سُوْرَةُ الْحِجْرِ
Surah Al-Hijr (15) — Ayah 26
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِن صَلْصَـٰلٍ مِّنْ حَمَإٍ مَّسْنُونٍ ﴿26﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And indeed, We created man from dried (sounding) clay of altered mud.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And verily
خَلَقْنَا
khalaqnā
We created
ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ
l-insāna
humankind
مِن
min
(out) of
صَلْصَـٰلٍۢ
ṣalṣālin
sounding clay
مِّنْ
min
from
حَمَإٍۢ
ḥama-in
black mud
مَّسْنُونٍۢ
masnūnin
altered
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 26) ➊ { وَ لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْاِنْسَانَ …:} In this surah, from verse (16) «{ وَ لَقَدْ جَعَلْنَا فِي السَّمَآءِ بُرُوْجًا }», the evidences of Tawheed are being discussed. When in the previous verses the creation of various things was mentioned as evidence, now the creation of man is being mentioned as evidence. In short, this is the seventh type among the evidences of Tawheed. (Kabir)
➋ {مِنْ صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَاٍ مَّسْنُوْنٍ:} In the Arabic language, dry clay is called {’’ تُرَابٌ ‘‘}, when it is moistened it is called {’’طِيْنٌ‘‘}, then when it remains for a long time and becomes black, it is called {’’ حَمَاٍ ‘‘}, and when it starts to emit a bad smell, it is called {’’ حَمَاٍ مَّسْنُوْنٍ ‘‘} (malodorous mud), then when it dries and makes a clanging sound, it is called {’’ صَلْصَالٍ ‘‘}. One meaning of {’’ مَسْنُوْنٍ ‘‘} is also that which has been shaped, as the meaning of {’’ سُنَّةُ الْوَجْهِ‘‘} comes as {’’صُوْرَةُ الْوَجْهِ‘‘}, and the meaning of {’’مَسْنُوْنٍ ‘‘} is also soft and pliable. From the verses and commentaries, the sequence of the creation of Adam (peace be upon him) is understood as follows: First, Allah Almighty took dry clay from the entire earth, as in Surah Aal-e-Imran (59) the creation of Adam (peace be upon him) from {’’ تُرَابٍ ‘‘} is said to be like fakhkhar, and as narrated from Abu Musa Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ اللّٰهَ خَلَقَ آدَمَ مِنْ قَبْضَةٍ قَبَضَهَا مِنْ جَمِيْعِ الْأَرْضِ فَجَاءَ بَنُوْ آدَمَ عَلٰی قَدْرِ الْأَرْضِ جَاءَ مِنْهُمُ الْأَحْمَرُ وَالْأَبْيَضُ وَالْأَسْوَدُ وَبَيْنَ ذٰلِكَ وَالسَّهْلُ وَالْحَزْنُ وَالْخَبِيْثُ وَالطَّيِّبُ وَبَيْنَ ذٰلِكَ ] [ أبوداوٗد، السنۃ، باب في القدر : ۴۶۹۳۔ ترمذی : ۲۹۵۵۔ أحمد : ۴ /۴۰۰، ح : ۱۹۶۰۱، و صححہ الألباني ] "Allah created Adam from a handful which He took from all of the earth, so the children of Adam came according to the measure of the earth; among them are red, white, black, and those in between, and soft, hard, evil, good, and those in between as well." Then water was added to it so it became {’’طِيْنٌ‘‘}, then it was left for a long time, when it became black and soft and pliable, the frame and form of Adam (peace be upon him) was made, as He said: «{ وَ لَقَدْ خَلَقْنٰكُمْ ثُمَّ صَوَّرْنٰكُمْ }» [ الأعراف : ۱۱ ] When it dried and began to make a clanging sound, He breathed into it His specially created soul, as in this place the mention of {’’ صَلْصَالٍ ‘‘} is made, and the mention of its thorough dryness is in Surah Ar-Rahman (14), He said: «{مِنْ صَلْصَالٍ كَالْفَخَّارِ }» that it was clanging clay like pottery baked in fire.
➋ {مِنْ صَلْصَالٍ مِّنْ حَمَاٍ مَّسْنُوْنٍ:} In the Arabic language, dry clay is called {’’ تُرَابٌ ‘‘}, when it is moistened it is called {’’طِيْنٌ‘‘}, then when it remains for a long time and becomes black, it is called {’’ حَمَاٍ ‘‘}, and when it starts to emit a bad smell, it is called {’’ حَمَاٍ مَّسْنُوْنٍ ‘‘} (malodorous mud), then when it dries and makes a clanging sound, it is called {’’ صَلْصَالٍ ‘‘}. One meaning of {’’ مَسْنُوْنٍ ‘‘} is also that which has been shaped, as the meaning of {’’ سُنَّةُ الْوَجْهِ‘‘} comes as {’’صُوْرَةُ الْوَجْهِ‘‘}, and the meaning of {’’مَسْنُوْنٍ ‘‘} is also soft and pliable. From the verses and commentaries, the sequence of the creation of Adam (peace be upon him) is understood as follows: First, Allah Almighty took dry clay from the entire earth, as in Surah Aal-e-Imran (59) the creation of Adam (peace be upon him) from {’’ تُرَابٍ ‘‘} is said to be like fakhkhar, and as narrated from Abu Musa Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [ إِنَّ اللّٰهَ خَلَقَ آدَمَ مِنْ قَبْضَةٍ قَبَضَهَا مِنْ جَمِيْعِ الْأَرْضِ فَجَاءَ بَنُوْ آدَمَ عَلٰی قَدْرِ الْأَرْضِ جَاءَ مِنْهُمُ الْأَحْمَرُ وَالْأَبْيَضُ وَالْأَسْوَدُ وَبَيْنَ ذٰلِكَ وَالسَّهْلُ وَالْحَزْنُ وَالْخَبِيْثُ وَالطَّيِّبُ وَبَيْنَ ذٰلِكَ ] [ أبوداوٗد، السنۃ، باب في القدر : ۴۶۹۳۔ ترمذی : ۲۹۵۵۔ أحمد : ۴ /۴۰۰، ح : ۱۹۶۰۱، و صححہ الألباني ] "Allah created Adam from a handful which He took from all of the earth, so the children of Adam came according to the measure of the earth; among them are red, white, black, and those in between, and soft, hard, evil, good, and those in between as well." Then water was added to it so it became {’’طِيْنٌ‘‘}, then it was left for a long time, when it became black and soft and pliable, the frame and form of Adam (peace be upon him) was made, as He said: «{ وَ لَقَدْ خَلَقْنٰكُمْ ثُمَّ صَوَّرْنٰكُمْ }» [ الأعراف : ۱۱ ] When it dried and began to make a clanging sound, He breathed into it His specially created soul, as in this place the mention of {’’ صَلْصَالٍ ‘‘} is made, and the mention of its thorough dryness is in Surah Ar-Rahman (14), He said: «{مِنْ صَلْصَالٍ كَالْفَخَّارِ }» that it was clanging clay like pottery baked in fire.
