Surah 21:18
Show Full Scripture Context (21:16-20) — 5 Verses
وَمَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَا لَٰعِبِينَ
We did not create the sky and the earth, and whatever is between them, in jest.
لَوۡ أَرَدۡنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ لَهۡوٗا لَّٱتَّخَذۡنَٰهُ مِن لَّدُنَّآ إِن كُنَّا فَٰعِلِينَ
If We wanted to choose a diversion, We would indeed have chosen it from Ourselves, if We were going to do (anything).
بَلۡ نَقۡذِفُ بِٱلۡحَقِّ عَلَى ٱلۡبَٰطِلِ فَيَدۡمَغُهُۥ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٞۚ وَلَكُمُ ٱلۡوَيۡلُ مِمَّا تَصِفُونَ
No! We hurl the truth against falsehood, and it breaks its head, and suddenly it passes away. Woe to you for what you allege!
وَلَهُۥ مَن فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِۚ وَمَنۡ عِندَهُۥ لَا يَسۡتَكۡبِرُونَ عَنۡ عِبَادَتِهِۦ وَلَا يَسۡتَحۡسِرُونَ
To Him (belongs) whoever is in the heavens and the earth, and those who are in His presence are not (too) proud for His service, nor do they grow weary (of it).
يُسَبِّحُونَ ٱلَّيۡلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ لَا يَفۡتُرُونَ
They glorify (Him) night and day – they do not cease.
Creation was made with Justice and Wisdom
Allah tells us that He created the heavens and the earth in truth, i.e. with justice.
He did not create all that in vain or for (mere) play:
Ibn Abi Najlh said, narrating from Mujahid:
“Meaning, ‘From Ourself,’ He is saying, *We would not have created Paradise or Hell or death or the resurrection or the Reckoning.’”
{if We were going to do (that).} Qatadah, As-Suddi, Ibrahim An-Nakha‘i and Mughlrah bin Miqsam said: “This means, We will not do that.’” Mujahid said, every time the word
{if} is used in the Qur’an, it is a negation.
{Nay, We fling the truth against the falsehood,} means, *We explain the truth and thus defeat falsehood.’ Allah says:
{so it destroys it, and behold, it disappears.} it is fading and vanishing.
{And woe to you} O you who say that Allah has offspring.
{for that which you ascribe.} that which you say and fabricate.
Then Allah informs of the servitude of the angels, and how they persevere in worship night and day:
Everything belongs to Allah and serves Him
{To Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and on earth. And those who are near Him} i.e., the angels.
{are not too proud to worship Him,} they do not feel proud and do not refuse to worship Him. This is like the Ayah:
{inor are they weary.} means, they do not get tired or feel bored.
They persist in their worship night and day, obeying Allah to the utmost, and they are able to do this, as Allah says:
{who do not disobey Allah in ivhat He commands them, but do what they are commanded} [66:6]