فَاطِرُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَٰجًا وَمِنَ ٱلْأَنْعَـٰمِ أَزْوَٰجًا ۖ يَذْرَؤُكُمْ فِيهِ ۚ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِۦ شَىْءٌ ۖ وَهُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ 11
Translations
[He is] Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you from yourselves, mates, and among the cattle, mates; He multiplies you thereby. There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.
Transliteration
Fatiru as-samawati wa-al-ardi. Jaala lakum min anfusikum azwajan wa min al-anaami azwajan. Yadhraokum fihi. Laysa kamithlihi shay'un. Wa huwa as-samiu al-basir.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah establishes Allah's absolute oneness and incomparability as the Creator (Fatir) of the heavens and earth, then illustrates His wisdom in creating pairs—from humans themselves and from livestock—as a sign of His creative power and mercy. The phrase 'Laysa kamithlihi shay'un' (there is nothing like unto Him) is a cornerstone of Islamic theology, negating any comparison or resemblance between Allah and creation, while His attributes of all-hearing and all-seeing emphasize His perfect knowledge and awareness. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir note this ayah refutes anthropomorphism and establishes tawhid (monotheism) through both rational argument and divine signs.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ash-Shuraa, a Meccan surah that emphasizes pure monotheism and divine attributes in response to polytheistic beliefs of pre-Islamic Arabia. The surah's broader context addresses fundamental Islamic concepts of divine oneness, and this particular ayah serves as a theological foundation by presenting evidence of Allah's unique creative power observable in natural creation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'The most complete of the believers in faith are those with the best character,' which relates to recognizing Allah's perfection and responding with appropriate humility. Additionally, Imam Ali reported that the Prophet emphasized the impossibility of comprehending Allah's essence, directly relating to 'Laysa kamithlihi shay'un' (Tirmidhi and other sources).
Themes
Key Lesson
Recognizing Allah as the sole Creator without any equal should lead believers to reflect on the natural pairs and systems in creation as evidence of divine wisdom, and to understand that true faith requires acknowledging Allah's absolute uniqueness beyond human comprehension or comparison. This foundational theological understanding should cultivate humility and reverence in worship.