Al-Qur'an Surah Al-Mu'minun Verse 18

Mufti Taqi Usmani

And We sent down water from the sky in due measure, then We lodged it in the earth, and of course, We are able to take it away.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

We send down rain from the sky in perfect measure, causing it to soak into the earth. And We are surely able to take it away.

Ruwwad Translation Center

We send down water from the sky in due measure and cause it to stay in the earth, and We are surely able to take it away.

A. J. Arberry

And We sent down out of heaven water in measure and lodged it in the earth; and We are able to take it away.

Abdul Haleem

We sent water down from the sky in due measure and lodged it in the earth––We have the power to take it all away if We so wish––

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And We sent down from the heaven water in measure, and We caused it to settle in the earth; and verily to take it away We are Able.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

And We send down water from the sky according to (due) measure, and We cause it to soak in the soil; and We certainly are able to drain it off (with ease).

Abul Ala Maududi

We sent down water from the sky in right measure, and caused it to stay in the earth, and We have the power to cause it to vanish (in the manner We please).

Ahmed Ali

We send down water from the sky in determined measure, and store it up in the earth; and We have power to drain it away.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And We sent down water from the sky in proper measure, then stored it in the earth; and indeed We are Able to take it away!

Ali Quli Qarai

We sent down water from the sky in a measured manner, and We lodged it within the ground, and We are indeed able to take it away.

Ali Ünal

We send down from the sky water with a measure set by Us, and lodge it in the earth. We are most certainly able to withdraw it.

Amatul Rahman Omar

And We send down water out of the cloud according to (a certain) measure and We lodge it in the earth (as long as it is required), and remember, surely it is We who determine its taking away (through the process of evaporation and many more),

English Literal

And We descended from the sky/space water with a measure/quantity , so We settled it in the land/Earth , and We are on taking away/eliminating with it capable/able (E) .

Faridul Haque

And We sent down water from the sky in proper measure, then stored it in the earth; and indeed We are Able to take it away!

Hamid S. Aziz

And We have created above you seven paths; and We are never heedless of creation.

Hilali & Khan

And We sent down from the sky water (rain) in (due) measure, and We gave it lodging in the earth, and verily, We are Able to take it away.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And indeed We have made above you seven ways -- and never are We heedless of creation.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And We send down water from the cloud according to a measure, then We cause it to settle in the earth, and most surely We are able to carry it away.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

And we send down from the sky water in measure, and We give it lodging in the earth, and lo! We are Able to withdraw it.

Muhammad Sarwar

We have sent a measure of water from the sky to stay on earth and We have the power to take it away.

Qaribullah & Darwish

We sent down water from the sky in due measure, and lodged it in the earth, and We are able to take it all away.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

And We sent down from the sky water in measure, and We gave it lodging in the earth, and verily, We are able to take it away.

Wahiduddin Khan

We sent down water from the sky in due measure and lodged it in the earth, but if We please, We have the power to take it away,

Talal Itani

And We sent down water from the sky in proper quantity, and settled it in the ground, and We are Able to take it away.

Tafsir jalalayn

And We sent down water out of the heaven in measure, that suffices them, and We lodged it within the earth; and We are indeed able to take it away, so that they die of thirst together with their livestock.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

Allah's Signs and Blessings in the Rain, Vegetation, Trees and Cattle

Allah mentions His innumerable blessings to His servants,

وَأَنزَلْنَا مِنَ السَّمَاء مَاء بِقَدَرٍ

And We sent down from the sky water in measure,

meaning, according to what is needed, not so much that it damages the lands and buildings, and not so little to be insufficient for crops and fruits, but whatever is needed for irrigation, drinking and other benefits. If there is a land that needs a lot of water for its irrigation but its fertile soil would be carried away if rain fell on it, then Allah sends water to it from another land, as in the case of Egypt, which is said to be a barren land. Allah sends the water of the Nile to it, which brings red soil from Ethiopia when it rains there. The water brings the red soil which is used to irrigate the land of Egypt, and whatever of it is deposited is used for agriculture, because the land of Egypt is infertile, and most of it is sand. Glory be to the Subtle One, the All-Knowing, the Most Merciful, the Forgiving.

فَأَسْكَنَّاهُ فِي الاْأَرْضِ

and We gave it lodging in the earth,

means, `when the water comes down from the clouds, We cause it to settle in the earth, and We cause the earth to absorb it and the seeds etc. in the earth to be nourished by it.'

وَإِنَّا عَلَى ذَهَابٍ بِهِ لَقَادِرُونَ



and verily, We are able to take it away.

means,

`if We wanted to cause it not to rain, We could do so;

if We wanted to divert it towards the wilderness and wastelands, We could do so;

if We wanted to make it salty so that you could not benefit from it for drinking or irrigation, We could do so;

if We wanted to cause it not to be absorbed by the earth, but to remain on the surface, We could do so;

if We wanted to make it go deep underground where you would not be able to reach it and you could not benefit from it, We could do so.'

But by His grace and mercy, He causes sweet, fresh water to fall on you from the clouds, then it settles in the earth and forms springs and rivers, and you use it to irrigate your crops and fruits, and you drink it and give it to your livestock and cattle, and you bathe and purify yourselves with it. To Him is due the praise and thanks.