Surah Al-An'am 6:1
سُورَةُ الأَنۡعَامِ · Meccan · Verse 1 of 165
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ وَٱلنُّورَ ۖ ثُمَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ
Translation
Praise belongs to God who created the heavens and the earth and made darkness and light; yet the disbelievers set up equals to their Lord!
English translation: M.A.S. Abdel Haleem.
Meaning and reflection
Wording
This opening verse of Surah al-An'am is a profound declaration from Allah Himself, addressing humanity, particularly calling those who disbelieve to ponder His undeniable signs. The tone begins with magnificent praise and then shifts to an astonished, almost chiding, observation about those who deviate from this truth.
The Grand Declaration
The verse opens with `ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ` (All praise belongs to Allah). This isn't merely an instruction to praise, but a definitive statement, declaring that the very essence and reality of all beautiful praise is inherently and exclusively Allah's. As Imam al-Razi explains, this "Hamd" (praise) is distinct from general "Mad-h" (admiration) and specific "Shukr" (gratitude for a personal benefit). "Hamd" is praise for intentional good actions, whether you directly benefit or not, signifying Allah as the sole, intentional Doer of all good, not a mere cause. Ibn Ashur notes that the definite article 'Al-' (ال) on `الحمد` and the possessive `لله` (to Allah) establish this exclusivity, a direct refutation of those who might praise idols.
Words of Creation
Allah then describes Himself as `ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ ٱلظُّلُمَٰتِ وَٱلنُّورَ` (Who created the heavens and the earth, and made the darkness and the light). The choice of words here is precise and eloquent. Scholars like Ibn Ashur and al-Zamakhshari highlight the distinction between `خَلَقَ` (khalaqa) and `جَعَلَ` (ja'ala). `خَلَقَ` is typically used for creating substantial entities or essences, like the vast heavens and the earth, implying detailed planning and origination. `جَعَلَ`, on the other hand, is often used for establishing states, conditions, or attributes, or for bringing something into being from something else. Darkness and light are phenomena or conditions that emanate from Allah's creation, not solid objects in the same way the heavens and earth are. Al-Jadwal explains that `خلق` implies creation from nothing, while `جعل` suggests establishing a state or transforming something.
Notice also the plural `الظُّلُمَاتِ` (darknesses) and the singular `النُّورَ` (light). Ibn Ashur and al-Jadwal suggest this reflects the multitude of causes and forms of darkness, while light is one unifying essence. Al-Razi adds a profound spiritual dimension: falsehood and error (darkness) are numerous and varied, but truth and guidance (light) are one. The placement of `الظُّلُمَاتِ` before `النُّورَ` might also signify that darkness precedes light in creation, or in the human experience of moving from misguidance to truth.
Astonishing Deviation
The verse concludes with `ثُمَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا۟ بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ` (Yet, those who disbelieve equate others with their Lord). The word `ثُمَّ` (thumma), meaning "then" or "yet," here doesn't just indicate a sequence in time; it conveys a sense of astonishment and incredulity, as noted by Ibn Ashur and al-Zamakhshari. It highlights the profound disconnect between Allah's undeniable power, as demonstrated by His magnificent creation, and the disbelievers' actions.
The word `يَعْدِلُونَ` (ya'dilūna) means "they equate" or "they make equal." Al-Jadwal clarifies that this implies deviation from what is right, inclining towards misguidance. These disbelievers, despite witnessing the signs of Allah as `بِرَبِّهِمْ` (their Lord – the One who nurtured and sustained them), choose to associate or equate others (idols, stars, or even human figures) with Him in worship, power, or status. The explicit mention of "their Lord" (بربهم) rather than just "Him" intensifies the condemnation, emphasizing that it is their own Sustainer they deny. It's a shocking deviation, a baffling injustice, after such clear evidence of His absolute dominion and deserved praise.
Sources: Ibn Ashur (al-Tahrir wa al-Tanwir), al-Zamakhshari (al-Kashshaf), al-Jadwal fi I'rab al-Quran (Mahmud Safi), al-Jalalayn, al-Razi (Mafatih al-Ghayb)
Topics that discuss this verse
Surah Al-An'am 6:1 is discussed in 13 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-An'am 6:1 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.