most of the people do not know.
ثُمَّ كَانَ عَـٰقِبَةَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسَـٰٓـُٔوا۟ ٱلسُّوٓأَىٰٓ أَن كَذَّبُوا۟ بِـَٔايَـٰتِ ٱللَّهِ وَكَانُوا۟ بِهَا يَسْتَهْزِءُونَ
Then the end of those who did evil was the worst [consequence] because they denied the signs of Allāh and used to ridicule them.