Tafsir of Al-Mu'minoon 23:12

"And We certainly created man..."

"As-sulalah" (the extract): It is the essence, because it is extracted (tusall) from amidst the turbidity. It is on the pattern of fa‘alah, and this structure is used for paucity, like qulamah (parings) and qumamah (sweepings). Al-Hasan said: "It is water amidst the clay."

If you ask: What is the difference between the two instances of "min" (from)? I say: The first is for the beginning of the action (ibtida'), and the second is for clarification (bayan), as in His saying: "from the idols" (Al-Hajj: 30).

If you ask: What is the meaning of "We placed" (ja‘alna) man as a drop? I say: It means He first created the essence of man as clay, then subsequently made his essence a drop.

"Al-qarar" (the place of settlement): The stable place, and what is meant is the womb. It is described as "firmly established" (makin), which is an attribute of the settlement within it—like saying "a traveling path"—or it refers to its own stability, because it was established where it is and secured.

Readings: It has been read as ‘azman fa-kasawna al-‘azm (a bone, then We clothed the bone), ‘izaman fa-kasawna al-‘izam (bones, then We clothed the bones), and ‘azman fa-kasawna al-‘izam. The singular is used in place of the plural because there is no ambiguity, as man possesses many bones.

"Another creation": That is, a creation distinct from the first creation—a distinction so vast! For He made him a living being after he was inanimate, articulate after he was mute, hearing after he was deaf, and seeing after he was blind. He deposited within his interior and exterior—nay, in every one of his organs and every part of his limbs—wonders of nature and marvels of wisdom that cannot be grasped by the description of a describer, nor reached by the explanation of an explainer.

Abu Hanifa used this as an argument regarding someone who usurps an egg, and it hatches in his possession. He said: He is liable for the egg and does not return the chick, because it is "another creation" distinct from the egg.

"So blessed is Allah": Exalted is His command in His power and His knowledge.

"The best of creators": That is, the best of those who determine/measure (muqaddirīn). The object of distinction is omitted because the word "creators" implies it. Similar to this is the omission of the "permitted" in His saying: "Permission has been given to those who are fought" (Al-Hajj: 39), because the relative clause implies it.

It is narrated from Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) reached the words "another creation," he said: "So blessed is Allah, the best of creators."

It is also narrated that Abdullah ibn Sa‘d ibn Abi Sarh used to write for the Prophet (peace be upon him), and he uttered these words before the Prophet dictated them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to him: "Write it down; thus it was revealed." Abdullah then said: "If Muhammad is a prophet to whom revelation comes, then I am a prophet to whom revelation comes." He fled to Mecca as a disbeliever, then embraced Islam on the day of the Conquest.

"Then indeed, after that you are to die. Then indeed, on the Day of Resurrection, you will be resurrected."