O People, if you should be in doubt about the Resurrection, then [consider that] indeed, We created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot, and then from a lump of flesh, formed and unformed - that We may show you. And We settle in the wombs whom We will for a specified term, then We bring you out as a child, and then [We develop you] that you may reach your [time of] maturity. And among you is he who is taken in [early] death, and among you is he who is returned to the most decrepit [old] age so that he knows, after [once having] knowledge, nothing. And you see the earth barren, but when We send down upon it rain, it quivers and swells and grows [something] of every beautiful kind.
Tafseer
{ يا أيها الناس } أي أهل مكة { إن كنتم في ريب } شك { من البعث فإنا خلقناكم } أي أصلكم آدم { من تراب ثم } خلقنا ذريته { من نطفة } منيّ { ثم من علقة } وهي الدم الجامد { ثم من مضغة } وهي لحمة قدر ما يمضغ { مخلقة } مصورة تامة الخلق { وغير مخلقة } أي غير تامة الخلق { لنبين لكم } كمال قدرتنا لتستدلوا بها في ابتداء الخلق على إعادته { ونُقرُّ } مستأنف { في الأرحام ما نشاء إلى أجل مسمى } وقت خروجه { ثم نخرجكم } من بطون أمهاتكم { طفلا } بمعنى أطفالا { ثم } نعمركم { لتبلغوا أشدكم } أي الكمال والقوة وهو ما بين الثلاثين إلى الأربعين سنة { ومنكم من يُتوفى } يموت قبل بلوغ الأشد { ومنكم من يرد إلى أرذل العمر } أخسه من الهرم والخرف { لكيلا يعلم من بعد علم شيئا } قال عكرمة من قرأ القرآن لم يصر بهذه الحالة { وترى الأرض هامدة } يابسة { فإذا أنزلنا عليها الماء اهتزت } تحركت { وَرَبَتْ } ارتفعت وزادت { وأنبتت من } زائدة { كلّ زوج } صنف { بهيج } حسن .
{O mankind} meaning the people of Mecca {if you are in doubt} doubt {about the Resurrection - then We created you} meaning your origin is Adam {from dust, then} We created his offspring {from a sperm-drop} semen {then from a clot} which is congealed blood {then from a lump of flesh} which is a chewed lump {formed} shaped and fully formed {and not fully formed} meaning not fully formed {that We may make clear to you} the perfection of Our power so that you may use it in the beginning of creation as evidence of its return {and We establish} resuming {in the wombs whom We will for a specified term} the time of his emergence {then We bring you out} from the wombs of your mothers {as a child} meaning children {then We give you a long life {that you may reach your full strength} meaning perfection and strength, which is between thirty and forty years {and among you is he who is taken} dies before reaching full strength {and among you is he who is returned to the most decrepit age} the worst of old age and senility {so that he, after having known [something], may know nothing} Ikrimah said: Whoever recites the Qur’an will not be in this state: {And you see the earth lifeless} dry {But when We send down upon it rain, it quivers} moves {and swells} rises and increases {and produces from} redundant {every kind} {beautiful} beautiful.
