Meccan·Surah 21

الأنبياء

Surah Al-Anbiya — Ayah 16

The Prophets

112 Ayahs·Verse 21:16
21:16

وَمَا خَلَقْنَا ٱلسَّمَآءَ وَٱلْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَـٰعِبِينَ

And We did not create the heaven and earth and that between them in play.

Context in Surah Al-Anbiya

Nearby ayahs help place verse 21:16 in sequence and meaning.

قَالُوا۟ يَـٰوَيْلَنَآ إِنَّا كُنَّا ظَـٰلِمِينَ

They said, "O woe to us! Indeed, we were wrongdoers."

فَمَا زَالَت تِّلْكَ دَعْوَىٰهُمْ حَتَّىٰ جَعَلْنَـٰهُمْ حَصِيدًا خَـٰمِدِينَ

And that declaration of theirs did not cease until We made them [as] a harvest [mowed down], extinguished [like a fire].

لَوْ أَرَدْنَآ أَن نَّتَّخِذَ لَهْوًا لَّٱتَّخَذْنَـٰهُ مِن لَّدُنَّآ إِن كُنَّا فَـٰعِلِينَ

Had We intended to take a diversion, We could have taken it from [what is] with Us - if [indeed] We were to do so.

بَلْ نَقْذِفُ بِٱلْحَقِّ عَلَى ٱلْبَـٰطِلِ فَيَدْمَغُهُۥ فَإِذَا هُوَ زَاهِقٌ ۚ وَلَكُمُ ٱلْوَيْلُ مِمَّا تَصِفُونَ

Rather, We dash the truth upon falsehood, and it destroys it, and thereupon it departs. And for you is destruction from that which you describe.