Stem عَرْشُ - Quranic Morphology

English - Hazrat Molavi Sher Ali ^ra

And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods, and His throne rests on water, that He might prove you to show which of you is best in conduct. And if thou say, ‘You shall surely be raised after death,’ those who disbelieve will certainly say, ‘This is nothing but clear deception.’

اردو ترجمہ مرزا طاہر احمد خلیفة المسیح الرابعؒ

اور وہی ہے جس نے آسمانوں اور زمین کو چھ دنوں میں پیدا کیا اور اس کا تخت پانی پر تھا تاکہ وہ تمہیں آزمائے کہ تم میں سے کون بہترین عمل کرنے والا ہے۔ اور اگر تو کہے کہ یقیناً تم مرنے کے بعد اٹھائے جاؤ گے تو وہ لوگ جو کافر ہوئے ضرور کہیں گے کہ یہ تو کھلے کھلے جھوٹ کے سوا کچھ نہیں۔

French

Et c’est Lui Qui a créé en six périodes les cieux et la terre – et Son Trône repose sur l’eau – afin de vous éprouver et de voir lequel d’entre vous excelle en conduite. Et si tu dis : « Vous serez assurément ressuscités après la mort, » ceux qui ne croient pas ne manqueront pas de dire : « Ceci n’est qu’une supercherie manifeste. »

German

Und Er ist es, Der die Himmel und die Erde erschuf in sechs Zeiten – und Sein Thron ruht auf dem Wasser* –, damit Er euch prüfe, wer von euch der Beste im Wirken sei. Und wenn du sprichst: "Ihr werdet wahrlich auferweckt werden nach dem Tode", dann werden die Ungläubigen gewisslich sagen: "Das ist nichts als offenkundige Täuschung."

Chinese

[c]他就是那在六个时期之内[608]创造了天地的, 他的帝位奠立在水上[609] [d]以便考验你们, 谁的行为最好。如果你 (对他们)说: “你们死后, 一定还有复生。” 那些不信的人必说: “这 (声言) 只是一个明显的诡计罢了。”

Italian

Ed Egli è Colui che ha creato i cieli e la terra in sei periodi, mentre il Suo trono poggia sull'acqua, per mettervi alla prova e dimostrare chi di voi agisca meglio. E se tu dici: «Voi sarete certamente risuscitati dopo la morte», quelli che non credono certo diranno: «Questo non è che inganno evidente.»

Spanish

Él es Quien creó los cielos y la tierra en seis períodos y Su Trono se apoya en el agua, para probaros y mostrar cuál de vosotros observa mejor conducta. Y si dices: “Seréis resucitados después de la muerte”, los incrédulos dirán ciertamente. “esto no es más que un engaño manifiesto”.

اردو تفسیرِ صغیر

اور وہی ہے جس نے آسمانوں اور زمین کو چھ وقتوں میں پیدا کیا ہے تا کہ وہ تمہارا امتحان کرے (کہ) تم میں سے کس کے عمل زیادہ اچھے ہیں۔ اور اس کا عرش[4] پانی پر ہے۔ اور یہ یقینی امر ہے کہ اگر تو (ان سے) کہے (کہ) تم مرنے کے بعد ضرور اٹھائے جاؤ گے تو جن لوگوں نے انکار کیا ہے (قسمیں کھا کھا کر) کہیں گے (کہ) یہ (دعویٰ) صرف ایک دھوکا ہے۔

English - Short Commentary Translation

And [a]He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods,[1299]—and His throne rests on water[1300]— [b]that He might try you which of you is best in conduct. And if thou sayest, ‘You shall surely be raised after death,’ those who disbelieve will certainly say, ‘This is naught but clear deception.’

English - Five Volume Translation

And [a]He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods, and His Throne rests on water, [b]that He might prove you to know which of you is best in conduct. And if thou say, ‘You shall surely be raised after death,’ those who disbelieve will certainly say, ‘This is nothing but clear deception.’[1389]

7:55; 10:4; 25:60.

5:49; 6:166; 67:3.

Commentary:

This verse reminds us how God has created things by a gradual process of evolution to bring man into existence and to make provision for his progress. This gradual process of evolution has culminated in the creation of man. This shows that the real object of the creation of the whole universe was that man should come into being. Man is the real object of the creation of the universe because he has been endowed with an unlimited capacity for spiritual progress. It is, therefore, inconceivable that God, having endowed man with unlimited powers, should have neglected to provide means for his unending spiritual growth and development. For an explanation of the expression ستة ایام (six periods) see 7:55 and 10:4.

As water has been repeatedly described in the Quran as the source of all life (see 21:31; 25:55; 77:21 and 86:7) the words, His Throne rests on water, signify that all the great attributes of God have found their manifestation through "life" (i.e. living creatures) and above all through man, who is the culminating point of all life. The words that follow, viz. that He might prove you to know which of you is best in conduct, also corroborate the above explanation; otherwise, how can the works of man be tested by the resting of the Throne of God on material water? Indeed the passage can bear no other interpretation than this that it is through living creatures that God’s attributes are manifested and that God desires to see who benefits most by His attributes.

The words, His Throne rests on water, may also mean that the attributes of God are dependent for their manifestation on His word, which has been compared at several places in the Quran to water. Water stands, therefore, here for "the Word of God" and the verse means that God has bound up the manifestation of His attributes with His Word, which indeed is the source of all spiritual life. This subject is further explained in 58:22 where it is laid down that God’s Messengers on whom His word descends and their followers who benefit by the Divine Word are granted power and dominion over their enemies.

The verse may also be said to embody what may be called the Islamic theory of evolution. In this case، the word کان(is) will be rendered as "was" (for which see 2:35) and the verse would mean that God placed His Throne on water, viz. on the manifestation of life in this universe, so that the capacities of various animals might be compared and it might eventually become evident which of them deserved to be the aim and end of the whole of creation. In fact, the real and ultimate object of God in creating life was to bring into existence a being who might prove to be the best and highest manifestation of life fit to receive the impress of his Maker. This shows that the creation of man who was to prove the best of all creation, took place in the last cycle of life. Thus, although Islam does not accept the theory of evolution as commonly understood—that man is a development of a lower animal––yet it does teach that the creation of man formed the culminating point in the creation of life which began with the lower form of life and ended with the higher one, finding its consummation in man, and that this system of creation was from the very beginning intended to lead finally to the creation of man.

It is pointed out in the words, You shall surely be raised after death, that this system of creation itself shows that man should have a second life after death, for the creation of such a vast universe in which a being with a volition and independent will should live, makes it clear that the creation of that being is intended to serve a great purpose. But the life of this world is short-lived, a temporary place of tests and trials like the examination hall, over which hangs a veil of mystery and doubts, so much so that even the existence of God is sometimes denied. All this goes to prove beyond reasonable doubt that after this temporary abode of tests and trials man must pass on to his permanent or eternal abode of recompense. Hence (the verse says) how strange it is that, when people are told that creation has passed through a gradual process of development they readily admit it (even atheists accept the evolution theory) but when they are told what is but the natural sequence of this process, viz. that the life of man cannot come to a stop in this world, but must continue into another and higher life after death, they deny it.

اردو ترجمہ مودودی

اور وہی ہے جس نے آسمانوں اور زمین کو چھ دنوں میں پیدا کیا جبکہ اس سے پہلے اس کا عرش پانی پر تھا تاکہ تم کو آزما کر دیکھے تم میں کون بہتر عمل کرنے والا ہے اب اگر اے محمدؐ، تم کہتے ہو کہ لوگو، مرنے کے بعد تم دوبارہ اٹھائے جاؤ گے، تو منکرین فوراً بول اٹھتے ہیں کہ یہ تو صریح جادو گری ہے

English - Sahih

And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and His Throne had been upon water - that He might test you as to which of you is best in deed. But if you say, "Indeed, you are resurrected after death," those who disbelieve will surely say, "This is not but obvious magic."

اردو ترجمہ احمد علی

اور وہی ہےجس نے آسمان اور زمین چھ دن میں بنائے اور اس کا تخت پانی پر تھا کہ تمہیں آزمائے کہ تم میں سے کون اچھا کام کرتا ہے اور اگر تو کہے کہ مرنے کے بعد اٹھو گے تو منکرین یہ کہیں گے کہ یہ تو صریح جادو ہے

English - Talal Itani

And He (is) the One Who created the heavens and the earth in six epochs, and His throne was on the water that He might test [you] which of you (is) best (in) deed. But if you say, "Indeed, you (will be) resurrected after [the] death," surely would say those who disbelieved, "This is not but a magic clear."

Chinese Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

c

7:55; 10:4; 25:60.

d

5:49; 6:166; 67:3.

608

见注释 497。

609

因为 «古兰经» 中反复地把水描写成一切生命的源泉(21:31; 25:55; 77:21和86:7), “他的帝位奠立在水上” 这些字意指, 安拉伟大的常德表现在有生命的创造物, 首先是一切创造物的顶点的人类方面。这些字也可意味着, 安拉的常德依靠在 «古兰经» 几处经文中比作水的安拉的言语来表现出来。在 “你们死后一定还有复生” 这些字中, 指出这一创造体系本身表明人类死后还会有一种生命。因为安拉创造这样广大的宇宙, 其中有一种具有意志力和独立意志的创造物生活着, 清楚地表明创造那种生物是要他们为一个伟大宗旨而服务的。可是活在这个世界上的时间是短促的, 受考验的时间也是暂短的, 因此, 在暂短的考验住所之后, 人类必须过渡到他长期即永恒的 (赏罚) 回报的居住地方去。

اردہ تفصیرِ صغیر نوٹس ^*

4

عرش سے مراد حکومت یا اس کا اصول ہوتا ہے اور پانی کا لفظ قرآن کریم میں وحی کے لئے بولا جاتا ہے۔ پس آیت کا مطلب یہ ہوا کہ خداتعالیٰ کا اصول حکومت وحی کے ذریعہ اپنے احکام جاری کرنا ہے۔ نہ یہ کہ مادی پانی پر اس کا کوئی مادی عرش یا تخت رکھا ہوا ہے۔ اس کی نسبت تو آتا ہے کہ لَیْسَ کَمِثْلِہٖ شَیْئٌ یعنی کوئی چیز بھی اس کے مشابہ نہیں۔ پس مادیات پر اس کا قیاس کرنا درست نہیں۔

English - Arberry

And it is He who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and His Throne was upon the waters -- that He might try you, which one of you is fairer in works. And if thou sayest, 'you shall surely be raised up after death,' the unbelievers will say, 'This is naught but a manifest sorcery.'

English - Maududi

And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six days - and [before that] His Throne was upon the water that He may test you, who of you is better in conduct If you were to say (O Muhammad): 'All of you will surely be raised after death', then those who disbelieve will certainly say: 'This is nothing but plain sorcery.

English - Ahmed Ali

It is He who created the heavens and the earth In six spans, and has control over the waters (of life) so that he may bring out the best that everyone of you could do. Yet if you said to them: "You shall certainly be raised from the dead," the unbelievers will say: "This will be nothing but sorcery."

English - Yusuf Ali

He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days - and His Throne was over the waters - that He might try you, which of you is best in conduct. But if thou wert to say to them, "Ye shall indeed be raised up after death", the Unbelievers would be sure to say, "This is nothing but obvious sorcery!"

English - Five Volume Commentary ^*

Cross Refs:

a

7:55; 10:4; 25:60.

b

5:49; 6:166; 67:3.

1389

Commentary:

This verse reminds us how God has created things by a gradual process of evolution to bring man into existence and to make provision for his progress. This gradual process of evolution has culminated in the creation of man. This shows that the real object of the creation of the whole universe was that man should come into being. Man is the real object of the creation of the universe because he has been endowed with an unlimited capacity for spiritual progress. It is, therefore, inconceivable that God, having endowed man with unlimited powers, should have neglected to provide means for his unending spiritual growth and development. For an explanation of the expression ستة ایام (six periods) see 7:55 and 10:4.

As water has been repeatedly described in the Quran as the source of all life (see 21:31; 25:55; 77:21 and 86:7) the words, His Throne rests on water, signify that all the great attributes of God have found their manifestation through "life" (i.e. living creatures) and above all through man, who is the culminating point of all life. The words that follow, viz. that He might prove you to know which of you is best in conduct, also corroborate the above explanation; otherwise, how can the works of man be tested by the resting of the Throne of God on material water? Indeed the passage can bear no other interpretation than this that it is through living creatures that God’s attributes are manifested and that God desires to see who benefits most by His attributes.

The words, His Throne rests on water, may also mean that the attributes of God are dependent for their manifestation on His word, which has been compared at several places in the Quran to water. Water stands, therefore, here for "the Word of God" and the verse means that God has bound up the manifestation of His attributes with His Word, which indeed is the source of all spiritual life. This subject is further explained in 58:22 where it is laid down that God’s Messengers on whom His word descends and their followers who benefit by the Divine Word are granted power and dominion over their enemies.

The verse may also be said to embody what may be called the Islamic theory of evolution. In this case، the word کان(is) will be rendered as "was" (for which see 2:35) and the verse would mean that God placed His Throne on water, viz. on the manifestation of life in this universe, so that the capacities of various animals might be compared and it might eventually become evident which of them deserved to be the aim and end of the whole of creation. In fact, the real and ultimate object of God in creating life was to bring into existence a being who might prove to be the best and highest manifestation of life fit to receive the impress of his Maker. This shows that the creation of man who was to prove the best of all creation, took place in the last cycle of life. Thus, although Islam does not accept the theory of evolution as commonly understood—that man is a development of a lower animal––yet it does teach that the creation of man formed the culminating point in the creation of life which began with the lower form of life and ended with the higher one, finding its consummation in man, and that this system of creation was from the very beginning intended to lead finally to the creation of man.

It is pointed out in the words, You shall surely be raised after death, that this system of creation itself shows that man should have a second life after death, for the creation of such a vast universe in which a being with a volition and independent will should live, makes it clear that the creation of that being is intended to serve a great purpose. But the life of this world is short-lived, a temporary place of tests and trials like the examination hall, over which hangs a veil of mystery and doubts, so much so that even the existence of God is sometimes denied. All this goes to prove beyond reasonable doubt that after this temporary abode of tests and trials man must pass on to his permanent or eternal abode of recompense. Hence (the verse says) how strange it is that, when people are told that creation has passed through a gradual process of development they readily admit it (even atheists accept the evolution theory) but when they are told what is but the natural sequence of this process, viz. that the life of man cannot come to a stop in this world, but must continue into another and higher life after death, they deny it.

English - Short Commentary Notes ^*

Cross Refs:

a

7:55; 10:4; 25:60.

b

5:49; 6:166; 67:3.

1299

See {984}.

1300

As water has been repeatedly described in the Qur’an as the source of all life (21:31; 25:55; 77:21 & 86:7), the words, His throne rests on water, signify that the great Divine attributes find their manifestation through living creatures, above all through man, who is the culminating point of all creation. These words may also mean that the attributes of God depend for their manifestation on His Word which has been compared to water at several places in the Qur’an. In the words, you shall surely be raised after death, it is pointed out that this system of creation itself shows that man should have a life after death, for the creation of such a vast universe in which a being with volition and independent will should live, makes it clear that the creation of that being is intended to serve a great purpose. But the life of this world is short-lived, a temporary existence of tests and trials so that, after this temporary abode of tests and trials man must pass on to his permanent or eternal abod

English - Pickthall

And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days - and His Throne was upon the water - that He might try you, which of you is best in conduct. Yet if thou (O Muhammad) sayest: Lo! ye will be raised again after death! those who disbelieve will surely say: This is naught but mere magic.

English - Muhammad Ali ^ra

And He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods; and His Throne of Power is ever on water that He might manifest (the good qualities in) you whoever of you is best in deeds. And if thou sayest, You shall surely be raised up after death, those who disbelieve say: This is nothing but clear deceit.

English - Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan ^ra

He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six periods; He originated life from water and exercises His authority through revelation, that He might prove you, to show which of you is best in conduct. If thou were to tell them: You shall surely be raised up after death; those who disbelieve will certainly say: This is manifest deception.

عَرْشُ

Derived Words (2)

Occurrences in Quran

Explore Topics

Explore Roots