Surah Fussilat (41) — Ayah 53

(Ayah 53) ➊ { سَنُرِيْهِمْ اٰيٰتِنَا فِي الْاٰفَاقِ وَ فِيْۤ اَنْفُسِهِمْ … : ’’ الْاٰفَاقِ ‘‘ ’’أُفُقٌ‘‘} is the plural of 'ufuq', meaning edges. The distant place where the sky and the earth appear to meet is called the horizon. The commentators have interpreted this verse in two ways: one is that by the pronoun of {’’ اَنَّهُ ‘‘} is meant the Qur’an and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). That is, We will show them such signs in the whole world and within themselves that it will be proven that his (peace be upon him) prophethood and the Qur’an are true. By signs are meant the victories of Islam despite the apparent lack of means. By {’’ الْاٰفَاقِ ‘‘} is meant the dominance of Islam in the surroundings of Makkah, which, along with the battles of Badr, Uhud, Khandaq, and others, spread over the Arabian Peninsula and eventually to the eastern and western edges of the whole earth. And by {’’ اَنْفُسِهِمْ ‘‘} is meant the conquest of Makkah, which in itself was a great proof of the truth of Islam, after which people entered Islam in multitudes. The meaning is that soon, when victories are achieved in the surrounding countries and over themselves (the Quraysh), which were achieved in his (peace be upon him) time and in the era of the caliphs of Islam, then they will be convinced that the Qur’an and the Prophet were true, and they unjustly denied them.

The second interpretation is that by the pronoun of {’’ اَنَّهُ ‘‘} is meant Allah Almighty, meaning that if they reflect on the proofs of the existence and oneness of Allah Almighty, which are found in all the horizons, i.e., in the earth and the heavens, such as the sun, moon, plants, inanimate objects, animals, etc., and those found within themselves, such as from the drop of fluid to birth, then from childhood to death, then on the amazing structure of their existence, about whose wonders new discoveries are made every day, then they will be convinced that Allah Almighty alone is the Truth. The first meaning has been preferred by Ibn Jarir Tabari, while the second meaning has been adopted by some of the Tabi‘in. Both meanings can be intended at the same time.

➋ {اَوَ لَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ … :} That is, seeing the weakness of the Muslims, if anyone says how is it possible for Islam and the Muslims to dominate over the disbelievers of Quraysh and the whole world, then say to him, is your Lord not sufficient alone to do this? Because He alone is the guardian and witness over every thing and every matter; He does not need anyone’s help or advice.