Surah Ghafir Ayat 57 (40:57 Quran) With Tafsir

Ala-Maududi

(40:57) Surely^[78] the creation of the heavens and the earth is a greater act than the creation of human beings. But most people do not know.^[79]

78. After reviewing the conspiracies and plots of the chiefs of the Quraish in (Surah Ghafir, ayat 21-56), the address is now being directed towards the common people, and they are being made to understand that the truths to which Muhammad (peace be upon him) is inviting them, are absolutely rational, as if to say: Your own good and well-being lies in accepting them, and rejecting them is ruinous for your own selves. In this connection, first of all arguments have been given for the doctrine of the Hereafter, for the disbelievers regarded this very doctrine as most bewildering and incomprehensible.

79. This is an argument for the possibility of the Hereafter. The disbelievers thought it was impossible for man to be resurrected after death. In answer to this, it is being said: Those who talk like this are, in fact, ignorant. If they use their common sense, they will easily understand that for that God Who has created this wonderful Universe it cannot at all be difficult to create men once again.

Ibn-Kathir

57. The creation of the heavens and the earth is indeed greater than the creation of mankind; yet, most of the people do not know. 58. And not equal are the blind and those who see; nor those who believe, and do righteous good deeds, and those who do evil. Little do you remember! 59. Verily, the Hour is surely coming, there is no doubt about it, yet most men believe not.

Allah tells us that He will bring back His creation on the Day of Resurrection. That is very easy for Him, because He created the heavens and the earth, and creating them is greater than creating mankind, the first time and when He creates them again. The One Who is able to do that is able to do anything that is less than that. As Allah says:

(Do they not see that Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth, and was not wearied by their creation, is able to give life to the dead Yes, He surely is able to do all things.) (46:33) And Allah says here:

(The creation of the heavens and the earth is indeed greater than the creation of mankind; yet, most of mankind know not.) hence they do not think about or ponder this proof. Similarly, many of the Arabs recognized that Allah had created the heavens and the earth, but they denied and rejected the idea of the resurrection; they acknowledged something which was greater than that which they denied. Then Allah says:

(And not equal are the blind and those who see; nor are those who believe, and do righteous good deeds, and those who do evil. Little do you remember!) The blind man who cannot see anything is not the same as the sighted man who can see everything as far as his eyesight reaches — there is a huge difference between them. By the same token, the righteous believers and the immoral disbelievers are not equal.

(Little do you remember!) means, most of the people remember little.

(Verily, the Hour (Day of Judgement) is surely coming,) means, it will indeed come to pass.

(there is no doubt about it, yet most men believe not.) means, they do not believe in it, and in fact they doubt its existence altogether.