Tafseer of The Smoke · Ad-Dukhaan · 44:39
We did not create them except in truth, but most of them do not know.
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 words: "We have not created the two except in truth" (44:39). He says: We have not created the heavens and the earth except with the truth, without which the order could not be sound.
And by this the Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, intends to draw attention to the soundness of the resurrection and the requital. The Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, says: We have not created the creation in vain, in the sense that We would bring them into existence and let them live as long as We willed, and then let them perish without the trial by obedience, command, and prohibition, and without requital of the obedient for his obedience and of the disobedient for the disobedience. Rather, We created that in order to try those of Our creatures whose testing We willed with what We willed of testing by command and prohibition, "that He may requite those who did evil for what they did, and requite those who did good with the very best".
"And indeed, most of them do not know" — the Exalted, whose remembrance is exalted, says: but most of these polytheists (mushrikīn) who assign associates to Allah do not know that Allah created that for them; therefore they do not fear a punishment for the displeasure of Allah that they bring down upon themselves, and they do not hope for a reward for the good if they were to do it, because of their denial of the return.
