۞ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُمْسِكُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ أَن تَزُولَا ۚ وَلَئِن زَالَتَآ إِنْ أَمْسَكَهُمَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِّنۢ بَعْدِهِۦٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا 41
Translations
Indeed, Allāh holds the heavens and the earth, lest they cease. And if they should cease, no one could hold them [in place] after Him. Indeed, He is Forbearing and Forgiving.
Transliteration
Inna Allaha yumsiku as-samawati wal-arda an tazula wa la-in zalat in amsakahuma min ahadin min ba'dihi innahu kana haliman ghafura
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah affirms that Allah alone sustains and preserves the heavens and the earth from collapsing or ceasing to exist. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari explain that this demonstrates Allah's absolute power and control over creation—no one else could maintain them if they were to perish. The concluding attributes of forbearance (hilm) and forgiveness (ghafur) suggest that despite humanity's disobedience and ingratitude, Allah continues to sustain creation out of His mercy and clemency.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Fatir (Meccan), which emphasizes Allah's power as the Creator and Originator of all things. The surah addresses the polytheists' denial of monotheism and the resurrection, contextualizing this ayah within the broader theme of Allah's sovereignty over all creation and His complete self-sufficiency.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The example of my Ummah is like the example of the rain, it is not known whether the end of it will be good or not' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 2332). More directly, the concept of Allah's preservation of creation relates to the hadith about the seven heavens and earths in Sahih Bukhari 4802, emphasizing Allah's sustenance of all worlds.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that all existence depends entirely on Allah's will and power, not on natural laws or material forces—a profound reminder to trust in Allah's sustenance and to recognize that the universe's continuation is a sign of His mercy. It also teaches that despite humanity's failings and sins, Allah's forbearance and forgiveness ensure the continuation of creation, encouraging believers to turn to Him in repentance.
Related Ayahs
وَهُمْ يَصْطَرِخُونَ فِيهَا رَبَّنَآ أَخْرِجْنَا نَعْمَلْ صَـٰلِحًا غَيْرَ ٱلَّذِى كُنَّا نَعْمَلُ ۚ أَوَلَمْ نُعَمِّرْكُم مَّا يَتَذَكَّرُ فِيهِ مَن تَذَكَّرَ وَجَآءَكُمُ ٱلنَّذِيرُ ۖ فَذُوقُوا۟ فَمَا لِلظَّـٰلِمِينَ مِن نَّصِيرٍ
And they will cry out therein, "Our Lord, remove us; we will do righteousness - other than what we were doing!" But did We not grant you life enough for whoever would remember therein to remember, and the warner had come to you? So taste [the punishment], for there is not for the wrongdoers any helper.
وَمَا ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ بِعَزِيزٍ
And that is for Allāh not difficult.
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَـٰلِمُ غَيْبِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلِيمٌۢ بِذَاتِ ٱلصُّدُورِ
Indeed, Allāh is Knower of the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and earth. Indeed, He is Knowing of that within the breasts.
وَمَا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْبَحْرَانِ هَـٰذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ سَآئِغٌ شَرَابُهُۥ وَهَـٰذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ ۖ وَمِن كُلٍّ تَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُونَ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا ۖ وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ فِيهِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And not alike are the two seas [i.e., bodies of water]. One is fresh and sweet, palatable for drinking, and one is salty and bitter. And from each you eat tender meat and extract ornaments which you wear, and you see the ships plowing through [them] that you might seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.