Surah Mulk Verse 19 — Ayat 19

Arabic Text

أَوَ لَمۡ یَرَوۡا۟ إِلَى ٱلطَّیۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صَـٰۤفَّـٰتࣲ وَیَقۡبِضۡنَۚ مَا یُمۡسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنُۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَیۡءِۭ بَصِیرٌ

Transliteration

Awalam yaraw ilat tairi fawqahum saaaffaatinw wa yaqbidn; maa yumsikuhunna illaar rahmaan; innahoo bikulli shai im baseer

English Translation

Do they not see the birds above them with wings outspread and [sometimes] folded in? None holds them [aloft] except the Most Merciful. Indeed He is, of all things, Seeing.

English: Saheeh International (Tanzil.net)

Word-by-Word

• أَوَلَمْ awalam Do not
• يَرَوْا۟ yaraw they see
• إِلَى ilā [to]
• ٱلطَّيْرِ l-ṭayri the birds
• فَوْقَهُمْ fawqahum above them
• صَـٰٓفَّـٰتٍۢ ṣāffātin spreading (their wings)
• وَيَقْبِضْنَ ۚ wayaqbiḍ'na and folding
• مَا mā Not
• يُمْسِكُهُنَّ yum'sikuhunna holds them
• إِلَّا illā except
• ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنُ ۚ l-raḥmānu the Most Gracious
• إِنَّهُۥ innahu Indeed, He
• بِكُلِّ bikulli (is) of every
• شَىْءٍۭ shayin thing
• بَصِيرٌ baṣīrun All-Seer

Word breakdown from Quran.com API (Uthmani text, Saheeh International gloss per word).

Context in Al-Mulk (Ayah 19)

Allah directs attention to birds saffatin wa yaqbidn—spread and folded wings—held aloft only by al-Rahman. Innahu bi kulli shay'in basir completes the scene with comprehensive sight.

Tafsir marvels at suspension without visible pillars, comparing human inability to hold themselves in air without technology. Deniers who trust armies over Rahman are implicitly rebuked.

The ayah follows historical warning with everyday sign visible to all social classes—no telescope required.

Key Arabic Words

• إِنَّهُۥ Indeed, He 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.
• إِلَى [to] 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.
• إِلَّا except 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.
• بِكُلِّ (is) of every 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)

Reflection on Creation

Engineering explains lift and airflow; the ayah names the permitting will behind those laws. Watching birds remains a calming mindfulness exercise tied to theology, not competing with science. Study ayah 19 with the Arabic on this page and Saheeh International English: “Do they not see the birds above them with wings outspread and [sometimes] folded in? None holds them [aloft] except the Most Merciful. Indeed He is, of all things, Seeing.”. In chapter 67’s sequence, this line advances the theme of birds held aloft only by the Merciful's permission. Read ayah 18 and ayah 20 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 19 with the Arabic on this page and Saheeh International English: “Do they not see the birds above them with wings outspread and [sometimes] folded in? None holds them [aloft] except the Most Merciful. Indeed He is, of all things, Seeing.”. In chapter 67’s sequence, this line advances the theme of birds held aloft only by the Merciful's permission. Read ayah 18 and ayah 20 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 19 with the Arabic on this page and Saheeh International English: “Do they not see the birds above them with wings outspread and [sometimes] folded in? None holds them [aloft] except the Most Merciful. Indeed He is, of all things, Seeing.”. In chapter 67’s sequence, this line advances the theme of birds held aloft only by the Merciful's permission. Read ayah 18 and ayah 20 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

Watch a bird video or feeder briefly; say subhanAllah for flight you cannot mimic without machines. Listen to Mishary’s recitation of ayah 19 once, then whisper it twice without the audio. Listen to Mishary’s recitation of ayah 19 once, then whisper it twice without the audio.

For virtues and timing with sources, see benefits of Surah Mulk. Read the full chapter on the homepage reader.

Short Tafsir Note

Birds held in flight only by Allah's permission illustrate dependence on ar-Rahman. Visible creation points to the One who sees every movement.

Read full multi-scholar tafsir →

Key Lessons

• Birds exemplify tawakkul
• Daily miracles are overlooked
• Mercy permeates creation

Listen to This Verse

Mishary Rashid Alafasy