ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مَهْدًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ 10
Translations
[The one] who has made for you the earth a bed and made for you upon it roads that you might be guided
Transliteration
Alladhee ja'ala lakumu al-arda mehdan wa ja'ala lakum feeha subulan la'allakum tahtadoon
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah describes Allah's favor in creating the earth as a cradle (mehad) - comfortable, stable, and suitable for human habitation - and providing pathways upon it to guide people toward their destinations and spiritual guidance. According to Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari, the 'paths' (subulan) refer both to literal routes for travel and metaphorically to the guidance of divine laws and the Shariah that direct humanity toward righteousness and the straight path.
Revelation Context
Surah Az-Zukhruf is a Meccan surah revealed during the early period of Islam, serving as a reminder of Allah's signs and blessings in creation. This particular ayah is part of a broader context (verses 9-13) enumerating Allah's blessings upon mankind, appealing to the intellect of the polytheists and inviting them to recognize divine providence.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, 'Every soul will know what it has sent forward and kept back' (Surah Al-Infitar 82:5), emphasizing human responsibility on the path Allah has provided. Additionally, the hadith in Sunan Ibn Majah relates to mankind's natural disposition (fitrah) toward recognizing divine guidance.
Themes
Key Lesson
Allah has provided both material provisions (a stable earth) and spiritual guidance (laws and pathways) for human flourishing; our responsibility is to recognize these blessings and follow the guidance provided, using reason and intention to seek the straight path in both worldly and spiritual matters.