سُوْرَةُ النَّحْلِ
Surah An-Nahl (16) — Ayah 79
أَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَى ٱلطَّيْرِ مُسَخَّرَٰتٍ فِى جَوِّ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿79﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Do they not see the birds held (flying) in the midst of the sky? None holds them but Allâh [none gave them the ability to fly but Allâh]. Verily, in this are clear Ayât (proofs and signs) for people who believe (in the Oneness of Allâh).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَلَمْ
alam
Do not
يَرَوْا۟
yaraw
they see
إِلَى
ilā
towards
ٱلطَّيْرِ
l-ṭayri
the birds
مُسَخَّرَٰتٍۢ
musakharātin
controlled
فِى
fī
in
جَوِّ
jawwi
the midst
ٱلسَّمَآءِ
l-samāi
(of) the sky
مَا
mā
None
يُمْسِكُهُنَّ
yum'sikuhunna
holds them up
إِلَّا
illā
except
ٱللَّهُ ۗ
l-lahu
Allah
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
فِى
fī
in
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
لَـَٔايَـٰتٍۢ
laāyātin
(are) Signs
لِّقَوْمٍۢ
liqawmin
for a people
يُؤْمِنُونَ
yu'minūna
who believe
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.
(Ayah79) {اَلَمْ يَرَوْا اِلَى الطَّيْرِ مُسَخَّرٰتٍ فِيْ جَوِّ السَّمَآءِ …: ’’ الطَّيْرِ ‘‘ ’’طَائِرٌ‘‘} is the plural of a flying creature, although some people deny that {’’ فَاعِلٌ ‘‘} is the plural of {’’ فَعْلٌ ‘‘ }, but Shanqeeti (may Allah have mercy on him) has mentioned several examples of this, such as the plural of {’’صَاحِبٌ‘‘} is {’’ صَحْبٌ۔‘‘ }, Imru’ al-Qais said:
The plural of {وُقُوْفًا بِهَا صَحْبِيْ عَلَيَّ مَطِيَّهُمْ ¤ يَقُوْلُوْنَ لَا تَهْلِكْ أَسًي وَ تَجَمَّلِ ¤ ’’رَاكِبٌ ‘‘} is {’’رَكْبٌ‘‘}, the {’’شَرْبٌ‘‘} of {’’شَارِبٌ‘‘}, and the {’’سَفْرٌ‘‘} of {’’سَافِرٌ‘‘}, etc. Have these polytheists not reflected on the birds flying between the sky and the earth? Who is the Being Who made the structure of their wings, arms, and tails suitable for flying, and Who holds them up from falling while they fly between the earth and the sky? Let any claimant come forward, yet they continue to associate partners with Allah. Truly, only those people benefit from these signs who, when they understand something, accept it. For those who are not willing to accept, every sign is useless. See also Surah Al-Mulk (19).
The plural of {وُقُوْفًا بِهَا صَحْبِيْ عَلَيَّ مَطِيَّهُمْ ¤ يَقُوْلُوْنَ لَا تَهْلِكْ أَسًي وَ تَجَمَّلِ ¤ ’’رَاكِبٌ ‘‘} is {’’رَكْبٌ‘‘}, the {’’شَرْبٌ‘‘} of {’’شَارِبٌ‘‘}, and the {’’سَفْرٌ‘‘} of {’’سَافِرٌ‘‘}, etc. Have these polytheists not reflected on the birds flying between the sky and the earth? Who is the Being Who made the structure of their wings, arms, and tails suitable for flying, and Who holds them up from falling while they fly between the earth and the sky? Let any claimant come forward, yet they continue to associate partners with Allah. Truly, only those people benefit from these signs who, when they understand something, accept it. For those who are not willing to accept, every sign is useless. See also Surah Al-Mulk (19).
