Surah Al-Jaathiya (45) — Ayah 3

(Ayah 3) {اِنَّ فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ:} In Surah Al-Baqarah (164) it is said {’’ اِنَّ فِيْ خَلْقِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ ‘‘}, whereas here it is said {’’ اِنَّ فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ ‘‘}, so this is more general than that, because it includes both the creation of the heavens and the earth and their essence. Here the question arises: in the heavens and the earth and in the things mentioned after them, what are these signs of? The answer is that it was known that the polytheists were not willing to accept the oneness of Allah and the Resurrection, and there were also some atheists who did not even accept the existence of Allah, as is coming in verse (24) of this Surah: « وَ قَالُوْا مَا هِيَ اِلَّا حَيَاتُنَا الدُّنْيَا نَمُوْتُ وَ نَحْيَا وَ مَا يُهْلِكُنَاۤ اِلَّا الدَّهْرُ » "And they said, 'There is nothing but our worldly life; we die and live (here), and nothing destroys us except time.'" Therefore, Allah mentioned many signs indicating His existence, His oneness, and the Resurrection. Among these, the heavens and the earth are mentioned first, that in their existence there are many signs for the believers, because the benefit of the signs is only for those who are willing to accept; those who are heedless and stubborn, who have decided not to accept, for them the existence or non-existence of these signs is the same.

As for how there are signs of Allah's existence, His oneness, and the Resurrection in the heavens and the earth, the answer is that the universe and its system testify that all this did not come into being by itself, but rather it was created by a Creator, and He is One, because there is no room for the rule of separate gods in it, as Allah said: «لَوْ كَانَ فِيْهِمَاۤ اٰلِهَةٌ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ لَفَسَدَتَا » [ الأنبیاء : ۲۲ ] "If there had been in them (the heavens and the earth) gods besides Allah, they both would have surely been corrupted." See the commentary on this verse. The existence of the heavens and the earth also testifies that Allah did not create all this without purpose, but He created all this for the benefit of mankind, and on the Day of Resurrection, everyone will be given recompense for his deeds, as He said elsewhere: « اِنَّ فِيْ خَلْقِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ وَ اخْتِلَافِ الَّيْلِ وَ النَّهَارِ لَاٰيٰتٍ لِّاُولِي الْاَلْبَابِ (190) الَّذِيْنَ يَذْكُرُوْنَ اللّٰهَ قِيٰمًا وَّ قُعُوْدًا وَّ عَلٰى جُنُوْبِهِمْ وَ يَتَفَكَّرُوْنَ فِيْ خَلْقِ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هٰذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحٰنَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ» [ آل عمران : ۱۹۰، ۱۹۱ ] "Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are surely many signs for those of understanding. Those who remember Allah standing, sitting, and lying on their sides and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying), 'Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; You are exalted, so protect us from the punishment of the Fire.'" And as is coming ahead in this Surah: « وَ خَلَقَ اللّٰهُ السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ الْاَرْضَ بِالْحَقِّ وَ لِتُجْزٰى كُلُّ نَفْسٍۭ بِمَا كَسَبَتْ وَ هُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُوْنَ » [ الجاثیۃ :۲۲] "And Allah created the heavens and the earth in truth, and so that every soul may be recompensed for what it has earned, and they will not be wronged."