Surah Fatir 35:16
سُورَةُ فَاطِرٍ · Meccan · Verse 16 of 45
إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍۢ جَدِيدٍۢ
Translation
if He wills, He can do away with you and bring in a new creation,
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This powerful verse, addressing "O people," comes as a stark reminder from Allah Himself, immediately after establishing humanity's profound need for Him and His utter self-sufficiency. It warns against rejecting His message and commands, emphasizing the grave consequences.
Allah's Absolute Will
The conditional phrase "إن يشأ" (in yasha', if He wills) immediately asserts Allah's absolute power and independence. As Imam al-Razi explains, it highlights that Allah's actions are not dictated by any need or reliance on creation. Unlike a person who might hesitate to destroy something they need, Allah declares that removing humanity is solely dependent on His will, without any impediment or loss to Him. Ibn Ashur further clarifies that this "will" here is not just Allah's general freedom, but specifically a will that arises from people's actions making them *deserving* of such a fate, though Allah delays it out of His immense patience.
"Removing You"
The choice of the word "يذهبكم" (yudh-hibkum, He removes you) for "to destroy or annihilate" is profound. Ibn Ashur notes that while it means complete eradication from this worldly life, it carries the nuance of being "taken away" from one place to another. This subtly alludes to humanity's eventual return to the Hereafter for accountability. It is not just an end, but a relocation to face what comes next.
"A New Creation"
Following this, Allah says "ويأت بخلق جديد" (wa ya'ti bikhalqin jadid, and brings a new creation). This is not merely about new generations of the same people. As Ibn Ashur explains, it refers to bringing into existence entirely new individuals who were not previously anticipated, people who would genuinely believe and worship Allah. Al-Zamakhshari cites Ibn Abbas's interpretation that Allah would "create after you those who worship Him and do not associate partners with Him." Imam al-Razi further enhances this by suggesting Allah is capable of creating a new creation "better and more complete" than those who chose disobedience, underscoring His boundless creative power.
Not Difficult for Allah
The powerful message is amplified by what follows in the Quran, explicitly stated in the next verse but implied here: "وما ذلك على الله بعزيز" (wa ma thalika 'ala Allahi bi-'aziz), meaning "And that is not difficult for Allah." This phrase, as Ibn Ashur points out, is a potent statement of intimidation and threat. It assures us that such a monumental act of replacement is not at all hard for Allah, reinforcing the absolute ease with which His will can be executed. It is a stark reminder that our existence and continuation are entirely by His grace, and turning away from Him carries the ultimate risk.
Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Fatir 35:16 is discussed in 2 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
Open Surah Fatir 35:16 in Maani to reflect on it through the Five Lenses: its wording, its context, what it means for you, its connections across the Quran and its lessons, grounded in classical tafsir.