Tafseer of The Night Journey · Al-Israa · 17:70
And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with [definite] preference.
Important: The Arabic source text is always authoritative. This translation is a study aid and has not been verified by scholars — do not use it as a basis for religious proof or for deriving rulings (ahkam). When in doubt, always consult the Arabic text and a qualified scholar.
Allah, exalted be His mention, says: وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ — by giving them power over the rest of creation and subjecting the remainder of creation to their service. وَحَمَلْنَاهُمْ فِي الْبَرِّ — upon the backs of beasts of burden and conveyances. وَ in الْبَحْرِ — in the ships that We have subjected to their service. وَرَزَقْنَاهُمْ مِنَ الطَّيِّبَاتِ — He says: from the good foods and drinks, namely what is permitted and delicious of them. وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ عَلَى كَثِيرٍ مِمَّنْ خَلَقْنَا تَفْضِيلا — it has been reported to us that this concerns their ability to work with their hands and to take food and drink with them and bring it to their mouths; something that has not been granted to others of creation.
Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, concerning His word وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ — the entire verse —, he said concerning وَفَضَّلْنَاهُمْ : by their two hands with which they eat and work; whereas everything else apart from human beings eats in another manner.
Al-Ḥasan ibn Yaḥyā related to us, saying: ʿAbd al-Razzāq informed us, saying: Maʿmar informed us, on the authority of Zayd ibn Aslam, concerning His word وَلَقَدْ كَرَّمْنَا بَنِي آدَمَ : he said: the angels said: O our Lord, You have given the Children of Adam the worldly life from which they eat and enjoy, and that You have not given us; so give us that in the Hereafter. Whereupon He said: By My majesty, I will not make the progeny of him whom I created with My hand equal to him whom I created with the word "Be!" and he was.
