سُوْرَةُ فُصِّلَتۡ
Surah Fussilat (41) — Ayah 11
ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَهِىَ دُخَانٌ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ ٱئْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا قَالَتَآ أَتَيْنَا طَآئِعِينَ ﴿11﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then He rose over (Istawâ) towards the heaven when it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth: "Come both of you willingly or unwillingly." They both said: "We come willingly."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ثُمَّ
thumma
Then
ٱسْتَوَىٰٓ
is'tawā
He directed (Himself)
إِلَى
ilā
towards
ٱلسَّمَآءِ
l-samāi
the heaven
وَهِىَ
wahiya
while it (was)
دُخَانٌۭ
dukhānun
smoke
فَقَالَ
faqāla
and He said
لَهَا
lahā
to it
وَلِلْأَرْضِ
walil'arḍi
and to the earth
ٱئْتِيَا
i'tiyā
Come both of you
طَوْعًا
ṭawʿan
willingly
أَوْ
aw
or
كَرْهًۭا
karhan
unwillingly
قَالَتَآ
qālatā
They both said
أَتَيْنَا
ataynā
We come
طَآئِعِينَ
ṭāiʿīna
willingly
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) ➊ When { ثُمَّ اسْتَوٰۤى اِلَى السَّمَآءِ …:’’ اسْتَوٰۤى ‘‘} is followed by {’’ اِلَى ‘‘}, its meaning becomes "to intend." That is, then Allah turned His attention towards the sky, which at that time was in the form of smoke, so He said to it, that is, to the sky and the earth both, {’’ ائْتِيَا ‘‘} ("Come"), meaning obey My command, come willingly or unwillingly, in any case you will have to do so.
➋ {قَالَتَاۤ اَتَيْنَا طَآىِٕعِيْنَ:} Both of them said, "We come willingly." From this, it is understood that the things in the universe that naturally obey Allah Almighty, such as the angels who do not say or do anything without His command, likewise the sun, moon, stars, clouds, winds, seas, plants, animals, and inanimate objects—in short, everything is operating according to Allah Almighty's command, not deviating even an atom's weight—so all these things are not acting under compulsion but are following the Owner's command with their own pleasure and willingness. Allah Almighty has made their very nature Islam (submission and obedience).
From this, it is also understood that everything in the heavens and the earth has complete understanding to listen to, comprehend, respond to, and act upon the commands of its Lord, even if we consider it {’’ لَا يَعْقِلُ‘‘} (unintelligent), because the word {’’ طَآىِٕعِيْنَ ‘‘} (sound masculine plural) in Arabic lexicon is used for those possessing intellect. It is another matter that we may not understand their conversation or glorification. See also Surah Bani Isra'il (44).
➋ {قَالَتَاۤ اَتَيْنَا طَآىِٕعِيْنَ:} Both of them said, "We come willingly." From this, it is understood that the things in the universe that naturally obey Allah Almighty, such as the angels who do not say or do anything without His command, likewise the sun, moon, stars, clouds, winds, seas, plants, animals, and inanimate objects—in short, everything is operating according to Allah Almighty's command, not deviating even an atom's weight—so all these things are not acting under compulsion but are following the Owner's command with their own pleasure and willingness. Allah Almighty has made their very nature Islam (submission and obedience).
From this, it is also understood that everything in the heavens and the earth has complete understanding to listen to, comprehend, respond to, and act upon the commands of its Lord, even if we consider it {’’ لَا يَعْقِلُ‘‘} (unintelligent), because the word {’’ طَآىِٕعِيْنَ ‘‘} (sound masculine plural) in Arabic lexicon is used for those possessing intellect. It is another matter that we may not understand their conversation or glorification. See also Surah Bani Isra'il (44).
