16. Surah al-Nahl

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَلَمْ يَرَوْاْ إِلَى الطَّيْرِ... 

16: 79.  Do they not look at the birds,

... مُسَخَّرَاتٍ فِي جَوِّ السَّمَاء مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلاَّ اللّهُ...   

held poised in the midst of (the air and) the sky?

Nothing holds them up but (the power of) Allah.

C2113. All the wonderful things in creation are due to the artistry, power, and wisdom of Allah. Such is the flight of birds in mid-air.

So also are the inventions and discoveries, due to man's intelligence, in the next verse; for man's intelligence is a gift direct from Allah.

... إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ ﴿٧٩﴾

Verily in this are Signs for those who believe.

Other Versions:

16: 79

Asad Have, then, they never considered the birds, enabled to fly in mid-air, with none but God holding them aloft? In this, behold, there are messages indeed for people who will believe!

Pickthall Have they not seen the birds obedient in mid-air? None holdeth them save Allah. Lo! herein, verily, are portents for a people who believe.

Transliteration Alam yarau ilat tairi musakhkhara_tin fi jawwis sama_'(i),ma_ yumsikuhunna illalla_h(u), inna fi za_lika la a_ya_til liqaumiy yu'minu_n(a).

[Ruby’s note: The birds can sustain flight because they are created and the air of sky is created in such a way that they can fly. God is the ultimate cause of all causes, He is the Sustainer of the reality. The verse indicates here not the transitory cause of aerodynamics to sustain birds in the sky through their ability to maneuver wings in particular way against the air, but of the ultimate Cause which Sustains the intermediate physical