Today, in this post of our, we will present the fourth verse from Surah 75. Al-Qiyamat (The Resurrection) and try to understand "Why does Allah make a special mention of finger tips" specially with regard to the Day of Resurrection.
The Verse:
بَلَىٰ قَادِرِينَ عَلَىٰ أَن نُّسَوِّيَ بَنَانَهُ
“Yes indeed! We are able to restore even his very fingertips.”
Let’s unpack why “finger-tips (banānah)” are specifically mentioned — both theologically and scientifically — and how classical and modern scholars have understood this verse.
Context of the Verse
This verse comes in the passage (75:1–6) that addresses those who deny resurrection and mock the idea that humans can be re-created after death:
“Does man think We will not assemble his bones? Yes indeed! We are able to restore even his very fingertips.”
So the verse is a response to skeptics — those who thought that once a person’s bones had decayed, resurrection was impossible.
Meaning of “banānah” (بَنَانَ)
Arabic linguists like Ibn Fāris and Al-Rāghib al-Asfahānī define banān as: “The tips of fingers — the ends of the hands where the prints are.”
This refers to the fine extremities of the hand, the most detailed, delicate, and distinctive parts of the body.
Classical Tafsīr explanations
- Tafsīr Ibn Kathīr: Ibn Kathīr highlights precision — that if Allah can reproduce the most minute and unique part of you, then reassembling the rest of your body is even easier.
- Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī: So, it’s a symbol of divine precision — God won’t just re-create your body vaguely, but exactly as it was, even in the smallest particulars.
- Al-Rāzī (Mafātīḥ al-Ghayb): Al-Rāzī explains that: “The fingers and their tips are among the most subtle and complex parts of the human body, used in writing, craftsmanship, and distinction. Mentioning them is to show that Allah’s power covers even the most intricate details.”
As can be seen that from the 14th century exegetes to later centuries, the Muslims scholars too started to refine their findings about this verse and uniqueness of the very thin lines engraved on the finger tips of every human being.
Scientific dimension (Modern reflection)
Though the Qur’an is not a science book, many modern scholars see a remarkable harmony here with modern discovery of fingerprints:
- Every fingertip has a unique pattern
- In 1823 - Jan Purkinje, a Czech physiologist and professor of anatomy at the University of Breslau, published a thesis discussing nine fingerprint patterns.
- In 1858 – William Herschel, alluded to the fact that fingerprints are different from one person to another. This makes the fingerprint an exclusive characteristic of each person.
- Science finally came to know of this hidden wisdom of Qur'an and concluded that Fingerprints are unique to each individual — even identical twins differ. And that these remain unchanged throughout life.
Hence, when Allah says:
“We are able to restore even his fingertips,” it may allude to Recreating a person’s exact identity — down to their unique fingerprint.
This was unknown to humankind at the time of the revelation of Al Qur'an on Prophet Muhammad ﷺ which is a subtle reflection of Divine omniscience.
- Symbolic significance: Fingertips symbolize individuality and identity.
So, Allah is saying: “Do you think We cannot reassemble you? We can even reconstruct the tiny lines that distinguish you from all others.”
Thus, the verse emphasizes: (1) Perfect precision in resurrection, and (2) Individual accountability — you will rise as you, not someone else.
Broader Qur’anic consistency
The recreation and resurrection of man is not limited to this verse alone. There are other verses in other that reinforce this:
- “Does man think We shall not assemble his bones?” (75:3)
- “He will call them, and they will answer Him with praise.” (17:52)
- “He who created them the first time will bring them back.” (36:79)
So, Qur’an 75:4 is not isolated — it complements the broader Qur’anic assertion that resurrection is both logical and within Allah’s power.
Spiritual and moral message
- For the believer: It deepens faith in Allah’s absolute knowledge and creative power.
- For the denier: It removes all excuses — you will return exactly as you were.
- For all humans: It reminds us that every detail of our being — and every deed — is recorded and known to Allah.
Thus, through His revelations, Allah mentions the finger-tips to highlight His perfect creative precision — that even the most minute, individual, and unique detail of every human being will be recreated exactly as before on the Day of Resurrection.
In fact the mention of fingertips to demonstrate Allah's omnipotence and ability to perfectly recreate every part of a human body, including the most intricate and unique details, to challenge the disbelief of those who doubt resurrection. This verse also serves as a testament to Allah's infinite knowledge and power, as modern science has recognized that each person's fingerprints are unique identifiers.
This verse has been shared to apprise the Divine Wisdom to rejecters of Qur'an as a Divine Scripture and show them how Divine Wisdom came to be deciphered some 11-12 centuries after the revelation of Qur'an. Only an arrogant and stubborn would still hold on to his accusation after reading this single verse from Qur'an. This is not the only verse that shuns any notion of Qur'an being man written.
You may lie to view a short video clip on the subject of fingerprints in Qur'an by one of the eminent Muslim scholars of present times, Dr Zakir A Naik:
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
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