سُوْرَةُ الْاَنْۣبِيَآءِ
Surah Al-Anbiyaa (21) — Ayah 32
وَجَعَلْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ سَقْفًا مَّحْفُوظًا ۖ وَهُمْ عَنْ ءَايَـٰتِهَا مُعْرِضُونَ ﴿32﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And We have made the heaven a roof, safe and well guarded. Yet they turn away from its signs (i.e. sun, moon, winds, clouds, etc.).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَجَعَلْنَا
wajaʿalnā
And We made
ٱلسَّمَآءَ
l-samāa
the sky
سَقْفًۭا
saqfan
a roof
مَّحْفُوظًۭا ۖ
maḥfūẓan
protected
وَهُمْ
wahum
But they
عَنْ
ʿan
from
ءَايَـٰتِهَا
āyātihā
its Signs
مُعْرِضُونَ
muʿ'riḍūna
turn away
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 32) ➊ { وَ جَعَلْنَا السَّمَآءَ سَقْفًا مَّحْفُوْظًا:} After mentioning some wonders of the earth, attention is drawn to the wonders of the sky. Even the small roofs made by people cannot stand without walls or pillars, and they are constantly subject to wear and tear. Things falling from them always cause some kind of harm, and no matter how long they last, eventually they collapse. Thieves break into them and steal valuables, but Allah Almighty has made the sky a roof for the earth that stands without pillars. See Surah Ra’d (2) and Luqman (10). And it is protected from falling in every way. See Surah Fatir (41) and Surah Hajj (65). Instead of anything harmful coming down from it, things that sustain life descend from it, such as the intense light (radiance) and heat of the sun, the light of the moon and stars, the coming and going of night and day, clouds, rain, winds, angels, and countless unseen mercies of Allah Almighty. Then, breaking in is out of the question; even the devils who try to steal secrets are powerfully repelled by shooting stars. See Surah Hijr (16–18) and Saffat (6–10).
➋ { وَ هُمْ عَنْ اٰيٰتِهَا مُعْرِضُوْنَ:} That is, the polytheists do not pay attention to the sky and the signs found in it, such as the sun, moon, stars, night, day, rain, clouds, lightning, winds, and countless things of Allah Almighty’s power. Because if they were to look at all these things with a reflective eye, they would surely believe that their Creator exists and that He has no partner.
➋ { وَ هُمْ عَنْ اٰيٰتِهَا مُعْرِضُوْنَ:} That is, the polytheists do not pay attention to the sky and the signs found in it, such as the sun, moon, stars, night, day, rain, clouds, lightning, winds, and countless things of Allah Almighty’s power. Because if they were to look at all these things with a reflective eye, they would surely believe that their Creator exists and that He has no partner.
