An-Nahl (The Bee) Section 2 – God’s Unity Testified In Nature
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Creation made subservient to Man
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Arguments against polytheism
An-Nahl (The Bee) Verses 10 – 21
هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً لَكُمْ مِنْهُ شَرَابٌ وَمِنْهُ شَجَرٌ فِيهِ تُسِيمُونَ
He it is Who sendeth down water from the heavens for you; from it ye drink, and by it (groweth) trees on which ye pasture your cattle. (16:10)
يُنْبِتُ لَكُمْ بِهِ الزَّرْعَ وَالزَّيْتُونَ وَالنَّخِيلَ وَالْأَعْنَابَ وَمِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
He groweth for you thereby corn, and the olives, and the palm-trees, and the grapes, and of all the fruits; Verily in this is a sign for a people who reflect. (16:11)
وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَاتٌ بِأَمْرِهِ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
And (He hath) made sub servient for you the night and the day and the sun and the moon; and the stars have been made subservient by His decree; Verily in this are signs for a people who understand, (16:12)1
وَمَا ذَرَأَ لَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَانُهُ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِقَوْمٍ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
And what He hath produced in the earth of varied hues (and qualities) Verily there is in this a sign for a people who are mindful (with gratitude). (16:13)
وَهُوَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ الْبَحْرَ لِتَأْكُلُوا مِنْهُ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُوا مِنْهُ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى الْفُلْكَ مَوَاخِرَ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا مِنْ فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ
And He it is Who made subservient the sea that ye might eat from it fresh meat and take out from it ornaments which ye wear, and thou seest the ships cleaving through it, and that ye might seek of His grace, and that ye might give thanks. (16:14)2
وَأَلْقَىٰ فِي الْأَرْضِ رَوَاسِيَ أَنْ تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ وَأَنْهَارًا وَسُبُلًا لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ
And He hath cast great mountains (standing firm) in the earth lest it may shake with you, and rivers and the roads that ye be guided aright, (16:15)3
وَعَلَامَاتٍ وَبِالنَّجْمِ هُمْ يَهْتَدُونَ
And landmarks (too), and by the star they are guided (to the right way) (16:16)
أَفَمَنْ يَخْلُقُ كَمَنْ لَا يَخْلُقُ أَفَلَا تَذَكَّرُونَ
What! Is He then who createth like unto him who createth not? Will ye not then consider? (16:17)
وَإِنْ تَعُدُّوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ لَا تُحْصُوهَا إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَغَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ
If ye would count God’s bounties, ye can not compute4them; Verily God is Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful5. (16:18)
وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُسِرُّونَ وَمَا تُعْلِنُونَ
And God knoweth what ye hide and what ye manifest6(16:19)
وَالَّذِينَ يَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ لَا يَخْلُقُونَ شَيْئًا وَهُمْ يُخْلَقُونَ
And those whom they call on besides God create not aught while they are themselves created. (16:20)
أَمْوَاتٌ غَيْرُ أَحْيَاءٍ وَمَا يَشْعُرُونَ أَيَّانَ يُبْعَثُونَ
Dead (they are), not living, and they perceive not when they will be raised. (16:21)
Commentary
Verse 12
The stars being controlled in their movement by God’s order in such a way that they do not deviate from the path decreed by Him, are compared to the Holy Prophet and in his absolute obedience to His Command in verses 53:1-4. (A.P.).
Verse 15
This expression which has been repeated in the Qur’an may refer to the geological fact that the surface of the earth is subject to shaking due to the internal heat of the earth, which had not been covered with a rocky layer. Referring to this Ali says: ‘He bolted with rocks due to the shaking of the surface of the earth’. And in another place he says, ‘He has balanced the movement of the earth with the bolting granites or rocks’ (A.P.).
Verse 16
The First Holy Imam Ali Ibn Abi Talib said that by ‘Najm’ meaning, Star, i.e., the Pole-Star which is stationary and by which the travellers in the wilderness and on the sea determine their routes. The inner meaning of this statement is that by ‘Alaamaat’, i.e., the signs, are meant the holy Ahl al-Bayt and by ‘Najm’ i.e., the Star, means the Holy Prophet Muhammad.
