سُوْرَةُ الْمُؤْمِنِ
Surah Ghafir (40) — Ayah 67
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًا ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟ أَشُدَّكُمْ ثُمَّ لِتَكُونُوا۟ شُيُوخًا ۚ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّىٰ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟ أَجَلًا مُّسَمًّى وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿67﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
It is He, Who has created you (Adam) from dust, then from a Nutfah [mixed semen drops of male and female sexual discharge (i.e. Adam’s offspring)] then from a clot (a piece of coagulated blood), then brings you forth as an infant, then (makes you grow) to reach the age of full strength, and afterwards to be old (men and women)- though some among you die before,- and that you reach an appointed term in order that you may understand.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
هُوَ
huwa
He
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
(is) the One Who
خَلَقَكُم
khalaqakum
created you
مِّن
min
from
تُرَابٍۢ
turābin
dust
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
مِن
min
from
نُّطْفَةٍۢ
nuṭ'fatin
a semen-drop
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
مِنْ
min
from
عَلَقَةٍۢ
ʿalaqatin
a clinging substance
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
يُخْرِجُكُمْ
yukh'rijukum
He brings you out
طِفْلًۭا
ṭif'lan
(as) a child
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
لِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟
litablughū
lets you reach
أَشُدَّكُمْ
ashuddakum
your maturity
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
لِتَكُونُوا۟
litakūnū
lets you become
شُيُوخًۭا ۚ
shuyūkhan
old
وَمِنكُم
waminkum
and among you
مَّن
man
(is he) who
يُتَوَفَّىٰ
yutawaffā
dies
مِن
min
before
قَبْلُ ۖ
qablu
before
وَلِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟
walitablughū
and lets you reach
أَجَلًۭا
ajalan
a term
مُّسَمًّۭى
musamman
specified
وَلَعَلَّكُمْ
walaʿallakum
and that you may
تَعْقِلُونَ
taʿqilūna
use reason
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 67) ➊ { هُوَ الَّذِيْ خَلَقَكُمْ مِّنْ تُرَابٍ … :} This verse is also evidence of the existence of Allah, His oneness, and the establishment of the Resurrection. Its explanation has already been detailed in Surah Al-Hajj (5) and Surah Al-Mu’minun (12 to 14). However, here a brief explanation of a few words is given.
➋ In both {’’ ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوْۤااَشُدَّكُمْ ‘‘} and {’’ ثُمَّ لِتَكُوْنُوْا شُيُوْخًا ‘‘}, the “lam of purpose” relates to an omitted verb which is understood by itself: {’’ ثُمَّ يُرَبِّيْكُمْ ‘‘} meaning, then He continues to nurture you (so that you reach your youth, then so that you become old) or {’’ ثُمَّ يُبْقِيْكُمْ ‘‘}, meaning, then He keeps you (so that you reach your youth, then so that you become old).
➌ { وَ مِنْكُمْ مَّنْ يُّتَوَفّٰى مِنْ قَبْلُ:} meaning, some are taken in death before being born (in the case of miscarriage), some before reaching youth, and some before reaching old age.
➍ {وَ لِتَبْلُغُوْۤا اَجَلًا مُّسَمًّى:} The connection of this {’’ لِتَبْلُغُوْۤا ‘‘} will not be with the previously implied verb for {’’ لِتَبْلُغُوْۤا ‘‘}, rather, a separate implied verb will have to be assumed for it, for example, {’’وَ فَعَلَ لَكُمْ ذٰلِكَ لِتَبْلُغُوْا أَجَلًا مُّسَمًّي‘‘} “And He has dealt with you in this way so that you may reach the appointed time of death which has been fixed for each of you.” That is, some die after reaching the stage of ‘alaqah, some after reaching the stage of mudghah or bones, some after birth, some after childhood, some after youth, and some after reaching old age. (Ibn Juzayy)
➎ { وَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُوْنَ:} meaning, Allah causes you to pass through these different stages of life so that when you reflect on this amazing system, you understand that there is a Creator who has made all this, and He is One, He has no partner. Otherwise, in this system of the universe, there would not be such tremendous harmony and compatibility between everything, nor could this system run or remain for even a moment. And so that you also understand that after every stage here, there is another stage; for the One who creates from dust and a drop, and after bringing it to a certain time, takes it back, it is not difficult to bring you back to life again and take your account. That is, if you reflect, from this process of creation, the existence of Allah, His oneness, and His power to resurrect you can easily be understood. Shah Abdul Qadir writes: “That is, so many states have passed over you, perhaps one more state will also pass (and) that is, living after dying.” (Muwadhih)
➋ In both {’’ ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوْۤااَشُدَّكُمْ ‘‘} and {’’ ثُمَّ لِتَكُوْنُوْا شُيُوْخًا ‘‘}, the “lam of purpose” relates to an omitted verb which is understood by itself: {’’ ثُمَّ يُرَبِّيْكُمْ ‘‘} meaning, then He continues to nurture you (so that you reach your youth, then so that you become old) or {’’ ثُمَّ يُبْقِيْكُمْ ‘‘}, meaning, then He keeps you (so that you reach your youth, then so that you become old).
➌ { وَ مِنْكُمْ مَّنْ يُّتَوَفّٰى مِنْ قَبْلُ:} meaning, some are taken in death before being born (in the case of miscarriage), some before reaching youth, and some before reaching old age.
➍ {وَ لِتَبْلُغُوْۤا اَجَلًا مُّسَمًّى:} The connection of this {’’ لِتَبْلُغُوْۤا ‘‘} will not be with the previously implied verb for {’’ لِتَبْلُغُوْۤا ‘‘}, rather, a separate implied verb will have to be assumed for it, for example, {’’وَ فَعَلَ لَكُمْ ذٰلِكَ لِتَبْلُغُوْا أَجَلًا مُّسَمًّي‘‘} “And He has dealt with you in this way so that you may reach the appointed time of death which has been fixed for each of you.” That is, some die after reaching the stage of ‘alaqah, some after reaching the stage of mudghah or bones, some after birth, some after childhood, some after youth, and some after reaching old age. (Ibn Juzayy)
➎ { وَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُوْنَ:} meaning, Allah causes you to pass through these different stages of life so that when you reflect on this amazing system, you understand that there is a Creator who has made all this, and He is One, He has no partner. Otherwise, in this system of the universe, there would not be such tremendous harmony and compatibility between everything, nor could this system run or remain for even a moment. And so that you also understand that after every stage here, there is another stage; for the One who creates from dust and a drop, and after bringing it to a certain time, takes it back, it is not difficult to bring you back to life again and take your account. That is, if you reflect, from this process of creation, the existence of Allah, His oneness, and His power to resurrect you can easily be understood. Shah Abdul Qadir writes: “That is, so many states have passed over you, perhaps one more state will also pass (and) that is, living after dying.” (Muwadhih)
