Tafseer of The Ant · An-Naml · 27:88
And you see the mountains, thinking them rigid, while they will pass as the passing of clouds. [It is] the work of Allah, who perfected all things. Indeed, He is Acquainted with that which you do.
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 the Exalted says: وَتَرَى الْجِبَالَ — "and you see the mountains" — O Muḥammad — تَحْسَبُهَا — "you suppose them" — to be motionless — وَهِيَ تَمُرُّ — "while they are moving along."
As ʿAlī related to me, saying: Abū Ṣāliḥ related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His word: وَتَرَى الْجِبَالَ تَحْسَبُهَا جَامِدَةً — he said: motionless. And it is said: وَهِيَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ السَّحَابِ — for they are gathered together and then they move away, so that whoever sees them, on account of their multitude, supposes them to be standing still, while they are moving at a swift pace — as al-Jaʿdī said:
With a mighty army, resembling a mountain, you suppose that they Stand still for some need, while the camels press forward at a trot.
His word: صُنْعَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ — and Who has made His creation firm and perfect.
In accordance with what we have said concerning this, the exegetes spoke.
Mention of those who said this:
ʿAlī related to me, saying: Abū Ṣāliḥ related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His word: صُنْعَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ — he said: He has made everything perfect.
Muḥammad ibn Saʿd related to me, saying: my father related to me, saying: my uncle related to me, saying: my father related to me, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His word: صُنْعَ اللَّهِ الَّذِي أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ — he said: He has made everything He created beautiful and firm.
Muḥammad ibn ʿAmr related to me, saying: Abū ʿĀṣim related to us, saying: ʿĪsā related to us; and al-Ḥārith related to me, saying: al-Ḥasan related to us, saying: Warqāʾ related to us — both together — on the authority of Ibn Abī Najīḥ, on the authority of Mujāhid, concerning His word: الذي أَتْقَنَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ — he said: He has made everything firm and even.
Al-Qāsim related to us, saying: al-Ḥusayn related to us, saying: Ḥajjāj related to me, on the authority of Ibn Jurayj, on the authority of Mujāhid: أتْقَنَ — made firm.
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda: إِنَّهُ خَبِيرٌ بِمَا تَفْعَلُونَ — Allah the Exalted says: indeed, Allah possesses knowledge and acquaintance of what His servants do of good and evil, of obedience to Him and disobedience. He will requite them all for that: for the good with good, and for the evil with its like.
