سُوْرَةُ سَبَاٍ
Surah Saba (34) — Ayah 9
أَفَلَمْ يَرَوْا۟ إِلَىٰ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُم مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ إِن نَّشَأْ نَخْسِفْ بِهِمُ ٱلْأَرْضَ أَوْ نُسْقِطْ عَلَيْهِمْ كِسَفًا مِّنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَةً لِّكُلِّ عَبْدٍ مُّنِيبٍ ﴿9﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
See they not what is before them and what is behind them, of the heaven and the earth? If We will, We shall sink the earth with them, or cause a piece of the heaven to fall upon them. Verily, in this is a sign for every slave who turns to Allâh in repentance (i.e. the one who believes in the Oneness of Allâh and performs deeds of His obedience and always begs His Pardon).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَفَلَمْ
afalam
Then, do not
يَرَوْا۟
yaraw
they see
إِلَىٰ
ilā
towards
مَا
mā
what
بَيْنَ
bayna
(is) before them
أَيْدِيهِمْ
aydīhim
(is) before them
وَمَا
wamā
and what
خَلْفَهُم
khalfahum
(is) behind them
مِّنَ
mina
of
ٱلسَّمَآءِ
l-samāi
the heaven
وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۚ
wal-arḍi
and the earth
إِن
in
If
نَّشَأْ
nasha
We will
نَخْسِفْ
nakhsif
We (could) cause to swallow them
بِهِمُ
bihimu
We (could) cause to swallow them
ٱلْأَرْضَ
l-arḍa
the earth
أَوْ
aw
or
نُسْقِطْ
nus'qiṭ
cause to fall
عَلَيْهِمْ
ʿalayhim
upon them
كِسَفًۭا
kisafan
fragments
مِّنَ
mina
from
ٱلسَّمَآءِ ۚ
l-samāi
the sky
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
فِى
fī
in
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
لَـَٔايَةًۭ
laāyatan
surely, is a Sign
لِّكُلِّ
likulli
for every
عَبْدٍۢ
ʿabdin
slave
مُّنِيبٍۢ
munībin
who turns (to Allah)
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.
9. Have they not seen the heavens and the earth, which surround them from before and behind? If We will, We can cause the earth to swallow them, or let pieces of the sky fall upon them [12]. Surely in this is a sign [13] for every servant who turns (to Allah).
[12] They believe that the One who created this earth and the heavens and who manages the affairs of this universe is Allah Almighty. And these very heavens and earth have surrounded them from all sides. They cannot go beyond its limits. Allah is the Owner of the earth; if He commands the earth to seize them or to absorb them within itself, the earth does not have the power to disobey Allah’s command. He can send punishment upon them from the sky and also from beneath the earth. Then, on what basis are they so determined to oppose Allah and His Messenger?
[13] In the system of the universe, there is not just one sign but countless signs. However, these signs are not for everyone, but only for the person who, using intellect, justice, and understanding, inclines and turns towards the Creator of this universe. Seeing this coherent and organized system of the universe, they immediately reach the conclusion that this is a system established by a Wise and All-Aware Being. And since Allah has not created anything without purpose, therefore, this system will certainly reach some supreme and perfect outcome one day. This way of thinking grants them more from their Creator and Master. Ahead, Allah mentions one of His turning servants, Hazrat Dawood ؑ, and the favors He bestowed upon him.
[12] They believe that the One who created this earth and the heavens and who manages the affairs of this universe is Allah Almighty. And these very heavens and earth have surrounded them from all sides. They cannot go beyond its limits. Allah is the Owner of the earth; if He commands the earth to seize them or to absorb them within itself, the earth does not have the power to disobey Allah’s command. He can send punishment upon them from the sky and also from beneath the earth. Then, on what basis are they so determined to oppose Allah and His Messenger?
[13] In the system of the universe, there is not just one sign but countless signs. However, these signs are not for everyone, but only for the person who, using intellect, justice, and understanding, inclines and turns towards the Creator of this universe. Seeing this coherent and organized system of the universe, they immediately reach the conclusion that this is a system established by a Wise and All-Aware Being. And since Allah has not created anything without purpose, therefore, this system will certainly reach some supreme and perfect outcome one day. This way of thinking grants them more from their Creator and Master. Ahead, Allah mentions one of His turning servants, Hazrat Dawood ؑ, and the favors He bestowed upon him.
