Surah Ahqaf >> Currently viewing Surah Ahqaf Ayat 3 (46:3)

Surah Ahqaf Ayat 3 in Arabic Text

مَا خَلَقۡنَا ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَمَا بَيۡنَهُمَآ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَأَجَلٖ مُّسَمّٗىۚ وَٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ عَمَّآ أُنذِرُواْ مُعۡرِضُونَ
Maa khalaqnas samaawaati wal arda wa maa bainahumaaa illaa bilhaqqi wa ajalim musammaa; wallazeena kafaroo ‘ammaaa unziroo mu’ridoon

English Translation

Here you can read various translations of verse 3

Sahih International
We did not create the heavens and earth and what is between them except in truth and [for] a specified term. But those who disbelieve, from that of which they are warned, are turning away.

Yusuf Ali
We created not the heavens and the earth and all between them but for just ends, and for a Term Appointed: But those who reject Faith turn away from that whereof they are warned.

Abul Ala Maududi
We have created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in Truth and for an appointed term. But those who disbelieve have turned away from what they were warned against.

Muhsin Khan
We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them except with truth, and for an appointed term. But those who disbelieve turn away from that whereof they are warned.

Pickthall
We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them save with truth, and for a term appointed. But those who disbelieve turn away from that whereof they are warned.

Dr. Ghali
In no way have We created the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them both, except with the Truth and a stated term; and the ones who have disbelieved are veering away from what they were warned of.

Abdel Haleem
It was for a true purpose and a specific term that We created heaven and earth and everything in between, yet those who deny the truth ignore the warning they have been given.

Muhammad Junagarhi
ہم نے آسمانوں اور زمین اور ان دونوں کے درمیان کی تمام چیزوں کو بہترین تدبیر کے ساتھ ہی ایک مدت معین کے لئے پیدا کیا ہے، اور کافر لوگ جس چیز سے ڈرائے جاتے ہیں منھ موڑ لیتے ہیں

Quran 46 Verse 3 Explanation

For those looking for commentary to help with the understanding of Surah Ahqaf ayat 3, we’ve provided two Tafseer works below. The first is the tafseer of Abul Ala Maududi, the second is of Ibn Kathir.

Ala-Maududi

(46:3) We have created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in Truth and for an appointed term.[2] But those who disbelieve have turned away from what they were warned against.[3]


2. For explanation, see (Surah Al-Anaam, Ayat 73); (Surah Younus, Ayat 5-6); (Surah Ibrahim, Ayat 19); (Surah Al-Hijr, Ayat 85); (Surah An-Nahl, Ayat: 3); (Surah Al-Anbiya, Ayat 16-18); (Surah Al-Muminun, Ayat 115); (Surah Al-Ankabut, Ayat 44); (Surah Ar-Room, Ayat 8).

3. That is, the fact is that this universe is not a purposeless plaything but a purposeful, wise system in which the decisions regarding the good and the bad, the oppressor and the oppressed, will necessarily be based on justice. The present system of the universe is not permanent and eternal, but it has a fixed term appointed for it on the expiry of which it will inevitably come to an end. For the court of Allah also there is a settled time and it will certainly be established when the time for it reaches its term. But the people who have refused to believe in Allah’s Prophet (peace be upon him) and His Book, have an aversion to these truths. They are least mindful of this that a time has to come when they will have to render an account of their deeds. They think that the Messenger (peace be upon him) of Allah has done them a great wrong by warning them of these truths, whereas he has done them a great good by fore-warning them not only of the time when they will be subjected to accountability but also of what they will be questioned at that time so that they may prepare themselves accordingly.

To understand the following discourse it should be borne in mind that man’s basic error is the one that he commits with regard to determining his belief about God. In this regard, the adoption of a creed carelessly on the basis of mere hearsay, without any serious and deep thought and investigation is a stupendous folly, which vitiates man’s entire attitude towards life in the world and ruins his destiny for ever afterwards. But the reason why man becomes involved in this dangerous kind of heedlessness is that he regards himself as irresponsible and un-answerable and develops the misunderstanding that whatever creed he may adopt about God, it would make no difference, because either there is no life after death in which he might have to face accountability, or if there is any such life and he is also called to account, the beings of whom he is a devotee, will save him from any evil fate. This same lack of the sense of responsibility renders him frivolous in the selection of a religious creed, and on the basis of the same he fabricates all sorts of absurd creeds, from atheism to every form of polytheism, or adopts the creeds fabricated by others.

Ibn-Kathir

The tafsir of Surah Ahqaf verse 3 by Ibn Kathir is unavailable here.
Please refer to Surah Ahqaf ayat 1 which provides the complete commentary from verse 1 through 6.

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