Surah Al Mulk Tafseer

أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَافَّاتٍ وَيَقْبِضْنَ

Do they not see the birds above them, spreading out their wings and folding them in?

meaning, sometimes they spread their wings out in the wind (gliding) and other times they gather and spread (flapping) the wings in flight.

مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ

None upholds them,

meaning, in the air,

إِلاَّ الرَّحْمَنُ

except the Most Gracious.

meaning, Allah holds them up in the air by subjecting the air to them out of His mercy and His gentleness.

إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ بَصِيرٌ

Verily, He is the All-Seer of everything.

means, with what is beneficial and suitable for all of His creatures.

This is similar to His statement,

أَلَمْ يَرَوْاْ إِلَى الطَّيْرِ مُسَخَّرَتٍ فِى جَوِّ السَّمَأءِ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ إِنَّ فِى ذلِكَ لايَـتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يُوْمِنُونَ

Do they not see the birds held in the midst of the sky None upholds them but Allah. Verily, in this are clear Ayat for people who believe. (24:79)