Surah Ash-Shura (42) — Ayah 28

(Ayah 28) ➊ { وَ هُوَ الَّذِيْ يُنَزِّلُ الْغَيْثَ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ مَا قَنَطُوْا: ’’ الْغَيْثَ ‘‘} That rain which comes after drought, because through it the helpless and powerless humans and animals are aided, as He said: « ثُمَّ يَاْتِيْ مِنْۢ بَعْدِ ذٰلِكَ عَامٌ فِيْهِ يُغَاثُ النَّاسُ» [ یوسف : ۴۹ ] “Then after that, a year will come in which people will be given rain.” After stating that Allah does not give His servants more than their need, because He knows that increasing sustenance according to their demands would lead to their rebellion and the corruption of the world’s system, it is mentioned that if they are in need of rain, upon which the life of all living beings depends, whether humans or animals, birds or beasts, or insects of the earth, then He surely bestows it upon them out of His mercy. Thus, He said, and He is the One Who sends down the rain.

➋ For the explanation of { مِنْۢ بَعْدِ مَا قَنَطُوْا: ’’ قُنُوْطٌ‘‘}, see the commentary of Surah Ha Meem As-Sajdah, verse (49). After they have lost hope and the signs of despair have appeared on their faces, meaning they have lost hope for rain due to a period of famine. In this verse, there is also a refutation of the materialists who say that everything in the world happens automatically according to causes, that there is neither a Creator of this universe nor anyone who runs it according to His will. The refutation is as follows: according to these people, naturally, with the heat of the sun, vapors rise from the sea, which form clouds and fall as rain on the earth. The question is, then why, despite one earth, one sea, one sun, and all causes being the same, does it not always rain equally everywhere? Surely, all this is under the control of the Owner of all these things; wherever He wills, He imposes drought and dryness for years, then whenever He wills, He starts the cycle of rain again.

➌ { وَ يَنْشُرُ رَحْمَتَهٗ:} That is, in the form of rain, He spreads His mercy everywhere—in fields, mountains, forests, and seas. He sends down rain from clouds so heavy that if the entire creation tried to lift them, they could not, and if all combined tried to sprinkle water on this earth, they could not do so. Then everywhere, streams, ponds, greenery, plants, trees, fields, frogs, crickets, insects, and other living beings spread out. With this rain, He brings forth shoots softer than silk from such hard earth that is difficult to dig even with pickaxes, and with this rain, He brings forth buds more delicate than the tongues of birds from the hard trunks of trees, which even cutting tools can hardly carve. Then how ignorant and deceived are those who do not believe in the resurrection of the dead from their graves. (Biqā‘ī)

➍ {وَ هُوَ الْوَلِيُّ الْحَمِيْدُ:} That is, He alone is the caretaker and responsible for all the affairs of the universe, and He alone possesses every perfection.

28. 1. He is the Disposer of affairs, arranges matters for His righteous servants, grants them benefits, and protects them from evils and destructive things. For these boundless favors and abundant acts of goodness, He is worthy of praise and glorification.

28. He is the One who sends down rain after people have lost hope, and spreads His mercy far and wide. And He is the Protector [42], Worthy of all praise.

[42]
Comparison Between Rain and Artificial Irrigation:

Although the task of irrigating the land can be managed through artificial means, such as water from wells, springs, canals, or tube wells, firstly, it requires much effort and expense, and secondly, its pleasant effects are far less than those of rain. Artificial irrigation cannot be called the mercy of Allah. Allah’s mercy is rain, and it is a blessing like countless other blessings. First, comforting and cool breezes blow, which grant natural delight to humans and remove their despair. When rain falls, it brings a pleasant change to the weather. Dust is washed off the trees. Unlike artificial irrigation, rain does not fall on a specific piece of land but over a vast area, from which not only humans but all of Allah’s creation benefits. Then, it incurs no cost nor requires any effort. Moreover, even in the case of artificial irrigation, all water reserves come into existence because of rain. Therefore, in reality, rain is the true blessing through which Allah fulfills the needs of all creation. And the word “Wali” here gives this very meaning. And “Hameed” in the sense that all creation, after benefiting from His mercy, begins to praise Him.