ٱلصَّافَّات : ١١

  • فَٱسۡتَفۡتِهِمۡ Then ask them
  • أَهُمۡ Are they
  • أَشَدُّ a stronger
  • خَلۡقًا creation
  • أَم or
  • مَّنۡ (those) whom
  • خَلَقۡنَآۚ We have created
  • إِنَّا Indeed We
  • خَلَقۡنَٰهُم created them
  • مِّن from
  • طِينٖ a clay
  • لَّازِبِ sticky
Then inquire of them, [O Muḥammad], "Are they a stronger [or more difficult] creation or those [others] We have created?" Indeed, We created them [i.e., men] from sticky clay.
So ask them, in other words, inquire of the people of Mecca for affirmation or by way of rebuke: Are they stronger as a creation, or those [others] whom We created?, of angels, skies, the two earths and all that is in them (the use of man, 'those whom' [in man khalaqnaa] indicates that the reference is predominantly to [other] rational creatures). Indeed We created them, that is, their origin, Adam, from a viscous clay, that sticks to the hand. The [intended] meaning is that their physical make-up is fragile so let them not behave arrogantly by rejecting the Prophet and Al-Qur'an, a fact which will result in their - easily accomplished - destruction.