We have not created the heavens and the earth, and all that lies between them, out of fun.
And We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them, unnecessarily.
We created not the heaven and the earth, and whatsoever between them is, as playing;
AND [know that] We have not created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in mere idle play:
And We created not the heaven and the earth and that which is in between in play.
We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for a (mere) play.
We did not create the sky and the earth and what is between them for amusement.
We did not create in sport the heavens and the earth and all that lies between the two.
We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them for play.
We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them in play.
We did not create the sky and the earth and whatever is between them for play.
It was not in play that We created the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them.
And We did not create the heaven and earth and that between them in play.
We did not create the heavens and the earth just for fun.
And We did not create the heaven and the earth and what is between them for sport.
Wam<u>a</u> khalaqn<u>a</u> a<b>l</b>ssam<u>a</u>a wa<b>a</b>lar<u>d</u>a wam<u>a</u> baynahum<u>a</u> l<u>a</u>AAibeen<b>a</b>
It was not in play that We created the heavens and the earth and all that lies between them.
Not for (idle) sport did We create the heavens and the earth and all that is between!
وَمَا خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَٰعِبِينَ
And I did not create the heavens and the earth and whatever is in between as a plaything or in vain, but rather I created them to show My power.
And I did not create the heavens and the earth and whatever is in between as a plaything or in vain, but rather I created them to show My power.
<p>Commentary</p><p>وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاءَ وَالْأَرْ‌ضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَاعِبِينَ (And We did not create the heavens and the earth ... 21:16.) It means that we have not created the sky and the earth, and everything that lies in between them for mere amusement. In the preceding verses a reference has been made to the annihilation of certain settlements. In this verse there is a suggestion that just as the creation of the earth and the sky and all other created things was according to a set design, the destruction of the settlements was also the result of a definite purpose. Having witnessed the marvels and wonders of creation which are so abundantly spread all over, manifesting Allah's omnipotence and omniscience, do they still think that all these things are futile and without significance?</p><p>The word لَاعِبِينَ is taken from لِعَب (play), which means having no useful objective (Raghib) while لَھَو (pastime) means an act which has no purpose at all except to provide amusement in free time. The disbelievers who argue against the Holy Prophet ﷺ and the Holy Qur'an and reject the Oneness of Allah and deny His Power, despite its abundant manifestations, then it is apparent that they have a notion that all this creation is meant for amusement and pastime. The verse rejects this false view and says that Allah's creation is not for fun and pastime. A little reflection will show that even the minutest particle of the universe has its utility and each and everything created by Allah has a purpose which speaks by itself for His omniscience and Oneness.</p>
Commentaryوَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاءَ وَالْأَرْ‌ضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَاعِبِينَ (And We did not create the heavens and the earth ... 21:16.) It means that we have not created the sky and the earth, and everything that lies in between them for mere amusement. In the preceding verses a reference has been made to the annihilation of certain settlements. In this verse there is a suggestion that just as the creation of the earth and the sky and all other created things was according to a set design, the destruction of the settlements was also the result of a definite purpose. Having witnessed the marvels and wonders of creation which are so abundantly spread all over, manifesting Allah's omnipotence and omniscience, do they still think that all these things are futile and without significance?The word لَاعِبِينَ is taken from لِعَب (play), which means having no useful objective (Raghib) while لَھَو (pastime) means an act which has no purpose at all except to provide amusement in free time. The disbelievers who argue against the Holy Prophet ﷺ and the Holy Qur'an and reject the Oneness of Allah and deny His Power, despite its abundant manifestations, then it is apparent that they have a notion that all this creation is meant for amusement and pastime. The verse rejects this false view and says that Allah's creation is not for fun and pastime. A little reflection will show that even the minutest particle of the universe has its utility and each and everything created by Allah has a purpose which speaks by itself for His omniscience and Oneness.
<h2 class="title">Creation was made with Justice and Wisdom</h2><p>Allah tells us that He created the heavens and the earth in truth, i.e. with justice.</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">لِيَجْزِىَ الَّذِينَ أَسَاءُواْ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ وَيِجْزِى الَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُواْ بِالْحُسْنَى</div><p>(that He may requite those who do evil with that which they have done, and reward those who do good, with what is best.) 53:31. He did not create all that in vain or for (mere) play:</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَآءَ وَالاٌّرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَـطِلاً ذَلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنَ النَّارِ </div><p>(And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them without purpose! That is the consideration of those who disbelieve! Then woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire!) 38:27</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">لَوْ أَرَدْنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ لَهْواً لاَّتَّخَذْنَـهُ مِن لَّدُنَّآ إِن كُنَّا فَـعِلِينَ </div><p>(Had We intended to take a pastime, We could surely have taken it from Us, if We were going to do (that).) Ibn Abi Najih said, narrating from Mujahid:</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">لَوْ أَرَدْنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ لَهْواً لاَّتَّخَذْنَـهُ مِن لَّدُنَّآ</div><p>(Had We intended to take a pastime, We could surely have taken it from Us,) "Meaning, `From Ourself,' He is saying, `We would not have created Paradise or Hell or death or the resurrection or the Reckoning."'</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">إِن كُنَّا فَـعِلِينَ</div><p>(if We were going to do (that). ) Qatadah, As-Suddi, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i and Mughirah bin Miqsam said: "This means, `We will not do that."' Mujahid said, every time the word</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">أَنْ</div><p>(if) is used in the Qur'an, it is a negation.</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى الْبَـطِلِ</div><p>(Nay, We fling the truth against the falsehood,) means, `We explain the truth and thus defeat falsehood.' Allah says:</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ</div><p>(so it destroys it, and behold, it disappears.) it is fading and vanishing.</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَلَكُمُ الْوَيْلُ</div><p>(And woe to you) O you who say that Allah has offspring.</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">مِمَّا تَصِفُونَ</div><p>(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:</p><h2 class="title">Everything belongs to Allah and serves Him</h2><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَلَهُ مَن فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ</div><p>(To Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and on earth. And those who are near Him) i.e., the angels,</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">لاَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ</div><p>(are not too proud to worship Him,) they do not feel proud and do not refuse to worship Him. This is like the Ayah:</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">لَّن يَسْتَنكِفَ الْمَسِيحُ أَن يَكُونَ عَبْداً للَّهِ وَلاَ الْمَلَـئِكَةُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ وَمَن يَسْتَنْكِفْ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَيَسْتَكْبِرْ فَسَيَحْشُرُهُمْ إِلَيهِ جَمِيعاً </div><p>(Al-Masih will never be proud to reject being a servant of Allah, nor the angels who are the near. And whosoever rejects His worship and is proud, then He will gather them all together unto Himself.) 4:172</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">وَلاَ يَسْتَحْسِرُونَ</div><p>(nor are they weary.) means, they do not get tired or feel bored.</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">يُسَبِّحُونَ الْلَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لاَ يَفْتُرُونَ </div><p>(They glorify His praises night and day, they never slacken.) They persist in their worship night and day, obeying Allah to the utmost, and they are able to do this, as Allah says:</p><div class="text_uthmani arabic">لاَّ يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ</div><p>(who do not disobey Allah in what He commands them, but do what they are commanded) 66:6</p>
Creation was made with Justice and WisdomAllah tells us that He created the heavens and the earth in truth, i.e. with justice.لِيَجْزِىَ الَّذِينَ أَسَاءُواْ بِمَا عَمِلُواْ وَيِجْزِى الَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُواْ بِالْحُسْنَى(that He may requite those who do evil with that which they have done, and reward those who do good, with what is best.) 53:31. He did not create all that in vain or for (mere) play:وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَآءَ وَالاٌّرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَـطِلاً ذَلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ فَوَيْلٌ لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ مِنَ النَّارِ (And We created not the heaven and the earth and all that is between them without purpose! That is the consideration of those who disbelieve! Then woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire!) 38:27لَوْ أَرَدْنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ لَهْواً لاَّتَّخَذْنَـهُ مِن لَّدُنَّآ إِن كُنَّا فَـعِلِينَ (Had We intended to take a pastime, We could surely have taken it from Us, if We were going to do (that).) Ibn Abi Najih said, narrating from Mujahid:لَوْ أَرَدْنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ لَهْواً لاَّتَّخَذْنَـهُ مِن لَّدُنَّآ(Had We intended to take a pastime, We could surely have taken it from Us,) "Meaning, `From Ourself,' He is saying, `We would not have created Paradise or Hell or death or the resurrection or the Reckoning."'إِن كُنَّا فَـعِلِينَ(if We were going to do (that). ) Qatadah, As-Suddi, Ibrahim An-Nakha`i and Mughirah bin Miqsam said: "This means, `We will not do that."' Mujahid said, every time the wordأَنْ(if) is used in the Qur'an, it is a negation.بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِالْحَقِّ عَلَى الْبَـطِلِ(Nay, We fling the truth against the falsehood,) means, `We explain the truth and thus defeat falsehood.' Allah says:فَيَدْمَغُهُ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ(so it destroys it, and behold, it disappears.) it is fading and vanishing.وَلَكُمُ الْوَيْلُ(And woe to you) O you who say that Allah has offspring.مِمَّا تَصِفُونَ(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 Himوَلَهُ مَن فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ وَمَنْ عِنْدَهُ(To Him belongs whosoever is in the heavens and on earth. And those who are near Him) i.e., the angels,لاَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ(are not too proud to worship Him,) they do not feel proud and do not refuse to worship Him. This is like the Ayah:لَّن يَسْتَنكِفَ الْمَسِيحُ أَن يَكُونَ عَبْداً للَّهِ وَلاَ الْمَلَـئِكَةُ الْمُقَرَّبُونَ وَمَن يَسْتَنْكِفْ عَنْ عِبَادَتِهِ وَيَسْتَكْبِرْ فَسَيَحْشُرُهُمْ إِلَيهِ جَمِيعاً (Al-Masih will never be proud to reject being a servant of Allah, nor the angels who are the near. And whosoever rejects His worship and is proud, then He will gather them all together unto Himself.) 4:172وَلاَ يَسْتَحْسِرُونَ(nor are they weary.) means, they do not get tired or feel bored.يُسَبِّحُونَ الْلَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ لاَ يَفْتُرُونَ (They glorify His praises night and day, they never slacken.) They persist in their worship night and day, obeying Allah to the utmost, and they are able to do this, as Allah says:لاَّ يَعْصُونَ اللَّهَ مَآ أَمَرَهُمْ وَيَفْعَلُونَ مَا يُؤْمَرُونَ(who do not disobey Allah in what He commands them, but do what they are commanded) 66:6