سُوْرَةُ الإِسۡرَاءِ
Surah Al-Israa (17) — Ayah 70
۞ وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِىٓ ءَادَمَ وَحَمَلْنَـٰهُمْ فِى ٱلْبَرِّ وَٱلْبَحْرِ وَرَزَقْنَـٰهُم مِّنَ ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ وَفَضَّلْنَـٰهُمْ عَلَىٰ كَثِيرٍ مِّمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلًا ﴿70﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
And indeed We have honoured the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and have provided them with At-Tayyibât (lawful good things), and have preferred them above many of those whom We have created with a marked preferment.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
۞ وَلَقَدْ
walaqad
And certainly
كَرَّمْنَا
karramnā
We have honored
بَنِىٓ
banī
(the) children of Adam
ءَادَمَ
ādama
(the) children of Adam
وَحَمَلْنَـٰهُمْ
waḥamalnāhum
and We carried them
فِى
fī
on
ٱلْبَرِّ
l-bari
the land
وَٱلْبَحْرِ
wal-baḥri
and the sea
وَرَزَقْنَـٰهُم
warazaqnāhum
and We have provided them
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلطَّيِّبَـٰتِ
l-ṭayibāti
the good things
وَفَضَّلْنَـٰهُمْ
wafaḍḍalnāhum
and We preferred them
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
over
كَثِيرٍۢ
kathīrin
many
مِّمَّنْ
mimman
of those whom
خَلَقْنَا
khalaqnā
We have created
تَفْضِيلًۭا
tafḍīlan
(with) preference
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.
Indeed, We have honored the children of Adam, carried them on land and sea, provided them with good and pure things, and given them clear superiority over many of those We created [88].
[88]
How is Man the Noblest of All Creatures?
Man’s superiority and honor over all other creatures is that Allah created man in the best stature, who walks upright. Then, the balance and moderation present in the human body, and the multifunctionality of his bodily organs, are not found in any other creature to such an extent. Among creation, Allah’s angels were the most superior. Allah commanded them to prostrate to Adam, and in this way made it clear to all creation that man is indeed the noblest of all creatures. Then, the human child, who is born weaker than the offspring of all other animals, is granted such intellect that he brings the things of the world into his service. He tames large and powerful animals and rides upon them. He sails boats and ships in rivers and seas, riding upon the back of the ocean. Compared to all other creatures, he prepares the finest, most delicious, and cleanest foods for his nourishment. He constructs the finest clothing and builds houses for his residence. That is, the authority and power Allah Almighty has granted to man has not been given to any other creature, and all of this is certainly Allah’s gift and His grace. Then, what could be greater folly and misguidance than for man, after being elevated to such a high rank above other creatures, to bow his head before any of His creation other than Him? Or to consider any needy servant like himself as the fulfiller of needs and remover of difficulties?
[88]
How is Man the Noblest of All Creatures?
Man’s superiority and honor over all other creatures is that Allah created man in the best stature, who walks upright. Then, the balance and moderation present in the human body, and the multifunctionality of his bodily organs, are not found in any other creature to such an extent. Among creation, Allah’s angels were the most superior. Allah commanded them to prostrate to Adam, and in this way made it clear to all creation that man is indeed the noblest of all creatures. Then, the human child, who is born weaker than the offspring of all other animals, is granted such intellect that he brings the things of the world into his service. He tames large and powerful animals and rides upon them. He sails boats and ships in rivers and seas, riding upon the back of the ocean. Compared to all other creatures, he prepares the finest, most delicious, and cleanest foods for his nourishment. He constructs the finest clothing and builds houses for his residence. That is, the authority and power Allah Almighty has granted to man has not been given to any other creature, and all of this is certainly Allah’s gift and His grace. Then, what could be greater folly and misguidance than for man, after being elevated to such a high rank above other creatures, to bow his head before any of His creation other than Him? Or to consider any needy servant like himself as the fulfiller of needs and remover of difficulties?
