سُوْرَةُ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ
Surah Al-Muminoon (23) — Ayah 17
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا فَوْقَكُمْ سَبْعَ طَرَآئِقَ وَمَا كُنَّا عَنِ ٱلْخَلْقِ غَـٰفِلِينَ ﴿17﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And indeed We have created above you seven heavens (one over the other), and We are never unaware of the creation.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And indeed
خَلَقْنَا
khalaqnā
We (have) created
فَوْقَكُمْ
fawqakum
above you
سَبْعَ
sabʿa
seven
طَرَآئِقَ
ṭarāiqa
paths
وَمَا
wamā
and not
كُنَّا
kunnā
We are
عَنِ
ʿani
of
ٱلْخَلْقِ
l-khalqi
the creation
غَـٰفِلِينَ
ghāfilīna
unaware
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.
17-1. Ṭarāʼiq is the plural of ṭarīqah, meaning the heavens. In Arabic, it also refers to things layered above each other; since the heavens are layered, they are called ṭarāʼiq. Or, ṭarīqah means path, and the heavens are the passageway for angels and the course of stars, so they are called ṭarāʼiq for this reason.
17-2. By خَلَق is meant creation. That is, after creating the heavens, We did not become heedless of Our earthly creation; rather, We have protected the heavens from falling upon the earth so that the creation is not destroyed. Or, it means that We have not become heedless of the interests of creation and their necessities of life, but rather We manage them (Fatḥ al-Qadīr). And some have explained this to mean that whatever comes out from or enters the earth, likewise whatever descends from or ascends to the heavens, all is within His knowledge, and He keeps watch over everything, and everywhere He is with you according to His knowledge (Ibn Kathīr).
17-2. By خَلَق is meant creation. That is, after creating the heavens, We did not become heedless of Our earthly creation; rather, We have protected the heavens from falling upon the earth so that the creation is not destroyed. Or, it means that We have not become heedless of the interests of creation and their necessities of life, but rather We manage them (Fatḥ al-Qadīr). And some have explained this to mean that whatever comes out from or enters the earth, likewise whatever descends from or ascends to the heavens, all is within His knowledge, and He keeps watch over everything, and everywhere He is with you according to His knowledge (Ibn Kathīr).
