سُوْرَةُ الدُّخَانِ
Surah Ad-Dukhaan (44) — Ayah 38
وَمَا خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَـٰعِبِينَ ﴿38﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And We created not the heavens and the earth, and all that is between them, for mere play.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَمَا
wamā
And not
خَلَقْنَا
khalaqnā
We created
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضَ
wal-arḍa
and the earth
وَمَا
wamā
and whatever
بَيْنَهُمَا
baynahumā
(is) between them
لَـٰعِبِينَ
lāʿibīna
(in) play
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 39,38) {وَ مَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضَ … :} This is a rational answer to the objection of the deniers of the Resurrection: if there is no day when all people will be resurrected and questioned, and when the righteous and the wicked will be rewarded or punished, then it means that Allah Almighty has created this vast universe merely for play, without any purpose; that with Him, the righteous and the wicked, the oppressor and the oppressed, are equal; that there is neither justice nor wisdom with Him. It is said that this is not so; We have created the heavens and the earth with truth, and establishing the Resurrection is a requirement of Our wisdom and justice. But most people do not know, and thus are heedless of preparing for the Hereafter. This theme has been mentioned in several places in the Qur’an; see Surah Al-Anbiya (16–18), Al-Mu’minun (115, 116), and Al-Qiyamah (36–40).
