وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ 17
Translations
And that is for Allāh not difficult.
Transliteration
Wa maa dhaalika 'alaa Allahi bi'azeez
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that the action mentioned—whether resurrection, renewal of creation, or sustaining life—is not difficult or impossible for Allah. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari emphasize that 'azeez' (mighty/difficult) here negates any hardship for Allah, underscoring His infinite power and the ease with which He accomplishes all things. The ayah serves to strengthen conviction in Allah's absolute capability and to dismiss any doubt about His ability to resurrect humanity or fulfill His promises.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the context of Surah Fatir's discussion of creation, sustenance, and divine power. The preceding verses (35:16) mention that if Allah wills to replace humanity with a new creation, He is fully capable of doing so. This ayah concludes that theme by emphasizing that such acts are effortless for the Almighty, fitting the Meccan surah's focus on tawhid (monotheism) and combating disbelief in resurrection.
Related Hadiths
The principle relates to Hadith Qudsi: 'My mercy encompasses all things' (Sahih Muslim 2751), affirming Allah's absolute power and will. Also relevant is the hadith, 'There is nothing like unto Him' (Quran 42:11, reinforced in Sahih Bukhari traditions), emphasizing His unique transcendence and capability.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches believers that no matter how impossible a situation seems, Allah's power is absolute and infinite—He is never constrained by circumstance or limitation. For modern readers, it provides comfort and assurance that with Allah, all problems are surmountable and all divine promises will certainly be fulfilled.
Related Ayahs
مَّا خَلْقُكُمْ وَلَا بَعْثُكُمْ إِلَّا كَنَفْسٍ وَٰحِدَةٍ ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ سَمِيعٌۢ بَصِيرٌ
Your creation and your resurrection will not be but as that of a single soul. Indeed, Allāh is Hearing and Seeing.
لِلَّهِ مُلْكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَمَا فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌۢ
To Allāh belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is within them. And He is over all things competent.
فَلَآ أُقْسِمُ بِرَبِّ ٱلْمَشَـٰرِقِ وَٱلْمَغَـٰرِبِ إِنَّا لَقَـٰدِرُونَ
So I swear by the Lord of [all] risings and settings that indeed We are able
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُسَيِّرُكُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ ۖ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا كُنتُمْ فِى ٱلْفُلْكِ وَجَرَيْنَ بِهِم بِرِيحٍ طَيِّبَةٍ وَفَرِحُوا۟ بِهَا جَآءَتْهَا رِيحٌ عَاصِفٌ وَجَآءَهُمُ ٱلْمَوْجُ مِن كُلِّ مَكَانٍ وَظَنُّوٓا۟ أَنَّهُمْ أُحِيطَ بِهِمْ ۙ دَعَوُا۟ ٱللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ لَئِنْ أَنجَيْتَنَا مِنْ هَـٰذِهِۦ لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلشَّـٰكِرِينَ
It is He who enables you to travel on land and sea until, when you are in ships and they sail with them by a good wind and they rejoice therein, there comes a storm wind and the waves come upon them from every place and they expect to be engulfed, they supplicate Allāh, sincere to Him in religion, "If You should save us from this, we will surely be among the thankful."