Surah Ar-Room (30) — Ayah 22

(Ayah 22) ➊ {وَ مِنْ اٰيٰتِهٖ خَلْقُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ : } That is, among the countless signs indicating the oneness of Allah Almighty, His perfect power, and His ability to resurrect you, there is one sign which itself contains many signs: the creation of the heavens and the earth. Compared to this, creating you the first or second time is a trivial matter. The system of the earth and heavens, which has been running for millions and billions of years, and the galaxies consisting of the sun, moon, and countless vast planets, which are expanding day by day (see Dhariyat: 47), are clear signs of the boundless powers of the Lord Almighty, as He said: «{ لَخَلْقُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ اَكْبَرُ مِنْ خَلْقِ النَّاسِ وَ لٰكِنَّ اَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُوْنَ }» [ المؤمن : ۵۷ ] "Indeed, the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater than the creation of mankind, but most people do not know." If all this has been created by anyone other than Allah Almighty, or if anyone else has any share in it, or at least claims to have created it, then bring it forth.

➋ { وَ اخْتِلَافُ اَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَ اَلْوَانِكُمْ :} Among the signs of Allah Almighty's power is the great sign of diversity found in the universe: whatever He created, He made distinct from the other. Here, Allah Almighty has mentioned only two aspects of this diversity: the difference in human languages and the difference in their colors. Humans, created from the same clay and water, have different languages. Arabic, Persian, English, Hindi, Japanese, Turkish, Abyssinian, Chinese, Russian, French, German, Spanish—in short, every nation has its own language, and each language has countless dialects. The accents and some words of these dialects change every few miles. Then, even when speaking the same language, such as Arabic or English, the accent, voice, pronunciation, speed or slowness, softness or harshness, sweetness or bitterness of one person does not match another. In fact, from Adam (peace be upon him) to the last human, every person's speech is unique to him, distinguishing him from all of humanity. A knowledgeable person, hearing his voice from behind a curtain, will recognize who is speaking. With the invention of the computer, this amazing sign of Allah Almighty's power has become even more evident: if it is given a person's speech, it will distinguish him from billions of people.

Similarly, the difference in human colors is a great sign of Allah Almighty's power: among humans created from the same origin, some are white, some wheatish, some black, some red, some yellow, and some in between. The marvel is that even among those who appear to have the same color, for example, the color of one black-skinned person does not match another's. Allah Almighty has created so many shades that every black person's color is different from another's, and every white person's color is different from another's. The color and structure of one person's eye pupil do not match another's. The black, red, golden, or white color of one person's hair does not match another's. The physical structure and the lines on the hands and feet of one person do not match another's, even though all appear to be human. Is this most intricate and magnificent process of creation not clear evidence that all this is the masterpiece of the power of one All-Powerful Lord? He created whatever He willed, created it beautifully, and created it unique and incomparable. How devoid of reason are those who say that all this happened by itself, or who say that this system is running under the presence of two creators or owners, or who say that the One possessing such great powers, how will He resurrect humans after they have turned to dust!?

Now, expand this sequence of diversity a little further. Allah Almighty said: «{ وَ فِي الْاَرْضِ قِطَعٌ مُّتَجٰوِرٰتٌ وَّ جَنّٰتٌ مِّنْ اَعْنَابٍ وَّ زَرْعٌ وَّ نَخِيْلٌ صِنْوَانٌ وَّ غَيْرُ صِنْوَانٍ يُّسْقٰى بِمَآءٍ وَّاحِدٍ وَ نُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَهَا عَلٰى بَعْضٍ فِي الْاُكُلِ اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَّعْقِلُوْنَ }» [الرعد : ۴ ] "And in the earth are neighboring tracts, and gardens of grapes, and crops, and date palms, growing from a single root or from separate roots, watered with the same water; yet We make some of them excel others in fruit. Surely in this are signs for people who understand." Every species that grows from the earth—whether animals, plants, or minerals—each type is distinct from the other. For example, a cow is different from a goat, a mango tree is different from a jamun tree, wheat is different from barley, iron is different from copper. Then, observe the unlimited diversity: every leaf of every tree is different from another leaf of the same tree. Just look at its lines; each one's lines are different from the other's. All trees and plants appear green, but each has been given a distinct shade of green. Not only trees, but every animal, bird, beast, and aquatic creature follows the same principle. This difference in colors alone is sufficient proof of the existence of Allah Almighty, His oneness, and His power.

➌ { اِنَّ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّلْعٰلِمِيْنَ :} That is, recognizing Allah Almighty and His powers through the creation of the heavens and the earth and the differences in languages and colors is not the work of just anyone; recognizing these signs is the work of those with knowledge, as He said: «{ وَ تِلْكَ الْاَمْثَالُ نَضْرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ وَ مَا يَعْقِلُهَاۤ اِلَّا الْعٰلِمُوْنَ }» [ العنکبوت : ۴۳ ] "And these are the parables We set forth for mankind, but none understand them except those who have knowledge." That the recognition of Allah Almighty's powers and His awe through the difference in colors is the exclusive portion of the scholars is mentioned in detail elsewhere by Allah Almighty, as He said: «{ اَلَمْ تَرَ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ اَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَاَخْرَجْنَا بِهٖ ثَمَرٰتٍ مُّخْتَلِفًا اَلْوَانُهَا وَ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ جُدَدٌۢ بِيْضٌ وَّ حُمْرٌ مُّخْتَلِفٌ اَلْوَانُهَا وَ غَرَابِيْبُ سُوْدٌ (47) وَ مِنَ النَّاسِ وَ الدَّوَآبِّ وَ الْاَنْعَامِ مُخْتَلِفٌ اَلْوَانُهٗ كَذٰلِكَ اِنَّمَا يَخْشَى اللّٰهَ مِنْ عِبَادِهِ الْعُلَمٰٓؤُا اِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَزِيْزٌ غَفُوْرٌ }» [ فاطر : ۲۷، ۲۸ ] "Do you not see that Allah sends down water from the sky, and with it We bring forth fruits of varying colors? And in the mountains are streaks white and red, of varying shades, and some intensely black. And among people, animals, and livestock are likewise various colors. Only those of His servants who have knowledge fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Mighty, Oft-Forgiving."

22-1. The creation of so many languages in the world is also a very great sign of Allah's power. Then, within each language, there are different dialects and styles. Similarly, even though all people are from the same parents (Adam and Hawwa عليهما السلام), their colors are different from each other—some are dark, some are fair—and their appearances are also different from each other, their speaking accents are distinct, and even their voices are separate from one another; one brother is different from another brother. But it is the perfection of Allah's power that still, the inhabitants of one country are distinguished from the inhabitants of another country.

22. And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the diversity of your languages and your colors [19]. Surely in this are signs for those who have knowledge.

[19]
Does the Combination of Difference and Uniformity Indicate Allah’s Individual Attention?

First of all, man is composed of similar elements, and then the face, tongue, throat, and lips of each are all alike, but the voice and tone of every person are different from one another. Some have a melodious and sweet voice, while others have a heavy and unpleasant one, even though the vocal faculties of all humans are the same. Then, the language of every region and country is different from one another; Arabic is spoken somewhere, Persian somewhere, English somewhere, Pashto somewhere, Urdu somewhere—in short, there are hundreds of types of languages, and these are kinds. Then, even within the same region, at a distance of just a few miles, there are subtypes of changes in language and differences in idioms, which only the people of that region can understand. Then, along with the language of every region, there are differences in their alphabets, their articulation points, and their accents. The same is the case with colors. People of some regions are fair-skinned, some are black, some are red, and some are wheatish in color. It is said that the specific climate of a region affects the color of a person’s skin, which causes a change in complexion. This can only be accepted partially, because it is often seen that even with the same parents and the same region, there is a difference in the complexion of the children. Although in this verse only two things—language and color—are mentioned, there are many other aspects in which differences occur. For example, people of some regions are tall in stature, some are short, and some are of medium height. Similarly, somewhere people have flat noses, and somewhere long and high noses. For example, the difference in the features of the children of the same parents can be felt by the parents and close relatives, but strangers only perceive similarity among them and sometimes cannot even distinguish between them. All these things lead to the conclusion that every living being nurtured in the womb is dependent on Allah’s individual attention. There are countless such things that come to a person’s share while still in the womb.