سُوْرَةُ الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ
Surah Al-Muminoon (23) — Ayah 12
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ مِن سُلَـٰلَةٍ مِّن طِينٍ ﴿12﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And indeed We created man (Adam) out of an extract of clay (water and earth).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And indeed
خَلَقْنَا
khalaqnā
We created
ٱلْإِنسَـٰنَ
l-insāna
the humankind
مِن
min
from
سُلَـٰلَةٍۢ
sulālatin
an essence
مِّن
min
of
طِينٍۢ
ṭīnin
clay
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 12) ➊ {وَ لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْاِنْسَانَ مِنْ سُلٰلَةٍ مِّنْ طِيْنٍ : ’’ سُلٰلَةٍ ‘‘ ’’سَلَّ يَسُلُّ‘‘} To extract something gently. {’’سَلَلْتُ السَّيْفَ‘‘} "I drew the sword from its sheath." {’’اَلسُّلَالَةُ‘‘} means {’’ اَلشَّيْءُ الْمَسْلُوْلُ‘‘} that is, the essence of something. In the pattern of {’’فُعَالَةٌ‘‘} there is a sense of smallness, such as {’’قُلَامَةٌ‘‘} a shaving of a pen and {’’ صُبَابَةٌ ‘‘} a small amount of spilled water.
➋ The relevance of these verses to the previous verses appears to be that Allah Almighty mentioned the inheriting of Firdaws by the successful believers, and obviously, this will happen on the Day of Resurrection. Therefore, as evidence for resurrection and life after death, the first creation of man is mentioned. Then, as further evidence, the creation of even greater beings in the universe—the heavens and the earth and the blessings within them—is mentioned, that the One who created all this the first time is also capable of resurrecting. Then, the evil end of those who deny Allah’s oneness and the power to resurrect is warned about. Thus, first, the denial by the people of Noah (peace be upon him) and the punishment that befell them is mentioned. And Allah knows best (Nazm al-Durr by al-Biqa'i).
➌ The tanween in {مِنْ سُلٰلَةٍ مِّنْ طِيْنٍ : ’’ طِيْنٍ ‘‘} is for belittlement, and in {’’ سُلٰلَةٍ ‘‘} there is also a sense of smallness, meaning this human whom you see walking around, laughing and smiling, his beginning was from a small, insignificant extract of clay. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates 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 وَ بَيْنَ ذٰلِكَ وَالسَّهْلُ وَالْحَزْنُ وَالْخَبِيْثُ وَالطَّيِّبُ ] [ أبو داوٗد، السنۃ، باب في القدر : ۴۶۹۳ ] "Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, created Adam from a handful of soil which He gathered from all over the earth. Thus, Adam’s descendants came according to the soil: some are red, some are white, some are black, and some are in between. Some are gentle, some are harsh, some are evil-natured, and some are good and excellent in nature." In this verse, the creation of Adam (peace be upon him) is mentioned.
➋ The relevance of these verses to the previous verses appears to be that Allah Almighty mentioned the inheriting of Firdaws by the successful believers, and obviously, this will happen on the Day of Resurrection. Therefore, as evidence for resurrection and life after death, the first creation of man is mentioned. Then, as further evidence, the creation of even greater beings in the universe—the heavens and the earth and the blessings within them—is mentioned, that the One who created all this the first time is also capable of resurrecting. Then, the evil end of those who deny Allah’s oneness and the power to resurrect is warned about. Thus, first, the denial by the people of Noah (peace be upon him) and the punishment that befell them is mentioned. And Allah knows best (Nazm al-Durr by al-Biqa'i).
➌ The tanween in {مِنْ سُلٰلَةٍ مِّنْ طِيْنٍ : ’’ طِيْنٍ ‘‘} is for belittlement, and in {’’ سُلٰلَةٍ ‘‘} there is also a sense of smallness, meaning this human whom you see walking around, laughing and smiling, his beginning was from a small, insignificant extract of clay. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates 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 وَ بَيْنَ ذٰلِكَ وَالسَّهْلُ وَالْحَزْنُ وَالْخَبِيْثُ وَالطَّيِّبُ ] [ أبو داوٗد، السنۃ، باب في القدر : ۴۶۹۳ ] "Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, created Adam from a handful of soil which He gathered from all over the earth. Thus, Adam’s descendants came according to the soil: some are red, some are white, some are black, and some are in between. Some are gentle, some are harsh, some are evil-natured, and some are good and excellent in nature." In this verse, the creation of Adam (peace be upon him) is mentioned.
