سُوْرَةُ الذَّارِياتِ
Surah Adh-Dhaariyat (51) — Ayah 20
وَفِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ءَايَـٰتٌ لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ ﴿20﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And on the earth are signs for those who have Faith with certainty.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَفِى
wafī
And in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
ءَايَـٰتٌۭ
āyātun
(are) signs
لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ
lil'mūqinīna
for those who are certain
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 20) ➊ { وَ فِي الْاَرْضِ اٰيٰتٌ لِّلْمُوْقِنِيْنَ:} At the beginning of the surah, after swearing by four types of winds, it was said that the Resurrection is true, then an oath was taken by the sky upon it. Now, by means of the “waw” (and), the discourse is connected to the same subject, and it is said: “And in the earth are many signs for those who have certainty.” This is the same reasoning that is found throughout the Quran as evidence for the truth of the Resurrection. For example, it is said: «وَ مِنْ اٰيٰتِهٖۤ اَنَّكَ تَرَى الْاَرْضَ خَاشِعَةً فَاِذَاۤ اَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا الْمَآءَ اهْتَزَّتْ وَ رَبَتْ اِنَّ الَّذِيْۤ اَحْيَاهَا لَمُحْيِ الْمَوْتٰى » [ حٰمٓ السجدۃ : ۳۹ ] “And among His signs is that you see the earth still (barren), then when We send down water upon it, it stirs and swells. Indeed, He who gave it life is surely the One who will give life to the dead.” The meaning is that all the previous crops of the earth become dust and are finished, then new ones grow again. This is something that comes before everyone’s eyes; it does not require much contemplation, only certainty. That is why in this verse, there is no invitation to contemplation, as in the next verse {’’ اَفَلَا تُبْصِرُوْنَ ‘‘} it is said, but rather it is said: “In the earth are many signs for those who have certainty.” This is said because only those who have certainty benefit from these signs.
➋ { ’’ وَ فِي الْاَرْضِ اٰيٰتٌ لِّلْمُوْقِنِيْنَ ‘‘} (And in the earth are many signs for those who have certainty) In clear words, it is not stated what these are signs of, because in this there are not only signs of the truth of the Resurrection, but also countless signs of the existence of Allah, His oneness, and His infinite power. Zamakhshari said: “And in the earth are many signs that indicate the Maker and His power, wisdom, and management. Thus, the earth is like a bed for what is above it, as He said: « الَّذِيْ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْاَرْضَ مَهْدًا » [ طٰہٰ : ۵۳ ] ‘He who made the earth a bed for you.’ And for those who walk, there are paths and wide highways in it, upon which they walk on its shoulders, and its various parts are like plains, mountains, deserts, seas, etc., and there are many types, such as hard, soft, fertile, salty, etc. It is like a pregnant animal from whose belly countless plants, trees, and fruits are produced, whose colors, fragrances, and tastes are different, even though all are watered by the same water. Despite this, they have superiority over one another, and all this is exactly in accordance with the needs of the inhabitants of the earth, and the wisdoms of their health and illness. Then there are the springs that gush forth in it, the various minerals, and the wild, domestic, beneficial, and poisonous animals of different shapes, forms, and functions spread in the land, air, and sea, and besides these, countless other things in which there are many signs for those who have certainty, because they alone see with seeing eyes.”
➋ { ’’ وَ فِي الْاَرْضِ اٰيٰتٌ لِّلْمُوْقِنِيْنَ ‘‘} (And in the earth are many signs for those who have certainty) In clear words, it is not stated what these are signs of, because in this there are not only signs of the truth of the Resurrection, but also countless signs of the existence of Allah, His oneness, and His infinite power. Zamakhshari said: “And in the earth are many signs that indicate the Maker and His power, wisdom, and management. Thus, the earth is like a bed for what is above it, as He said: « الَّذِيْ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْاَرْضَ مَهْدًا » [ طٰہٰ : ۵۳ ] ‘He who made the earth a bed for you.’ And for those who walk, there are paths and wide highways in it, upon which they walk on its shoulders, and its various parts are like plains, mountains, deserts, seas, etc., and there are many types, such as hard, soft, fertile, salty, etc. It is like a pregnant animal from whose belly countless plants, trees, and fruits are produced, whose colors, fragrances, and tastes are different, even though all are watered by the same water. Despite this, they have superiority over one another, and all this is exactly in accordance with the needs of the inhabitants of the earth, and the wisdoms of their health and illness. Then there are the springs that gush forth in it, the various minerals, and the wild, domestic, beneficial, and poisonous animals of different shapes, forms, and functions spread in the land, air, and sea, and besides these, countless other things in which there are many signs for those who have certainty, because they alone see with seeing eyes.”
