سُوْرَةُ هُوْدٍ
Surah Hud (11) — Ayah 7
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ وَكَانَ عَرْشُهُۥ عَلَى ٱلْمَآءِ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۗ وَلَئِن قُلْتَ إِنَّكُم مَّبْعُوثُونَ مِنۢ بَعْدِ ٱلْمَوْتِ لَيَقُولَنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ إِنْ هَـٰذَآ إِلَّا سِحْرٌ مُّبِينٌ ﴿7﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six Days and His Throne was on the water, that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds. But if you were to say to them: "You shall indeed be raised up after death," those who disbelieve would be sure to say, "This is nothing but obvious magic."
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
وَهُوَ
wahuwa
And He
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
(is) the One Who
خَلَقَ
khalaqa
created
ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ
l-samāwāti
the heavens
وَٱلْأَرْضَ
wal-arḍa
and the earth
فِى
fī
in
سِتَّةِ
sittati
six
أَيَّامٍۢ
ayyāmin
epochs
وَكَانَ
wakāna
and His throne was
عَرْشُهُۥ
ʿarshuhu
and His throne was
عَلَى
ʿalā
on
ٱلْمَآءِ
l-māi
the water
لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ
liyabluwakum
that He might test [you]
أَيُّكُمْ
ayyukum
which of you
أَحْسَنُ
aḥsanu
(is) best
عَمَلًۭا ۗ
ʿamalan
(in) deed
وَلَئِن
wala-in
But if
قُلْتَ
qul'ta
you say
إِنَّكُم
innakum
Indeed, you
مَّبْعُوثُونَ
mabʿūthūna
(will be) resurrected
مِنۢ
min
after
بَعْدِ
baʿdi
after
ٱلْمَوْتِ
l-mawti
[the] death
لَيَقُولَنَّ
layaqūlanna
surely would say
ٱلَّذِينَ
alladhīna
those who
كَفَرُوٓا۟
kafarū
disbelieved
إِنْ
in
This is not
هَـٰذَآ
hādhā
This is not
إِلَّا
illā
but
سِحْرٌۭ
siḥ'run
a magic
مُّبِينٌۭ
mubīnun
clear
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran — Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani
Tafsir Taiseer ul-Quran (Facilitation of the Quran) is a comprehensive Quran commentary by Maulana Abdul Rahman Kilani, a renowned Salafi (Ahl al-Hadith) scholar from Pakistan. Known for his eloquent and accessible writing style, Kilani authored this tafsir with a focus on clarity — making Quranic meanings understandable to the common reader. The tafsir provides detailed historical context for verses related to battles and expeditions, and firmly refutes modernist ideologies using strong scriptural evidence. It is widely regarded as an invaluable resource for understanding the Quran and countering deviant interpretations. The tafsir is originally written in Urdu, translated to English by tohed.com.
7. He is the One Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and His Throne [11] was upon the water. He did this to test you as to which of you is best in deeds. And if you say to them, "You will surely be raised up after death," the disbelievers will certainly say, "This is nothing but clear [12] magic."
[11]
Among Material Things, Water Was Created First:
From this verse and the aforementioned hadith, it is understood that the creation of water took place before the creation of the earth and the heavens. Where was this water, and is this water the same as the well-known water, or was it some kind of liquid substance? These are questions beyond our understanding, and we are not obliged to comprehend them. However, it is certainly known that before the creation of the heavens and the earth, the Throne of Allah was upon the water, and after creation, this Throne is above the seven heavens and the Kursi.
[12]
The Purpose of the Creation of the Universe is the Creation of Adam; The World is the Abode of Test:
Several realities emerge from this verse, for example, the purpose of the creation of the earth, the heavens, and other things in the universe is the creation of Adam. This earth, these heavens, this sun, this moon, these winds, these spaces were created because, without them, man could not survive. And the purpose of the creation of Adam is that man may be tested in this world, and the inevitable result of a test is that some people will do good deeds and succeed, and some will do bad deeds and fail. The successful and good people will be given a good reward for their good deeds, and the evil-doers will be given full punishment. Then, some good or bad deeds require a long period for their full recompense, which is impossible to obtain in this world. Therefore, it is necessary that after this worldly realm, another realm be established in which every kind of person can be given the full recompense for their deeds. This is an argument for the Hereafter. Moreover, the coherent and organized system of this existing universe testifies that it is created by a Being who is All-Knowing and All-Aware, and it is running according to His will. Nor is it possible that this universe is merely the result of coincidences, nor is it possible that all this is just a game or amusement, because such harmony is impossible in playful matters. Nor is it possible that man, after living whatever kind of life he wishes in this world, simply dies and there is no one to question him. Therefore, the establishment of the Hereafter and the resurrection of the dead after giving them life again becomes necessary. And when the disbelievers, who deny the Day of Resurrection, hear such arguments, they immediately cry out that this statement is clear magic, which has impressed and enchanted many people, but this magic will not work on us.
[11]
Among Material Things, Water Was Created First:
From this verse and the aforementioned hadith, it is understood that the creation of water took place before the creation of the earth and the heavens. Where was this water, and is this water the same as the well-known water, or was it some kind of liquid substance? These are questions beyond our understanding, and we are not obliged to comprehend them. However, it is certainly known that before the creation of the heavens and the earth, the Throne of Allah was upon the water, and after creation, this Throne is above the seven heavens and the Kursi.
[12]
The Purpose of the Creation of the Universe is the Creation of Adam; The World is the Abode of Test:
Several realities emerge from this verse, for example, the purpose of the creation of the earth, the heavens, and other things in the universe is the creation of Adam. This earth, these heavens, this sun, this moon, these winds, these spaces were created because, without them, man could not survive. And the purpose of the creation of Adam is that man may be tested in this world, and the inevitable result of a test is that some people will do good deeds and succeed, and some will do bad deeds and fail. The successful and good people will be given a good reward for their good deeds, and the evil-doers will be given full punishment. Then, some good or bad deeds require a long period for their full recompense, which is impossible to obtain in this world. Therefore, it is necessary that after this worldly realm, another realm be established in which every kind of person can be given the full recompense for their deeds. This is an argument for the Hereafter. Moreover, the coherent and organized system of this existing universe testifies that it is created by a Being who is All-Knowing and All-Aware, and it is running according to His will. Nor is it possible that this universe is merely the result of coincidences, nor is it possible that all this is just a game or amusement, because such harmony is impossible in playful matters. Nor is it possible that man, after living whatever kind of life he wishes in this world, simply dies and there is no one to question him. Therefore, the establishment of the Hereafter and the resurrection of the dead after giving them life again becomes necessary. And when the disbelievers, who deny the Day of Resurrection, hear such arguments, they immediately cry out that this statement is clear magic, which has impressed and enchanted many people, but this magic will not work on us.
