Surah 22

Surah 22:7

"and because the Hour is coming – (there is) no doubt about it – and because God will raise up those who are in the graves."
Evidence of the Resurrection in the creation of Man and of Plants Verses 22:5-7
Show Full Scripture Context (22:5-7) — 3 Verses
Verse 5

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمۡ فِي رَيۡبٖ مِّنَ ٱلۡبَعۡثِ فَإِنَّا خَلَقۡنَٰكُم مِّن تُرَابٖ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطۡفَةٖ ثُمَّ مِنۡ عَلَقَةٖ ثُمَّ مِن مُّضۡغَةٖ مُّخَلَّقَةٖ وَغَيۡرِ مُخَلَّقَةٖ لِّنُبَيِّنَ لَكُمۡۚ وَنُقِرُّ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡحَامِ مَا نَشَآءُ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٖ مُّسَمّٗى ثُمَّ نُخۡرِجُكُمۡ طِفۡلٗا ثُمَّ لِتَبۡلُغُوٓاْ أَشُدَّكُمۡۖ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّىٰ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَرۡذَلِ ٱلۡعُمُرِ لِكَيۡلَا يَعۡلَمَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ عِلۡمٖ شَيۡـٔٗاۚ وَتَرَى ٱلۡأَرۡضَ هَامِدَةٗ فَإِذَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهَا ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱهۡتَزَّتۡ وَرَبَتۡ وَأَنۢبَتَتۡ مِن كُلِّ زَوۡجِۭ بَهِيجٖ

People! If you are in doubt about the raising up – surely We created you from dust, then from a drop, then from a clot, (and) then from a lump, formed and unformed, so that We may make (it) clear to you. We establish in the wombs what We please for an appointed time, then We bring you forth as a child, (and) then (We provide for you) so that you may reach your maturity. Among you (there is) one who is taken, and among you (there is) one who is reduced to the worst (stage) of life, so that he knows nothing after (having had) knowledge. And you see the earth withered, but when We send down water on it, it stirs and swells, and grows (plants) of every beautiful kind.

Verse 6

ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡحَقُّ وَأَنَّهُۥ يُحۡيِ ٱلۡمَوۡتَىٰ وَأَنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ قَدِيرٞ

That is because God – He is the Truth, and because He gives the dead life, and because He is powerful over everything,

Verse 7

وَأَنَّ ٱلسَّاعَةَ ءَاتِيَةٞ لَّا رَيۡبَ فِيهَا وَأَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَبۡعَثُ مَن فِي ٱلۡقُبُورِ

and because the Hour is coming – (there is) no doubt about it – and because God will raise up those who are in the graves.

When Allah speaks of disbelief in the Resurrection, He also mentions the evidence of His power and ability to resurrect that is evident from the way He initiates creation. Allah says:

Quoted Scripture
"O mankind! If you are in doubt about the Resurrection,"

which means the time when souls and bodies will be raised up on the Day of Resurrection,

Quoted Scripture
"then verily, We have created you from dust,"

meaning, 'you were originally created from dust', which is what Adam, peace be upon him, was created from.

{then from a Nutfah,} [32:8] meaning, then He made his offspring from semen of despised water.

The Development of the Nutfah and Embryo in the Womb

Quoted Scripture
"then from a clot then from a little lump of flesh"

if the Nutfah establishes itself in the woman's womb, it stays like that for forty days, then more material is added to it and it changes into a red clot, by the leave of Allah, and it remains like that for forty days. Then it changes and becomes a lump of flesh, like a piece of meat with no form or shape. Then it starts to take on a form and shape, developing a head, arms, chest, stomach, thighs, legs, feet and all its members. Sometimes a woman miscarries before the fetus is formed and sometimes she miscarries after it has formed. As Allah says:

{then from a little lump of flesh - some formed and some unformed} meaning, as you see.

Quoted Scripture
"that We may make (it) clear to you. And We cause whom We will to remain in the wombs for an appointed term,"

meaning that sometimes the fetus remains in the womb and is not miscarried.

{some formed and some unformed,} Mujahid said, "This means the miscarried fetus, formed or unformed. When forty days have passed of it being a lump of flesh, then Allah sends an angel to it who breathes the soul into it and forms it as Allah wills, handsome or ugly, male or female. He then writes its provision, its allotted length of life and whether it is to be one of the blessed or the wretched."

It was recorded in the Two Sahihs that Ibn Mas'ud said, "The Messenger of Allah, who is the true and truly inspired one, told us:

«Every one of you is collected in the womb of his mother for the first forty days, and then he becomes a clot for another forty days, and then a lump of flesh for another forty days. Then Allah sends an angel to write four words: He writes his provision, his deeds, his life span, and whether he will be blessed or wretched. Then he blows the soul into him.»"

Man's Development from Infancy to Old Age

His saying;

Quoted Scripture
"then We bring you out as infants,"

means, weak in his body, hearing, sight, senses, stamina and mind. Then Allah gives him strength, gradually and causes his parents to treat him with tender kindness night and day. Allah says:

Quoted Scripture
"then (give you growth) that you may reach your age of full strength."

meaning, his strength increases until he reaches the vitality and handsomeness of youth.

Quoted Scripture
"And among you there is he who dies,"

means, when he is young and strong.

Quoted Scripture
"and among you there is he who is brought back to the miserable old age,"

meaning advanced old age with its weakness in mind and body, in steady decline in comprehension, and disability to grasp. As Allah says:

Quoted Scripture
"so that he knows nothing after having known."

{Allah is He Who created you in (a state of) weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after strength gave (you) weakness and grey hair. He creates what He wills. And it is He Who is the All-Knowing, the All-Powerful.} [30:54]

Another Parable of the Resurrection from Plants

Quoted Scripture
"And you see the earth Hamidatan,"

This is another sign of the power of Allah to bring the dead back to life, just as He brings the dead, barren earth back to life, the lifeless earth in which nothing grows. Qatadah said, "(This means) the eroded, dusty earth." As-Suddi said, "Dead."

Quoted Scripture
"but when We send down water on it, it is stirred (to life), and it swells and puts forth every lovely kind (of growth)."

When Allah sends the rain upon it, it is stirred to life, that is, vegetation begins to grow and it comes alive after it was dead. Then it rises after the soil had settled, then it puts forth its different kinds of fruit and crops with all their varied colours, tastes, fragrances, shapes and benefits. Allah says:

Quoted Scripture
"and puts forth every lovely kind (of growth)."

meaning, beautiful in appearance and with delightful fragrances.

Quoted Scripture
"That is because Allah: He is the Truth,"

means, the Creator, the Controller, the One Who does as He wills.

Quoted Scripture
"and it is He Who gives life to the dead,"

means, just as He gives life to the dead earth and brings forth from it all these kinds of vegetation.

{Verily, He Who gives it life, surely is able to give life to the dead. Indeed He is able to do all things.} [41:39]

{Verily, His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, "Be!" - and it is!} [36:82].

Quoted Scripture
"And surely, the Hour is coming, there is no doubt about it;"

meaning, it will inevitably come to pass.

Quoted Scripture
"and certainly, Allah will resurrect those who are in the graves."

means, He will bring them back to life after they have become dust; He will create them anew after they have become nothing.

{And he puts forth for Us a parable, and forgets his own creation. He says: "Who will give life to these bones after they are rotten and have become dust?" Say: "He will give life to them Who created them for the first time! And He is the All-Knower of every creation!" He Who produces for you fire out of the green tree, when behold you kindle therewith.} [36:78-80].

And there are many similar Ayat.

— from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (Vol. 6, Page 525-530)

About this Source & Scholarly Authority (Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

Universal Sunni Consensus: Tafsir al-Qur'an al-Azim by Hafiz Ibn Kathir (701–774 AH / 1301–1373 AD) is universally regarded across all major schools of Sunni Islam (traditional, Salafi, Ash'ari) as the most authoritative classical exegesis. It is prized because it relies on Tafsir bil-Ma'thur—interpreting the Quran using the Quran itself, authentic Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad, and recorded statements of the early Companions (Sahabah).

Standard English Edition: This text is from the standard 10-volume English abridgment published by Dar-us-Salam Publications (supervised by Shaykh Safiur-Rahman Al-Mubarakpuri), which is the official, most widely distributed English Quranic commentary in mosques and Islamic libraries worldwide today.