Tafsir of Ar-Rum 30:40

Surah Ar-Rum (The Romans): Verse 40

{Allah is the One who created you...}

This means: He brought you into existence.

{...then provided for you...}

This means: He sustained you. For sustenance is created, but it is not what preserves [existence].

{...then He causes you to die, then He brings you back to life. Is there any of your partners who does anything of that?}

In this verse, two fundamental principles are combined: the Resurrection (al-Hashr) and Monotheism (al-Tawhid).

1. The Resurrection (al-Hashr): This is established by His saying, {then He brings you back to life}. The proof for this is His power to create initially (from nothing).
2. Monotheism (al-Tawhid): This is established by His saying, {Is there any of your partners who does anything of that?} (i.e., creation, provision, causing death, or resurrection).

{Exalted is He above what they associate with Him!}

• {Exalted is He (Subhanahu)}: This means: Glorify Him with a glorification that involves purifying Him, and do not describe Him with polytheism (al-Ishrak).
• {and He is above (wa Ta'ala)}: This means: Such actions are not permissible for Him (i.e., associating partners). This is because if one says, "Glorify Him" (meaning, "Do not describe Him with polytheism"), and then says, "and He is above," it is as if He is saying, "And such things are not permissible for Him."

{Corruption has appeared in the land and sea by what the hands of people have earned, that He may let them taste some of what they have done that perhaps they will return [to righteousness].}