Then He directed Himself1385 to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come [into being],1386 willingly or by compulsion." They said, "We have come willingly."
Notes
[1385] See footnote to 2:19.
[1386] Literally, "become" or "do [as commanded]."
Verse 11 of Surah Fussilat (41:11), a Meccan surah, is in juz 24, on page 477 of the mushaf. Read it in Arabic with its transliteration, translations and tafsir, and listen to it recited by 74 reciters.
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Tafsir of verse 11
Al-Mukhtasar
Then Allah (may He be glorified) resolved to create the sky at a time when it was smoke, saying to it and the earth, “Submit to My command willingly or be forced, it has to be one of the two, They said, “We come willingly; O our Lord! We have no wish except your wish.”
Then He turned to the heaven when it was all smoke, and said to it and to the earth, ‘Come into being, willingly or unwillingly.’ They both said, ‘We come willingly.’
Then He rose over (Istawâ) towards the heaven when it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth: "Come both of you willingly or unwillingly." They both said: "We come willingly."
Then turned He to the heaven when it was smoke, and said unto it and unto the earth: Come both of you, willingly or loth. They said: We come, obedient.
Moreover He comprehended in His design the sky, and it had been (as) smoke: He said to it and to the earth: "Come ye together, willingly or unwillingly." They said: "We do come (together), in willing obedience."
Then He directed Himself to the heaven and it is a vapor, so He said to it and to the earth: Come both, willingly or unwillingly. They both said: We come willingly.
Thereafter He leveled Himself (How He did so is beyond human understanding) to the heaven (while) it was smoke, then said to it and to the earth, "Come up (you two) willingly (Or: in obedience ) or unwillingly!" They (both) said, "We come up willingly."
It is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth. Then He directed Himself to the heaven, [His being above all creation], and made them seven heavens, and He is Knowing of all things.
