خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَصَوَّرَكُمْ فَأَحْسَنَ صُوَرَكُمْ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ ٱلْمَصِيرُ 3
Translations
He created the heavens and earth in truth and formed you and perfected your forms; and to Him is the [final] destination.
Transliteration
Khalaqa as-samawati wa-al-arda bil-haqqi wa-sawwarakum fa-ahsana suwarakum wa-ilayhi al-masir
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah created the heavens and earth with perfect wisdom and purpose (bil-haqq), and fashioned humanity with excellent form and proportion (ahsan taqwim). Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this creation reflects divine wisdom and beauty, establishing the foundation for recognizing Allah's perfect craftsmanship and sovereignty. The concluding statement 'wa-ilayhi al-masir' (to Him is the return) reminds believers that despite receiving this honored creation, all will ultimately return to Allah for judgment.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah At-Taghabun, a Medinan surah that addresses themes of accountability and the reality of the Day of Judgment. It provides theological grounding for the surah's message by reminding believers of Allah's creative power and wisdom, establishing His right to demand accountability from His creation.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'Allah created Adam in His image' (Sahih Bukhari 6227), which relates to the concept of excellent form (ahsan surah). Additionally, the hadith 'There is nothing more beloved to Allah than two things: Islam and good character' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi) connects to the perfection of creation referenced in this verse.
Themes
Key Lesson
Recognizing that we are created with excellent form (ahsan taqwim) should inspire gratitude to Allah and encourage us to honor this divine gift through righteous conduct. The reminder that we return to Allah should motivate us to reflect on our purpose and prepare for accountability, using our honored creation for obedience rather than transgression.