Tafsir
Tafsir of An-Nur 45
وَٱللَّهُ خَلَقَ كُلَّ دَآبَّةٍ مِّن مَّآءٍ ۖ فَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَىٰ بَطْنِهِۦ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَىٰ رِجْلَيْنِ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَىٰٓ أَرْبَعٍ ۚ يَخْلُقُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Allāh has created every [living] creature from water. And of them are those that move on their bellies, and of them are those that walk on two legs, and of them are those that walk on four. Allāh creates what He wills. Indeed, Allāh is over all things competent.
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged)
Hafiz Ibn Kathir · English
Allah's Power in His creation of the Animals
Allah mentions His complete and almighty power to create all the different kinds of animals with their various forms, colors and ways of moving and stopping, from one kind of water.
فَمِنْهُمْ مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَى بَطْنِهِ
(Of them there are some that creep on their bellies,) like snakes and so on;
وَمِنهُمْ مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَى رِجْلَيْنِ
(and some that walk on two legs,) like humans and birds;
وَمِنْهُمْ مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَى أَرْبَعٍ
(and some that walk on four,) like cattle and all kinds of animals. Allah says:
يَخْلُقُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ
(Allah creates what He wills.) meaning by His power, because what He wills happens and what He does not will does not happen. So he says:
إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
(Verily, Allah is able to do all things.)
Tafsir text: quran.com and the House of Islam API. · An-Nur 24:45