Tafseer of The Originator · Faatir · 35:28
And among people and moving creatures and grazing livestock are various colors similarly. Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving.
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.
And His statement وَمِنَ النَّاسِ وَالدَّوَابِّ وَالأنْعَامِ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهُ كَذَلِكَ (And among mankind, the beasts, and the cattle there are those whose colours are likewise different): just as among the fruits and the mountains there are those whose colours are different — in red, white, black, yellow, and other than that.
And in accordance with what we have said about this, the people of interpretation (ahl al-taʾwīl) have spoken.
* Mention of who said that:
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His statement أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَنـزلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ ثَمَرَاتٍ مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَانُهَا (Do you not see that Allah sends down water from the sky, with which We bring forth fruits of various colours): red, green, and yellow; وَمِنَ الْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌ بِيضٌ (and among the mountains are white veins), that is to say: white streaks, وَحُمْرٌ مُخْتَلِفٌ أَلْوَانُهَا (and red ones, of various colours), that is to say: red and white mountains, وَغَرَابِيبُ سُودٌ (and intensely black ones) — that is the blackness, namely their colour. Just as the colours of these are different, so too are the colours of mankind, the beasts, and the cattle different, likewise.
It was related to me on the authority of al-Ḥusayn, who said: I heard Abū Muʿādh say: ʿUbayd informed us, saying: I heard al-Ḍaḥḥāk say concerning His statement وَمِنَ الْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌ بِيضٌ (and among the mountains are white veins): white, red, and black streaks, and likewise mankind too are different in colour.
ʿAmr ibn ʿAbd al-Ḥamīd al-Āmulī related to us, saying: Marwān related to us, on the authority of Juwaybir, on the authority of al-Ḍaḥḥāk, concerning His statement وَمِنَ الْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌ بِيضٌ (and among the mountains are white veins), he said: those are red and black streaks.
And His statement إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ (Indeed, only the learned among His servants fear Allah): the Exalted, whose mention is exalted, says: only the learned (ʿulamāʾ) fear Allah and guard themselves through their obedience against His chastisement, because of His power over whatever He wills, and because He does what He desires. For whoever knows that is convinced of His chastisement for disobeying Him; therefore he fears Him and is wary of Him, out of fear of Him that He might chastise him.
And in accordance with what we have said about this, the people of interpretation have spoken.
* Mention of who said that:
ʿAlī related to me, saying: ʿAbd Allāh related to us, saying: Muʿāwiya related to me, on the authority of ʿAlī, on the authority of Ibn ʿAbbās, concerning His statement إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ (Indeed, only the learned among His servants fear Allah), he said: they are those who know that Allah is capable of all things.
Bishr related to us, saying: Yazīd related to us, saying: Saʿīd related to us, on the authority of Qatāda, concerning His statement إِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللَّهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمَاءُ (Indeed, only the learned among His servants fear Allah), he said: it was said: sufficient as knowledge is the fear of God.
And His statement إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزِيزٌ غَفُورٌ (Indeed, Allah is Almighty, Forgiving): the Exalted, whose mention is exalted, says: indeed, Allah is Almighty in His retribution against the one who was ungrateful to Him, Forgiving toward the sins of the one who believed in Him and obeyed Him.
