سُوْرَةُ الزُّمَرِ
Surah Az-Zumar (39) — Ayah 21
أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ ٱلسَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَسَلَكَهُۥ يَنَـٰبِيعَ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُ بِهِۦ زَرْعًا مُّخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ ثُمَّ يَهِيجُ فَتَرَىٰهُ مُصْفَرًّا ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُۥ حُطَـٰمًا ۚ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَذِكْرَىٰ لِأُو۟لِى ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ ﴿21﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
See you not that Allâh sends down water (rain) from the sky, and causes it to penetrate the earth, (and then makes it to spring up) as water-springs, and afterward thereby produces crops of different colours, and afterward they wither and you see them turn yellow; then He makes them dry and broken pieces. Verily, in this is a Reminder for men of understanding.
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
أَلَمْ
alam
Do not
تَرَ
tara
you see
أَنَّ
anna
that
ٱللَّهَ
l-laha
Allah
أَنزَلَ
anzala
sends down
مِنَ
mina
from
ٱلسَّمَآءِ
l-samāi
the sky
مَآءًۭ
māan
water
فَسَلَكَهُۥ
fasalakahu
and He makes it flow
يَنَـٰبِيعَ
yanābīʿa
(as) springs
فِى
fī
in
ٱلْأَرْضِ
l-arḍi
the earth
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
يُخْرِجُ
yukh'riju
He produces
بِهِۦ
bihi
with it
زَرْعًۭا
zarʿan
crops
مُّخْتَلِفًا
mukh'talifan
(of) different
أَلْوَٰنُهُۥ
alwānuhu
colors
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
يَهِيجُ
yahīju
they wither
فَتَرَىٰهُ
fatarāhu
and you see it
مُصْفَرًّۭا
muṣ'farran
turn yellow
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
يَجْعَلُهُۥ
yajʿaluhu
He makes them
حُطَـٰمًا ۚ
ḥuṭāman
debris
إِنَّ
inna
Indeed
فِى
fī
in
ذَٰلِكَ
dhālika
that
لَذِكْرَىٰ
ladhik'rā
surely, (is) a reminder
لِأُو۟لِى
li-ulī
for those of understanding
ٱلْأَلْبَـٰبِ
l-albābi
for those of understanding
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.
21. Do you not see that Allah sends down water from the sky, then channels it as springs in the earth [31], then He brings forth crops of different colors with it? Then they ripen, and you see them turn yellow, then He makes them chaff. Surely, in this [32] is a lesson for those of understanding.
[31] Some of the rainwater is absorbed into the earth and irrigates the land. The excess water goes further down. Sometimes it gushes forth in the form of springs, and sometimes it is extracted by digging wells, etc. The surplus water flows in streams and takes the form of rivers. These are all sources of water. And in whatever form it may be, the needs of humans, animals, and plants are fulfilled by the rainwater.
[32]
Even the Perfection of the World Will Inevitably Face Decline:
The lesson is that whatever reaches its peak must also inevitably face decline. When it is in full bloom, it appears very beautiful and attractive, but its end is a lesson to behold. This is also the condition of plants. Then, this is also the condition of human life itself. These things can be observed by every person. However, the rise and fall of nations, though of the same nature, are not witnessed by individuals, because they span centuries. And we come to know about them from history—that such-and-such nation had its era of ascendancy at a certain time, and its period of decline at another. Furthermore, this is also the case with this world, which is currently displaying its splendor, and most people have become enamored with it, absorbed and engrossed in it. However, its end, according to the law of Allah, is destined to be the same as that of other things. Therefore, a person should take a lesson from these examples and, instead of being captivated by this world, should be concerned about that home which will never face decline.
[31] Some of the rainwater is absorbed into the earth and irrigates the land. The excess water goes further down. Sometimes it gushes forth in the form of springs, and sometimes it is extracted by digging wells, etc. The surplus water flows in streams and takes the form of rivers. These are all sources of water. And in whatever form it may be, the needs of humans, animals, and plants are fulfilled by the rainwater.
[32]
Even the Perfection of the World Will Inevitably Face Decline:
The lesson is that whatever reaches its peak must also inevitably face decline. When it is in full bloom, it appears very beautiful and attractive, but its end is a lesson to behold. This is also the condition of plants. Then, this is also the condition of human life itself. These things can be observed by every person. However, the rise and fall of nations, though of the same nature, are not witnessed by individuals, because they span centuries. And we come to know about them from history—that such-and-such nation had its era of ascendancy at a certain time, and its period of decline at another. Furthermore, this is also the case with this world, which is currently displaying its splendor, and most people have become enamored with it, absorbed and engrossed in it. However, its end, according to the law of Allah, is destined to be the same as that of other things. Therefore, a person should take a lesson from these examples and, instead of being captivated by this world, should be concerned about that home which will never face decline.
