وَخَلَقنا لَهُم مِن مِثلِهِ ما يَركَبونَ

And We have created for them what is similar to it, which they ride.

EXPOSITION

It is not only ships that carry us, but He has created for us the like of it on which we board and ride. Al-ʿŪfī has reported from Ibn Abbas: ‘This means the camel, for it is the ship of the land on which they carry goods and on which they ride.’^{‎[1]Amthal, 14/198.} However, Ṭabarī has reported a different account from Ibn Abbas, saying that it ‘referred to the ships which were made after the ark of Noah, which was similar to it’. This latter view was the view of most of the early commentators since the verse explicitly mentions And We have created for them what is similar to it, which would exclude animals, as they are not similar to ships in creation. It would include chariots, wagons, coaches, and in modern times cars, lorries, aeroplanes, and anything which is made by man similar to ships. And also what will be invented by man in the future.^{‎[2]Mizan, 17/92.} And horses, mules, and asses, for you to ride them, and for adornment, and He creates what you do not know (16:8).

God has ascribed the making of the ship and similar things to Himself to draw our attention that anything made by us is, in reality, a creation of God who has created us, our intelligence, our power, and our clout.

REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE

Most of the exegetes considered similar to it means similar to the literal ship that floats on the sea, because God said in the next verse, if We like We drown them. Those who have said that this verse refers to the tamed animals used for transportation are supported by two words of the verse. First, the word ride, which is usually used for a person riding an animal, not a ship in which people are carried. Second, the word created; God commanded Prophet Noah (a) to make the ark; so the ships are made, and the animals are created. Therefore, this verse indicates the created means of transportation, not manufactured.^{‎[3]Razi, 26/81.} However, the Arabic word translated in this verse as they ride, has been used in the Quran for boarding a ship also (11:41-42).^{‎[4]Razi, 26/81.}

[1] Amthal, 14/198.
[2] Mizan, 17/92.
[3] Razi, 26/81.
[4] Razi, 26/81.