سُوْرَةُ الْحَجِّ
Surah Al-Hajj (22) — Ayah 5
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمْ فِى رَيْبٍ مِّنَ ٱلْبَعْثِ فَإِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍ ثُمَّ مِن مُّضْغَةٍ مُّخَلَّقَةٍ وَغَيْرِ مُخَلَّقَةٍ لِّنُبَيِّنَ لَكُمْ ۚ وَنُقِرُّ فِى ٱلْأَرْحَامِ مَا نَشَآءُ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ثُمَّ نُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًا ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟ أَشُدَّكُمْ ۖ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّىٰ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَرْذَلِ ٱلْعُمُرِ لِكَيْلَا يَعْلَمَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ عِلْمٍ شَيْـًٔا ۚ وَتَرَى ٱلْأَرْضَ هَامِدَةً فَإِذَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا ٱلْمَآءَ ٱهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ وَأَنۢبَتَتْ مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍۭ بَهِيجٍ ﴿5﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
O mankind! If you are in doubt about the Resurrection, then verily We have created you (i.e. Adam) from dust, then from a Nutfah (mixed drops of male and female sexual discharge i.e. the offspring of Adam), then from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood) then from a little lump of flesh - some formed and some unformed (as in the case of miscarriage) - that We may make (it) clear to you (i.e. to show you Our Power and Ability to do what We will). And We cause whom We will to remain in the wombs for an appointed term, then We bring you out as infants, then (give you growth) that you may reach your age of full strength. And among you there is he who dies (young), and among you there is he who is brought back to the miserable old age, so that he knows nothing after having known. And you see the earth barren, but when We send down water (rain) on it, it is stirred (to life), and it swells and puts forth every lovely kind (of growth).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا
yāayyuhā
O mankind
ٱلنَّاسُ
l-nāsu
O mankind
إِن
in
If
كُنتُمْ
kuntum
you are
فِى
fī
in
رَيْبٍۢ
raybin
doubt
مِّنَ
mina
about
ٱلْبَعْثِ
l-baʿthi
the Resurrection
فَإِنَّا
fa-innā
then indeed, We
خَلَقْنَـٰكُم
khalaqnākum
We created you
مِّن
min
from
تُرَابٍۢ
turābin
dust
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
مِن
min
from
نُّطْفَةٍۢ
nuṭ'fatin
a semen-drop
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
مِنْ
min
from
عَلَقَةٍۢ
ʿalaqatin
a clinging substance
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
مِن
min
from
مُّضْغَةٍۢ
muḍ'ghatin
an embryonic lump
مُّخَلَّقَةٍۢ
mukhallaqatin
formed
وَغَيْرِ
waghayri
and unformed
مُخَلَّقَةٍۢ
mukhallaqatin
and unformed
لِّنُبَيِّنَ
linubayyina
that We may make clear
لَكُمْ ۚ
lakum
to you
وَنُقِرُّ
wanuqirru
And We cause to remain
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْحَامِ
l-arḥāmi
the wombs
مَا
mā
what
نَشَآءُ
nashāu
We will
إِلَىٰٓ
ilā
for
أَجَلٍۢ
ajalin
a term
مُّسَمًّۭى
musamman
appointed
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
نُخْرِجُكُمْ
nukh'rijukum
We bring you out
طِفْلًۭا
ṭif'lan
(as) a child
ثُمَّ
thumma
[then]
لِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟
litablughū
that you may reach
أَشُدَّكُمْ ۖ
ashuddakum
[your] maturity
وَمِنكُم
waminkum
And among you
مَّن
man
(is he) who
يُتَوَفَّىٰ
yutawaffā
dies
وَمِنكُم
waminkum
and among you
مَّن
man
(is he) who
يُرَدُّ
yuraddu
is returned
إِلَىٰٓ
ilā
to
أَرْذَلِ
ardhali
the most abject
ٱلْعُمُرِ
l-ʿumuri
age
لِكَيْلَا
likaylā
so that not
يَعْلَمَ
yaʿlama
he knows
مِنۢ
min
after
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
عِلْمٍۢ
ʿil'min
having known
شَيْـًۭٔا ۚ
shayan
anything
وَتَرَى
watarā
And you see
ٱلْأَرْضَ
l-arḍa
the earth
هَامِدَةًۭ
hāmidatan
barren
فَإِذَآ
fa-idhā
then when
أَنزَلْنَا
anzalnā
We send down
عَلَيْهَا
ʿalayhā
on it
ٱلْمَآءَ
l-māa
water
ٱهْتَزَّتْ
ih'tazzat
it gets stirred
وَرَبَتْ
warabat
and it swells
وَأَنۢبَتَتْ
wa-anbatat
and grows
مِن
min
of
كُلِّ
kulli
every
زَوْجٍۭ
zawjin
kind
بَهِيجٍۢ
bahījin
beautiful
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.
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. 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)
