Surah Mulk Verse 16 — Ayat 16
Ayah 16 of 30 · Para 29
This page is the study guide for Surah Mulk verse 16 (also searched as Surah Mulk ayat 16): full Arabic from Tanzil, English meaning, classical tafsir summaries, and linked themes—without repeating the full-chapter reader on the homepage.
Surah Al-Mulk verse 16: Do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not cause the earth to swallow you and suddenly it would sway?
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Arabic Text
ءَأَمِنتُم مَّن فِی ٱلسَّمَاۤءِ أَن یَخۡسِفَ بِكُمُ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ فَإِذَا هِیَ تَمُورُ
Transliteration
'A-amintum man fissamaaa'i aiyakhsifa bi kumul arda fa izaa hiya tamoor
English Translation
Do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not cause the earth to swallow you and suddenly it would sway?
English: Saheeh International (Tanzil.net)
Word-by-Word
- ءَأَمِنتُم a-amintum Do you feel secure
- مَّن man (from Him) Who
- فِى fī (is) in
- ٱلسَّمَآءِ l-samāi the heaven
- أَن an not
- يَخْسِفَ yakhsifa He will cause to swallow
- بِكُمُ bikumu you
- ٱلْأَرْضَ l-arḍa the earth
- فَإِذَا fa-idhā when
- هِىَ hiya it
- تَمُورُ tamūru sways
Word breakdown from Quran.com API (Uthmani text, Saheeh International gloss per word).
Context in Al-Mulk (Ayah 16)
Rhetorical security check: do you feel safe that He in heaven will not khaskaf bikum al-ard—cause earth to swallow you—or make it tamur, sway violently? Tafsir cites historical earthquakes and swallowed wrongdoers as real possibilities under divine will.
Amintum questions false confidence built on stable routine. Man fi al-sama' refers to Allah's authority, not location in space limited to sky—classical language of transcendence using familiar idiom.
Verses 16–17 pair swallowing with violent wind, escalating warnings after mercy of tame earth.
Key Arabic Words
- ءَأَمِنتُم Do you feel secure This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.
- فَإِذَا when This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.
- تَمُورُ sways This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.
- بِكُمُ you This word appears in the ayah text; compare how translators render it and read the full ayah on Quran.com before extending the meaning to other passages.
Classical Tafsir (Verified Summary)
Ibn Kathir on verses 16–19
Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged), via Quran.com
ُ (Do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven, will not cause the earth to sink with you, and then it should quake) meaning, that it would move back and forth, and be disrupted. أَمْ أَمِنتُمْ مِّن فِى السَّمَآءِ أَن يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَـصِباً (Or do you feel secure that He, Who is over the heaven, will not send against you a Hasib) meaning, a wind containing gravel that will strike you, as Allah says in another Ayah, أَفَأَمِنتُمْ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمْ جَانِبَ الْبَرِّ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا…
Reflection on Creation
This ayah invites quiet consideration of security from being swallowed by earth or shaken violently. Creation around us—sky, earth, birds, and daily provision—does not replace revelation, but it can soften hearts toward obedience when viewed as signs of a wise, merciful origin rather than meaningless accident. Study ayah 16 with the Arabic on this page and Saheeh International English: “Do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not cause the earth to swallow you and suddenly it would sway?”. In chapter 67’s sequence, this line advances the theme of security from being swallowed by earth or shaken violently. Read ayah 15 and ayah 17 on their verse pages so you see how the argument builds—Meccan proofs about creation, accountability, and mercy are layered, not repeated as generic slogans. Study ayah 16 with the Arabic on this page and Saheeh International English: “Do you feel secure that He who [holds authority] in the heaven would not cause the earth to swallow you and suddenly it would sway?”. In chapter 67’s sequence, this line advances the theme of security from being swallowed by earth or shaken violently. Read ayah 15 and ayah 17 on their verse pages so you see how the argument builds—Meccan proofs about creation, accountability, and mercy are layered, not repeated as generic slogans.
Family & Bedtime Practice
After earthquakes in news, pray for victims and say alhamdulillah for safety, renewing trust in Allah rather than panic. After reciting ayah 16, ask each child which word in the Arabic sounded clearest and look it up in the word table together. After reciting ayah 16, ask each child which word in the Arabic sounded clearest and look it up in the word table together.
For virtues and timing with sources, see benefits of Surah Mulk. Read the full chapter on the homepage reader.
Related Verses
- Quran 67:17 — Storm warning follows swallowing earth.
- Quran 16:45 — Plotters punished from beneath or stones from above.
- Previous ayah (15)
- Next ayah (17)
Short Tafsir Note
Are you secure that Allah will not cause the earth to swallow you or send a violent wind? Security lies in His mercy alone.
Key Lessons
- Safety is not guaranteed without Allah
- Trials can come suddenly
- Turn to Allah before calamity
Listen to This Verse
Mishary Rashid Alafasy
Sources: Quranic text verified against Uthmani script (Hafs an Asim). Hadith cross-referenced with Sunnah.com and Quran.com. See our editorial policy.