Surah Al-Waqi'ah 56:73
سُورَةُ الوَاقِعَةِ · Meccan · Verse 73 of 96
نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَٰهَا تَذْكِرَةًۭ وَمَتَٰعًۭا لِّلْمُقْوِينَ
Translation
We made it a reminder, and useful to those who kindle it,
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
'We made it a reminder, and a provision for the travellers.' Ibn Ashur and al-Biqa'i note the two purposes given to fire: 'tadhkira', a reminder (of the greater Fire to come), and 'mata' lil-muqwin', a comfort for the wayfarer in the wilderness, warmth and light for the traveller far from home. Ask yourself: every flame points two directions, down toward the Fire I should fear, and here as a mercy warming the traveller in the cold and dark. The same fire that comforts me is meant to remind me. It is a beautiful model for how to receive all of God's gifts: to enjoy them as provision and read them as signposts. And I am, myself, a 'traveller' far from my true home, do I let the comforts of the road remind me it is a road, or do I mistake the campfire for the destination?
Grounded in classical tafsir: Ibn Ashur, al-Biqa'i, al-Saadi.
Wording
The verse before us, Surah Al-Waqi'ah (56:73), draws our hearts to the familiar miracle of fire and its profound purposes. Allah declares, "نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَٰهَا تَذْكِرَةًۭ وَمَتَٰعًۭا لِّلْمُقْوِينَ" (We have made it a reminder and a provision for the needy in the wilderness). This statement immediately follows rhetorical questions about whether we are the ones who create the fire we kindle, emphasizing Allah's sole power and wisdom.
A Powerful Reminder
The very first purpose Allah mentions for fire is تَذْكِرَةً (tadhkirah), a reminder. This word signifies more than just a passing thought; it's an active, impactful call to remembrance. As Imam al-Zamakhshari explains, because fire is so deeply intertwined with our daily lives and livelihoods, its constant presence serves as an ever-present reminder of the Hellfire in the hereafter. It's a tangible glimpse of a far more intense reality. Imam al-Razi further highlights the subtle yet powerful word order here: "reminder" is mentioned before "provision." This choice underscores that the spiritual and otherworldly benefit of remembering Allah's power and the afterlife is even more significant than the immediate worldly comfort fire provides. It also reminds us, as al-Razi suggests, that the One who can place fire within green trees is certainly capable of resurrection.
Provision for the Needy
Following the spiritual reminder, Allah describes fire as وَمَتَاعًۭا (mata'an), a provision or benefit. This word speaks to the utility and comfort that fire brings into our lives. But it's the specific group Allah names that reveals a beautiful layer of precision in the Quran's wording: لِّلْمُقْوِينَ (lil-muqween).
This single Arabic word, al-Muqween, carries a rich, dual meaning. Scholars like Ibn Ashur and al-Zamakhshari explain that it refers to two types of people: those who are travelling in the wilderness or desert (القَوَاء, al-qawaa), and those who are hungry because their stomachs are empty (أَقْوَتْ, aqwat). Both meanings stem from the root word related to "emptiness" or "desolation."
By choosing this precise term, Allah highlights that fire is a crucial provision for those in the most desperate need. For the traveler, fire offers light to navigate the darkness, warmth against the cold desert nights, and a beacon to guide them to safety. For the hungry, fire is essential for cooking food, transforming raw ingredients into sustenance. This particular word choice thus emphasizes the comprehensive nature of Allah's mercy and provision, addressing not just general human needs, but specifically the intense vulnerabilities of hunger and exposure in desolate places. It's a reminder of Allah's perfect design, providing for every aspect of our existence, both physical and spiritual.
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 Al-Waqi'ah 56:73 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 Al-Waqi'ah 56:73 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.