Surah Araf ayat 54 Tafsir Quran 7:54

﴿إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ ۗ أَلَا لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالْأَمْرُ ۗ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَالَمِينَ﴾
[ الأعراف: 54]

7:54 Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne. He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.

Surely your Lord is God Who created the heavens and the earth in six days of the days of this world that is to say in the equivalent thereof since there was no sun then. Had He willed He could have created them in an instant; but the reason for His not having done so is that He wanted to teach His creatures to be circumspect; then presided upon the Throne a presiding befitting of Him al-‘arsh ‘throne’ in the classical language is the elevated seat on which a king sits. He cloaks read yughshī or yughashshī the night with the day that is He covers each one with the other each following the other in swift pursuit — and the sun and the moon and the stars if all of these are read in the accusative then they constitute a supplement to al-samāwāt ‘the heavens’ and if in the nominative then they constitute the subject of the sentence the predicate of which follows have been made subservient have been subdued by His command by His power. Verily His is all creation and the command in its entirety. Blessed Magnified be God the Lord the Master of the Worlds!

Indeed; Allah, your Creator, is He Who created the heavens and the earth in six days* determined by His own unit of time and proclaimed in His calendar, then He set Himself on the throne of supremacy and dominion and of grace and mercy. He causes the day to lose its identity and its character by absorption into the night; both revolving swiftly in pursuit of each other and one dies into the other**. And the sun, the moon and the stars, He has governed by His cosmic laws and reduced to a state of subservience by His command. Indeed to Him belongs the creation of the whole and of all in all. Praise be to Allah, Creator of the universe and extolled are His glorious attributes

The Universe was created in Six Days Allah states that He created the universe, the heavens and earth and all that is in, on and between them in six days, as He has stated in several Ayat in the Qur'an.
These six days are: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
On Friday, the entire creation was assembled and on that day, Adam was created.
There is a difference of opinion whether these days were the same as our standard days as suddenly comes to the mind, or each day constitutes one thousand years, as reported from Mujahid, Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, and from Ibn `Abbas according to Ad-Dahhak's narration from him.
As for Saturday, no creation took place in it since it is the seventh day of ( of the week ).
The word `As-Sabt' means stoppage, or break.
Imam Ahmad recorded Abu Hurayrah saying: `Allah's Messenger told me:
«خَلَقَ اللهُ، ( عَزَّ وَجَلَّ )، التُّرْبَةَ يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ، وَخَلَقَ فِيهَا الْجِبَالَ يَوْمَ الْأَحَدِ، وَخَلَقَ الشَّجَرَ يَوْمَ الْاثْنَيْنِ، وَخَلَقَ الْمَكْرُوهَ يَوْمَ الثُّلَاثَاءِ، وَخَلَقَ النُّورَ يَوْمَ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ، وَبَثَّ فِيهَا الدَّوَابَّ يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ، وَخَلَقَ آدَمَ، عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ مِنْ يَوْم الْجُمُعَةِ، فِي آخِرِ الْخَلْقِ، فِي آخِرِ سَاعَةٍ مِنْ سَاعَاتِ الْجُمُعَةِ، فِيمَا بَيْنَ الْعَصْرِ إِلَى اللَّيْل»
.
( Allah created the dust on Saturday, and He created the mountains on Sunday, and He created the trees on Monday, and He created the unpleasant things on Tuesday and He created the light on Wednesday and He spread the creatures through out it on Thursday and He created Adam after `Asr on Friday.
He was the last created during the last hour of Friday, between `Asr and the night. ) Meaning of Istawa As for Allah's statement, ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ ( and then He rose over (Istawa ) the Throne) the people had several conflicting opinions over its meaning.
However, we follow the way that our righteous predecessors took in this regard, such as Malik, Al-Awza`i, Ath-Thawri, Al-Layth bin Sa`d, Ash-Shafi`i, Ahmad, Ishaq bin Rahwayh and the rest of the scholars of Islam, in past and present times.
Surely, we accept the apparent meaning of, Al-Istawa, without discussing its true essence, equating it ( with the attributes of the creation ), or altering or denying it ( in any way or form ).
We also believe that the meaning that comes to those who equate Allah with the creation is to be rejected, for nothing is similar to Allah, لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَىْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ ( There is nothing like Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. ) 42:11 Indeed, we assert and affirm what the Imams said, such as Nu`aym bin Hammad Al-Khuza'i, the teacher of Imam Al-Bukhari, who said, "Whoever likens Allah with His creation, will have committed Kufr.
Whoever denies what Allah has described Himself with, will have committed Kufr.
Certainly, there is no resemblance ( of Allah with the creation ) in what Allah and His Messenger have described Him with.
Whoever attests to Allah's attributes that the plain Ayat and authentic Hadiths have mentioned, in the manner that suits Allah's majesty, all the while rejecting all shortcomings from Him, will have taken the path of guidance." The Day and the Night are among the Signs of Allah Allah said, يُغْشِى الَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا ( He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly, ) meaning, the darkness goes away with the light, and the light goes away with the darkness.
Each of them seeks the other rapidly, and does not come late, for when this vanishes, the other comes, and vice versa.
Allah also said; وَءَايَةٌ لَّهُمُ الَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النَّهَارَ فَإِذَا هُم مُّظْلِمُونَ - وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ - وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَـهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّى عَادَ كَالعُرجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ - لاَ الشَّمْسُ يَنبَغِى لَهَآ أَن تدْرِكَ القَمَرَ وَلاَ الَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ وَكُلٌّ فِى فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ ( And a sign for them is the night.
We withdraw therefrom the day, and behold, they are in darkness.
And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed ).
That is the decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing.
And the moon, We have measured for it mansions ( to traverse ) till it returns like the old dried curved date stalk.
It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day.
They all float, each in an orbit.) 36:37-40 Allah's statement, وَلاَ الَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ ( Nor does the night outstrip the day ) 36:40 means, the night follows the day in succession and does not come later or earlier than it should be.
This is why Allah said here, يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ ( seeking it rapidly, and (He created ) the sun, the moon, the stars subjected to His command.) meaning, all are under His command, will and dominion.
Allah alerted us afterwards, أَلاَ لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالاٌّمْرُ ( Surely, His is the creation and commandment ) the dominion and the decision.
Allah said next, تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَـلَمِينَ ( Blessed is Allah, the Lord of the all that exists! ) which is similar to the Ayah, تَبَارَكَ الَّذِى جَعَلَ فِى السَّمَآءِ بُرُوجاً ( Blessed be He Who has placed in the heaven big stars ) 25:61 Abu Ad-Darda' said a supplication, that was also attributed to the Prophet ,
«اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْمُلْكُ كُلُّـهُ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ كُلُّهُ وَإِلَيْكَ يُرْجَعُ الْأَمْرُ كُلُّهُ، أَسْأَلُكَ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ كُلِّهِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ كُلِّه»
( O Allah! Yours is all the kingdom, all the praise, and Yours is the ownership of all affairs.
I ask You for all types of good and seek refuge with You from all types of evil. )

(7:54) Surely your Lord is none other than Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, *40 and then ascended His Throne; *41 Who causes the night to cover the day and then the day swiftly pursues the night; Who created the sun and the moon and the stars making them all subservient to His command. Lo! His is the creation and His is the command. *42 Blessed is Allah, *43 the Lord of the universe.

Indeed, your Lord is Allah, who created meaning

*40).
The word 'day' in the above verse has been used either in the usual sense of the twenty-four hour unit of time, or in a more general sense of 'period' of time such as in the following verses of the Qur'an:
Verily a Day in the sight of your Lord is like a thousand years of your reckoning ( al-Hajj 22: 47 ).

The angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him on a Day the measure of which is fifty thousand years ( al-Ma'arij 70: 4.
For further explanation see Fussilat 41, nn.
12-15. )
*41).
It is quite difficult to appreciate fully the exact nature of the Qur'anic statement: '( Allah ) ascended the Throne.' One possibility is that after the creation of the universe God focused His effulgence at a particular point in His Kingdom which is known as the Throne, from where He showers the blessings of life and power, and governs the whole universe.

It is possible that the word 'Throne' stands for dominion and authority and that God's ascending the Throne signifies His actual taking over the reins of the universe after having created it.
Whatever the exact meaning of the expression '( Allah ) ascended the Throne', the main thrust of the verse is that God is not just the creator of the universe, but is also its sovereign and ruler; that after creating the universe He did not detach Himself from, nor become indifferent to, His creation.
On the contrary, He effectively rules over the universe as a whole as well as every part of it.
All power and sovereignty rest with Him.
Everything in the universe is fully in His grip and is subservient to His will.
Every atom is bound in obedience to Him.
The fate of everything existent is in His Hands.
Thus the Qur'an undermines the very basis of the misconception which leads man at times to polytheism, and at others to self-glorification and so to rebellion against God.
This is the natural corollary of considering God divorced from the affairs of the universe.
In such cases, there are two possibilities.
One, that beings other than God are considered to have the power to make or mar man's destiny.
Here, man is bound to turn to those beings in devotion and subservience.
The second possibility is for man to consider himself as the master of his own destiny.
Here, man considers himself independent of, and indifferent to, any higher being.

It is significant that the words and figures of speech employed by the Qur'an to denote the relationship between God and man are closely related to kingship, dominion, and sovereignty.
This is too conspicuous a fact to be missed by any careful student of the Qur'an.
It is strange, however, that it has led some superficial critics and persons of biased outlook to conclude that the Qur'an reflects the milieu in which man's outlook was dominated by monarchical concepts, and that therefore its 'author', who in their view was the Prophet Muhammad ( peace be on him ), presented God as a sovereign ruler, an absolute monarch.

Quite contrary to this is the fundamental truth which the Qur'an emphatically affirms - God's sovereignty over the heavens and the earth.
It negates, with equal emphasis, that sovereignty belongs to anyone else.
Such a doctrine demolishes the very assumption on the basis of which the above erroneous conclusion was derived.
The Qur'anic concept of God's sovereignty is in sharp contrast to the idea that creatures of God may lay claim to sovereignty and kingship.
In contrast to the weak, mortal kings of the world, God is eternal and all-powerfuL This undermines the very basis of the misconceived criticism that Islam has a monarchical basis since no hunian being can conform to the Islamic description of the sovereign.
All sovereignty vests in the One True God.
Hence, all those who claim total or partial sovereignty either for any person or group of people are merely cherishing an illusion.
It is evident, therefore, that it is totally inappropriate for man, who is a part of the universe created and governed by God, to adopt any other attitude than that of acknowledging God as the only object of worship and as the only sovereign in a societal and political sense.

*42).
This is an elaboration of the idea propounded in the note immediately above explaining the meaning of God's ascension to the Throne.
To reiterate, God is not merely the sole creator but also the only One Who commands and governs.
He has not detached Himself from His creation, leaving it to the care of others who might rule over it as they please.
Nor has He granted independence to His creation or any part of it so that they might function as they, wish.
On the contrary, His grip over the entire universe is very firm.
He rules over it according to His sovereign will.
If we find alternation taking place between day and night, it is a result of God's command.
God has full power both to hold that process in abeyance, or to alter the very system which causes the alternation.
The heavenly bodies - the sun, the moon, and the stars - are all absolutely powerless.
They are totally subservient to God's overpowering will, and have been yoked to function according to His command.

*43).
The word barakah signifies growth and increase.
The notions of elevation and greatness as well as of permanence and stability are also an essential part of the word's meaning.
Besides these the word inalienably carries nuances of goodness and beneficence.
To say that God is full of barakah means that His goodness knows no bounds; that endless beneficence emanates from Him; that He is the Exalted One Whose loftiness knows no end; that His beneficence and loftiness are permanent, and thus they will never vanish or suffer decline.
( For further elaboration see Tafhim al-Qaradn, al-Furqan 25: nn.
1 and 19. )
 

The Universe was created in Six Days Allah states that He created the universe, the heavens and earth and all that is in, on and between them in six days, as He has stated in several Ayat in the Qur'an.
These six days are: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
On Friday, the entire creation was assembled and on that day, Adam was created.
There is a difference of opinion whether these days were the same as our standard days as suddenly comes to the mind, or each day constitutes one thousand years, as reported from Mujahid, Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, and from Ibn `Abbas according to Ad-Dahhak's narration from him.
As for Saturday, no creation took place in it since it is the seventh day of ( of the week ).
The word `As-Sabt' means stoppage, or break.
Imam Ahmad recorded Abu Hurayrah saying: `Allah's Messenger told me: «خَلَقَ اللهُ، ( عَزَّ وَجَلَّ )، التُّرْبَةَ يَوْمَ السَّبْتِ، وَخَلَقَ فِيهَا الْجِبَالَ يَوْمَ الْأَحَدِ، وَخَلَقَ الشَّجَرَ يَوْمَ الْاثْنَيْنِ، وَخَلَقَ الْمَكْرُوهَ يَوْمَ الثُّلَاثَاءِ، وَخَلَقَ النُّورَ يَوْمَ الْأَرْبِعَاءِ، وَبَثَّ فِيهَا الدَّوَابَّ يَوْمَ الْخَمِيسِ، وَخَلَقَ آدَمَ، عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ، بَعْدَ الْعَصْرِ مِنْ يَوْم الْجُمُعَةِ، فِي آخِرِ الْخَلْقِ، فِي آخِرِ سَاعَةٍ مِنْ سَاعَاتِ الْجُمُعَةِ، فِيمَا بَيْنَ الْعَصْرِ إِلَى اللَّيْل» .
( Allah created the dust on Saturday, and He created the mountains on Sunday, and He created the trees on Monday, and He created the unpleasant things on Tuesday and He created the light on Wednesday and He spread the creatures through out it on Thursday and He created Adam after `Asr on Friday.
He was the last created during the last hour of Friday, between `Asr and the night. ) Meaning of Istawa As for Allah's statement, ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ ( and then He rose over (Istawa ) the Throne) the people had several conflicting opinions over its meaning.
However, we follow the way that our righteous predecessors took in this regard, such as Malik, Al-Awza`i, Ath-Thawri, Al-Layth bin Sa`d, Ash-Shafi`i, Ahmad, Ishaq bin Rahwayh and the rest of the scholars of Islam, in past and present times.
Surely, we accept the apparent meaning of, Al-Istawa, without discussing its true essence, equating it ( with the attributes of the creation ), or altering or denying it ( in any way or form ).
We also believe that the meaning that comes to those who equate Allah with the creation is to be rejected, for nothing is similar to Allah, لَيْسَ كَمِثْلِهِ شَىْءٌ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْبَصِيرُ ( There is nothing like Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer. ) 42:11 Indeed, we assert and affirm what the Imams said, such as Nu`aym bin Hammad Al-Khuza'i, the teacher of Imam Al-Bukhari, who said, "Whoever likens Allah with His creation, will have committed Kufr.
Whoever denies what Allah has described Himself with, will have committed Kufr.
Certainly, there is no resemblance ( of Allah with the creation ) in what Allah and His Messenger have described Him with.
Whoever attests to Allah's attributes that the plain Ayat and authentic Hadiths have mentioned, in the manner that suits Allah's majesty, all the while rejecting all shortcomings from Him, will have taken the path of guidance." The Day and the Night are among the Signs of Allah Allah said, يُغْشِى الَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا ( He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly, ) meaning, the darkness goes away with the light, and the light goes away with the darkness.
Each of them seeks the other rapidly, and does not come late, for when this vanishes, the other comes, and vice versa.
Allah also said; وَءَايَةٌ لَّهُمُ الَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النَّهَارَ فَإِذَا هُم مُّظْلِمُونَ - وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ - وَالْقَمَرَ قَدَّرْنَـهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّى عَادَ كَالعُرجُونِ الْقَدِيمِ - لاَ الشَّمْسُ يَنبَغِى لَهَآ أَن تدْرِكَ القَمَرَ وَلاَ الَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ وَكُلٌّ فِى فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ ( And a sign for them is the night.
We withdraw therefrom the day, and behold, they are in darkness.
And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term (appointed ).
That is the decree of the All-Mighty, the All-Knowing.
And the moon, We have measured for it mansions ( to traverse ) till it returns like the old dried curved date stalk.
It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day.
They all float, each in an orbit.) 36:37-40 Allah's statement, وَلاَ الَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ ( Nor does the night outstrip the day ) 36:40 means, the night follows the day in succession and does not come later or earlier than it should be.
This is why Allah said here, يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ ( seeking it rapidly, and (He created ) the sun, the moon, the stars subjected to His command.) meaning, all are under His command, will and dominion.
Allah alerted us afterwards, أَلاَ لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالاٌّمْرُ ( Surely, His is the creation and commandment ) the dominion and the decision.
Allah said next, تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَـلَمِينَ ( Blessed is Allah, the Lord of the all that exists! ) which is similar to the Ayah, تَبَارَكَ الَّذِى جَعَلَ فِى السَّمَآءِ بُرُوجاً ( Blessed be He Who has placed in the heaven big stars ) 25:61 Abu Ad-Darda' said a supplication, that was also attributed to the Prophet , «اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْمُلْكُ كُلُّـهُ وَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ كُلُّهُ وَإِلَيْكَ يُرْجَعُ الْأَمْرُ كُلُّهُ، أَسْأَلُكَ مِنَ الْخَيْرِ كُلِّهِ وَأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الشَّرِّ كُلِّه» ( O Allah! Yours is all the kingdom, all the praise, and Yours is the ownership of all affairs.
I ask You for all types of good and seek refuge with You from all types of evil. )

( Lo! your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days ) of the beginning of the life of this world, each day the equivalent of a thousand years, ( then mounted He the Throne ) then He proceeded to create the Throne; it is also said that this means: He seated Himself on the Throne. ( He covereth the night with the day ) and the day with the night, ( which is in haste to follow it ) i.e. the day is in haste to follow the night and the night is in haste to follow the day, ( and hath made the sun and the moon and the stars subservient by His command ) by His leave. ( His verily is all creation ) the creation of the heavens and the earth ( and commandment ) i.e. the judgement of people on the Day of Judgement ( Blessed be Allah ) the Possessor of grace; it is also said that this means: elevated is Allah; as it is said that this means: far exalted is Allah, ( the Lord of the Worlds! ) the Master and Disposer of the Worlds.

Indeed your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, and then He Istawa (rose over) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty). He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly, and (He created) the sun, the moon, the stars subjected to His Command. Surely, His is the Creation and Commandment. Blessed be Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists)!

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