وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَنَّكَ تَرَى ٱلْأَرْضَ خَـٰشِعَةً فَإِذَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا ٱلْمَآءَ ٱهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحْيَاهَا لَمُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ 39
Translations
And of His signs is that you see the earth stilled, but when We send down upon it rain, it quivers and grows. Indeed, He who has given it life is the Giver of Life to the dead. Indeed, He is over all things competent.
Transliteration
Wa min ayatihi annaka tara al-arda khashi'atan fa-idha anzalna alayha al-maa ihtazzat wa rabit. Inna allathi ahyaha lamuhi al-mawta. Innahu ala kulli shay'in qadir.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the resurrection of dead earth through rainfall as a sign (ayah) of Allah's power and a metaphor for the resurrection of the dead on the Day of Judgment. When rain descends upon barren, lifeless land, it suddenly becomes vibrant and fertile—demonstrating that He who can revive the earth can certainly revive the dead. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir emphasize this connection as a clear proof of Allah's absolute power (qudrah) and His ability to bring all creation back to life after death.
Revelation Context
Surah Fussilat is a Meccan chapter addressing the disbelievers of Mecca who denied the resurrection. This ayah contextually responds to their doubts about the possibility of resurrection by directing them to observe the natural world around them—a phenomenon they witness annually. The surah uses observable signs (ayat) from creation to convince the deniers of Allah's oneness and His power over all things.
Related Hadiths
Hadith in Sahih Muslim: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'When Allah intends good for His people, He sends them abundant rain.' This relates to the ayah's mention of water reviving the earth. Additionally, in various hadiths, the Prophet emphasized contemplating creation as evidence of the Resurrection, aligning with this ayah's argumentative purpose.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us to observe the natural world as a reflection of Divine power and to recognize that just as Allah revives dead earth with water, He will resurrect all souls on the Day of Judgment—inviting us to live with accountability and spiritual awareness.