نَحنُ خَلَقناهُم وَشَدَدنا أَسرَهُم ۖ وَإِذا شِئنا بَدَّلنا أَمثالَهُم تَبديلًا
We created them and made their joints firm, and whenever We like We will replace them with others like them.
EXEGESIS
Asr (joints) goes back to the root asara, which is to tie or tie down and join. The fmaily is called usrah because of the strong ties between its members. With this in mind, one way to understand this verse is that God has enabled the human being to stand upright and move about seemlessly after He firmly tied together his joints by means of ligaments, nerves, and muscles (82:6-8, 95:4, 30:54). Ibn Abbas states that asr means creation, and thus the meaning of the verse would be: We made firm his creation. Ibn Zayd mentioned that asr means strength.
Asr can also be taken in its literal meaning. Thus, the verse can read as: We created them [with free will] and tied them [to their actions], and whenever We like We can replace them with others like them. Furthermore, since them in the verse refers to those who prefer the transitory life over the hereafter, it can also read as: We created them [with hearing and sight] and tied them down [due to their own actions]. Hence, this verse can thus be understood in the same light as verses 36:8-11, 6:24-25, 17:45-46, 18:57, and 95:4-6. With this understanding, the verse speaks to verse 4 and confirms the growth block that disbelievers bring upon themselves when they turn away from their Lord and pay no heed to their meeting with Him (18:103-105).
EXPOSITION
Individuals who behave with disregard to the afterlife might be entertaining the idea that they outwitted or bypassed the divine purpose for their existence. To dispel this myth, God reminds humankind that they belong to Him. He created them, tightened their joints, and assembled all their constituents. He has total control over their life and death. At His wish, they can be replaced with others like them (6:6, 9:39, 47:38, 6:133, 56:61, 4:133, 14:19-20).
INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS
- For His eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings. There is no darkness, nor shadow of death, where the workers of iniquity may hide themselves. For He will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God. He shall break in pieces mighty men without number, and set others in their stead.
- Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof.
[1] Raghib, p. 76; Lisan, 4/19.
[2] Mizan, 20/142.
[3] Tibyan, 10/220.
[4] Mizan, 20/142.
[5] Mizan, 20/142.
[6] Job 34:1-3.
[7] Matthew 21:43.