ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّجَرِ ٱلْأَخْضَرِ نَارًا فَإِذَآ أَنتُم مِّنْهُ تُوقِدُونَ 80
Translations
[It is] He who made for you from the green tree, fire, and then from it you ignite.
Transliteration
Alladhee ja'ala lakum min ash-shajari al-akhḍari nāran fa-idhā antum minhu tūqidūn
Tafsir (Explanation)
This ayah refers to Allah's creation of fire from green trees, highlighting the miraculous provision of fire from what appears to be an unlikely source—moist, green wood. Classical scholars like Al-Qurtubi and Ibn Kathir interpret this as evidence of divine power and wisdom, as Allah has placed the capability to produce fire within trees through friction or friction-based methods. The ayah emphasizes human dependence on Allah's creation and the hidden potentials He has embedded in nature.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in Surah Ya-Sin, a Meccan surah focused on affirming monotheism and Allah's infinite power. The broader context (36:71-82) addresses signs of Allah's creation and providence, establishing that all of creation—including the provision of fire from trees—demonstrates divine care and authority over nature.
Related Hadiths
While no specific hadith directly addresses this ayah, Hadith Qudsi regarding Allah's creation reflects the theme: 'All things are easy for Allah.' Additionally, hadiths encouraging reflection upon Allah's creation (such as those found in Sahih Bukhari and Muslim regarding contemplation of nature) relate to the underlying message of recognizing divine signs.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah invites believers to recognize Allah's wisdom in embedding beneficial qualities within creation that serve humanity's needs, fostering gratitude and mindfulness. It teaches that apparent contradictions in nature (fire from green wood) reveal divine ingenuity, encouraging deeper reflection on how Allah provides for His servants' sustenance and welfare.
Related Ayahs
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى يَبْدَؤُا۟ ٱلْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُۥ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ ۚ وَلَهُ ٱلْمَثَلُ ٱلْأَعْلَىٰ فِى ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلْعَزِيزُ ٱلْحَكِيمُ
And it is He who begins creation; then He repeats it, and that is [even] easier for Him. To Him belongs the highest description [i.e., attribute] in the heavens and earth. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.
ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى رَفَعَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا ۖ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ ٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّ يَجْرِى لِأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ يُدَبِّرُ ٱلْأَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ ٱلْـَٔايَـٰتِ لَعَلَّكُم بِلِقَآءِ رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ
It is Allāh who erected the heavens without pillars that you [can] see; then He established Himself above the Throne and made subject the sun and the moon, each running [its course] for a specified term. He arranges [each] matter; He details the signs that you may, of the meeting with your Lord, be certain.
ءَأَنتُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَمِ ٱلسَّمَآءُ ۚ بَنَىٰهَا
Are you a more difficult creation or is the heaven? He [i.e., Allāh] constructed it.
فَٱنظُرْ إِلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِ رَحْمَتِ ٱللَّهِ كَيْفَ يُحْىِ ٱلْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَآ ۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
So observe the effects of the mercy of Allāh - how He gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. Indeed, that [same one] will give life to the dead, and He is over all things competent.