Command
The Bee (16:12)
وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيْلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ ۖ وَٱلنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَٰتٌۢ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ ۗ إِنَّ فِى ذَٰلِكَ لَـَٔايَـٰتٍۢ لِّقَوْمٍۢ يَعْقِلُونَ ١٢
And He has subjected for you the night and day and the sun and moon, and the stars are subjected by His command. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason.
— Saheeh International
The Quran mentions creation and command as two separate actions:
The Heights (7:54)
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ فِى سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍۢ ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلْعَرْشِ يُغْشِى ٱلَّيْلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُۥ حَثِيثًۭا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ وَٱلنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَٰتٍۭ بِأَمْرِهِۦٓ ۗ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلْخَلْقُ وَٱلْأَمْرُ ۗ تَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٥٤
Indeed, your Lord is Allāh, who created the heavens and earth in six days and then established Himself above the Throne.[1] He covers the night with the day, [another night] chasing it rapidly; and [He created] the sun, the moon, and the stars, subjected by His command. Unquestionably, His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allāh, Lord of the worlds.
— Saheeh International
[1] See footnote to 2:19: Allāh states in the Qur’ān that He has certain attributes such as hearing, sight, hands, face, mercy, anger, coming, encompassing, being above the Throne, etc. Yet, He has disassociated Himself from the limitations of human attributes or human imagination. Correct Islāmic belief requires faith in the existence of these attributes as Allāh has described them without applying to them any allegorical meanings or attempting to explain how a certain quality could be (while this is known only to Allāh) and without comparing them to creation or denying that He (subḥānahu wa taʿālā) would have such a quality. His attributes are befitting to Him alone, and "There is nothing like unto Him." (42:11)
Allah عزوجل creates with materials, such as humans with 'turab' and 'teen', jaan from 'naar', and so on.
Allah عزوجل commands and creation complies with His Commands. For example:
The Cow (2:117)
بَدِيعُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ ۖ وَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًۭا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ١١٧
Originator of the heavens and the earth. When He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.
— Saheeh International
Explained in Detail (41:11-12)
41:11
ثُمَّ ٱسْتَوَىٰٓ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَهِىَ دُخَانٌۭ فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ ٱئْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًۭا قَالَتَآ أَتَيْنَا طَآئِعِينَ ١١
Then He directed Himself[1] to the heaven while it was smoke and said to it and to the earth, "Come [into being],[2] willingly or by compulsion." They said, "We have come willingly."
— Saheeh International
[1]Literally, 'become' or 'do [as commanded].'
[2]See footnote to 2:19: quoted above under Q7:54
41:12
فَقَضَىٰهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَـٰوَاتٍۢ فِى يَوْمَيْنِ وَأَوْحَىٰ فِى كُلِّ سَمَآءٍ أَمْرَهَا ۚ وَزَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِمَصَـٰبِيحَ وَحِفْظًۭا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ ١٢
And He completed them as seven heavens within two days and inspired [i.e., made known] in each heaven its command. And We adorned the nearest heaven with lamps [i.e., stars, for beauty] and as protection.[1] That is the determination of the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.
— Saheeh International
[1]From the devils who attempt to steal information from the angels.
Those endowed with free-will are directed to willingly submit to their Creator and Sustainer. So, when Allah عزوجل commanded Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام):
The Cow (2:131)
إِذْ قَالَ لَهُۥ رَبُّهُۥٓ أَسْلِمْ ۖ قَالَ أَسْلَمْتُ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ١٣١
When his Lord said to him, "Submit," he said, "I have submitted [in Islām][1] to the Lord of the worlds."
— Saheeh International
[1]The meaning of the word 'Islām' is 'submission to the will of Allāh.' This is the way of life ordained by Allāh and taught by all of the prophets from Adam to Muḥammad (ﷺ). A Muslim is one who submits himself to Allāh.
This was the legacy of Abraham (Ibrahim عليه السلام), and which was followed upon by the believers in his progeny, as quoted in the next two ayaat (Q2:132-133). Also, we find quoted his great grandson Joseph (Yusuf عليه السلام)'s prayer in Q12:101 praying to die in a state of Islam.
The Forgiver (40:66-68)
40:66
۞ قُلْ إِنِّى نُهِيتُ أَنْ أَعْبُدَ ٱلَّذِينَ تَدْعُونَ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ لَمَّا جَآءَنِىَ ٱلْبَيِّنَـٰتُ مِن رَّبِّى وَأُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُسْلِمَ لِرَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٦٦
Say, [O Muḥammad], "Indeed, I have been forbidden to worship those you call upon besides Allāh once the clear proofs have come to me from my Lord, and I have been commanded to submit to the Lord of the worlds."
— Saheeh International
40:67
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٍۢ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطْفَةٍۢ ثُمَّ مِنْ عَلَقَةٍۢ ثُمَّ يُخْرِجُكُمْ طِفْلًۭا ثُمَّ لِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟ أَشُدَّكُمْ ثُمَّ لِتَكُونُوا۟ شُيُوخًۭا ۚ وَمِنكُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّىٰ مِن قَبْلُ ۖ وَلِتَبْلُغُوٓا۟ أَجَلًۭا مُّسَمًّۭى وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَعْقِلُونَ ٦٧
It is He who created you from dust, then from a sperm-drop, then from a clinging clot; then He brings you out as a child; then [He develops you] that you reach your [time of] maturity, then [further] that you become elders. And among you is he who is taken in death before [that], so that you reach a specified term;[1] and perhaps you will use reason.
— Saheeh International
[1]The time decreed for your death.
40:68
هُوَ ٱلَّذِى يُحْىِۦ وَيُمِيتُ ۖ فَإِذَا قَضَىٰٓ أَمْرًۭا فَإِنَّمَا يَقُولُ لَهُۥ كُن فَيَكُونُ ٦٨
He it is who gives life and causes death; and when He decrees a matter, He but says to it, "Be," and it is.
— Saheeh International
Joseph (12:40)
مَا تَعْبُدُونَ مِن دُونِهِۦٓ إِلَّآ أَسْمَآءًۭ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَآ أَنتُمْ وَءَابَآؤُكُم مَّآ أَنزَلَ ٱللَّهُ بِهَا مِن سُلْطَـٰنٍ ۚ إِنِ ٱلْحُكْمُ إِلَّا لِلَّهِ ۚ أَمَرَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوٓا۟ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ ٱلدِّينُ ٱلْقَيِّمُ وَلَـٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ ٱلنَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ٤٠
You worship not besides Him except [mere] names you have named them,[1] you and your fathers, for which Allāh has sent down no evidence. Legislation is not but for Allāh. He has commanded that you worship not except Him. That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.
— Saheeh International
[1]The false objects of worship which you have called 'gods.'
Looking up in corpus.quran.com:
The triliteral root hamza mīm rā (أ م ر) occurs 248 times in the Quran.
Q2:27 those who ..., cut off what Allah has commanded (أَمَرَ) to be joined, and ...
Q2:44 Do you command (أَتَأْمُرُونَ) people birr, and forget your own nafs?
Q2:67 ... Indeed, Allah commands (يَأْمُرُكُمْ) you to slaughter a cow ...
Q2:68 ... so do what you are commanded (تُؤْمَرُونَ)
Q2:93 And when we took your Covenant ... , ... , and their hearts absorbed the calf because of their disbelief... how wretched is that which your belief commands (يَأْمُرُكُمْ) you to do, if you should be believers
Q2:109 many of the people of the scripture ... , envy ... , so pardon and overlook till Allah brings about His Command (بِأَمْرِهِ), ...
Q2:117 Inventor of the skies and earth, when He decrees a command (أَمْرًا), He only says to it 'Be' and it becomes.
Q2:210 do they await that Allah should come to them in covers of clouds, and the angels, and decrees His Command (الْأَمْرُ), and unto Allah are all commands (الْأُمُورُ) returned.
Q2:169 he (Satan) only orders (يَأْمُرُكُمْ) evil and immorality, and that you say about Allah what you do not know
Q2:222 ... menstruation ... wives ... when they have purified, come to them from where Allah has commanded (أَمَرَكُمُ) you
Q2:268 Satan threatens you with poverty and orders (وَيَأْمُرُكُمْ) immorality, ...
Q2:275 those who consume Riba ... , but whosoever receives an admonition from his Lord and desists, may have what is past, and his command (وَأَمْرُهُ) rests with Allah, ...
Q3:21 those who disbelieve ..., and kill ..., and kill those who enjoin (يَأْمُرُونَ) equity among the people (بِالْقِسْطِ مِنَ النَّاسِ), give them tidings of a painful punishment
Q3:80 nor could he order (يَأْمُرَكُمْ) you to take the angels as Lords; would he order (أَيَأْمُرُكُمْ) you to disbelief after you have become Muslims?
Q3:104 and let there be from among you an Ummat inviting to all that is good, and ordering (وَيَأْمُرُونَ) what is right, and forbidding what is wrong, and those will be successful.
Q3:109 and to Allah belongs whatever is in the skies and earth, and to Allah will be returned all commands (الْأُمُورُ)
Q3:110 You are the best Ummat produced for mankind. You enjoin (تَأْمُرُونَ) what is right, and forbid what is wrong, and you believe in Allah. ...
Q3:114 they believe in Allah and the Last Day, and they enjoin (وَيَأْمُرُونَ) what is right, and they forbid what is wrong, and hasten to good deeds, and those are among the reformed
Q3:128 not for you is the decision (الْأَمْرِ) anything, whether Allah turns to them or punishes them, for indeed they are zalimun
Q3:147 ... 'Our Lord forgive us our sins, and the excesses in our affairs (وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا), and plant firmly our feet, and grant us victory over the disbelieving nation
Q3:152 and Allah certainly fulfilled His Promise to you when you were killing the enemy by His Permission until you lost courage and fell into disputing about the order (الْأَمْرِ), and disobeyed after He had shown you that which you love, ...
Q3:154 then after distress, He sent security drowsiness overcoming a faction of you, while another faction worried about their nafs, thinking thoughts about Allah other than the truth, the thoughts of ignorance, saying is there for us in this matter (الْأَمْرِ) anything? say 'all matters (الْأَمْرَ) belong completely to Allah' ... they say, 'if there was for us in this matter (الْأَمْرِ) anything, we would not have been killed right here', say ...
Q3:159 So, by the Mercy of Allah, you were lenient with them, ... , so pardon them and ask forgiveness for them, and consult them in the matter (الْأَمْرِ), and when you have decided ...
Q3:186 ... but if you are patient and fear Allah, surely that is determined (upholding of) commands (عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ)
Q4:37 those who are stingy, and enjoin (وَيَأْمُرُونَ) upon people stinginess, and hide what Allah has given them from His bounty, and We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment.
Q4:47 O you who have been given the scripture, believe in what We have sent down confirming that which is with you, before We obliterate faces and turn them towards their back or curse them as We cursed the people of the sabbath, and ever is the decree (أَمْرُ) of Allah accomplished.
Q4:58 Indeed, Allah, He commands you (يَأْمُرُكُمْ) that you restore trusts to whom their owners, and when you judge between people, you judge with justice, indeed Allah excellently advises you with, and Allah is ever Hearing Seeing
Q4:59 O you who have believed: obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and those in authority (وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ) among you; and if you disagree over anything, return it to Allah and the Messenger, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day; that is good and better in outcome.
Q4:60 have you not seen those who have claimed to believe in what was revealed to you, and what was revealed before you? they wish to refer legislation to Taghut, even though they were ordered (أُمِرُوا) to reject it, and Satan wishes to lead them far astray.
Q4:83 and when comes to them some matter (أَمْرٌ) of security or fear, they broadcast it; and if they had returned it to the Messenger and those in authority among them, they could have found out through proper investigators among them, and if not for the favour of Allah upon you and His Mercy, you would certainly have followed Satan except a few.
Q4:114 no good is in their in much of their private conversation, except for those who enjoin (أَمَرَ) charity, or that which is right, or reconciliation between people. And whoever does that seeking means of approval of Allah, then we are going to soon give him a great reward.
Q4:119 'and I will mislead them, and I will arouse in them desires, and I will command them (وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ) so they will slit the ears of cattle, and I will command them (وَلَآمُرَنَّهُمْ) so they will change (deteriorate (فَلَيُغَيِّرُنَّ) the creation of Allah.' And whoever takes Satan as an ally instead of Allah has certainly sustained a clear loss.
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Q12:53 I do not acquit my nafs; indeed the nafs commands (النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ) evil (بِالسُّوءِ), except those upon whom my Lord has Mercy; indeed, my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful
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Last updated on: April 3, 2025
