Surah Waqiah ayat 70 Tafsir Quran 56:70

﴿لَوْ نَشَاءُ جَعَلْنَاهُ أُجَاجًا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ﴾
[ الواقعة: 70]

56:70 If We willed, We could make it bitter, so why are you not grateful?

If We willed We could make it bitter salty undrinkable — why then will you not give thanks?

Had We willed We could render it salty and embitter all the sweets of life so why are you not impelled to the feeling of gratitude

Allah's Oneness demonstrated by causing the Plants to grow, sending down the Rain Allah the Exalted said, أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ ( Do you not see what you sow. ) in reference to tilling the earth and planting seeds inside it, أَءَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ ( Is it you that make it grow, ) `do you cause these seeds to grow inside the earth,' أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَرِعُونَ ( or are We the Grower ) Allah says, `rather it is We Who cause the seeds to remain firmly and grow inside the earth.' Ibn Jarir recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said,
«لَا تَقُولَنَّ: زَرَعْتُ وَلكِنْ قُلْ: حَرَثْت»
( Do not say, "Zara`tu (I made it grew )," but say, "Harathtu ( I sowed tilled ).") Abu Hurayrah added, "Have you not heard Allah's statement, أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ - أَءَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَرِعُونَ ( Do you not see what you sow.
Is it you that make it grow, or are We the Grower )" Allah the Exalted said, لَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَاهُ حُطَـماً ( Were it Our will, We could crumble it to dry pieces, ) meaning, `We caused the seeds to grow with Our compassion and mercy and left them intact inside the earth as mercy for you.
If We will, We would turn them dry before they ripen and get ready to be harvested,' فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ ( and you would be Tafakkahun. ) Allah explained this statement by saying, إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ - بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ ( (Saying: ) "We are indeed Mughramun! Nay, but we are deprived!") Allah says, `if We crumble the plants into dry pieces, you would be wondering regarding what happened, sometimes saying: we are indeed Mughramun, i.e., ruined.' Mujahid and `Ikrimah said that Mughramun means, being the subject of revenge.
Qatadah commented, "You would say, `We were punished,' sometimes, and, `We were deprived,' some other times." `Ikrimah said that `You will be Tafakkahun' means `You will blame each other ( and yourselves ),' or, feel sorrow, according to Al-Hasan, Qatadah and As-Suddi.
They will be feeling grief for what they spent or for the sins that they have committed in the past ( which cost the destruction of their plants ).
Al-Kisa'i said, "Tafakkaha is both the synonym and the antonym." The Arabs say Tafakkahtu when they mean that they have enjoyed something or felt grief.
Allah the Exalted said next, أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ الْمَآءَ الَّذِى تَشْرَبُونَ أَءَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ الْمُزْنِ ( Do you not see the water that you drink.
Is it you who cause it to come down from Al-Muzn, ) meaning clouds, according to Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and others.
Allah said, أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنزِلُونَ ( or are We the Causer of it to come down ) Allah is stating that indeed He is the One Who causes the rain to fall, لَوْ نَشَآءُ جَعَلْنَـهُ أُجَاجاً ( If We willed, We verily could make it salty; ) meaning salty, sour, undrinkable and unfit for growing plants, فَلَوْلاَ تَشْكُرُونَ ( why then do you not give thanks ) `why do you not appreciate the favor Allah does for you by sending down the rain fresh, ready to consume,' هُوَ الَّذِى أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَآءً لَّكُم مَّنْهُ شَرَابٌ وَمِنْهُ شَجَرٌ فِيهِ تُسِيمُونَ - يُنبِتُ لَكُمْ بِهِ الزَّرْعَ وَالزَّيْتُونَ وَالنَّخِيلَ وَالأَعْنَـبَ وَمِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَتِ إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ( From it you drink and from it (grows ) the vegetation on which you send your cattle to pasture.
With it He causes to grow for you the crops, the olives, the date palms, the grapes, and every kind of fruit.
Verily, in this is indeed an evident proof and a manifest sign for people who give thought.)( 16:10-11 ) Allah said, أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ النَّارَ الَّتِى تُورُونَ ( Do you not see the fire which you kindle.
) `and the fire you start with the use of trees,' أَءَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنشِئُونَ ( Is it you who made the tree thereof to grow, or are We the Grower ) meaning, `rather We have made kindling fire possible.' The Arabs had two kinds of trees called Al-Markh and Al-`Afar ( that they used to ignite a fire ).
When they would rub a green branch from each of these two trees against each other, sparkles of fire would emit from them.
Allah's statement, نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَـهَا تَذْكِرَةً ( We have made it a Reminder, ) of the Hellfire, according to Mujahid and Qatadah.
Qatadah said, "We were told that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, i
«يَا قَوْمِ نَارُكُمْ هذِهِ الَّتِي تُوقِدُونَ، جُزْءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ جُزْءًا مِنْ نَارِ جَهَنَّم»
( O people, this fire of yours that you kindle, is but one part out of seventy parts of the fire of Hell. ) They said, "O Allah's Messenger! This fire alone is sufficiently hot." The Messenger ﷺ said,
«إِنَّهَا قَدْ ضُرِبَتْ ( بِالْمَاءِ ) ضَرْبَتَيْنِ أَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ حَتْى يَسْتَنْفِعَ بِهَا بَنُو آدَمَ وَيَدْنُوا مِنْهَا»
( It was submerged in the water twice so that the Children of `Adam would be able to benefit from it and draw closer to it. ) This narration from Qatadah which is Mursal, was recorded by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad from Abu Hurayrah, from the Prophet ;
«إِنَّ نَارَكُمْ هذِهِ جُزْءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ جُزْءًا مِنْ نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ، وَضُرِبَتْ بِالْبَحْرِ مَرَّتَيْنِ، وَلَوْلَا ذلِكَ مَا جَعَلَ اللهُ فِيهَا مَنْفَعَةً لِأَحَد»
( Verily, this fire of yours is one part out of seventy parts of the fire of Hell.
It was struck twice against the sea, otherwise, Allah would not have made benefit in it for anyone. ) Imam Malik also recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said,
«نَارُ بَنِي آدَمَ الَّتِي يُوقِدُونَ، جُزْءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ جُزْءًا مِنْ نَارِ جَهَنَّم»
( The fire that the Children of `Adam kindle is one part out of seventy parts of the fire of Hell. ) They said, "O Allah's Messenger! This fire alone is sufficiently hot." He said,
«إِنَّهَا قَدْ فُضِّلَتْ عَلَيْهَا بِتِسْعَةٍ وَسِتِّينَ جُزْءًا»
( (The fire of Hell ) was made sixty-nine times hotter.) Al-Bukhari collected this Hadith from Malik and Muslim from Abu Az-Zinad.
Allah's statement, وَمَتَـعاً لِّلْمُقْوِينَ ( and an article of use for the Muqwin. ) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and An-Nadr bin `Arabi said, "The meaning of Al-Muqwin is travelers." This is also what Ibn Jarir chose, and he said, "From it comes the saying Aqwat Ad-Dar ( the house has become empty ), when its people traveled." `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said that here Al-Muqwi means the hungry.
Layth bin Abi Sulaym reported that Mujahid said about the Ayah, وَمَتَـعاً لِّلْمُقْوِينَ ( and an article of use for the Muqwin. ) "For those who are present at their homes and travelers, for every kind of food that requires cooking by fire." Ibn Abi Najih also reported that Mujahid said, "`For the Muqwin, means, all people who enjoy ( eating food cooked by fire )." Similar was mentioned from `Ikrimah, and this explanation is more general than the previous, since those who are in their own locale and traveling, whether rich or poor, all need fire for cooking, heating and lighting purposes.
It is out of Allah's kindness that He has made the quality of kindling fire in some elements, such as stones, that people can use and take in the baggage for their journeys.
When a traveler needs fire at his campsite for cooking and heating, he takes out these substances and uses them to kindle fire.
He feels comfort next to the fire and he can use it for various needs that he has.
Allah mentions this favor specifically in the case of travelers, even though everyone benefits from the fire.
Allah's statement, فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ ( Then glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great. ) meaning, the One by Whose ability these things opposites were created.
He created the fresh tasty water, and had He willed, He would have created it salty like seawater.
He also created the fire that burns, and made a benefit in it for the servants, suitable for their livelihood in this life and as a warning and a punishment for them in the Hereafter.

(56:70) If We had so pleased, We could have made it bitter. *30 So why would you not give thanks? *31

If We willed, We could make it meaning

*30) In this sentence an important manifestation of Allah's power and wisdom has been pointed out.
Among the wonderful properties that Allah has created in water one property also is that no matter what different substances are dissolved in water, when it changes into vapour under the effect of heat, it leaves behind aII adulterations and evaporates only with its original and actual component elements.
Had it not possessed this property the dissolved substances also would have evaporated along with the water vapours.
In this case the vapours that arise from the oceans would have contained the sea salt, which would have made the soil saline and uncultivable wherever it rained.
Then, neither could man have survived by drinking that water, nor could it help grow any vegetation.
Now, can a man possessed of any common sense claim that this wise property in water has come about by itself under some blind and deaf law of nature? This characteristic by virtue of which sweet, pure water is distilled from saltish seas and falls as rain, and then serves as a source of water-supply and irrigation in the form of rivers, canals, springs and wells, provides a clear proof of the fact that the Providence has endowed water with this property thoughtfully and deliberately for the purpose that it may become a means of sustenance for His creatures.
The creatures that could be sustained by salt water were created by Him in the sea and there they flourish and multiply.
But the creatures that He created on the land and in the air, stood in need of sweet water for their sustenance and before making arrangement of the rainfall for its supply He created this property in water that at evaporation it should rise clear and free of everything dissolved in it.

*31) In other words, " Why do you commit this ingratitude in that some of you regard the rainfall as a favour of the gods, and some others think that the rising of the clouds from the sea and their raining as water is a natural cycle that is working by itself, and still others, while acknowledging it as a mercy and blessing of God, do not admit that God has any such right on them that they should bow to Him alone? How is it that while you derive so much benefit from this great blessing of Allah, in return you commit sins of disbelief and polytheism and disobedience of Him? "
 

Allah's Oneness demonstrated by causing the Plants to grow, sending down the Rain Allah the Exalted said, أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ ( Do you not see what you sow. ) in reference to tilling the earth and planting seeds inside it, أَءَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ ( Is it you that make it grow, ) `do you cause these seeds to grow inside the earth,' أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَرِعُونَ ( or are We the Grower ) Allah says, `rather it is We Who cause the seeds to remain firmly and grow inside the earth.' Ibn Jarir recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, «لَا تَقُولَنَّ: زَرَعْتُ وَلكِنْ قُلْ: حَرَثْت» ( Do not say, "Zara`tu (I made it grew )," but say, "Harathtu ( I sowed tilled ).") Abu Hurayrah added, "Have you not heard Allah's statement, أَفَرَءَيْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ - أَءَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَرِعُونَ ( Do you not see what you sow.
Is it you that make it grow, or are We the Grower )" Allah the Exalted said, لَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَاهُ حُطَـماً ( Were it Our will, We could crumble it to dry pieces, ) meaning, `We caused the seeds to grow with Our compassion and mercy and left them intact inside the earth as mercy for you.
If We will, We would turn them dry before they ripen and get ready to be harvested,' فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ ( and you would be Tafakkahun. ) Allah explained this statement by saying, إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ - بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ ( (Saying: ) "We are indeed Mughramun! Nay, but we are deprived!") Allah says, `if We crumble the plants into dry pieces, you would be wondering regarding what happened, sometimes saying: we are indeed Mughramun, i.e., ruined.' Mujahid and `Ikrimah said that Mughramun means, being the subject of revenge.
Qatadah commented, "You would say, `We were punished,' sometimes, and, `We were deprived,' some other times." `Ikrimah said that `You will be Tafakkahun' means `You will blame each other ( and yourselves ),' or, feel sorrow, according to Al-Hasan, Qatadah and As-Suddi.
They will be feeling grief for what they spent or for the sins that they have committed in the past ( which cost the destruction of their plants ).
Al-Kisa'i said, "Tafakkaha is both the synonym and the antonym." The Arabs say Tafakkahtu when they mean that they have enjoyed something or felt grief.
Allah the Exalted said next, أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ الْمَآءَ الَّذِى تَشْرَبُونَ أَءَنتُمْ أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ الْمُزْنِ ( Do you not see the water that you drink.
Is it you who cause it to come down from Al-Muzn, ) meaning clouds, according to Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid and others.
Allah said, أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنزِلُونَ ( or are We the Causer of it to come down ) Allah is stating that indeed He is the One Who causes the rain to fall, لَوْ نَشَآءُ جَعَلْنَـهُ أُجَاجاً ( If We willed, We verily could make it salty; ) meaning salty, sour, undrinkable and unfit for growing plants, فَلَوْلاَ تَشْكُرُونَ ( why then do you not give thanks ) `why do you not appreciate the favor Allah does for you by sending down the rain fresh, ready to consume,' هُوَ الَّذِى أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَآءً لَّكُم مَّنْهُ شَرَابٌ وَمِنْهُ شَجَرٌ فِيهِ تُسِيمُونَ - يُنبِتُ لَكُمْ بِهِ الزَّرْعَ وَالزَّيْتُونَ وَالنَّخِيلَ وَالأَعْنَـبَ وَمِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَتِ إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ( From it you drink and from it (grows ) the vegetation on which you send your cattle to pasture.
With it He causes to grow for you the crops, the olives, the date palms, the grapes, and every kind of fruit.
Verily, in this is indeed an evident proof and a manifest sign for people who give thought.)( 16:10-11 ) Allah said, أَفَرَءَيْتُمُ النَّارَ الَّتِى تُورُونَ ( Do you not see the fire which you kindle.
) `and the fire you start with the use of trees,' أَءَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنشِئُونَ ( Is it you who made the tree thereof to grow, or are We the Grower ) meaning, `rather We have made kindling fire possible.' The Arabs had two kinds of trees called Al-Markh and Al-`Afar ( that they used to ignite a fire ).
When they would rub a green branch from each of these two trees against each other, sparkles of fire would emit from them.
Allah's statement, نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَـهَا تَذْكِرَةً ( We have made it a Reminder, ) of the Hellfire, according to Mujahid and Qatadah.
Qatadah said, "We were told that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, i «يَا قَوْمِ نَارُكُمْ هذِهِ الَّتِي تُوقِدُونَ، جُزْءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ جُزْءًا مِنْ نَارِ جَهَنَّم» ( O people, this fire of yours that you kindle, is but one part out of seventy parts of the fire of Hell. ) They said, "O Allah's Messenger! This fire alone is sufficiently hot." The Messenger ﷺ said, «إِنَّهَا قَدْ ضُرِبَتْ ( بِالْمَاءِ ) ضَرْبَتَيْنِ أَوْ مَرَّتَيْنِ حَتْى يَسْتَنْفِعَ بِهَا بَنُو آدَمَ وَيَدْنُوا مِنْهَا» ( It was submerged in the water twice so that the Children of `Adam would be able to benefit from it and draw closer to it. ) This narration from Qatadah which is Mursal, was recorded by Imam Ahmad in his Musnad from Abu Hurayrah, from the Prophet ; «إِنَّ نَارَكُمْ هذِهِ جُزْءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ جُزْءًا مِنْ نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ، وَضُرِبَتْ بِالْبَحْرِ مَرَّتَيْنِ، وَلَوْلَا ذلِكَ مَا جَعَلَ اللهُ فِيهَا مَنْفَعَةً لِأَحَد» ( Verily, this fire of yours is one part out of seventy parts of the fire of Hell.
It was struck twice against the sea, otherwise, Allah would not have made benefit in it for anyone. ) Imam Malik also recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that Allah's Messenger ﷺ said, «نَارُ بَنِي آدَمَ الَّتِي يُوقِدُونَ، جُزْءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ جُزْءًا مِنْ نَارِ جَهَنَّم» ( The fire that the Children of `Adam kindle is one part out of seventy parts of the fire of Hell. ) They said, "O Allah's Messenger! This fire alone is sufficiently hot." He said, «إِنَّهَا قَدْ فُضِّلَتْ عَلَيْهَا بِتِسْعَةٍ وَسِتِّينَ جُزْءًا» ( (The fire of Hell ) was made sixty-nine times hotter.) Al-Bukhari collected this Hadith from Malik and Muslim from Abu Az-Zinad.
Allah's statement, وَمَتَـعاً لِّلْمُقْوِينَ ( and an article of use for the Muqwin. ) Ibn `Abbas, Mujahid, Qatadah, Ad-Dahhak and An-Nadr bin `Arabi said, "The meaning of Al-Muqwin is travelers." This is also what Ibn Jarir chose, and he said, "From it comes the saying Aqwat Ad-Dar ( the house has become empty ), when its people traveled." `Abdur-Rahman bin Zayd bin Aslam said that here Al-Muqwi means the hungry.
Layth bin Abi Sulaym reported that Mujahid said about the Ayah, وَمَتَـعاً لِّلْمُقْوِينَ ( and an article of use for the Muqwin. ) "For those who are present at their homes and travelers, for every kind of food that requires cooking by fire." Ibn Abi Najih also reported that Mujahid said, "`For the Muqwin, means, all people who enjoy ( eating food cooked by fire )." Similar was mentioned from `Ikrimah, and this explanation is more general than the previous, since those who are in their own locale and traveling, whether rich or poor, all need fire for cooking, heating and lighting purposes.
It is out of Allah's kindness that He has made the quality of kindling fire in some elements, such as stones, that people can use and take in the baggage for their journeys.
When a traveler needs fire at his campsite for cooking and heating, he takes out these substances and uses them to kindle fire.
He feels comfort next to the fire and he can use it for various needs that he has.
Allah mentions this favor specifically in the case of travelers, even though everyone benefits from the fire.
Allah's statement, فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ ( Then glorify with praises the Name of your Lord, the Most Great. ) meaning, the One by Whose ability these things opposites were created.
He created the fresh tasty water, and had He willed, He would have created it salty like seawater.
He also created the fire that burns, and made a benefit in it for the servants, suitable for their livelihood in this life and as a warning and a punishment for them in the Hereafter.

( If We willed We verily could make it ) i.e. pure water ( bitter. Why, then, give ye not thanks ) for its purity and therefore believe?

If We willed, We verily could make it salt (and undrinkable), why then do you not give thanks (to Allah)?

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