Ar-Rahman 55:14
The Beneficent · Medinan · Juz 27 · Page 531
From Dry Clay
خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِن صَلۡصَٰلࣲ كَٱلۡفَخَّارِ ١٤
He created man of clay like the potter’s.
Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall
Meaning
He created man from dry clay like pottery.
Insight
Elmalılı explains “salsal” as dry clay that rings when struck, and “fakhkhar” as well-fired pottery: man’s first origin is dry earth, so far from life.
Reflect
When you feel proud, remember where you came from.
This short note is based on Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır’s Turkish commentary and has not yet been reviewed by a scholar.
Elmalılı’s commentary
An English translation of Elmalılı’s full commentary is coming soon. Read the original Turkish ›