سُوْرَةُ الزُّخْرُفِ
Surah Az-Zukhruf (43) — Ayah 13
لِتَسْتَوُۥا۟ عَلَىٰ ظُهُورِهِۦ ثُمَّ تَذْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَةَ رَبِّكُمْ إِذَا ٱسْتَوَيْتُمْ عَلَيْهِ وَتَقُولُوا۟ سُبْحَـٰنَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَـٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُۥ مُقْرِنِينَ ﴿13﴾
Translation by Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan & Dr. Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali
In order that you may mount on their backs, and then may remember the Favour of your Lord when you mount thereon, and say: "Glory to Him Who has subjected this to us, and we could never have it (by our efforts).
Word by Word — Arabic, Transliteration & Meaning
لِتَسْتَوُۥا۟
litastawū
That you may sit firmly
عَلَىٰ
ʿalā
on
ظُهُورِهِۦ
ẓuhūrihi
their backs
ثُمَّ
thumma
then
تَذْكُرُوا۟
tadhkurū
remember
نِعْمَةَ
niʿ'mata
(the) favor
رَبِّكُمْ
rabbikum
(of) your Lord
إِذَا
idhā
when
ٱسْتَوَيْتُمْ
is'tawaytum
you sit firmly
عَلَيْهِ
ʿalayhi
on them
وَتَقُولُوا۟
wataqūlū
and say
سُبْحَـٰنَ
sub'ḥāna
Glory be (to)
ٱلَّذِى
alladhī
the One Who
سَخَّرَ
sakhara
(has) subjected
لَنَا
lanā
to us
هَـٰذَا
hādhā
this
وَمَا
wamā
and not
كُنَّا
kunnā
we were
لَهُۥ
lahu
of it
مُقْرِنِينَ
muq'rinīna
capable
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.
13. So that you may sit firmly upon their backs. Then, when you have settled yourselves upon them, remember the favor of your Lord and say: Glory be to Him Who has subjected this to us, for we could not have subdued it [12] (by ourselves).
[12]
The Supplication When Mounting a Ride:
For example, a person rides a camel, which is many times stronger and larger in stature than him. And if it goes out of control, it can kill several people in an instant. Now, this is a special favor of Allah upon man, Who has granted him such intellect that he takes rides from large animals, and they become his servants. Have you ever seen a goat riding a camel or a cow, and being able to take it wherever it wishes? Whereas a small child of a human can lead a caravan of camels wherever he wants. Furthermore, in earlier times, humans only rode animals, but today they ride steam and petrol vehicles and make use of them for thousands of tasks. If a single part of these vehicles malfunctions, hundreds of people can perish. Allah has given man such intellect that he can keep these things under control and ride them. Yet, man does not express gratitude to Allah. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would mount a ride, he used to recite this supplication: ﴿سُبْحٰنَ الَّذِيْ سَخَّــرَ لَنَا هٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهٗ مُقْرِنِيْنَ وَاِنَّآ اِلٰي رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُوْنَ﴾, and we are also commanded to do the same.
[12]
The Supplication When Mounting a Ride:
For example, a person rides a camel, which is many times stronger and larger in stature than him. And if it goes out of control, it can kill several people in an instant. Now, this is a special favor of Allah upon man, Who has granted him such intellect that he takes rides from large animals, and they become his servants. Have you ever seen a goat riding a camel or a cow, and being able to take it wherever it wishes? Whereas a small child of a human can lead a caravan of camels wherever he wants. Furthermore, in earlier times, humans only rode animals, but today they ride steam and petrol vehicles and make use of them for thousands of tasks. If a single part of these vehicles malfunctions, hundreds of people can perish. Allah has given man such intellect that he can keep these things under control and ride them. Yet, man does not express gratitude to Allah. When the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would mount a ride, he used to recite this supplication: ﴿سُبْحٰنَ الَّذِيْ سَخَّــرَ لَنَا هٰذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهٗ مُقْرِنِيْنَ وَاِنَّآ اِلٰي رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُوْنَ﴾, and we are also commanded to do the same.
