Surah Al-Hajj (22) — Ayah 65

(Ayah 65) ➊ { اَلَمْ تَرَ اَنَّ اللّٰهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُمْ مَّا فِي الْاَرْضِ :} This is the third argument. The meaning of subjugating everything on earth for man is that He has made it in such a way that man can benefit from it. The sun and the moon move at a speed that is beneficial for man. Air, water, fire, electricity, atoms—how many wild forces there are from which man is benefiting. There are domesticated animals, so he rides them, drinks their milk, eats their meat, and fulfills many needs; in short, they have been made subservient to man in every way. If Allah had not subjugated the camel, cow, buffalo, and horse to man, he could never have domesticated them. He said: « وَ ذَلَّلْنٰهَا لَهُمْ فَمِنْهَا رَكُوْبُهُمْ وَ مِنْهَا يَاْكُلُوْنَ» [ یٰسٓ : ۷۲ ] “And We have made them subservient to them, so some of them they ride, and some of them they eat.” As for wild animals, he hunts them and brings them under his control, alive or dead.

➋ { وَ الْفُلْكَ تَجْرِيْ فِي الْبَحْرِ بِاَمْرِهٖ :} This is the fourth argument. Although ships that sail in the sea are also included among those things on earth that Allah has subjugated for man, their matter is even more amazing than other things: water, which swallows up everything with weight, Allah has subjugated it for man’s benefit in such a way that it carries on its chest ships as heavy, long, wide, and tall as mountains, built according to Allah’s prescribed design, and does not drown them. These ships carry thousands of items needed by man and travel hundreds of thousands of miles, and the people sitting in them are as comfortable as if they were resting in their own homes. {’’ بِاَمْرِهٖ ‘‘} That is, all this is possible by His creative command, that He made the sea in such a way that ships can sail on it. If it were not for His command, the sea would drown them in a moment, or would not let them sail on its surface, and they would be destroyed standing in one place.

➌ { وَ يُمْسِكُ السَّمَآءَ اَنْ تَقَعَ عَلَى الْاَرْضِ :} This is the fifth argument. Holding the sky back from falling upon the earth is even more amazing than ships sailing in the sea, for at least under the ships there is water, which Allah has forbidden from drowning them, rather He has made it their place and support. But holding the sky at such a height without any support beneath it is the work of the Owner of infinite powers alone. What greater injustice can there be than to worship helpless creatures when such a Master exists?

➍ {اِلَّا بِاِذْنِهٖ:} This is said because when His permission comes, the sky will be torn apart, and nothing will be able to prevent it from being shattered.

➎ {اِنَّ اللّٰهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوْفٌ رَّحِيْمٌ : ’’رَؤفٌ‘‘} and {’’ رَحِيْمٌ ‘‘ } are both intensive forms. The attribute {’’رَأْفَةٌ‘‘ } contains the meaning of protecting from harm, and the attribute {’’رَحْمَةٌ‘‘} contains the meaning of granting benefit. Both words can be used in each other’s place. When they come together, both meanings—protection from harm and granting benefit—are combined. (Ibn Ashur) {’’رَءُوْفٌ‘‘} and {’’ رَحِيْمٌ ‘‘} are themselves intensive forms, and after the addition of tanween of magnification, who can estimate the extent of His gentleness and mercy?

➏ { اِنَّ اللّٰهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوْفٌ رَّحِيْمٌ :} That is, the favors Allah has bestowed upon you and the means He has provided for your life are not because He is in need of you, but this is entirely a manifestation of His kindness and mercy. You had no power over Him that, whether He wished or not, you could have obtained these means from Him.