وَكَأَيِّن مِّنْ ءَايَةٍ فِى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ يَمُرُّونَ عَلَيْهَا وَهُمْ عَنْهَا مُعْرِضُونَ
“How many a portent is there in the heavens and the earth which they pass by with face averted!” — M. M. Pickthall
According to Zemahşerî, people pass over the earth (like the traces of destroyed nations) which contain admonishing signs, yet despite seeing them, they turn away and derive no admonition from them. He also provides attention to different readings of the word 'al-arda' (nominative and accusative cases) and a different reading variant found in the Mushaf of Ibn Mas'ud.
ويشاهدونها وهم معرضون عنها لا يعتبرون بهاAccording to this exegete, the expression mentioned here means 'they turn around it' and this point is supported by a reading variant in Abdullah's Mushaf.
بقولنا يطوفونها ، وفي مصحف عبداللهThis text explains the linguistic structure of the expression 'ka'ayn' (=kam) mentioned in the verse using the views of Halîl and Sîbeveyh; according to this, the resemblance particle has been included in it and by merging with it has acquired the meaning of 'kam'. Furthermore, regarding the expression 'signs in the heavens and on the earth,' it is noted that these could be traces of punishment/torment of past nations, and that people are heedless of and turn away from contemplating them. Finally, different reading variants (Akrime, Amr b. Fa'id, Suddi, Ibn Mas'ud) regarding the expressions 'al-samawat wa-al-ard' and 'yamdshun 'alayha' in the verse are mentioned.
هي أي دخل عليها كاف التشبيه وبنيت معها فصار في الكلام معنى كم وقد مضى في آل عمران القول فيها مستوفى ومضى القول في آية السماوات والأرض في البقرة وقيل : الآيات آثار عقوبات الأمم السالفة أي هم غافلون معرضون عن تأملهاAccording to Beydâvî, the Prophet does not ask for any reward in exchange for the news he conveys or the Qur'an; this is the opposite of what news-bearers (soothsayers/hadith narrators) do. The Qur'an is merely an admonition and warning for all the worlds. There are countless signs/proofs in the heavens and on the earth that testify to Allah's existence, wisdom, power, and oneness; people pass by them and see them, yet they turn away without reflecting and without taking admonition.
من جعل كما يفعله حملة الأخبار. إن هو إلا ذكر عظة من الله تعالى. للعالمين عامة. وكأين من آية وكم من آية. والمعنى وكأي عدد شئت من الدلائل الدالة على وجود الصانع وحكمته وكمال قدرته وتوحيده.According to Taberî, this expression describes how people see the proofs (signs) in the heavens and on the earth with their eyes and pass by them, yet they turn away and do not look at them with the eye of admonition. They do not think that these proofs point to the oneness of their Lord; yet these proofs show that divinity cannot be ascribed to anyone other than the One and All-Mighty Allah who creates and governs all things.
يعاينونها فيمرون بها معرضين عنها، لا يعتبرون بهاCommon ground
The common emphasis of the exegetes is that there are countless signs/proofs in the heavens and on the earth that pass before people, yet people pass by them and see them, yet they turn away without reflection and without taking admonition. Taberî, Zemahşerî, Kurtubî, and Beydâvî address this heedlessness and the fact that the proofs point to oneness in a similar manner; furthermore, Zemahşerî, Fahreddin ar-Râzî, and Kurtubî draw attention to different readings regarding the expression 'al-arda' in the verse (particularly the reading in the Mushaf of Ibn Mas'ud).
Differences
While Taberî takes a narration-based approach (conveying a transmission from Qatâda) and explains the verse contextually, Zemahşerî and Kurtubî conduct grammatical analysis through language/rhetoric and reading variants; Kurtubî additionally consults the linguistic views of Halîl and Sîbeveyh to examine the structure of the expression 'ka'ayn'. Fahreddin ar-Râzî stands out by emphasizing the meaning 'they turn around it' and conveys a different reading. Beydâvî differs from the others by relating the verse to the emphasis that the Prophet does not ask for any reward in exchange for his message, and adds that the Qur'an is an admonition for all the worlds.
Historical context
In the process from Taberî to Beydâvî, the basic message of the verse—people's heedlessness and the signs' testimony to oneness—remained fixed, yet over time linguistic/rhetorical and reading discussions became more systematic. In the early period, a narration-heavy approach (Taberî) was dominant, while in later exegetes (Zemahşerî, Kurtubî, Beydâvî), linguistic and reading-based analysis emerged as a more prominent method.
This verse can be understood as a reminder of the importance of looking carefully at the natural phenomena around us and the traces left by history, and of creating harmony between knowledge and faith. Pausing to reflect on the signs we unconsciously pass by in the rush of daily life can nurture both scientific curiosity and the spirit of worship. This perspective invites the human being to emerge from a state of heedlessness and to develop a more conscious and responsible attitude toward their surroundings and society.
AI analysis — not a fatwa or ruling, not yet reviewed by a scholar