سُوْرَةُ فُصِّلَتۡ
Surah Fussilat (41) — Ayah 12
فَقَضَىٰهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَـٰوَاتٍ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ وَأَوْحَىٰ فِى كُلِّ سَمَآءٍ أَمْرَهَا ۚ وَزَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ وَحِفْظًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ ﴿12﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then He completed and finished from their creation (as) seven heavens in two Days and He made in each heaven its affair. And We adorned the nearest (lowest) heaven with lamps (stars) to be an adornment as well as to guard (from the devils by using them as missiles against the devils). Such is the Decree of Him the All-Mighty, the All-Knower.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَقَضَىٰهُنَّ
faqaḍāhunna
Then He completed them
سَبْعَ
sabʿa
(as) seven
سَمَـٰوَاتٍۢ
samāwātin
heavens
فِى
fī
in
يَوْمَيْنِ
yawmayni
two periods
وَأَوْحَىٰ
wa-awḥā
and He revealed
فِى
fī
in
كُلِّ
kulli
each
سَمَآءٍ
samāin
heaven
أَمْرَهَا ۚ
amrahā
its affair
وَزَيَّنَّا
wazayyannā
And We adorned
ٱلسَّمَآءَ
l-samāa
the heaven
ٱلدُّنْيَا
l-dun'yā
[the world]
بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ
bimaṣābīḥa
with lamps
وَحِفْظًۭا ۚ
waḥif'ẓan
and (to) guard
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
That
تَقْدِيرُ
taqdīru
(is the) Decree
ٱلْعَزِيزِ
l-ʿazīzi
(of) the All-Mighty
ٱلْعَلِيمِ
l-ʿalīmi
the All-Knower
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 { فَقَضٰىهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمٰوٰتٍ فِيْ يَوْمَيْنِ:} That is, Allah Almighty made the sky, which was in the form of smoke, into seven complete heavens in two days.
➋ { وَ اَوْحٰى فِيْ كُلِّ سَمَآءٍ اَمْرَهَا:} That is, in this system of the universe, He revealed to each heaven and to every creature residing in it the responsibility assigned to it, that you have to do this work and in this manner.
➌ {وَ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَآءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيْحَ وَ حِفْظًا: ’’ حِفْظًا ‘‘ ’’حَفِظْنَاهَا‘‘} is the cognate accusative of {’’حَفِظْنَاهَا‘‘}, which is implied here, and its conjunction is with the implied word {’’ زِيْنَةٌ ‘‘}, which is the cognate accusative of {’’ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَآءَ الدُّنْيَا ‘‘}. So the original sentence was: {’’ وَ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيْحَ زِيْنَةً وَ حَفِظْنَاهَا بِهَا حِفْظًا۔‘‘} Due to the indication of the word {’’ زَيَّنَّا ‘‘}, {’’ زِيْنَةً ‘‘} was omitted, and due to the indication of {’’ حِفْظًا ‘‘}, {’’حَفِظْنَاهَا‘‘} was omitted. In this way, a lengthy statement was beautifully summarized in a few words. This is the eloquence of the Qur’an, and it is called ihtibak. (Biqā‘ī) Because {’’ حِفْظًا ‘‘} is a cognate accusative, it has been translated as “well protected.” For details of this adornment and protection, see Surah Al-Hijr (16–18), As-Saffat (6–10), and Surah Al-Mulk (5). Here, it should be noted that in these verses, previously Allah Almighty mentioned Himself in the third person form {’’بِالَّذِيْ خَلَقَ الْاَرْضَ‘‘}, in { ’’ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَآءَ ‘‘ } in the first person form, and in {’’ ذٰلِكَ تَقْدِيْرُ الْعَزِيْزِ الْعَلِيْمِ ‘‘} again in the third person form. This is called iltifat, which adds beauty to the speech and also contains many wisdoms.
➍ { ذٰلِكَ تَقْدِيْرُ الْعَزِيْزِ الْعَلِيْمِ:} All this is the estimation and prescribed system of that Being who is fully described with Might and knowledge. He is dominant over all; none can overpower Him. He is All-Knowing. Nothing of the past, present, or future is hidden from Him. Therefore, there is no error or accident in His system, and no one else has even the slightest share in this system. The sequence of speech started from {’’ قُلْ اَىِٕنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُوْنَ بِالَّذِيْ خَلَقَ الْاَرْضَ فِيْ يَوْمَيْنِ ‘‘} and ended at {’’ ذٰلِكَ تَقْدِيْرُ الْعَزِيْزِ الْعَلِيْمِ ‘‘}. The meaning is that this entire universe, which He created in six days, and everything in it, even you and those things which you have taken as deities, He created them as well. Do you then disbelieve in this Great Being and associate partners with Him, who has done all this?
➋ { وَ اَوْحٰى فِيْ كُلِّ سَمَآءٍ اَمْرَهَا:} That is, in this system of the universe, He revealed to each heaven and to every creature residing in it the responsibility assigned to it, that you have to do this work and in this manner.
➌ {وَ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَآءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيْحَ وَ حِفْظًا: ’’ حِفْظًا ‘‘ ’’حَفِظْنَاهَا‘‘} is the cognate accusative of {’’حَفِظْنَاهَا‘‘}, which is implied here, and its conjunction is with the implied word {’’ زِيْنَةٌ ‘‘}, which is the cognate accusative of {’’ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَآءَ الدُّنْيَا ‘‘}. So the original sentence was: {’’ وَ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيْحَ زِيْنَةً وَ حَفِظْنَاهَا بِهَا حِفْظًا۔‘‘} Due to the indication of the word {’’ زَيَّنَّا ‘‘}, {’’ زِيْنَةً ‘‘} was omitted, and due to the indication of {’’ حِفْظًا ‘‘}, {’’حَفِظْنَاهَا‘‘} was omitted. In this way, a lengthy statement was beautifully summarized in a few words. This is the eloquence of the Qur’an, and it is called ihtibak. (Biqā‘ī) Because {’’ حِفْظًا ‘‘} is a cognate accusative, it has been translated as “well protected.” For details of this adornment and protection, see Surah Al-Hijr (16–18), As-Saffat (6–10), and Surah Al-Mulk (5). Here, it should be noted that in these verses, previously Allah Almighty mentioned Himself in the third person form {’’بِالَّذِيْ خَلَقَ الْاَرْضَ‘‘}, in { ’’ زَيَّنَّا السَّمَآءَ ‘‘ } in the first person form, and in {’’ ذٰلِكَ تَقْدِيْرُ الْعَزِيْزِ الْعَلِيْمِ ‘‘} again in the third person form. This is called iltifat, which adds beauty to the speech and also contains many wisdoms.
➍ { ذٰلِكَ تَقْدِيْرُ الْعَزِيْزِ الْعَلِيْمِ:} All this is the estimation and prescribed system of that Being who is fully described with Might and knowledge. He is dominant over all; none can overpower Him. He is All-Knowing. Nothing of the past, present, or future is hidden from Him. Therefore, there is no error or accident in His system, and no one else has even the slightest share in this system. The sequence of speech started from {’’ قُلْ اَىِٕنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُوْنَ بِالَّذِيْ خَلَقَ الْاَرْضَ فِيْ يَوْمَيْنِ ‘‘} and ended at {’’ ذٰلِكَ تَقْدِيْرُ الْعَزِيْزِ الْعَلِيْمِ ‘‘}. The meaning is that this entire universe, which He created in six days, and everything in it, even you and those things which you have taken as deities, He created them as well. Do you then disbelieve in this Great Being and associate partners with Him, who has done all this?
