The Quran

سورة السَّجدَة

Surah Al-Sajdah 32:9

The Prostration · Verse 9 of 30

ثُمَّ سَوَّاهُ وَنَفَخَ فِيهِ مِنْ رُوحِهِ ۖ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَا تَشْكُرُونَ

Abdul Mannan Omar

Then He endowed him with perfect faculties (of head and heart in accordance with what he is meant to be) and breathed into him of His spirit (thus made him the recipient of the Divine word). And He has given you hearing, eyes and hearts. Yet little are the thanks you give.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

But He fashioned him in due proportion, and breathed into him something of His spirit. And He gave you (the faculties of) hearing and sight and feeling (and understanding): little thanks do ye give!

Ahmed Ali

Then proportioned and breathed into him of His spirit, and gave you the senses of hearing, sight and feeling. And yet how little are the thanks you offer!

12 more translations

Ali Unal

Then He fashioned him in due proportions, and breathed into him out of His Spirit; and He appointed for you (the faculty of) hearing, and eyes, and hearts (for understanding, feeling and insight). Scarcely do you give thanks!

Daryabadi

Then He fashioned him and breathed into him something of a spirit from Him; and He ordained for you hearing and sight and hearts. Little is the thanks ye return.

Faridul Haque

Then made him proper and blew into him a spirit from Him, and bestowed ears and eyes and hearts to you; very little thanks do you offer!

Maulana Muhammad Ali

Then He made him complete and breathed into him of His spirit, and gave you ears and eyes and hearts; little it is that you give thanks!

Maulvi Sher Ali

Then HE endowed him with perfect faculties and breathed into him of HIS spirit. And HE has given you ears, and eyes, and hearts. But little thanks do you give !

Muhammad Asad

and then He forms him in accordance with what he is meant to be, and breathes into him of His spirit and [thus, O men,] He endows you with hearing, and sight, and feelings as well as minds [yet] how seldom are you grateful!

Muhammad Musin Khan

Then He fashioned him in due proportion, and breathed into him the soul (created by Allah for that person), and He gave you hearing (ears), sight (eyes) and hearts. Little is the thanks you give!

Muhammad Pickthall

Then He fashioned him and breathed into him of His Spirit; and appointed for you hearing and sight and hearts. Small thanks give ye!

Muhammad Sarwar

then He gave it proper shape and blew His spirit in it. He made ears, eyes and hearts for you, but you give Him very little thanks.

Muhammed ali Shakir

Then He made him complete and breathed into him of His spirit, and made for you the ears and the eyes and the hearts; little is it that you give thanks.

Rashad Khalifa

He shaped him and blew into him from His spirit. And He gave you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brains; rarely are you thankful.

Shabbir Ahmed

(Then emergent evolution took place that distinguished humans from the animal kingdom.) He shapes him in accordance with what he is meant to be, and breathes into him of His Energy. And thus (O Mankind) He gives you the faculties of hearing, sight, reasoning and feelings. Yet, how seldom are you grateful by making the best use of your perceptual and conceptual faculties!

Commentary 32:9 The Creator wanted to be known by His creation. There are endless veils between the Creator and His perfect creation. He loved him because He created him…

ثُمَّ سَوَّاهُ وَنَفَخَ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِهِ ۖ وَجَعَلَ لَكُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَارَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ ۚ قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ

32:9 The Creator wanted to be known by His creation. There are endless veils between the Creator and His perfect creation. He loved him because He created him so He wanted to lift those veils. For this purpose He then perfected his soul ثُمَّ سَوَّاهُ (cf. 91:7) by “breathing into him of His spirit” رُّوحِه, and He gave him “eyes” الْأَبْصَار to perceive Him and “ears” السَّمْعَ that could listen to His sweet Voice and intellect الْأَفْئِدَةَ that could understand the words spoken by Him.

“Breathing into him His Spirit” نَفَخَ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِهِ is a metaphor for the Divine gift of life, consciousness and Revelation (cf. 26:52; 15:29; 17:85). The word Rûhis used in the Holy Qur’ân in the sense of Divine Revelation and Mercy (cf.16:2; 32:9; 38:72; 42:52; 16:102; 2:253; 2:87; 5:110; 58:22; 26:193; 4:171). Rûh– Revelation, is under the Divine Command and not a part of Allâh’s essence (17:85). This command originates from the One who endowed the human being with all the sustenance and requirements of his life so that he may know Who the source is. This command (Rûh) requires prostrating oneself before the Creator and Sustainer in submission and thanks. Thus, this human being has no excuse left not to submit before his Lord in obedience, or he will be counted among the thankless—قَلِيلًا مَّا تَشْكُرُونَ.