وَءَايَةٌ لَّهُمْ أَنَّا حَمَلْنَا ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ فِى ٱلْفُلْكِ ٱلْمَشْحُونِ 41
Translations
And a sign for them is that We carried their forefathers in a laden ship.
Transliteration
Wa ayatun lahum anna hamalna dhurriyyatahum fil-fulki al-mashḥun
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah presents the preservation of offspring aboard laden ships as a sign of Allah's mercy and power. Classical scholars like Ibn Kathir and Al-Tabari interpret this as evidence of divine care—Allah safeguards the progeny of humanity through voyages on fully-loaded vessels, demonstrating His providence. The 'laden ship' (al-fulk al-mashḥun) symbolizes both the physical reality of maritime commerce and the precarious human condition, emphasizing that survival itself is a divine gift rather than human achievement.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the Meccan surah Ya-Sin, which systematically presents signs (ayat) of Allah's existence and benevolence to the disbelieving Meccans. The ayah is part of a sequence (verses 33-47) enumerating divine signs in creation, designed to persuade the Quraysh of monotheism. There is no specific asbab al-nuzul, but the thematic context addresses those who deny Allah's signs.
Related Hadiths
While no hadith directly references this verse, the theme connects to the Prophet's (ﷺ) teaching about trusting in divine protection. Related is the general instruction in Jami' at-Tirmidhi regarding reliance on Allah (tawakkul) while taking necessary precautions during travel.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah reminds believers that their existence, their families' survival, and their journeys through life depend fundamentally on Allah's will and mercy rather than mere human effort or chance. It calls us to recognize divine signs in everyday protection and to cultivate gratitude and reliance upon our Creator.