Tafsir of Al-Mulk 67:30

Surah Al-Mulk (The Sovereignty) - Verse 30

(30) Say: "Have you considered: If your water were to become sunken [into the earth], who then could bring you flowing water?"

The objective here is to make them acknowledge some of God's blessings so that the ugliness of their state of disbelief may be revealed to them.

This means: Inform me, if your water were to vanish deep into the earth, who then could bring you ma'in (flowing water)? They must inevitably reply: "It is God."

It is then said to them: Why then do you make someone who is utterly incapable of anything a partner with Him in worship?

This is similar to His saying:

"Have you seen the water that you drink? Do you bring it down from the clouds, or do We bring it down?" (Al-Waqi'ah: 68-69)

And His saying:

• {غورا} (Ghawran - Sunken/Gone deep): Meaning sunk, gone deep into the earth. It is said: Ghāra al-mā'u yaghūru ghawran (The water sank) when it dries up and disappears into the earth. Al-Ghawr here means the state of being sunken, named after the verbal noun (Masdar), just as one says rajulun ‘adl (a just man) or riḍā (contentment).

• {معين} (Ma'īn - Flowing/Springing): The apparent water that the eyes see. It is derived from the pattern of maf'ūl (passive participle) like mabī' (sold). It is also said that al-ma'īn is the water that flows from springs, due to its intense flow (im'ān in flowing), as if it were said: mum'inun fī al-jary (intensely proceeding in its flow).

And God, the Glorified and Exalted, knows best. May peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad and upon his family and companions.