Tafsir Ibn Kathir -> Surah An-Nur -> 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.)

﴿لَّقَدْ أَنزَلْنَآ ءَايَـتٍ مُّبَيِّنَـتٍ وَاللَّهُ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ ﴾

(46. We have indeed sent down manifest Ayat. And Allah guides whom He wills to the straight path.) Allah states that in this Qur'an He has revealed many clear and unambiguous rulings, words of wisdom and parables, and that He guides people of understanding, insight and intellect to ponder and understand them. He says:

﴿وَاللَّهُ يَهْدِى مَن يَشَآءُ إِلَى صِرَاطٍ مُّسْتَقِيمٍ﴾

(And Allah guides whom He wills to the Straight Path.)

﴿وَيِقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالرَّسُولِ وَأَطَعْنَا ثُمَّ يَتَوَلَّى فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ مِّن بَعْدِ ذلِكَ وَمَآ أُوْلَـئِكَ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ - وَإِذَا دُعُواْ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ إِذَا فَرِيقٌ مِّنْهُمْ مُّعْرِضُونَ - وَإِن يَكُنْ لَّهُمُ الْحَقُّ يَأْتُواْ إِلَيْهِ مُذْعِنِينَ - أَفِى قُلُوبِهِمْ مَّرَضٌ أَمِ ارْتَابُواْ أَمْ يَخَافُونَ أَن يَحِيفَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَرَسُولُهُ بَلْ أُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الظَّـلِمُونَ - إِنَّمَا كَانَ قَوْلَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذَا دُعُواْ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ لِيَحْكُمَ بَيْنَهُمْ أَن يَقُولُواْ سَمِعْنَا وَأَطَعْنَا وَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ - وَمَن يُطِعِ اللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُ وَيَخْشَ اللَّهَ وَيَتَّقْهِ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ هُمُ الْفَآئِزُون ﴾

(47. They say: "We have believed in Allah and in the Messenger, and we obey,'' then a party of them turn away thereafter, such are not believers.) (48. And when they are called to Allah and His Messenger, to judge between them, lo! a party of them refuses and turns away.) (49. But if the truth is on their side, they come to him willingly with submission.) (50. Is there a disease in their hearts Or do they doubt or fear lest Allah and His Messenger should wrong them in judgement. Nay, it is they themselves who are the wrongdoers.) (51. The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to Allah and His Messenger, to judge between them, is that they say: "We hear and we obey.'' And such are the successful.) (52. And whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger, fears Allah, and has Taqwa of Him, such are the successful.)