Basic
The Hereafter
Surah: At-Tin (4)
We Created Man in the Best Form — Then Reduced Him to the Lowest of the Low
لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ فِيٓ أَحۡسَنِ تَقۡوِيمٍ
— التين الآية 4
Verse: "We created man in the best form — then reduced him to the lowest of the low." (95:4-5) — "Best form" — man is born with sound nature (fitra) and readiness for receiving and bearing responsibility. Then "then" = a temporal gap — not immediately. "Reduced" = he reduced himself through poor choices — not divine compulsion. "Lowest of the low" = below all lows — the disbeliever is debased on Judgment Day. Exception: "except those who believe and do righteous deeds — they have an unending reward." Faith and action protect sound nature from reversal. Lesson: man is born on fitra and only reaches lowest of the low by his own choice — protect your fitra with faith.
Source: Ibn Kathir (8/437); Al-Sadi
Test Yourself
Who is meant by "lowest of the low" in Surah At-Tin?
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