سُوْرَةُ الصَّافَّاتِ
Surah As-Saaffaat (37) — Ayah 11
فَٱسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَهُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَم مَّنْ خَلَقْنَآ ۚ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰهُم مِّن طِينٍ لَّازِبٍۭ ﴿11﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then ask them (i.e. these polytheists, O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "Are they stronger as creation, or those (others like the heavens and the earth and the mountains) whom We have created?" Verily, We created them of a sticky clay.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَٱسْتَفْتِهِمْ
fa-is'taftihim
Then ask them
أَهُمْ
ahum
Are they
أَشَدُّ
ashaddu
a stronger
خَلْقًا
khalqan
creation
أَم
am
or
مَّنْ
man
(those) whom
خَلَقْنَآ ۚ
khalaqnā
We have created
إِنَّا
innā
Indeed, We
خَلَقْنَـٰهُم
khalaqnāhum
created them
مِّن
min
from
طِينٍۢ
ṭīnin
a clay
لَّازِبٍۭ
lāzibin
sticky
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 11) {فَاسْتَفْتِهِمْ اَهُمْ اَشَدُّ خَلْقًا … :} The disbelievers were not willing to accept the Hereafter; they said that being resurrected after death is not possible at all. Allah Almighty has mentioned two arguments here in response to them. The first is that what We have already created before this, which is mentioned in this Surah, i.e., the heavens and the earth and the creatures between them, the Saffat, the Zajirat, the Talayat, the angels, the devils, and the stars, etc.—is it more difficult to create them or to recreate these people? Obviously, compared to such great creations, what significance does a helpless human have that Allah Almighty would not be able to resurrect him, as He said: «لَخَلْقُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ اَكْبَرُ مِنْ خَلْقِ النَّاسِ وَ لٰكِنَّ اَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُوْنَ » [ المؤمن : ۵۷ ] "Surely, the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater than the creation of mankind, but most people do not know." For more details, see Surah Ya-Sin (81).
The second argument is that We created them from sticky clay (which is formed by mixing soil and water), and they will become dust again after dying. So when We created them from clay the first time, why can We not recreate them from the same clay, when We have already created them once before!? (See Hajj: 5) And every intelligent person knows that making something a second time is easier than making it the first time. This very reality Allah Almighty has stated in Surah Ar-Rum, saying: «وَ هُوَ الَّذِيْ يَبْدَؤُا الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيْدُهٗ وَ هُوَ اَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ » [ الروم : ۲۷ ] "And He is the One who originates the creation, then He will repeat it, and that is even easier for Him."
The second argument is that We created them from sticky clay (which is formed by mixing soil and water), and they will become dust again after dying. So when We created them from clay the first time, why can We not recreate them from the same clay, when We have already created them once before!? (See Hajj: 5) And every intelligent person knows that making something a second time is easier than making it the first time. This very reality Allah Almighty has stated in Surah Ar-Rum, saying: «وَ هُوَ الَّذِيْ يَبْدَؤُا الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيْدُهٗ وَ هُوَ اَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ » [ الروم : ۲۷ ] "And He is the One who originates the creation, then He will repeat it, and that is even easier for Him."
