Tafsir of Ar-Rahman 55:14

"He created man from..."

Al-Ṣalṣāl: Dried clay that has a ringing sound. Al-Fakhār: Clay cooked by fire, which is pottery (al-khazaf).

If you ask: The revelation differs regarding this, for He, the Almighty, says: "from altered black mud" (al-Ḥijr: 26, 28, 33), "from sticky clay" (al-Ṣāffāt: 11), and "from dust" (Āl ʿImrān: 59).

I say: It is consistent in meaning. It indicates that He created him from dust, then made it clay, then altered black mud, then ṣalṣāl (ringing clay).

Al-Jānn: The father of the Jinn. It is also said: He is Iblīs.

Al-Mārij: The pure flame that has no smoke. It is also said: That which is mixed with the blackness of fire, derived from maraja (to disturb/mix) when a thing is agitated and mixed.

If you ask: What is the meaning of His saying "from fire"?

I say: It is an explanation for mārij. It is as if it were said: "from a pure [part] of fire," or "from a mixture of fire." Or, He intended a specific fire, as in His saying: "So I have warned you of a Fire which is blazing" (al-Layl: 14).

"Lord of the two Easts and Lord of the two Wests. So which of the favors of your Lord will you both deny?"