Surah Al-Hajj (22) — Ayah 5

(Ayah 5) ➊ { يٰۤاَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اِنْ كُنْتُمْ فِيْ رَيْبٍ مِّنَ الْبَعْثِ … :} That is, if you have doubt about being resurrected in the Hereafter, then the way to remove this doubt is to reflect on the beginning of your own creation; from this you will know that the One who created you the first time is also capable of creating you a second time, and the One who brings forth vegetation from the earth after it has died is also capable of bringing you out from your graves.
➋ { مِنْ تُرَابٍ:} In this, the tanween is for belittlement, so it has been translated as "insignificant clay." This is a reference to the creation of Adam (peace be upon him), and the meaning of all people being created from clay is that they are all descendants of Adam (peace be upon him), who was created from this lifeless and trampled clay. The evidence for this is Allah Almighty’s statement: «{ الَّذِيْۤ اَحْسَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقَهٗ وَ بَدَاَ خَلْقَ الْاِنْسَانِ مِنْ طِيْنٍ (7) ثُمَّ جَعَلَ نَسْلَهٗ مِنْ سُلٰلَةٍ مِّنْ مَّآءٍ مَّهِيْنٍ }» [ السجدۃ : ۷، ۸ ] "He (the Pure Being) who made excellent everything He created, and He began the creation of man from insignificant clay, then made his progeny from an extract of a despised fluid." In the verse under commentary, seven stages of human life are mentioned.
➌ { ثُمَّ مِنْ نُّطْفَةٍ :} Then from a drop of fluid. Modern science has proven that in a single drop of semen there are millions of sperm, of which only one sperm joins with the woman’s egg to become part of the pregnancy. This matter is even more amazing than clay, that from a fluid, sticky, microscopic particle, a beautiful and handsome human is created; for the One who creates it, recreating it is not difficult. Shaykh Saadi said:
"He gave a drop the form of a fairy,
Who else but He can shape on water?"
That is, Allah Almighty grants a drop the form of a fairy; who else can shape on water?
➍ { ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍ : ’’ عَلَقَةٍ ‘‘} Its meaning is also "congealed blood" and "leech," that is, then that fluid becomes a clot of congealed blood, whose shape resembles a leech.
➎ {ثُمَّ مِنْ مُّضْغَةٍ مُّخَلَّقَةٍ …:’’مَضَغَ يَمْضَغُ ‘‘} (f) To chew. {’’ مُضْغَةٍ ‘‘} A piece of flesh that is chewed. Ibn Kathir (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "When the drop settles in the woman’s womb, it continues to develop in that state for forty days, then by Allah’s command it becomes a red clot of congealed blood, then it continues to develop in that state for forty days. Then it changes into {’’ مُضْغَةٍ ‘‘} that is, a piece of flesh, in which there is neither any form nor shape, then form and shape begin to develop in it, so its head, hands, chest, belly, legs, feet, and other parts begin to take shape. Sometimes, before the form and shape develop, the woman miscarries it, and sometimes after the form and shape develop, as is observed in cases of miscarriage. Therefore, it is said: «{ ثُمَّ مِنْ مُّضْغَةٍ مُّخَلَّقَةٍ وَّ غَيْرِ مُخَلَّقَةٍ }» that some are fully formed and some are not fully formed." This detail is also mentioned in Surah Al-Mu’minun (12 to 14). Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to us: [ إِنَّ خَلْقَ أَحَدِكُمْ يُجْمَعُ فِيْ بَطْنِ أُمِّهٖ أَرْبَعِيْنَ يَوْمًا وَأَرْبَعِيْنَ لَيْلَةً ثُمَّ يَكُوْنُ عَلَقَةً مِثْلَهٗ ثُمَّ يَكُوْنُ مُضْغَةً مِثْلَهٗ ذٰلِكَ ثُمَّ يُبْعَثُ إِلَيْهِ الْمَلَكُ فَيُؤْذَنُ بِأَرْبَعِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَیَکْتُبُ رِزْقَهٗ وَ أَجَلَهُ وَعَمَلَهٗ وَ شَقِيٌّ أَمْ سَعِيْدٌ ثُمَّ يُنْفَخُ فِيْهِ الرُّوْحُ ] [ بخاري، التوحید، باب: «ولقد سبقت کلمتنا …» : ۷۴۵۴۔ مسلم : ۲۶۴۳ ] "The creation of each one of you is gathered in his mother’s womb (as a drop) for forty days and forty nights, then he remains as a clot for the same period, then as a piece of flesh for the same period, then an angel is sent to him, who is commanded with four things: his provision, his lifespan, his deeds, and whether he is wretched or blessed are written, then the soul is breathed into him."
➏ { لِنُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ :} So that We may make clear to you that when We make a drop of fluid into a fully formed piece of flesh, then for Us to recreate you and bring you out of your graves alive for reckoning is not difficult.
➐ { وَ نُقِرُّ فِي الْاَرْحَامِ مَا نَشَآءُ …:} That is, whom We will, We preserve from miscarriage and keep in the womb. {’’ اِلٰۤى اَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ‘‘ } That is, at least six months and as much as We will. This depends on Our will, how long We keep it in the womb. {’’ ثُمَّ نُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًا ‘‘} Then We bring it out from the mother’s womb in the form of a child.
➑ After { ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوْۤا اَشُدَّكُمْ … : ’’ ثُمَّ ‘‘} some words are omitted which are understood, that is, then We bring you out from your mother’s womb as a child, who is weak in body, hearing, sight, strength, and intellect. {’’ ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوْۤا اَشُدَّكُمْ ‘‘} Then Allah Almighty gradually gives him strength, his parents show him compassion day and night and serve him, he grows, so that passing through childhood and adolescence, he reaches the full strength and beauty of youth.
➒ {وَ مِنْكُمْ مَّنْ يُّتَوَفّٰى …:} That is, among you are some who, after reaching youth or before it, are caused to die. {’’ وَ مِنْكُمْ مَّنْ يُّرَدُّ اِلٰۤى اَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ لِكَيْلَا يَعْلَمَ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ عِلْمٍ شَيْـًٔا ‘‘} This is the seventh stage, that is, some are returned to the most decrepit age, that is, extreme old age in which all the powers of intellect, thought, and body become weak. A person who was once a great scholar remembers nothing, neither memory remains nor intellect functions. He becomes weak and devoid of intellect and thought like a child again. Allah Almighty said: «{ وَ مَنْ نُّعَمِّرْهُ نُنَكِّسْهُ فِي الْخَلْقِ }» [یٰسٓ : ۶۸ ] "And whom We grant long life, We reverse him in creation." And He said: «{ اَللّٰهُ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَكُمْ مِّنْ ضُؔعْفٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ ضُؔعْفٍ قُوَّةً ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ قُوَّةٍ ضُؔعْفًا وَّ شَيْبَةً }» [ الروم : ۵۴ ] "Allah is He who created you from weakness, then made after weakness strength, then after strength made weakness and old age." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to seek refuge with Allah from the most decrepit age, as Amr bin Maymun narrates that Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) used to teach his sons these words as a teacher teaches boys to write, and used to say that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) used to seek refuge after prayer with these words: [ اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ وَ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ أَنْ أُرَدَّ إِلٰی أَرْذَلِ الْعُمُرِ وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ فِتْنَةِ الدُّنْيَا وَ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ عَذَابِ الْقَبْرِ ] [ بخاري، الجھاد والسیر، باب ما یتعوذ من الجبن : ۲۸۲۲ ] "O Allah! I seek refuge with You from cowardice, and I seek refuge with You from being returned to the most decrepit age, and I seek refuge with You from the trials of the world, and I seek refuge with You from the punishment of the grave." In the narration of Mus’ab bin Sa’d, after {’’ اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْجُبْنِ ‘‘} there is also {’’ وَأَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْبُخْلِ ‘‘} that I seek refuge with You from miserliness. [ بخاري، الدعوات، باب الاستعاذۃ من أرذل العمر… : ۶۳۷۴ ]
➓ {وَ تَرَى الْاَرْضَ هَامِدَةً …: ’’ اهْتَزَّتْ ‘‘ ’’هَزَّ يَهُزُّ هَزًّا‘‘} To move, to shake. {’’اِهْتَزَّ يَهْتَزُّ اِهْتِزَازًا‘‘} (Iftiaal) To move, the waving of crops. {’’ رَبَتْ ‘‘ ’’رَبَا يَرْبُوْ‘‘} (n) To grow, to swell. This is the second proof of life after death. Seeds of various plants and crops are scattered in the earth, which the winds or birds have spread everywhere. Similarly, countless roots of things are buried in the soil, in which there is no sign of life, but as soon as raindrops fall on them, life begins to wave everywhere. Every dead root comes to life from its grave, and every useless, lifeless seed takes the form of a living plant. This is a process of reviving the dead which every person observes himself in the spring and rainy season. The same is the case with the human body; its rising also has a season, which is the second blowing of the trumpet. When that season comes, every person will be raised alive from the place where he was buried. (Tayseer al-Qur’an)

5. 1 That is, after forty days from the drop of semen (nutfah), it becomes عَلَقَۃٍ (clotted blood), and from عَلَقَۃٍ it becomes مُضْغَۃٍ (a lump of flesh). From مُخَلَّقَۃٍ, the child is meant whose birth is clear and whose form and features become distinct. In contrast, the one whose form and features are not clear, nor is the soul breathed into it, and it is miscarried before its time. In Sahih hadith, these conditions of the mother's womb are also mentioned. For example, in one hadith it is stated that after forty days the nutfah becomes alaqah (clotted blood), then after forty days it takes the form of mudghah (a lump or piece of flesh), then an angel comes from Allah who breathes the soul into it, that is, the soul is breathed after four months and the child takes on a clear form (Sahih Bukhari).

5. 2 That is, in this way We explain to you Our perfect power and creation.

5. 3 That is, the one whom He does not will to be miscarried.

5. 4 That is, before the age of maturity. By the age of maturity is meant the age of puberty or the age of complete intellect and full strength and discernment, which is between 30 and 40 years of age.

5. 5 By this is meant, in old age, along with the weakness and frailty of human faculties, the weakening of intellect and memory, and becoming like a child in memory and understanding, which is expressed in Surah Yaseen (وَمَنْ نُّعَمِّرْهُ نُنَكِّسْهُ فِي الْخَلْقِ) 36. Yaseen: 68) and in Surah Teen (ثُمَّ رَدَدْنٰهُ اَسْفَلَ سٰفِلِيْنَ) 95. At-Teen: 5).

5. 6 This is the second proof of Allah's power to resurrect the dead. The first proof, which has been mentioned, is that the Being who can carve out a human form from a humble drop of water in such a way and grant a beautiful existence, and moreover, can take him through various stages to the stage of old age where from his body to his mental and intellectual abilities, all become victims of weakness and decline— is it difficult for Him to grant him life again? Surely, the Being who can take man through these stages, that same Being can resurrect after death and grant a new form and a new existence. The second proof given is that look, the earth is barren and dead, but after rain, how it becomes alive and flourishing and is filled with all kinds of grains, fruits, and flowers of various colors. In the same way, Allah will raise up humans from their graves on the Day of Resurrection. As it is mentioned in a hadith, a companion asked, "O Messenger of Allah, please describe a sign from among the creatures that shows how Allah will resurrect humans." The Prophet ﷺ said, "Have you ever passed by a valley that was dry and barren, then you saw it flourishing again?" He said, "Yes." The Prophet ﷺ said, "In the same way, the resurrection of humans will be." (Musnad Ahmad, Volume 4)

5. O people! If you are in doubt about resurrection after death [4], then (know that) We created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot, then from a lump of flesh—formed and unformed—so that We may make (Our power) clear to you. And We settle in the wombs whom We will for a specified term, then We bring you out as infants, then (We nurture you) so that you reach your full maturity. And among you is he who is taken in death, and among you is he who is returned to the worst part of life (extreme old age), so that after having knowledge, he knows nothing. And you see the earth lifeless, but when We send down rain upon it, it stirs and swells and produces every kind of beautiful [5] growth.

Proofs of the Oneness of Allah:

The primary dispute with the polytheists of Makkah was related to the divine powers attributed to their idols, and the second dispute was that, despite claiming to be followers of the religion of Ibrahim, they did not believe in resurrection after death. Therefore, such proofs are now being given which provide complete guidance regarding resurrection after death. The very first proof is the existence of man himself. Allah made Adam’s figure from clay. Clay is a lifeless thing. When Allah breathed His spirit into it, it became a living, breathing human. Then, through procreation, Adam’s offspring spread. Now, the things or foods that a human eats are all obtained from the earth. From these foods, sometimes human flesh is formed, sometimes bones, sometimes muscles are formed, and from this very food, the sperm is also formed, and in a single drop of sperm, there are thousands of living germs. Now see, the earth is also a lifeless thing, and the foods that man consumed were also lifeless. But Allah created living and moving germs from these lifeless things. Then, among these thousands of germs, when one or two germs meet the woman’s ovum, the process of human creation begins, and that too only if Allah wills. Otherwise, it often happens that even after the union of man and woman, conception does not occur, even though both the man’s and woman’s reproductive cells have full potential.

The Creation of Man in the Mother’s Womb:

Then, in the layered darkness of the mother’s womb, the way man is created and the stages he passes through, Allah has only mentioned those stages which generally come under the observation of ordinary people, and this observation occurs in the case of miscarriage. After the sperm, there is congealed blood, then this congealed blood turns into a lump of flesh. But at this stage, there is no form or shape on it. Then, in this lump of flesh, the features of all the organs such as eyes, nose, ears, hands, feet, etc., begin to form. Then, in this very lump, bones and muscles continue to form until, after the appointed time, a human child is born. If Allah wills, it becomes a boy, and if He wills, it becomes a girl, and all matters and stages are completed under Allah’s mighty supervision, as is clear from the following hadith. Sayyiduna Anas ؓ says that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah has appointed an angel over the womb of a woman, who says, ‘O Lord! Now it is a sperm drop. O Lord! Now it has become blood. O Lord! Now it has become a lump of flesh.’ Then, when Allah decides regarding its creation, the angel asks, ‘Is it male or female? Is it wretched or blessed? What is its provision? And what is its lifespan?’ Then all this is written while it is still in the mother’s womb.” [بخاري كتاب الحيض۔ باب قول الله مخلقنه غير مخلقه]

The Greatest Proof of Resurrection After Death is Man’s Own Creation:

Now, the state of man’s heedlessness is such that no matter how astonishing a feat may be, if it has become a habit, he does not bother to reflect on it. But if something equally or less astonishing, which has not yet occurred, is mentioned, he immediately denies it. The event of resurrection after death is not much more astonishing than his own creation. But man’s denial is only because it has not yet occurred. Then, is it not astonishing enough that when a human child is born, until youth, his body, intellect, and strength all continue to increase, but after youth, even though he eats the same foods, or even better foods than before, his intellect and strength begin to decrease? His height reaches a certain limit and then stops, after which decline begins to appear. Eventually, a time comes when, besides the decay of his organs, his intellect also becomes impaired, he forgets what he has learned, and starts babbling like a child. Are these not such evidences that whatever Allah wills, only that happens, and that Allah has full power to do whatever He wills? Then, what reason can there be to deny resurrection after death?

The Second Proof of Resurrection from Plants:

This is the second proof regarding resurrection or life after death. Various kinds of plants and seeds are scattered in the earth, which the winds or birds have spread here and there. Similarly, the roots of countless things are buried in the soil in various places, in which there was no sign of plant life. But as soon as raindrops fell on them, life began to flourish everywhere. Every dead root rose from its grave, and every useless, lifeless seed took the form of a living plant. And this revival of the dead is such an act that every person observes it himself in the spring season and the rainy season. The same is the case with the human body, which decays and decomposes, and its season of rising is the second blowing of the trumpet. When that season comes, every human will be raised alive from his grave.