Surah Al-Baqarah Ayat 22 is a profound verse in the Quran that speaks to the heart of Islamic belief. It encapsulates the essence of creation, sustenance, and the oneness of God.
al baqarah ayat 22: Arabic, English Translation, and Transliteration:
“الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ فِرَاشًا وَالسَّمَاءَ بِنَاءً وَأَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقًا لَكُمْ فَلَا تَجْعَلُوا لِلَّهِ أَنْدَادًا وَأَنْتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ” English Translation: He who made for you the earth a bed, and the sky a canopy, and sent down from the sky rain and brought forth thereby fruits as provision for you, so do not attribute to Allah equals while you know [that there is nothing similar to Him]. Transliteration: Allathee ja’ala lakumu al-arda firashan wal-sama’a bina’an wa-anzala mina al-sama’i ma’an fa-akhraja bihi mina al-thamarati rizqan lakum fala taj’alu lillahi andadan wa-antum ta’lamoon. Hint: Memorize the Quran at your own pace with the Quran Memorization Course, a program that provides personalized guidance and support to help you memorize the Quran.
Tafsir al baqarah ayat 22 – Tafsir Ibn Kathir:
الَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الاٌّرْضَ فِرَاشاً وَالسَّمَآءَ بِنَآءً وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَتِ رِزْقاً لَّكُمْ فَلاَ تَجْعَلُواْ للَّهِ أَندَاداً وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ
2:22 Who has made the earth a resting place for you, and the sky as a canopy, and sent down water (rain) from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you. Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He alone has the right to be worshipped).
Tawhid Al-Uluhiyyah
Allah says;
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اعْبُدُواْ رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِي خَلَقَكُمْ وَالَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِكُمْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَتَّقُونَ ﴿٢١﴾
O mankind! Worship your Lord (Allah), Who created you and those who were before you so that you may acquire Taqwa.
Allah mentioned His Oneness in divinity and stated that He has favored His servants by bringing them to life after they did not exist. For a deeper understanding of the Islamic faith and practice, I recommend reading the Surah Al Baqarah Translation. You can also find Quran translations of all the other surahs online.
He also surrounded them with blessings, both hidden and apparent.
الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الأَرْضَ فِرَاشاً …
Who has made the earth a resting place for you,
He made the earth a resting place for them, just like the bed, stable with the firm mountains.
… وَالسَّمَاء بِنَاء …
And the sky as a canopy,
meaning, `a ceiling’.
Similarly, Allah said in another Ayah,
وَجَعَلْنَا السَّمَآءَ سَقْفاً مَّحْفُوظاً وَهُمْ عَنْ ءَايَـتِهَا مُعْرِضُونَ
And We have made the heaven a roof, safe and well-guarded. Yet they turn away from its signs (i.e. sun, moon, winds, clouds). (21:32)
… وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاء مَاء …
And sends down for you water (rain) from the sky,
meaning, through the clouds, when they need the rain.
… فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقاً لَّكُمْ …
and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you.
Hence, Allah caused the various types of vegetation and fruits to grow as a means of sustenance for people and their cattle.
Allah reiterated this bounty in various parts of the Qur’an.
There is another Ayah that is similar to this Ayah (2:22), that is, Allah’s statement,
الَّذِى جَعَـلَ لَكُـمُ الاٌّرْضَ قَـرَاراً وَالسَّمَآءَ بِنَـآءً وَصَوَّرَكُـمْ فَأَحْسَنَ صُوَرَكُـمْ وَرَزَقَكُـمْ مِّنَ الطَّيِّبَـتِ ذَلِكُمُ اللَّهُ رَبُّكُـمْ فَتَـبَـرَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَـلَمِينَ
It is He Who has made for you the earth as a dwelling place and the sky as a canopy, and has given you shape and made your shapes good (looking) and has provided you with good things. That is Allah, your Lord, so Blessed be Allah, the Lord of all that exists. (40:64)
The meaning that is reiterated here is that Allah is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Owner and Provider of this life, all that is in and on it. Hence, He alone deserves to be worshipped, and no one and nothing is to be associated with Him.
Here we conclude the interpretation of the verse by Ibn Kathir
