إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ 16
Translations
If He wills, He can do away with you and bring forth a new creation.
Transliteration
In yasha' yudhhbkum wa ya'ti bikalqin jadid
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms Allah's absolute power and sovereignty, stating that if He wills, He can destroy humanity and replace them with a new creation. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain this as a warning against arrogance and disobedience, emphasizing that human existence is entirely contingent upon Allah's will. The ayah serves as a reminder that no nation or individual is indispensable to Allah, and that His creative power is limitless—He can easily bring forth new creatures if He chooses.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Fatir (Chapter 35), a Meccan surah that emphasizes Allah's creative power and dominion. The broader context addresses the polytheists' rejection of the message and their arrogance, positioning this statement as a warning against those who deny Allah's signs and persist in disobedience. The surah uses examples from creation to demonstrate Allah's unique attributes.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly quotes this verse, the concept relates to Sahih Muslim 2949, where the Prophet (ﷺ) mentions that Allah created creation and that His knowledge encompasses all things. Additionally, this theme connects to hadiths about the Day of Judgment and resurrection, affirming Allah's power to recreate humanity.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers to cultivate humility and God-consciousness by recognizing their absolute dependence on Allah's will, and to understand that disobedience and arrogance carry grave consequences. It serves as a spiritual corrective against self-importance, reminding us that our existence and blessings are entirely gifts from the All-Powerful Creator.