Advanced
The Hereafter
Surah: Al-Ahzab (72)
We Offered the Trust to the Heavens Earth and Mountains — The Weight of Human Responsibility
إِنَّا عَرَضۡنَا ٱلۡأَمَانَةَ عَلَى ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱلۡجِبَالِ
— الأحزاب الآية 72
Verse: "We offered the trust to the heavens, earth, and mountains — they refused to bear it and were apprehensive of it. Man bore it — he is most unjust, most ignorant." (33:72) — "The trust": religious responsibility coupled with free choice. The mountains — symbol of solidity and firmness — refused the trust and were apprehensive. Man bore it despite his weakness. "Most unjust, most ignorant" — a description of the human nature bearing a responsibility beyond its capacity. This is praise in one aspect (the initiative) and censure in another (heedlessness of its weight). Lesson: to be entrusted with monotheism, worship, and ethics is an honor the mountains refused.
Source: Ibn Kathir (6/441); Al-Sadi
Test Yourself
How is the description "most unjust, most ignorant" both praise and censure at once?
Show Answer