سُوْرَةُ الزُّخْرُفِ
Surah Az-Zukhruf (43) — Ayah 10
ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ مَهْدًا وَجَعَلَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ ﴿10﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Who has made for you the earth like a bed, and has made for you roads therein, in order that you may find your way.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
The One Who
جَعَلَ
jaʿala
made
لَكُمُ
lakumu
for you
ٱلْأَرْضَ
l-arḍa
the earth
مَهْدًۭا
mahdan
a bed
وَجَعَلَ
wajaʿala
and made
لَكُمْ
lakum
for you
فِيهَا
fīhā
therein
سُبُلًۭا
subulan
roads
لَّعَلَّكُمْ
laʿallakum
so that you may
تَهْتَدُونَ
tahtadūna
(be) guided
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 10) ➊ {الَّذِيْ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْاَرْضَ مَهْدًا:} From here, Allah Almighty began to enumerate His favors to them while addressing them. Thus, this is the statement of Allah Almighty, not their words, otherwise the words would have been: {’’ اَلَّذِيْ جَعَلَ لَنَا الْأَرْضَ مَهْدًا… ‘‘} "He who made the earth a bed for us......."
➋ The meaning of {’’ مَهْدًا ‘‘} is both "bed" and "cradle of a child," that is, just as a person lies comfortably on a bed, in the same way, He made this magnificent globe a place of comfort for you, which is suspended in space, which on one hand is rotating on its axis at a speed of one thousand (1,000) miles per hour, and on the other hand is moving at a speed of sixty-six thousand six hundred (66,600) miles per hour, in whose belly there is fire capable of melting even stones and causing severe earthquakes, which sometimes, in the form of volcanoes, spews lava and makes you aware of its existence, but despite this, your Lord has made it so balanced and peaceful with the mountains that you walk, sleep, and rest on it comfortably. You do not feel even the slightest jolt, nor do you realize that you are riding on a vehicle faster than a bullet. Yes, sometimes a slight tremor in the form of an earthquake makes you aware of how terrifying a force Allah Almighty has subdued for you. See also Surah Al-Hijr (19), Ar-Ra'd (3), and Surah An-Nahl (15).
➌ { وَ جَعَلَ لَكُمْ فِيْهَا سُبُلًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُوْنَ:} Allah Almighty has here declared the making of paths in the earth as His favor. The passes in the mountains and the natural paths along the rivers in the plains and mountains are those by which mankind has spread all over the earth and travels to and from one another. Besides these, distinguishing marks in deserts and plains help a person to determine routes. If the mountains were in the form of solid walls or there were no signs of paths in the plains and deserts, a person would remain confined to the place where he was born. See also Surah An-Nahl (15, 16).
➋ The meaning of {’’ مَهْدًا ‘‘} is both "bed" and "cradle of a child," that is, just as a person lies comfortably on a bed, in the same way, He made this magnificent globe a place of comfort for you, which is suspended in space, which on one hand is rotating on its axis at a speed of one thousand (1,000) miles per hour, and on the other hand is moving at a speed of sixty-six thousand six hundred (66,600) miles per hour, in whose belly there is fire capable of melting even stones and causing severe earthquakes, which sometimes, in the form of volcanoes, spews lava and makes you aware of its existence, but despite this, your Lord has made it so balanced and peaceful with the mountains that you walk, sleep, and rest on it comfortably. You do not feel even the slightest jolt, nor do you realize that you are riding on a vehicle faster than a bullet. Yes, sometimes a slight tremor in the form of an earthquake makes you aware of how terrifying a force Allah Almighty has subdued for you. See also Surah Al-Hijr (19), Ar-Ra'd (3), and Surah An-Nahl (15).
➌ { وَ جَعَلَ لَكُمْ فِيْهَا سُبُلًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُوْنَ:} Allah Almighty has here declared the making of paths in the earth as His favor. The passes in the mountains and the natural paths along the rivers in the plains and mountains are those by which mankind has spread all over the earth and travels to and from one another. Besides these, distinguishing marks in deserts and plains help a person to determine routes. If the mountains were in the form of solid walls or there were no signs of paths in the plains and deserts, a person would remain confined to the place where he was born. See also Surah An-Nahl (15, 16).
