Tafsir of Nuh 71:17

Surah Nuh (71:17)

{وَاللَّهُ أَنبَتَكُم مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ نَبَاتًا}

Know that the Almighty has returned here to the proofs concerning the human self (creation), which serves as an explanation for His saying: {خَلَقَكُمْ أَطْوَارًا} (Nuh: 14). He explained that He created them from the earth, will return them to it, and then bring them forth from it once again.

Regarding His saying: {وَاللَّهُ أَنبَتَكُم مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ نَبَاتًا} (And Allah has made you grow from the earth a growth), there are two issues:

There are two interpretations for His saying: {أَنبَتَكُم مِّنَ الْأَرْضِ}:

1. The growth of the progenitor: It means He made your father (Adam) grow from the earth, just as He said: {إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ اللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ آدَمَ خَلَقَهُ مِن تُرَابٍ} (The likeness of Jesus to Allah is as the likeness of Adam; He created him from dust) (Al 'Imran: 59).
2. The growth of all descendants: It means that the Almighty caused everyone to grow from the earth because He creates us from the semen (nutfah), which is generated from nourishment, which is generated from vegetation, which is generated from the earth.

It would have been appropriate to say: Anbatakum inbātan (He made you grow a growth [of a specific kind]), but instead, He said: Anbatakum nabātan (He made you grow a growth [like vegetation]).

The implied meaning is: He made you grow, and thus you grew a growth (Anbatakum fa-nambatū nabātan). There is a subtle point here:

• If He had said Anbatakum inbātan, it would mean: He made you grow a marvelous growth.
• When He said Anbatakum nabātan, it means: He made you grow, and consequently, you grew a marvelous growth.

The second meaning is preferable because the inbāt (the act of causing growth) is an attribute of Allah, and Allah's attributes are not perceptible to us. We cannot know that this growth is marvelous and complete except through the report of Allah. Since this context is for demonstrating the perfection of Allah's power, it cannot be established merely by hearing (i.e., by stating an attribute).

However, when He said {أَنبَتَكُم نَبَاتًا} (meaning: He made you grow, and you grew a marvelous, complete growth), this describes the growth itself as marvelous and complete. The fact that vegetation grows marvelously and completely is an observable, perceptible matter. Therefore, it can be used as evidence for the perfection of Allah's power. This aligns perfectly with the context. Thus, the deviation from the literal attribute (inbāt) to this figurative expression (nabāt) is for this subtle reason.

As for His saying: {ثُمَّ يُعِيدُكُمْ فِيهَا} (Then He will return you into it), this points to the established method in the Qur'an: since Allah was capable of the initial creation (ibtida'), He is capable of the return (i'ādah).

And His saying: {وَيُخْرِجُكُمْ إِخْرَاجًا} (And He will bring you forth a [final] bringing forth), He emphasized it with the maṣdar (verbal noun), as if to say: He will truly bring you forth, without fail.

{وَاللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ بِسَاطًا * لِّتَسْلُكُوا مِنْهَا سُبُلًا فِجَاجًا}

(And Allah has made the earth for you a carpet, that you may travel therein by spacious roads.)