How should we understand the verse “We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains...”?

- The following is stated in verse 72 of the Chapter of al-Ahzab, “We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to undertake it.”
- How did these creatures, which have no will, were offered such a thing?

Dear Brother / Sister,

“We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains; but they refused to undertake it, being afraid thereof: but man undertook it;- He was indeed unjust and foolish;- (With the result) that Allah has to punish the Hypocrites, men and women, and the Unbelievers, men and women, and Allah turns in Mercy to the Believers, men and women: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” ﴾ al-Ahzab, 33/72-73﴿

We see an example of narration by analogy and simile here. Some tafsir scholars took the verse in its true sense and said, “Allah gave consciousness to the heavens, the earth and the mountains in the eternity; He offered them the trust but they did not want to carry it because they were afraid of it; then, He presented it to man. In other words, man accepted the trust because he could not think or know as much as the mountains and stones did.

However, our preference is that there is a metaphorical narration here. What is meant is this: Trust is too heavy and important to be carried by the heavens, the earth and the mountains, which at first glance seem to be bigger, stronger and more durable than man. Man accepted this trust, which was so heavy and important.

On the one hand, man has the ability and talent to carry it, but on the other hand, he is not aware of what he has undertaken, and cannot be successful in carrying it properly. In other words, man should not be unconscious and ignorant, he should be aware of his identity, ability and trust; not knowing these issues is ignorance. He should also try to fulfill the duty of the trust he bears; not fulfilling this duty is a great cruelty.

The lexical meaning of the word amanah (trust) is “the removal of fear and anxiety, and the peace of mind about being secure”. The word amanah is used for this state of security, psychology, as well as for the thing that is the subject of trust and security, which is desired to be protected.

As a religious term, many meanings have been attributed to the word “trust”. Among them, the ones we regard as closest to the purpose are “the word and belief of tawhid, justice, literacy, intellect and the ability to be responsible and something entrusted”. (Ragib al-Isfahani, al-Mufradat, “amn” item.; Razi, XXV, 202; Ibn Ashur, XXII, 126).

It is possible to put all of them under the concept of “man’s responsibility based on intellect and free will”. Everything but man works as they have been programmed by the creator; they cannot change the behavior imposed by their nature. Therefore, they are not asked, “Why did you do this?”

As for man, he has the ability to reason, to acquire knowledge, to change his knowledge, decision and behavior. However, there are also important obstacles for man related to knowing the truth in the fields of religion and ethics and doing what is right, good and beneficial. Therefore, what people - who are deprived of divine knowledge and guidance - do not know is more than what they know (as verse 72 puts it, man is ignorant, very ignorant); in terms of religion and ethics, their bad deeds are more than their good ones (as the same verse puts it, man fails to do what is necessary and to give everything their due).

The number of people leading a life of faith, worship and ethics that Allah is pleased with is very few compared to those who do not probably in every age, but definitely in this age. The ability of responsibility entrusted to man is a very valuable trust. If it is well preserved and cared for, man becomes the most valuable and honorable creature thanks to it; if he cannot care for it properly, if he abuses the capital and if he obeys Satan, he will fall down to the lowest place.

That is why the trust is so great, important and valuable that no creature other than man dares to undertake it. If the meaning of the word “amanah” in the verse is regarded as something entrusted and the interpretation of what is meant by it is preferred, one of the responsibilities among the more general set of responsibilities will be highlighted. In that case, Allah draws the attention of His servants to the importance of material trusts such as goods or spiritual trusts such as duties and tasks.

One of the main topics of the surah (chapter) is the traps the hypocrites and polytheists set against the Prophet (pbuh) and the believers, the persecution they inflicted and the outcomes that awaited both believers and others in both worlds. After the nature and importance of the trust is touched upon in the last verse, the main issue is emphasized once again as the wisdom behind man’s bearing it, the happy end of the believers who preserve it well, and the bitter end of the hypocrites and polytheists who abuse it are indicated.

(See Diyanet Tefsiri, Kuran Yolu, IV/364-366.)

Questions on Islam