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"Be, and it is" (Kun Fayakun)

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"Be, and it is" (Kun Fayakun)

كن فيكون

The profound Quranic phrase, "Be, and it is" (كن فيكون), beautifully encapsulates the infinite power and majesty of Allah, the Creator of all existence. It signifies that for Allah, to will something is to bring it into being instantaneously and effortlessly. When He decrees a matter, [He only says to it, "Be," and it is]. This divine command highlights Allah's absolute sovereignty, where no process or effort is required beyond His mere intention. This powerful declaration is central to understanding many miraculous events in Islamic tradition. For instance, the creation of Adam, the first human, is described by Allah merely saying to him, ["Be," and he was]. Similarly, when Mary questioned how she could bear a child without a human touch, the response affirmed that Allah [creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is]. This concept reassures believers that nothing is impossible for Allah, providing comfort and strengthening faith in His omnipotence and unique ability to create and sustain all things, confirming that [it is not [befitting] for Allah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, "Be," and it is]. It reminds us that every aspect of creation, from the smallest particle to the vast cosmos, testifies to His matchless creative power.

Quran 10 verses

بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ

Badree'us samaawaati wal ardi wa izaa qadaaa amran fa innamaa yaqoolu lahoo kun fayakoon

Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.

(وہی) آسمانوں اور زمین کا پیدا کرنے والاہے۔ جب کوئی کام کرنا چاہتا ہے تو اس کو ارشاد فرما دیتا ہے کہ ہوجا تو وہ ہو جاتا ہے.

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: As the Holy Qur'an reports in some other verses, some of the Jews called the Prophet Uzayr (علیہ السلام) (Ezra) the son of God, as did the Christians in the case of Sayyidna ` Isa (Jesus علیہ السلام)~ and most of them still do, while the mushrikin مشرکین of Makkah considered the angels to be the dau...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Creator of the heavens and the earth making them exist without any exemplary precedent; and when He decrees wills a thing to exist He but says to it ‘Be’ and it is that is to say it becomes fa-yakūnu a variant reading has fa-yakūna on account of it being the response in the subjunctive mood to the j...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Refuting the Claim that Allah has begotten a Son This and the following Ayat refute the Christians, may Allah curse them, and their like among the Jews and the Arab idolators, who claimed that the angels are Allah's daughters. Allah refuted all of them in their claim that He had begotten a son. Alla...

قَالَتْ رَبِّ أَنَّىٰ يَكُونُ لِى وَلَدٌ وَلَمْ يَمْسَسْنِى بَشَرٌ قَالَ كَذَٰلِكِ ٱللَّهُ يَخْلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُ إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ

Qaalat Rabbi annaa yakoonu ee waladunw wa lam yamsasnee basharun qaala kazaalikil laahu yakhluqu maa yashaaa'; izaa qadaaa amran fa innamaa yaqoolu lahoo kun fayakoon

She said, "My Lord, how will I have a child when no man has touched me?" [The angel] said, "Such is Allah; He creates what He wills. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, 'Be,' and it is.

مریم نے کہا پروردگار میرے ہاں بچہ کیونکر ہوگا کہ کسی انسان نے مجھے ہاتھ تک تو لگایا نہیں فرمایا کہ خدا اسی طرح جو چاہتا ہے پیدا کرتا ہے جب وہ کوئی کام کرنا چاہتا ہے تو ارشاد فرما دیتا ہے کہ ہوجا تو وہ ہو جاتا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The glad tidings given by the angel (verse 46) regarding the birth of Sayyidna ` Isa without a father surprised Sayyidah Maryam as she was a virgin. She wondered how it would happen. Would that be a Divine miracle or would she be asked to marry a man? The Divine answer eliminates the latter possibil...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: She said ‘Lord how shall I have a child when no mortal has touched me?’ neither through conjugality or otherwise; He said the command ‘It is such that God will create from you a child without a father. God creates what He will. When He decrees a thing willing its creation He says to it only “Be” and...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Delivering the Good News to Maryam of `Isa's Birth This Ayah contains the glad tidings the angels brought to Maryam that she would give birth to a mighty son who will have a great future. Allah said, إِذْ قَالَتِ الْمَلَـئِكَةُ يمَرْيَمُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُبَشِّرُكِ بِكَلِمَةٍ مِّنْهُ ((Remember) when ...

إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَىٰ عِندَ ٱللَّهِ كَمَثَلِ ءَادَمَ خَلَقَهُۥ مِن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ

Inna masala 'Eesaa 'indal laahi kamasali Aadama khalaqahoo min turaabin summa qaala lahoo kun fayakoon

Indeed, the example of Jesus to Allah is like that of Adam. He created Him from dust; then He said to him, "Be," and he was.

عیسیٰ کا حال خدا کے نزدیک آدم کا سا ہے کہ اس نے (پہلے) مٹی سے ان کا قالب بنایا پھر فرمایا کہ (انسان) ہو جا تو وہ (انسان) ہو گئے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: The event of Mubahala and the refutation of heretics. The background of these verses is that the Holy Prophet ﷺ ultimatum to the Christians of Najran which included three options in the order given below: 1. Accept Islam, or 2. Pay jizya جزیہ (a levy on free non-Muslims under Muslim rule), or 3. Get...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Truly the likeness of Jesus his remarkable case in God’s sight is as Adam’s likeness as the case of Adam whom God created without father or mother this is a comparison of one remarkable thing with another more remarkable so that it convinces the disputer and establishes itself in one’s mind more eff...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Similarities Between the Creation of Adam and the Creation of `Isa Allah said, إِنَّ مَثَلَ عِيسَى عِندَ اللَّهِ (Verily, the likeness of `Isa before Allah) regarding Allah's ability, since He created him without a father, كَمَثَلِ ءَادَمَ (is the likeness of Adam), for Allah created Adam withou...

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِٱلْحَقِّ وَيَوْمَ يَقُولُ كُن فَيَكُونُ قَوْلُهُ ٱلْحَقُّ وَلَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ يَوْمَ يُنفَخُ فِى ٱلصُّورِ عَٰلِمُ ٱلْغَيْبِ وَٱلشَّهَٰدَةِ وَهُوَ ٱلْحَكِيمُ ٱلْخَبِيرُ

Wa an Huwal lazee khalaqas samaawaati wal arda bilhaqq; wa Yawma yaqoolu kun fa yakoon; Qawluhul haqq; wa lahul mulku Yawma yunfakhu fis Soor; 'Aalimul Ghaibi wash shahaadah; wa Huwal Hakeemul Khabeer

And it is He who created the heavens and earth in truth. And the day He says, "Be," and it is, His word is the truth. And His is the dominion [on] the Day the Horn is blown. [He is] Knower of the unseen and the witnessed; and He is the Wise, the Acquainted.

اور وہی تو ہے جس نے آسمانوں اور زمین کو تدبیر سے پیدا کیا ہے۔ اور جس دن وہ فرمائے گا کہ ہو جا تو (حشر برپا) ہوجائے گا ۔ اس کا ارشاد برحق ہے۔ اور جس دن صور پھونکا جائے گا (اس دن) اسی کی بادشاہت ہوگی۔ وہی پوشیدہ اور ظاہر (سب) کا جاننے والا ہے اور وہی دانا اور خبردار ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In the third verse (70), nearly the same subject has been stressed upon in the following words: وَذَرِ‌ الَّذِينَ اتَّخَذُوا دِينَهُمْ لَعِبًا وَلَهْوًا (And avoid those who have taken their faith as game and play ...). The word: ذر (dhar) here is a derivation from: وَذَرِ‌ (wadhara) which means bei...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in truth that is to say with the purpose of manifesting truth. And mention the day He says to a thing ‘Be’ and it is — this is the Day of Resurrection when He says to creatures ‘Rise up’ and they do. His words are the truth the truth that will doubtless...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Parable of Those Who Revert to Disbelief After Faith and Good Deeds As-Suddi said, "Some idolators said to some Muslims, `Follow us and abandon the religion of Muhammad ﷺ.' Allah sent down the revelation, قُلْ أَنَدْعُواْ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ مَا لاَ يَنفَعُنَا وَلاَ يَضُرُّنَا وَنُرَدُّ عَلَى أَعْ...

إِنَّمَا قَوْلُنَا لِشَىْءٍ إِذَآ أَرَدْنَٰهُ أَن نَّقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ

Innamaa qawlunaa lisha y'in izaa aradnaahu an naqoola lahoo kun fa yakoon

Indeed, Our word to a thing when We intend it is but that We say to it, "Be," and it is.

جب ہم کسی چیز کا ارادہ کرتے ہیں تو ہماری بات یہی ہے کہ اس کو کہہ دیتے ہیں کہ ہوجا تو وہ ہوجاتی ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Has a Rasul of Allah appeared in India and Pakistan too? From verse 36 in the present Surah: وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَّ‌سُولًا (And We did raise a messenger among every people), as well as from verse 24 of Surah Fatir: وَإِن مِّنْ أُمَّةٍ إِلَّا خَلَا فِيهَا نَذِيرٌ‌ (And there is no g...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: All that We say to a thing when We will it that is when We will that it come into existence qawlunā is a subject the predicate of which is what follows is to say to it ‘Be’ and it is in other words and that thing is a variant reading for fa-yakūnu has fa-yakūna as a supplement to naqūla. The verse i...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Resurrection after Death is true, there is Wisdom behind it, and it is easy for Allah Allah tells us that the idolators swore by Allah their strongest oaths, meaning that they made oaths swore fervently that Allah would not resurrect the one who died. They considered that to be improbable, and d...

مَا كَانَ لِلَّهِ أَن يَتَّخِذَ مِن وَلَدٍ سُبْحَٰنَهُۥٓ إِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ

Maa kaana lillaahi ai yattakhiza minw waladin Subhaanah; izaa qadaaa amran fa innamaa yaqoolu lahoo kun fa yakoon

It is not [befitting] for Allah to take a son; exalted is He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.

خدا کو سزاوار نہیں کہ کسی کو بیٹا بنائے۔ وہ پاک ہے جب کسی چیز کا ارادہ کرتا ہے تو اس کو یہی کہتا ہے کہ ہوجا تو وہ ہوجاتی ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: Commentary ذَٰلِكَ عِيسَى ابْنُ مَرْ‌يَمَ "This is ` Isa, the son of Maryam." - 19:34. The beliefs of the Jews and the Christians about Sayyidna ` Isa (علیہ السلام) were on such opposite extremes that the Christians exalted him to such a level of reverence that they regarded him as the son of Allah....
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: It is not befitting for God to take to Himself a son. Glory be to Him — in affirmation of His being transcendent above doing such a thing. When He decrees a thing that is when He will for it to happen He only says to it ‘Be!’ and it is read fa-yakūnu because of an implied pronoun huwa sc. fa-huwa ya...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): `Isa is the Servant of Allah and not His Son Allah, the Exalted, says to His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ, `This is the story which We have related to you about `Isa,' upon him be peace. قَوْلَ الْحَقِّ الَّذِى فِيهِ يَمْتُرُونَ ((It is) a statement of truth about which they doubt.) lThis means that the peo...

إِنَّمَآ أَمْرُهُۥٓ إِذَآ أَرَادَ شَيْـًٔا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ

Innamaa amruhooo izaaa araada shai'an ai-yaqoola lahoo kun fa-yakoon

His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, "Be," and it is.

اس کی شان یہ ہے کہ جب وہ کسی چیز کا ارادہ کرتا ہے تو اس سے فرما دیتا ہے کہ ہوجا تو وہ ہوجاتی ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In verse 82, it was said: إِنَّمَا أَمْرُ‌هُ إِذَا أَرَ‌ادَ شَيْئًا أَن يَقُولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ (His practice, when He intends to do something, is no more than He says, "Be", and it comes to be.). In other words, the verse means that when Allah Ta’ ala intends to create something, He has no need ...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: His command His affair when He wills a thing that is when He will to create something is just to say to it ‘Be’ and it is a variant reading for fa-yakūnu has fa-yakūna as a supplement to yaqūla ‘to say’.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Allah points out His great might and power in that He created theseven heavens with all their stars and planets, and the seven earths with everything in them of mountains, sands, oceans and wildernesses, and everything in between He tells us to find the proof that He will re-create our bodies in His...

هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ فَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ

Huwal lazee yuhyee wa yumeetu fa izaa qadaaa amran fa innamaa yaqoolu lahoo kun fa yakon

He it is who gives life and causes death; and when He decrees a matter, He but says to it, "Be," and it is.

وہی تو ہے جو جلاتا ہے اور مارتا ہے۔ پھر جب وہ کوئی کام کرنا (اور کسی کو پیدا کرنا) چاہتا ہے تو اس سے کہہ دیتا ہے کہ ہوجا تو وہ جاتا ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: In verse 64, it was said: وَصَوَّرَ‌كُمْ فَأَحْسَنَ صُوَرَ‌كُمْ (and shaped you, and made your shapes so good -). Allah Ta’ ala has blessed the human person with the most distinct, superior and better-balanced form and shape out of all animals. He was given reason. He was given such hands and feet t...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: He it is Who gives life and brings death. So when He decides upon a matter when He wants to bring something into existence He only says to it ‘Be!’ and it is read fa-yakūnu or fa-yakūna in the subjunctive on account of an implied preceding an. In other words it comes into existence after He has will...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Prohibition of Shirk, the Order for Tawhid, and the Evidence Allah says, `say, O Muhammad, to these idolators, that Allah forbids them to worship anyone, such as these idols and false gods, except Him.' Allah explains that no one apart from Him is deserving of worship, as He says: هُوَ الَّذِى خ...

ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَهِىَ دُخَانٌ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ ٱئْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا قَالَتَآ أَتَيْنَا طَآئِعِينَ

Summas tawaaa ilas-samaaa'i wa hiya dukhaanun faqaala lahaa wa lil ardi'tiyaaa taw'an aw karhan qaalataaa atainaa taaa'i'een

Then He directed Himself to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come [into being], willingly or by compulsion." They said, "We have come willingly."

پھر آسمان کی طرف متوجہ ہوا اور وہ دھواں تھا تو اس نے اس سے اور زمین سے فرمایا کہ دونوں آؤ (خواہ) خوشی سے خواہ ناخوشی سے۔ انہوں نے کہا کہ ہم خوشی سے آتے ہیں

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْ‌ضِ ائْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْ‌هًا قَالَتَا أَتَيْنَا طَائِعِينَ (and said to it and to the earth, "Come [ to My obedience ], both of you, willingly or unwillingly." Both said, "We come willingly." - 41:11) This command addressed to the earth and sky and their compliant and o...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: Then He turned to the heaven when it was smoke consisting of rising vapours and He said to it and to the earth “Come both of you to what I desire from you willingly or unwillingly!” taw‘an aw karhan their syntactical locus is that of a circumstantial qualifier in other words ‘Come being obedient or ...
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): Some Details of the Creation of this Universe Here Allah denounces the idolators who worship other gods apart from Him although He is the Creator, Subduer and Controller of all things. He says: قُلْ أَءِنَّكُمْ لَتَكْفُرُونَ بِالَّذِى خَلَقَ الاٌّرْضَ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ وَتَجْعَلُونَ لَهُ أَندَاداً (Say...

وَمَآ أَمْرُنَآ إِلَّا وَٰحِدَةٌ كَلَمْحٍۭ بِٱلْبَصَرِ

Wa maaa amrunaaa illaa waahidatun kalamhim bilbasar

And Our command is but one, like a glance of the eye.

اور ہمارا حکم تو آنکھ کے جھپکنے کی طرح ایک بات ہوتی ہے

Commentary

Ma'arif-ul-Quran: إِنَّا كُلَّ شَيْءٍ خَلَقْنَاهُ بِقَدَرٍ‌ (Verily, We have created everything according to [ Our ] predestination...54:49). In the prepositional phrase bi-qadar, the word qadar literally denotes to 'measure' and to create something with a proper measure and proportion. It is possible for this litera...
Tafsir al-Jalalayn: And Our command for a thing which We want to bring into existence is but a single word like the twinkling of an eye in terms of speed and this is the saying of kun ‘Be’ whereat it comes into existence. His command when He wills a thing is just to say to it ‘Be’ and it is Q. 3682.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (English): The Destination of the Criminals Allah the Exalted states that the criminals are misguided away from the truth and engulfed in confusion, because of the doubts and uncertainty they are in. This description befits every disbeliever and innovator of all types and forms of sects. Allah the Exalted said...

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