Juz 22: Al-Aḥzāb 31 to Yā Sīn 27
Section 15 of 18 · Tafsir of the Qur’an · Mufti Abdul Rahman Mangera
15. Allah as Creator and Sustainer in Surah Fatir
Surah Fatir, a Makkan revelation comprising forty-five verses, begins with the praise of Allah as the Creator of the heavens and the earth. The main focus of this surah is to establish the oneness of Allah (tawhid) and dismantle the foundations of polytheism (shirk) that prevailed among the disbelievers of Makkah. Like other Makkan surahs, it emphasizes Allah's supreme power as the Creator and Sustainer of all existence.
The surah opens with a powerful declaration:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ جَاعِلِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُولِي أَجْنِحَةٍ مَّثْنَىٰ وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ ۚ يَزِيدُ فِي الْخَلْقِ مَا يَشَاءُ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
“All praise belongs to Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, Who appointed angels as messengers having wings, in twos, threes and fours. He adds to the creation what He wills. Indeed, Allah is powerful over everything.”
The term "Fatir" in this opening verse refers to Allah as the One who splits and brings forth creation. The concept of "fatara" in Arabic signifies the action of creating something from nothing, or bringing something into existence after it was non-existent. This powerful beginning establishes Allah's role as the Creator of the entire cosmos, the heavens and the earth, and everything between them.
Allah then mentions the angels, describing them as messengers with wings. Allah creates them with different forms and abilities, some having two wings, others three or four, and He adds to His creation whatever He wills. This demonstrates Allah's unlimited creative power and the diversity within His creation. Nothing is beyond His ability, as emphasized in the concluding part of the verse: "Indeed, Allah is powerful over everything."
The surah continues to affirm Allah's absolute authority over His creation, stating:
مَّا يَفْتَحِ اللَّهُ لِلنَّاسِ مِن رَّحْمَةٍ فَلَا مُمْسِكَ لَهَا ۖ وَمَا يُمْسِكْ فَلَا مُرْسِلَ لَهُ مِن بَعْدِهِ ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ
“Whatever mercy Allah opens for people, there is none to hold it back; and whatever He holds back, there is none to release it thereafter. He is the Mighty, the Wise.”
This verse establishes an important principle of divine sovereignty: when Allah decides to bestow His mercy upon someone, no power can prevent this mercy from reaching its intended recipient. Similarly, if Allah withholds something, no power can release what He has withheld. This emphasizes that all blessings and provisions come solely from Allah, and He alone controls their dispensation according to His wisdom.
Allah then directly addresses humanity, reminding them of their dependence on Him:
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ ۚ هَلْ مِنْ خَالِقٍ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَرْزُقُكُم مِّنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ ۚ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ
“O people, remember Allah's blessing upon you. Is there any creator other than Allah who gives you provision from the sky and the earth? There is no god but He. So, to where are you being turned away?”
This verse contains a rhetorical question that serves as a powerful rational argument for tawhid. Allah challenges people to reflect: Can anyone besides Allah provide sustenance from the heavens (through rain) and the earth (through crops)? The logical conclusion is that there is no creator or provider other than Allah. Therefore, how can people turn away from worshipping Him exclusively and direct their worship to false deities who can neither create nor provide?
This foundational section of Surah Fatir establishes Allah's position as the sole Creator, the exclusive Sustainer, and the only Being worthy of worship. It also emphasizes that human beings must acknowledge these truths and respond with gratitude, remembrance, and exclusive devotion to Allah.