Al-Qur'an Surah Al-An'am Verse 38

Mufti Taqi Usmani

There is no creature moving on the earth, nor a bird flying on its two wings, but they are all communities like you. We have not missed anything in the Book. Then, to their Lord all of them shall be gathered.

Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

All living beings roaming the earth and winged birds soaring in the sky are communities like yourselves.[[ Allah has created living beings (like animals, birds, and fish) just like He created human beings. He provides for all and is merciful to all. They all belong to communities and have their own systems of living.]] We have left nothing out of the Record.[[ The Record refers to the Preserved Tablet (Al-Lawḥ Al-Maḥfûẓ) in which Allah has written the destiny of His entire creation.]] Then to their Lord they will be gathered all together.

Ruwwad Translation Center

There is no moving creature on earth or a bird flying with its two wings, but are communities like you. We have missed nothing in the Record, then to their Lord they will be gathered.

A. J. Arberry

No creature is there crawling on the earth, no bird flying with its wings, but they are nations like unto yourselves. We have neglected nothing in the Book; then to their Lord they shall be mustered.

Abdul Haleem

all the creatures that crawl on the earth and those that fly with their wings are communities like yourselves. We have missed nothing out of the Record- in the end they will be gathered to their Lord.

Abdul Majid Daryabadi

And there is not an animal on the earth nor a fowl that flieth with its two wings but are communities like unto you. And We have not been remiss in respect of aught in the Book: then unto their Lord they shall be gathered.

Abdullah Yusuf Ali

There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.

Abul Ala Maududi

There is no animal that crawls on the earth, no bird that flies with its two wings, but are communities like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book (of decree). Then to their Lord will they all be mustered.

Ahmed Ali

There is not a thing that moves on the earth, no bird that flies on its wings, but has a community of its own like yours. There is nothing that We have left out from recording. Then they will all be gathered before their Lord.

Ahmed Raza Khan

And there is not an animal moving in the earth nor a bird flying on its wings, but they are a nation like you; We have left out nothing in this Book – then towards their Lord they will be raised.

Ali Quli Qarai

There is no animal on land, nor a bird that flies with its wings, but they are communities like yourselves. We have not omitted anything from the Book. Then they will be mustered toward their Lord.

Ali Ünal

(Should not those whose ears are closed to the Qur’an look around themselves to see the signs of the truth?) No living creature is there moving on the earth, no bird flying on its two wings, but they are communities like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book (the Qur’an, the Supreme Preserved Tablet, which is the source of all books, and the Book of Creation: We have created everything just in its place and for a purpose, so that the universe is maintained in perfect balance and order). Then, (a Day will come when the universe will be changed into a new one, and) they will be raised from the dead and gathered to their Lord.

Amatul Rahman Omar

There is no terrestrial creature (that crawls) in the earth nor a bird that flied (in the air) with its two wings but (they are) creatures like you, (all subject to the Divine Laws). We have neglected nothing in (Our) this perfect Book (of law). Then to their Lord shall they all be gathered.

English Literal

And (there is) not from a walker/creeper/crawler (creature) in the earth/Planet Earth and nor (a) bird (that) flies with its two wings, except (they are) nations similar/equal to you, We did not neglect/waste in The Book from a thing, then to their Lord they be gathered.

Faridul Haque

And there is not an animal moving in the earth nor a bird flying on its wings, but they are a nation like you; We have left out nothing in this Book - then towards their Lord they will be raised.

Hamid S. Aziz

Those who rejected Our signs are deaf and dumb, in darkness! Whom He pleases does Allah sends astray, and whom He pleases He places on the Straight Way.

Hilali & Khan

There is not a moving (living) creature on earth, nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but are communities like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book, then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered.

Maulana Mohammad Ali

And they say: Why has not a sign been sent down to him from his Lord? Say: Surely Allah is Able to send down a sign, but most of them know not.

Mohammad Habib Shakir

And there is no animal that walks upon the earth nor a bird that flies with its two wings but (they are) genera like yourselves; We have not neglected anything in the Book, then to their Lord shall they be gathered.

Mohammed Marmaduke William Pickthall

There is not an animal in the earth, nor a flying creature flying on two wings, but they are peoples like unto you. We have neglected nothing in the Book (of Our decrees). Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.

Muhammad Sarwar

All the beasts on land and flying birds have different communities, just as you (people) do. Nothing is left without a mention in the Book. They will all be brought into the presence of their Lord.

Qaribullah & Darwish

There is no crawling creature on the earth, nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but they are nations like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book. They shall all be gathered before their Lord.

Safi-ur-Rahman al-Mubarakpuri

There is not a moving creature on earth, nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but are Umam like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book, then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered.

Wahiduddin Khan

there is not an animal that moves about on the earth, nor a bird that flies on its two wings, but are creatures like you. We have left out nothing in the Book -- they shall all be gathered before their Lord.

Talal Itani

There is no animal on land, nor a bird flying with its wings, but are communities like you. We neglected nothing in the Scripture. Then to their Lord they will be gathered.

Tafsir jalalayn

There is no (m min; min is extra) animal, that crawls, on the earth and no bird that flies, through the air, with its wings, but they are communities like to you, in the way that its creation has been ordained, together with its sustenance and affairs. We have neglected nothing (min shay'; min is extra) in the Book, in the Preserved Tablet (al-lawh al-mahfz), [nothing] that We have not written; then to their Lord they shall be gathered, and judgement shall be passed upon them, and the hornless sheep shall retaliate against the horned ram, and then it will be said to them [the animals], `Be dust'.

Tafseer Ibn Kathir

وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الَارْضِ وَلَا طَايِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلاَّ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم

There is not a moving (living) creature on earth, nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but are Umam like you.

Mujahid commented,

"Meaning, various species that have distinct names."

Qatadah said,

"Birds are an Ummah, humans are an Ummah and the Jinns are an Ummah."

As-Suddi said that,
إِلاَّ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم
(but are Umam like you) means,

creations (or species).

Allah's statement,

مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الكِتَابِ مِن شَيْءٍ

We have neglected nothing in the Book,

means, the knowledge about all things is with Allah, and He never forgets any of His creatures, nor their sustenance, nor their affairs, whether these creatures live in the sea or on land.

In another Ayah, Allah said;

وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الاٌّرْضِ إِلاَّ عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا كُلٌّ فِى كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

And no moving creature is there on earth but its provision is due from Allah. And He knows its dwelling place and its deposit (in the uterus, grave, etc.). All is in a Clear Book. (11;6)

there is a record of their names, numbers, movements, and lack of movement.

In another Ayah, Allah said;

وَكَأَيِّن مِّن دَابَّةٍ لاَّ تَحْمِلُ رِزْقَهَا اللَّهُ يَرْزُقُهَا وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ

And so many a moving creature there is, that carries not its own provision! Allah provides for it and for you. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower. (29;60)

ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ



then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered.

Ibn Abi Hatim reported that Ibn Abbas said about the Ayah,

"Death gathers them."

It was also said that the Day of Resurrection gathers them, for in another Ayah, Allah said;

وَإِذَا الْوُحُوشُ حُشِرَتْ

And when the wild beasts shall be gathered together. (81;5)

Abdur-Razzaq recorded that Abu Hurayrah said about Allah's statement,
إِلاَّ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم

مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِي الكِتَابِ مِن شَيْءٍ ثُمَّ إِلَى رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ
(but are Umam like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book, then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered),

"All creatures will be gathered on the Day of Resurrection, the beasts, birds and all others. Allah's justice will be so perfect, that the un-horned sheep will receive retribution from the horned sheep. Allah will then command them, `Be dust!' This is when the disbeliever will say,
يَا لَيْتَنِي كُنتُ تُرَابًا
("Woe to me! Would that I were dust!)" (78;40)

And this was reported from the Prophet in the Hadith about the Trumpet.

The Disbelievers will be Deaf and Mute in Darkness

Allah said