As-salaam wa-alaikum, brothers and sisters.
Summary
Today’s selection is from Surah 56, Al-Wãqi‘a or the Inevitable, verses 57-74. These verses contain an admonition to the disbelievers complete with examples of God’s creation.
Tafseer for this selection concerns the example of the external nature around us as evidence of God in verse 63. Also, the example of Fire as a fit memorial of God’s handiwork in nature in verses 71-73.
If you enjoy the podcast, HELP SPREAD THE WORD! Tell your friends and family, subscribe in iTunes or Stitcher and write us a review.
Verses
Bis-millahi ar-rahman, ar-raheem.
In the name of Allah, most gracious, most merciful.We have created you: will you not then testify about Our power of creation?[57] Have you ever considered the semen you discharge:[58] Is it you who create the child from it, or are We the Creator?[59] It is We Who have ordained death among you and We are not helpless[60] in replacing you by others like yourselves or transforming you into beings that you do not know.[61] You already know well your first creation, why then do you not take heed?[62] Have you ever considered the seed that you sow in the ground?[63] Is it you who cause it to grow or are We the grower?[64] If it be Our Will, We could crumble your harvest into chaff, and you would then be left lamenting:[65] “We are indeed left laden with debts,[66] indeed we have been deprived from the fruits of our labor!”[67] Have you ever considered the water which you drink?[68] Is it you who send it down from the clouds or are We the sender?[69] If it be Our Will, We could turn it salty. Why then do you not give thanks?[70] Have you ever considered the fire that you kindle?[71] Is it you who grow the tree which feeds the fire or are We the grower?[72] We have made it a reminder for man as to what would be the life without it, and a provision of life for the travellers of desert.[73] So glorify the name of your Lord, Who is the Greatest.[74] 56:[57-74]
Ameen.
Tafseer
Concerning the example of the external nature around us as evidence of God in verse 63:
Having appealed to our own nature within us, God appeals now to the external nature around us, which should be evidence to us (1) of His loving care for us, and (2) of its being due to causes other than those which we produce and control. Three examples are given: (1) the seed which we sow in the soil; it is Allah’s processes in nature, which make it grow; (2) the water which we drink; it is Allah’s processes in nature, that send it down from the clouds as rain, and distribute it through springs and rivers; (3) the fire which we strike; it is again a proof of Allah’s plan and wisdom in nature.
Concerning the example of Fire as a fit memorial of God’s handiwork in nature in verses 71-73:
Fire is a fit memorial of Allah’s handiwork in nature. It is also an emblem of man’s earliest civilisation. It can stand as a symbol of physical comfort and convenience to man, of the source of spiritual light, and also of the warning to Evil about its destruction. In the same way, the sower’s seed has symbolical meaning in the preaching of the Message and the rain and the streams of water have a symbolical meaning.
This concludes today’s episode of the 17 Verses Podcast. I hope that this selection has helped increase your understanding of the holy Qur’an just a little bit.
Thank you and be well.