Explore Surah 35: Fatir (The Originator) with a clear English translation and insightful comments. Discover the themes of creation, divine power, gratitude, and guidance in this profound chapter of the Holy Quran.
Surah 35: Fatir (The Originator)
Introduction
Surah Fatir, also known as The Originator or The Creator, is the 35th chapter of the Holy Qur’an. It was revealed in Makkah and contains 45 verses. The name Fatir comes from the first verse, where Allah is described as the Originator of the heavens and the earth and the Creator of angels.
This Surah emphasizes Allah’s absolute power and creative ability. It reminds people that Allah is the One who created everything—from the skies and the earth to the angels and mankind. It stresses that all power, guidance, mercy, and honor come only from Him.
The Surah warns against being misled by the worldly life or by Satan, who is described as an open enemy. It explains the fate of those who deny the truth and turn away from guidance, and it encourages people to reflect on nature and creation as signs of Allah’s greatness.
Surah Fatir also speaks about the Qur’an as a gift and guidance for humanity. It honors those who recite the Qur’an, pray, and give charity, promising them great reward in Paradise. It explains that people will be judged individually, and no one can carry the burden of another.
Overall, this Surah invites people to be grateful, humble, and mindful of Allah. It calls them to worship the One true Creator, to seek knowledge, and to live righteously, remembering that this world is only a temporary place.
Surah 35: Fatir (The Originator): Text
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
1. All praise belongs to Allah, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, who made the angels messengers with wings—two, three, or four. He adds to His creation whatever He wills. Truly, Allah is capable of everything.
2. Whatever mercy Allah opens up for people, no one can withhold it. And whatever He withholds, no one else can release it after Him. He is the Almighty, the All-Wise.
3. O people! Remember the blessings of Allah upon you. Is there any creator other than Allah who provides for you from the sky and the earth? There is no god but Him. So how are you being turned away?
4. If they call you a liar, remember that messengers before you were also denied. And to Allah all matters will return.
5. O people! Allah’s promise is true. So do not let the life of this world deceive you, and do not let the deceiver (Satan) trick you about Allah.
6. Surely Satan is your enemy, so treat him as your enemy. He only calls his followers to be companions of the blazing Fire.
7. Those who disbelieve will have a severe punishment. But those who believe and do good deeds will have forgiveness and a great reward.
8. What about the one whose evil deeds are made to seem beautiful to him, so he thinks they are good? Indeed, Allah allows whom He wills to go astray and guides whom He wills. So do not waste yourself in sorrow over them. Truly, Allah knows what they do.
9. It is Allah who sends the winds, and they stir up clouds. Then We drive them to a dead land and give life to the earth after its death. That is how the resurrection will be.
10. Whoever desires honor and power—then all honor belongs to Allah. Pure words rise up to Him, and He lifts up good deeds. But those who plan evil will face a severe punishment. Their plots will fall apart.
11. Allah created you from dust, then from a drop of fluid, then He made you into pairs (male and female). No female conceives or gives birth without His knowledge. And no one lives long or dies early except by a record already written. That is easy for Allah.
12. The two bodies of water are not the same—one is sweet, refreshing, and pleasant to drink, and the other is salty and bitter. Yet from both you eat fresh meat and extract ornaments that you wear. And you see ships sailing through them so that you may seek His bounty and perhaps you will be grateful.
13. He merges the night into the day and the day into the night. He has made the sun and the moon subservient, each one running for an appointed term. That is Allah, your Lord—to Him belongs all control. But those you call upon besides Him do not even own a speck of dust.
14. If you call upon them, they do not hear your call. And even if they could hear, they would not answer you. And on the Day of Judgment, they will deny that you ever worshiped them. And none can inform you like the One who is fully aware.
15. O people! You are in need of Allah, while Allah is completely free of need, worthy of all praise.
16. If He wills, He can remove you and bring a new creation in your place.
17. And that is not hard for Allah.
18. No soul will bear the burden of another. And if a heavily burdened soul calls for help, none can carry any part of its load—even if it is a close relative. You can only warn those who fear their Lord without seeing Him and who establish prayer. Whoever purifies himself—does so for his own benefit. And to Allah is the final return.
19. The blind and the seeing are not equal.
20. Nor are the darkness and the light.
21. Nor the shade and the heat.
22. And the living and the dead are not alike. Surely, Allah makes whoever He wills hear, but you cannot make those in the graves hear.
23. You are only a warner.
24. Truly, We have sent you with the truth, as a bearer of good news and a warner. And there was never a nation without a warner having come to them.
25. If they deny you, then those before them also denied. Their messengers came to them with clear signs, scriptures, and enlightening books.
26. Then I seized those who disbelieved, and how terrible was My punishment!
27. Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky? Then We produce with it fruits of different colors. And in the mountains there are streaks—white, red, and varying shades of black.
28. And among people, animals, and cattle, there are also different colors. Indeed, it is only those who truly fear Allah among His servants who have knowledge. Truly, Allah is Mighty and Forgiving.
29. Surely those who recite the Book of Allah, establish prayer, and spend (in charity) from what We have provided them—secretly and openly—they can hope for a trade that will never fail,
30. So that He may fully reward them and increase them from His grace. Truly, He is Most Forgiving, Most Appreciative.
31. The Book We have revealed to you is the truth, confirming what came before it. Surely, Allah is fully aware of His servants and All-Seeing.
32. Then We gave the Book as an inheritance to those We chose among Our servants. Some of them wrong themselves, some follow a middle path, and some are foremost in good deeds by the permission of Allah. That is the great favor.
33. They will enter gardens of eternity, where they will be adorned with bracelets of gold and pearls. And their clothing there will be of silk.
34. And they will say, ‘All praise is for Allah, who has removed all sorrow from us. Truly, our Lord is Most Forgiving, Most Appreciative.
35. He is the One who, by His grace, has placed us in the Home of Everlasting Life, where no hardship or fatigue will touch us.’
36. But those who disbelieve—they will have the Fire of Hell. It will not finish them so that they die, nor will its punishment be lightened for them. This is how We punish every stubborn disbeliever.
37. They will cry out in it, ‘Our Lord! Take us out and we will do righteous deeds, not like what we used to do.’ But did We not give you lives long enough for those who would be mindful to take a lesson? And didn’t a warner come to you? So taste the punishment! There is no helper for the wrongdoers.
38. Truly, Allah knows the hidden secrets of the heavens and the earth. He knows what is in the hearts.
39. He is the One who made you successors on the earth. So whoever disbelieves, his disbelief is against himself. The disbelief of the disbelievers only increases them in hatred with their Lord. And the disbelief of the disbelievers only increases them in loss.
40. Say: ‘Have you seen your so-called partners whom you invoke besides Allah? Show me what they have created on earth. Or do they have any share in the heavens? Or have We given them a book so they have some proof?’ No! The wrongdoers promise one another nothing but illusions.
41. Surely Allah holds the heavens and the earth so they do not collapse. And if they were to collapse, no one could hold them back except Him. Truly, He is Most Forbearing, Most Forgiving.
42. They swore by Allah with their strongest oaths that if a warner came to them, they would be more guided than any other nation. But when a warner came to them, it only increased them in turning away.
43. Acting arrogantly on earth and plotting evil. But evil plots only come back upon those who make them. So do they expect anything other than the ways of those who passed away before? You will never find any change in the way of Allah, and you will never find any turning from the way of Allah.
44. Have they not traveled through the land and seen what was the end of those before them—though they were stronger than them in power? Nothing in the heavens or on the earth can escape Allah. Truly, He is All-Knowing, All-Powerful.
45. If Allah were to punish people for all they’ve done, He would not leave a single living creature on earth. But He gives them time for a fixed period. And when their time comes—then surely Allah is All-Seeing of His servants. 0 0 0
Comment
Surah Fatir is a powerful reminder of Allah’s greatness as the Creator of everything in existence. It opens with the image of angels with different numbers of wings, showing that Allah creates in ways beyond our imagination. The Surah teaches us to reflect on the natural world—like rain, mountains, rivers, fruits, and even the different colors of living creatures—as signs of Allah’s wisdom and control.
A major theme in this Surah is that no one can guide except Allah. He gives life, provides sustenance, and determines how long we live. The Surah also reminds us that this world can deceive us, and that Satan is always trying to mislead us. But those who stay connected to the Qur’an, perform prayer, and give in charity are promised a never-ending reward.
Another important lesson from this Surah is about personal responsibility. It clearly states that no soul will bear the burden of another. This means we are each accountable for our own choices, and we cannot rely on others to save us.
Surah Fatir also speaks directly to the human heart—it warns the arrogant, comforts the believers, and awakens those who have become careless. It teaches that knowledge and fear of Allah go hand in hand, and that true honor belongs only to those who live according to His guidance.
In the end, the Surah closes by reminding us that if Allah wanted to punish people for their sins immediately, nothing would survive on earth. But He gives us time and many chances to turn back to Him. 0 0 0
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Frequently Asked Questions on Surah 35: Fatir
Q1. What is Surah Fatir about?
Ans: Surah Fatir emphasizes Allah as the Originator of the heavens and the earth, highlighting His power in creation, the role of angels, the blessings He provides, and the contrast between believers and disbelievers.
Q2. Why is Surah 35 called Fatir?
Ans: The word Fatir means “The Originator” or “The Creator,” and it reflects Allah’s role as the One who brought the universe into existence from nothing.
Q3. How many verses are in Surah Fatir?
Ans: Surah Fatir consists of 45 verses.
Q4. What are the main themes of Surah Fatir?
Ans: The main themes include the power of creation, divine mercy, human gratitude and ingratitude, the reality of resurrection, and the ultimate consequences of belief and disbelief.
Q5. Where was Surah Fatir revealed?
Ans: Surah Fatir was revealed in Makkah, and thus it primarily focuses on matters of faith, creation, and the afterlife.
Q6. What lessons can be learned from Surah Fatir?
Ans: It teaches us to recognize Allah’s signs in creation, to be grateful for His blessings, to follow divine guidance, and to prepare for accountability in the Hereafter.
Q7. Does Surah Fatir mention angels?
Ans: Yes, it describes angels as messengers with wings in pairs, triples, and multiples, showing Allah’s power and wisdom in creation.
Q8. How does Surah Fatir encourage gratitude?
Ans: The Surah reminds humans that all blessings come from Allah, urging them to thank Him rather than deny His favors.
Q9. What is the reward for believers mentioned in Surah Fatir?
Ans: Believers who follow Allah’s guidance are promised forgiveness, Paradise, and eternal blessings.
Q10. How does Surah Fatir connect to daily life?
Ans: It calls us to reflect on creation, live with gratitude, seek forgiveness, and strengthen our faith by trusting in Allah’s power and wisdom. 0 0 0
Surah 35: Fatir (The Originator): A Poem
From nothingness He called the skies,
The earth was shaped where rivers rise.
The sun was hung, the moon was spun,
By One whose word makes all things run.
The mountains stand, the oceans sing,
The trees bow low before their King.
The angels soar on wings of light,
Proclaiming truth, dispelling night.
Each breath we take, each drop of rain,
Each joy, each trial, each hidden gain,
All signs that point, all roads that lead,
Return to Him who fills each need.
Grateful hearts are clothed in peace,
Their burdens lifted, fears released.
But those who turn and choose the night,
Lose the gift of eternal light.
So ponder deep, O soul, be wise,
See the truth before your eyes.
For He who made both earth and sky,
Shall raise the dead, shall never die. 0 0 0
N.B. We would love to hear your reflections, insights, and personal takeaways on Surah 35: Fatir (The Originator) after reading its English translation and comments, so please feel free to share your feedback, thoughts, or even questions in the comments section, as your perspective can help deepen the understanding of this Surah for other readers as well.
