سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ

Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 40

The Bee · Meccan · Juz 14 · Page 271

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إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَىْءٍ إِذَآ أَرَدْنَـٰهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ﴿40﴾

Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali

Verily! Our Word unto a thing when We intend it, is only that We say unto it: "Be!" - and it is.

Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning

إِنَّمَا innamā Only
قَوْلُنَا qawlunā Our Word
لِشَىْءٍ lishayin to a thing
إِذَآ idhā when
أَرَدْنَـٰهُ aradnāhu We intend it
أَن an (is) that
نَّقُولَ naqūla We say
لَهُۥ lahu to it
كُن kun Be
فَيَكُونُ fayakūnu and it is

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim — Hafiz Abdus Salam Bin Muhammad Bhutvi

Tafsir al-Quran al-Karim is a 4-volume Quran commentary by Hafiz Abdus Salam bin Muhammad Bhutvi, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar and Sheikh ul-Hadith from Pakistan. Based on over 45 years of teaching and research, this tafsir follows the methodology of Tafsir bil-Ma'thur — interpreting the Quran through authentic Hadith, statements of the Companions, and the understanding of the early generations (Salaf). It is distinguished by its complete avoidance of Israeliyyat (Judeo-Christian narratives) and unverified reports. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

(Ayah40){اِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَيْءٍ …:} That is, for the One whose power is such, resurrecting the dead is not at all difficult. From this, it is also established that Allah speaks. In many places in the Qur’an and Hadith, Allah’s speaking is mentioned in explicit words. (See Nisa: 164, Tawbah: 6) Those influenced by the infidel philosophy of Greece said that Allah cannot speak, nor can He hear, nor see. Some of our Muslims, who want to accept both the Qur’an and Greek philosophy, called Allah’s speech a creation and interpreted hearing and seeing to mean that He knows, whereas speech, creation, hearing, seeing, and knowledge are all separate attributes, and Allah Himself has described these attributes for Himself. However, these attributes of His are not like those of the creation; rather, He said: «{ لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهٖ شَيْءٌ وَ هُوَ السَّمِيْعُ الْبَصِيْرُ} » [ الشورٰی : ۱۱ ] “There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.” In the same way, Allah also speaks, but in a manner befitting His majesty. In summary, the fact that there is nothing like Him does not mean that you should deny His established attributes such as hearing, seeing, and speaking, nor should you interpret them in a way that results in their denial.

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan — Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf

Tafsir Ahsan al-Bayan is a well-known Quran commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. This tafsir explains the meanings of the Quran in accordance with the methodology of the Salaf (early righteous generations), relying on authentic sources and straightforward language. Due to its reliability and adherence to sound Islamic scholarship, the Saudi government publishes and distributes this tafsir among the Hujjaj (pilgrims) visiting the Haramain. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

40. 1. That is, no matter how difficult or impossible the occurrence of the Resurrection may seem to people, for Allah there is no difficulty at all. He does not need laborers, engineers, craftsmen, or any other tools and means to destroy the earth and the heavens. He only has to say "Kun" (Be), and with His word "Kun," the Resurrection will be established in the blink of an eye. (وَمَآ اَمْرُ السَّاعَةِ اِلَّا كَلَمْحِ الْبَصَرِ اَوْ هُوَ اَقْرَبُ ۭ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَلٰي كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ) 16. An-Nahl:77) The matter of the Resurrection will occur in the blink of an eye or even less than that.

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani

Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.

40. Our command for a thing, when We intend it, is only that We say to it, "Be," [41] and it is.

[41]
The Form of the Word ﴿كن فيكون﴾:

For Allah, merely intending something is His command; it is not necessary for Him to utter the word "Kun" with His tongue. Rather, His intention itself holds the status of a command, and when He intends something, the means and resources for its completion begin to be provided automatically, and that matter inevitably comes to pass. Nothing can hinder it. And whatever duration Allah wishes to bring it into existence, it comes into existence within that very duration.
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