Surah Qaf 50:6
سُورَةُ قٓ · Meccan · Verse 6 of 45
أَفَلَمْ يَنظُرُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَوْقَهُمْ كَيْفَ بَنَيْنَٰهَا وَزَيَّنَّٰهَا وَمَا لَهَا مِن فُرُوجٍۢ
Translation
Do they not see the sky above them––how We have built and adorned it, with no rifts in it;
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This verse begins with a profound invitation to reflect, addressing those who doubted the resurrection. Allah, in His boundless wisdom, asks a rhetorical question, not because He seeks an answer, but to awaken hearts and minds to an undeniable truth.
A Powerful Question
The verse opens with `أَفَلَمْ يَنظُرُوٓا۟` (Afalam yanzuru), which combines two powerful Arabic particles: `أ` (a), a particle of interrogation, and `فَـ` (fa), indicating immediate consequence or astonishment. As scholars like al-Razi explain, this isn't a simple "Did they not look?" but rather "Given what they've said, why then have they not looked?" It implies a swift rebuke for their neglect of such obvious evidence. This is a call to `نَظَر` (nazar), which al-Razi contrasts with `رؤية` (ru'yah), mere seeing. `Nazar` implies a deeper look, a ponderance that should lead to understanding. The question itself is a challenge, inviting them to confront their denial with visible reality.
The Sky Above Us
The verse specifically directs our attention `إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَوْقَهُمْ` (ila al-samai fawqahum), "to the sky above them." The word `إِلَى` (ila), meaning "to" or "towards," suggests that their gaze should not just glance at the sky, but be drawn *to* it, inviting deeper contemplation. Ibn Ashur highlights `فَوْقَهُمْ` (above them) as an emphasis on the sky's accessibility and proximity. It's not hidden or far away; it's right there, requiring only a slight lift of the head to observe. This stresses their negligence for failing to ponder something so self-evident and ever-present.
Masterful Construction and Adornment
The verse then probes `كَيْفَ بَنَيْنَٰهَا وَزَيَّنَّٰهَا` (kayfa banaynaha wa zayyanaha), "how We built it and adorned it." The word `كَيْفَ` (kayfa), meaning "how," draws attention to the *manner* of creation, not just its existence. It asks us to marvel at the intricate process and flawless execution. `بَنَيْنَٰهَا` (banaynaha), "We built it," refers to its magnificent elevation and structure, as al-Zamakhshari notes, "raised without pillars." Then, `زَيَّنَّٰهَا` (zayyanaha), "We adorned it," points to the beauty of the stars, moon, and sun, which make the sky a breathtaking spectacle, a source of wonder and guidance. This beauty is both a sign of Allah's power and a blessing for humanity.
Without Flaw or Crack
Finally, the verse emphasizes `وَمَا لَهَا مِن فُرُوجٍۢ` (wa ma laha min furuj), "and there are no cracks or rifts in it." The Arabic word `فُرُوجٍ` (furuj) refers to cracks, gaps, or fissures. The use of `مِن` (min) before `فُرُوجٍ` serves to totally negate any possibility of such flaws, indicating a complete and absolute absence. As Ibn Ashur describes, the sky appears as a perfectly integrated sphere, without any visible disparity or separation. It stands as a testament to Allah's perfect creation, flawless and unified. This perfect order and creation serve as a powerful argument for Allah's ability to recreate and resurrect life, contrasting sharply with the human tendency to deem it impossible. The sky, vast and perfect, is a silent but eloquent witness to the power of its Creator.
Sources: al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb), Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Jalalayn, al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Qaf 50:6 is discussed in 8 study guides on Maani. Each guide gathers the key verses, Arabic words and lessons of one Quranic topic.
Reflect on this verse
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