أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ ۚ إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ 19
Translations
Have you not seen [i.e., considered] that Allāh created the heavens and the earth in truth? If He wills, He can do away with you and produce a new creation.
Transliteration
Alam tara anna Allaha khalaqa as-samawati wa-al-arda bi-al-haqq. In yasha yuzhibkum wa-ya'ti bi-khalqin jadid.
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah invites reflection on Allah's creation of the heavens and earth with purpose and truth, emphasizing His absolute power and sovereignty. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as a reminder that just as Allah created all existence, He possesses complete authority to destroy humanity and replace them with a new creation—a profound statement about divine omnipotence and human accountability. The phrase 'bi-al-haqq' (with truth/justice) underscores that creation is not arbitrary but purposeful, serving as a foundation for the ethical and moral order established by Allah.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ibrahim, a Meccan chapter revealed during the early period when the Quraysh rejected the Prophet's message. The broader context of the surah addresses the rejection of the Message and encourages believers to reflect on signs of Allah's power. This particular verse follows warnings to the disbelievers and serves to remind them of Allah's ultimate power and their dependence upon Him.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The most loved words to Allah are four: Subhan'Allah, wa al-hamdu lillah, wa la ilaha illallah, wa Allahu akbar' (Sahih Muslim 2137), which connects to contemplating Allah's majesty as emphasized in this ayah. Additionally, the Prophet emphasized reflection on creation: 'Deliberate upon the creation of Allah, but do not deliberate upon the Essence of Allah' (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3324).
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah calls believers to humble recognition of Allah's absolute power and to use reflection on creation as a means of strengthening faith and moral consciousness. For modern readers, it serves as a reminder that material existence and earthly attachments are temporary, encouraging focus on spiritual priorities and accountability to the Creator.
Related Ayahs
قُلْ إِنَّمَآ أَنَا۠ مُنذِرٌ ۖ وَمَا مِنْ إِلَـٰهٍ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ٱلْوَٰحِدُ ٱلْقَهَّارُ
Say, [O Muḥammad], "I am only a warner, and there is not any deity except Allāh, the One, the Prevailing,
قُلِ ٱللَّهُمَّ مَـٰلِكَ ٱلْمُلْكِ تُؤْتِى ٱلْمُلْكَ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَنزِعُ ٱلْمُلْكَ مِمَّن تَشَآءُ وَتُعِزُّ مَن تَشَآءُ وَتُذِلُّ مَن تَشَآءُ ۖ بِيَدِكَ ٱلْخَيْرُ ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Say, "O Allāh, Owner of Sovereignty, You give sovereignty to whom You will and You take sovereignty away from whom You will. You honor whom You will and You humble whom You will. In Your hand is [all] good. Indeed, You are over all things competent.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ جَاعِلِ ٱلْمَلَـٰٓئِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُو۟لِىٓ أَجْنِحَةٍ مَّثْنَىٰ وَثُلَـٰثَ وَرُبَـٰعَ ۚ يَزِيدُ فِى ٱلْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Creator of the heavens and the earth, [who] made the angels messengers having wings, two or three or four. He increases in creation what He wills. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
يَوْمَ يَدْعُوكُمْ فَتَسْتَجِيبُونَ بِحَمْدِهِۦ وَتَظُنُّونَ إِن لَّبِثْتُمْ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
On the Day He will call you and you will respond with praise of Him and think that you had not remained [in the world] except for a little."