Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth, Able to create the like of them? Yes, indeed! He is the All-Knowing Supreme Creator.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَوَلَيْسَawalaysaIs it not
ٱلَّذِىalladhī(He) Who
خَلَقَkhalaqacreated
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِl-samāwātithe heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضَwal-arḍaand the earth
بِقَـٰدِرٍbiqādirinAble
عَلَىٰٓʿalāto
أَنan[that]
يَخْلُقَyakhluqacreate
مِثْلَهُم ۚmith'lahum(the) like of them
بَلَىٰbalāYes, indeed
وَهُوَwahuwaand He
ٱلْخَلَّـٰقُl-khalāqu(is) the Supreme Creator
ٱلْعَلِيمُl-ʿalīmuthe All-Knower
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.
(Ayah 81){ اَوَلَيْسَالَّذِيْخَلَقَالسَّمٰوٰتِوَالْاَرْضَبِقٰدِرٍ … :} This is the third proof of resurrection: look at the heavens and the earth, observe the wondrous and magnificent things that Allah has placed in them, and compare them to man. Can the One who created this great heaven and earth not create this weakly-structured human, either for the first time or again? Then Allah Himself answered: Why not! He is both the Creator and the All-Knowing. When the attribute of creation and the attribute of knowledge are combined in Him in their complete perfection, then which dead being is there that He cannot bring to life? Allah has mentioned the creation of the heavens and the earth as a powerful proof of resurrecting mankind in several places, as He said: « لَخَلْقُالسَّمٰوٰتِوَالْاَرْضِاَكْبَرُمِنْخَلْقِالنَّاسِ»[المؤمن : ۵۷ ] “Surely the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater than the creation of mankind.” And He said: «اَوَلَمْيَرَوْااَنَّاللّٰهَالَّذِيْخَلَقَالسَّمٰوٰتِوَالْاَرْضَوَلَمْيَعْيَبِخَلْقِهِنَّبِقٰدِرٍعَلٰۤىاَنْيُّحْيِۧالْمَوْتٰىبَلٰۤىاِنَّهٗعَلٰىكُلِّشَيْءٍقَدِيْرٌ»[ الأحقاف : ۳۳ ] “And have they not seen that Allah, who created the heavens and the earth and was not wearied by their creation, is able to give life to the dead? Why not! Surely He is powerful over everything.” And He said: « ءَاَنْتُمْاَشَدُّخَلْقًااَمِالسَّمَآءُبَنٰىهَا»[النازعات : ۲۷ ] “Are you more difficult to create or the heaven? He constructed it.”
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.
81. 1. That is, like humans, meaning the recreation of humans just as He created them the first time, the creation of the heavens and the earth is an argument for the recreation of humans. Just as it is stated elsewhere (لَخَلْقُالسَّمٰوٰتِوَالْاَرضِاَکْبَرُمِنْخَلْقِالنَّاسِ)(اَوَلَمْيَرَوْااَنَّاللّٰهَالَّذِيْخَلَقَالسَّمٰوٰتِوَالْاَرْضَوَلَمْيَعْيَبِخَلْقِهِنَّبِقٰدِرٍعَلٰٓياَنْيُّـحْيِۦالْمَوْتٰى ۭ بَلٰٓياِنَّهٗعَلٰيكُلِّشَيْءٍقَدِيْرٌ) 46:33) 'The creation of the heavens and the earth (in the view of people) is a more difficult task than the creation of humans.'
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.
81. Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth able to create the likes of them? Yes, indeed! He is the Supreme Creator, the All-Knowing [73].
[73]
Look also at the great creation of the heavens and the earth, and look at yourselves to see what status and reality you or those like you have in comparison to them. Then, when Allah has created the heavens and the earth, can He not recreate you, especially when He knows all the ways of creation perfectly?
