سُوْرَةُ الصَّافَّاتِ
Surah As-Saaffaat (37) — Ayah 11
فَٱسْتَفْتِهِمْ أَهُمْ أَشَدُّ خَلْقًا أَم مَّنْ خَلَقْنَآ ۚ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَـٰهُم مِّن طِينٍ لَّازِبٍۭ ﴿11﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
Then ask them (i.e. these polytheists, O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم): "Are they stronger as creation, or those (others like the heavens and the earth and the mountains) whom We have created?" Verily, We created them of a sticky clay.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
فَٱسْتَفْتِهِمْ
fa-is'taftihim
Then ask them
أَهُمْ
ahum
Are they
أَشَدُّ
ashaddu
a stronger
خَلْقًا
khalqan
creation
أَم
am
or
مَّنْ
man
(those) whom
خَلَقْنَآ ۚ
khalaqnā
We have created
إِنَّا
innā
Indeed, We
خَلَقْنَـٰهُم
khalaqnāhum
created them
مِّن
min
from
طِينٍۢ
ṭīnin
a clay
لَّازِبٍۭ
lāzibin
sticky
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.
11. (O Prophet!) Ask them: Is their creation more difficult, or that of what We have created? We created them from sticky [7] clay.
[7]
The Different States of Clay from Which Adam’s Figure Was Made, Refutation of Darwin’s Theory:
The seven different states through which clay was passed to create man are detailed as follows:
(1) ﴿تراب﴾ meaning dry clay. [40: 67]
(2) ﴿ارض﴾ meaning ordinary clay or earth. [71: 17]
(3) ﴿طين﴾ meaning wet clay or mortar. [6: 2]
(4) ﴿طين لازب﴾ meaning sticky or adhesive clay. [37: 11]
(5) ﴿حماٍ مسنون﴾ meaning foul-smelling mud. [15: 26]
(6) ﴿صلصال﴾ meaning pottery, that is, clay baked by heat. [15: 26]
(7) ﴿صلصال كالفخار﴾ meaning a potsherd that rings with a sound. [55: 14]
These are the different forms of clay or earth. At one time, water was mixed with the clay, and later, through heat, the water was dried out. The Quran, in various places, has mentioned any one or two of these different states. And whichever state is mentioned, all are correct. This statement refutes Darwin’s theory of evolution, according to which man came into existence after passing through the stages of plants and animals, whereas the seven different states described by Allah Almighty are all completed within minerals or clay itself. In this verse, Allah Almighty has mentioned two further points: one is that, compared to the great and astonishing creatures that Allah has already created, what significance does man have that his creation would be difficult for Him; and the second is that Allah Almighty created man by passing him through seven different states of clay. Then, after death, he will mix with the earth and become clay again. So, will He who created man by passing him through so many states of clay the first time not be able to create him again by passing him through different states? [For details on Darwin's theory of evolution, see 15:29, footnote 19]
[7]
The Different States of Clay from Which Adam’s Figure Was Made, Refutation of Darwin’s Theory:
The seven different states through which clay was passed to create man are detailed as follows:
(1) ﴿تراب﴾ meaning dry clay. [40: 67]
(2) ﴿ارض﴾ meaning ordinary clay or earth. [71: 17]
(3) ﴿طين﴾ meaning wet clay or mortar. [6: 2]
(4) ﴿طين لازب﴾ meaning sticky or adhesive clay. [37: 11]
(5) ﴿حماٍ مسنون﴾ meaning foul-smelling mud. [15: 26]
(6) ﴿صلصال﴾ meaning pottery, that is, clay baked by heat. [15: 26]
(7) ﴿صلصال كالفخار﴾ meaning a potsherd that rings with a sound. [55: 14]
These are the different forms of clay or earth. At one time, water was mixed with the clay, and later, through heat, the water was dried out. The Quran, in various places, has mentioned any one or two of these different states. And whichever state is mentioned, all are correct. This statement refutes Darwin’s theory of evolution, according to which man came into existence after passing through the stages of plants and animals, whereas the seven different states described by Allah Almighty are all completed within minerals or clay itself. In this verse, Allah Almighty has mentioned two further points: one is that, compared to the great and astonishing creatures that Allah has already created, what significance does man have that his creation would be difficult for Him; and the second is that Allah Almighty created man by passing him through seven different states of clay. Then, after death, he will mix with the earth and become clay again. So, will He who created man by passing him through so many states of clay the first time not be able to create him again by passing him through different states? [For details on Darwin's theory of evolution, see 15:29, footnote 19]
