The Bee — Verse 11
16:11 · an-Nahl
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یُنۢبِتُ لَكُم بِهِ ٱلزَّرۡعَ وَٱلزَّیۡتُونَ وَٱلنَّخِیلَ وَٱلۡأَعۡنَـٰبَ وَمِن كُلِّ ٱلثَّمَرَ ٰتِۚ إِنَّ فِی ذَ ٰلِكَ لَءَایَةࣰ لِّقَوۡمࣲ یَتَفَكَّرُونَ ١١
yunbitu lakum bihi l-zarʿa wal-zaytūna wal-nakhīla wal-aʿnāba wamin kulli l-thamarāti inna fī dhālika laāyatan liqawmin yatafakkarūn
The Bee / an-Nahl (16:11)
Connections 2 single-source 2 commentators
Multi-source connections
No verses on this ayah are cited by 2 or more commentators using numeric S:A notation. All extracted references come from a single source's commentary.
Single-source mentions (2) cited by only one commentator
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Q 16:12 (an-Nahl)
cited by
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Q 27:60 (an-Naml)
cited by
By commentator who cites how many verses on this ayah
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Tafsir al-Tustari 1 verse
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Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) 1 verse
Note: these connections are extracted from numeric S:A references inside the commentary text and are therefore biased toward mufassirun who use that notation. Prose-style references (e.g. "Surat al-Baqarah verse 30") will be added later, which should surface additional multi-source consensus.
With it He grows for you grain, olives, palms, vines, and all kinds of other crops. There truly is a sign in this for those who reflect
yunbitu lakum bihi l-zarʿa wal-zaytūna wal-nakhīla wal-aʿnāba wamin kulli l-thamarāti inna fī dhālika laāyatan liqawmin yatafakkarūn
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Tafsir Commentary
The Blessings of Rain, and explaining how it is one of the Signs
When Allah mentions the blessings of cattle and other animals that He has granted mankind, He then mentions how He has blessed them by sending rain down from the sky above, which has been fulfilling the needs and bringing joy to people and their cattle. Allah says:
لَّكُم مَّنْهُ شَرَابٌ
(from it you drink) meaning, He made it fresh and pure so that they can drink it, not salty and undrinkable.
وَمِنْهُ شَجَرٌ فِيهِ تُسِيمُونَ
(and from it (grows) the vegetation on which you send your cattle to pasture.) meaning, from it He raised plants on which your cattle graze. Ibn `Abbas, `Ikrimah, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah and Ibn Zayd, all said that this refers to grazing animals including camels.
يُنبِتُ لَكُمْ بِهِ الزَّرْعَ وَالزَّيْتُونَ وَالنَّخِيلَ وَالأَعْنَـبَ وَمِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَتِ
(With it He causes crops to grow for you, olives, date palms, grapes, and every kind of fruit.) meaning, with this one kind of water, He makes the earth sprout plants with different tastes, colors, scents and shapes. For this reason He says,
إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
(Verily, in this there is indeed an evident proof and a manifest sign for people who give thought.) meaning, this is a sign and a proof that there is no god besides Allah, as He says:
أَمَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ وَأَنزَلَ لَكُمْ مِّنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَنبَتْنَا بِهِ حَدَآئِقَ ذَاتَ بَهْجَةٍ مَّا كَانَ لَكُمْ أَن تُنبِتُواْ شَجَرَهَا أَإِلَـهٌ مَّعَ اللَّهِ بَلْ هُمْ قَوْمٌ يَعْدِلُونَ
(Is not He (better than your gods) Who created the heavens and the earth, and sends water down for you from the sky, from which We cause wonderful gardens full of beauty and delight to grow You are not able to cause the growth of their trees. Is there any ilah (god) with Allah Nay, but they are a people who make equals (to Him)!) (27:60).
With it He makes the crops grow for you and olives and date-palms and vines and all kinds of fruit. Surely in that which is mentioned there is a sign indicating His Oneness exalted He be for people who reflect upon His handiwork and therefore believe.
He it is who sends down water from heaven.... Surely in that is a sign for a people who reflect... signs for a people who use intellect... a sign for a people who remember. He is an allusion to the Essence, who is an intimation of the attributes, and sends down reports about the acts. Thus you will know that God has Essence, attributes, and acts. He is eternal in Essence, noble in attributes, wise in acts; without associate in Essence, without ambiguity in attri- butes, and without cause in acts. The servants gazes upon His artisanry, then flee from the artisanry to gaze upon the attributes, then flee from the attributes to gaze upon the Essence. These are the stations of the wayfarers' traveling and the degrees of the recognizers' recognition. One must have reflection in gazing upon the artisanry, knowledge in gazing on the attributes, and remembrance in gazing on the Essence. This is why the Lord of the Worlds says, “Surely in that is a sign for a people who reflect.” Then, after that, He says, “signs for a people who use intel- lect.” Then, after that, He says “a sign for a people who remember.” In other words, recognition will be gained in this order: first reflection, then knowledge, then, at that point, he will remember through the continuity of knowledge. First he reflects, putting his gaze in its place. If no defect falls into his gaze, then inevitably he gains knowledge; and in reality there is no difference between intellect and knowledge. Then, after that, the gaze becomes continuous, and the continuity of the gaze is the remembering of which He speaks. It has been said that He says “signs for a people who use intellect” in the plural only because someone gains many knowledges in order to become a recognizer, and every part of knowledge is gained through a different sign and indicator. The knower has signs and indicators before he becomes a recognizer of his Lord, because the indicator for one question is different from the in- dicator for another question. With one indicator he knows the necessity of gazing on Him, with many indicators he becomes a recognizer of his Lord, and with one indicator he knows that it is necessary to remember the various sorts of his knowledge.
He it is who sends down water from heaven.... Surely in that is a sign for a people who reflect... signs for a people who use intellect... a sign for a people who remember. He is an allusion to the Essence, who is an intimation of the attributes, and sends down reports about the acts. Thus you will know that God has Essence, attributes, and acts. He is eternal in Essence, noble in attributes, wise in acts; without associate in Essence, without ambiguity in attri- butes, and without cause in acts. The servants gazes upon His artisanry, then flee from the artisanry to gaze upon the attributes, then flee from the attributes to gaze upon the Essence. These are the stations of the wayfarers' traveling and the degrees of the recognizers' recognition. One must have reflection in gazing upon the artisanry, knowledge in gazing on the attributes, and remembrance in gazing on the Essence. This is why the Lord of the Worlds says, “Surely in that is a sign for a people who reflect.” Then, after that, He says, “signs for a people who use intel- lect.” Then, after that, He says “a sign for a people who remember.” In other words, recognition will be gained in this order: first reflection, then knowledge, then, at that point, he will remember through the continuity of knowledge. First he reflects, putting his gaze in its place. If no defect falls into his gaze, then inevitably he gains knowledge; and in reality there is no difference between intellect and knowledge. Then, after that, the gaze becomes continuous, and the continuity of the gaze is the remembering of which He speaks. It has been said that He says “signs for a people who use intellect” in the plural only because someone gains many knowledges in order to become a recognizer, and every part of knowledge is gained through a different sign and indicator. The knower has signs and indicators before he becomes a recognizer of his Lord, because the indicator for one question is different from the in- dicator for another question. With one indicator he knows the necessity of gazing on Him, with many indicators he becomes a recognizer of his Lord, and with one indicator he knows that it is necessary to remember the various sorts of his knowledge.
He it is who sends down water from heaven.... Surely in that is a sign for a people who reflect... signs for a people who use intellect... a sign for a people who remember. He is an allusion to the Essence, who is an intimation of the attributes, and sends down reports about the acts. Thus you will know that God has Essence, attributes, and acts. He is eternal in Essence, noble in attributes, wise in acts; without associate in Essence, without ambiguity in attri- butes, and without cause in acts. The servants gazes upon His artisanry, then flee from the artisanry to gaze upon the attributes, then flee from the attributes to gaze upon the Essence. These are the stations of the wayfarers' traveling and the degrees of the recognizers' recognition. One must have reflection in gazing upon the artisanry, knowledge in gazing on the attributes, and remembrance in gazing on the Essence. This is why the Lord of the Worlds says, “Surely in that is a sign for a people who reflect.” Then, after that, He says, “signs for a people who use intel- lect.” Then, after that, He says “a sign for a people who remember.” In other words, recognition will be gained in this order: first reflection, then knowledge, then, at that point, he will remember through the continuity of knowledge. First he reflects, putting his gaze in its place. If no defect falls into his gaze, then inevitably he gains knowledge; and in reality there is no difference between intellect and knowledge. Then, after that, the gaze becomes continuous, and the continuity of the gaze is the remembering of which He speaks. It has been said that He says “signs for a people who use intellect” in the plural only because someone gains many knowledges in order to become a recognizer, and every part of knowledge is gained through a different sign and indicator. The knower has signs and indicators before he becomes a recognizer of his Lord, because the indicator for one question is different from the in- dicator for another question. With one indicator he knows the necessity of gazing on Him, with many indicators he becomes a recognizer of his Lord, and with one indicator he knows that it is necessary to remember the various sorts of his knowledge.
He it is who sends down water from heaven.... Surely in that is a sign for a people who reflect... signs for a people who use intellect... a sign for a people who remember. He is an allusion to the Essence, who is an intimation of the attributes, and sends down reports about the acts. Thus you will know that God has Essence, attributes, and acts. He is eternal in Essence, noble in attributes, wise in acts; without associate in Essence, without ambiguity in attri- butes, and without cause in acts. The servants gazes upon His artisanry, then flee from the artisanry to gaze upon the attributes, then flee from the attributes to gaze upon the Essence. These are the stations of the wayfarers' traveling and the degrees of the recognizers' recognition. One must have reflection in gazing upon the artisanry, knowledge in gazing on the attributes, and remembrance in gazing on the Essence. This is why the Lord of the Worlds says, “Surely in that is a sign for a people who reflect.” Then, after that, He says, “signs for a people who use intel- lect.” Then, after that, He says “a sign for a people who remember.” In other words, recognition will be gained in this order: first reflection, then knowledge, then, at that point, he will remember through the continuity of knowledge. First he reflects, putting his gaze in its place. If no defect falls into his gaze, then inevitably he gains knowledge; and in reality there is no difference between intellect and knowledge. Then, after that, the gaze becomes continuous, and the continuity of the gaze is the remembering of which He speaks. It has been said that He says “signs for a people who use intellect” in the plural only because someone gains many knowledges in order to become a recognizer, and every part of knowledge is gained through a different sign and indicator. The knower has signs and indicators before he becomes a recognizer of his Lord, because the indicator for one question is different from the in- dicator for another question. With one indicator he knows the necessity of gazing on Him, with many indicators he becomes a recognizer of his Lord, and with one indicator he knows that it is necessary to remember the various sorts of his knowledge.
He it is who sends down water from heaven.... Surely in that is a sign for a people who reflect... signs for a people who use intellect... a sign for a people who remember.He is an allusion to the Essence, who is an intimation of the attributes, and sends down reports about the acts. Thus you will know that God has Essence, attributes, and acts. He is eternal in Essence, noble in attributes, wise in acts; without associate in Essence, without ambiguity in attri- butes, and without cause in acts. The servants gazes upon His artisanry, then flee from the artisanry to gaze upon the attributes, then flee from the attributes to gaze upon the Essence. These are the stations of the wayfarers' traveling and the degrees of the recognizers' recognition.One must have reflection in gazing upon the artisanry, knowledge in gazing on the attributes, and remembrance in gazing on the Essence. This is why the Lord of the Worlds says, �Surely in that is a sign for a people who reflect.� Then, after that, He says, �signs for a people who use intel- lect.� Then, after that, He says �a sign for a people who remember.� In other words, recognition will be gained in this order: first reflection, then knowledge, then, at that point, he will remember through the continuity of knowledge. First he reflects, putting his gaze in its place. If no defect falls into his gaze, then inevitably he gains knowledge; and in reality there is no difference between intellect and knowledge. Then, after that, the gaze becomes continuous, and the continuity of the gaze is the remembering of which He speaks.It has been said that He says �signs for a people who use intellect� in the plural only because someone gains many knowledges in order to become a recognizer, and every part of knowledge is gained through a different sign and indicator. The knower has signs and indicators before he becomes a recognizer of his Lord, because the indicator for one question is different from the in- dicator for another question. With one indicator he knows the necessity of gazing on Him, with many indicators he becomes a recognizer of his Lord, and with one indicator he knows that it is necessary to remember the various sorts of his knowledge.
يُخرج لكم من الأرض بهذا الماء الواحد الزروع المختلفة، ويُخرج به الزيتون والنخيل والأعناب، ويُخرج به كل أنواع الثمار والفواكه. إن في ذلك الإخراج لدلالةً واضحة لقوم يتأملون، فيعتبرون.
وقوله "ينبت لكم به الزرع والزيتون والنخيل والأعناب ومن كل الثمرات" أي يخرجها من الأرض بهذا الماء الواحد على اختلاف صنوفها وطعومها وألوانها وروائحها وأشكالها ولهذا قال "إن في ذلك لآية لقوم يتفكرون" أي دلالة وحجة على أنه لا إله إلا الله كما قال تعالى "أمن خلق السموات والأرض وأنزل لكم من السماء ماء فأنبتنا به حدائق ذات بهجة ما كان لكم أن تنبتوا شجرها أإله مع الله بل هم قوم يعدلون".
وقوله - سبحانه - : ( يُنبِتُ لَكُمْ بِهِ الزرع والزيتون والنخيل والأعناب وَمِن كُلِّ الثمرات . . ) تفصيل لأهم منافع الماء .أى : يخرج لكم من الأرض ، بسبب الماء الذى أنزله عليها من السماء ( الزرع ) الذى هو أصل أغذيتكم ، وعماد معاشكم ، كالقمح والشعير وغيرهما ( والزيتون ) الذى تستعملونه إداما فى أغذيتكم ( والنخيل والأعناب ) اللذين فيهما الكثير من الفوائد ، ومن التلذذ عند أكل ثمارها .وأخرج لكم - أيضا - بسبب هذا الماء ( مِن كُلِّ الثمرات ) التى تشتهونها وتنتفعون بها ، والتى تختلف فى أنواعها ، وفى مذاقها ، وفى روائحها ، وفى ألوانها ، مع أن الماء الذى سقيت به واحد ، والأرض التى نبتت فيها متجاورة .ولا شك أن فى هذا الانبات بتلك الطريقة ، أكبر دليل على قدرة الله - تعالى - ، لأنه لا يقدر على ذلك سواء - سبحانه - .
يقول تعالى ذكره: يُنبت لكم ربكم بالماء الذي أنـزل لكم من السماء زرعَكم وزيتونَكم ونخيلكم وأعنابكم ، ( وَمِنْ كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ ) يعني من كلّ الفواكه غير ذلك أرزاقا لكم وأقواتا وإداما وفاكهة، نعمة منه عليكم بذلك وتفضّلا وحُجة على من كفر به منكم ( إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَةً ) يقول جلّ ثناؤه: إن في إخراج الله بما ينـزل من السماء من ماء ما وصف لكم ( لآيَةً ) يقول: لدلالة واضحة ، وعلامة بينة ( لِقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ) يقول: لقوم يعتبرون مواعظ الله ، ويتفكَّرون في حججه، فيتذكرون وينيبون.
( ينبت لكم به ) أي : ينبت الله لكم به ، يعني بالماء الذي أنزل ، وقرأ أبو بكر عن عاصم " ننبت " بالنون . ( الزرع والزيتون والنخيل والأعناب ومن كل الثمرات إن في ذلك لآية لقوم يتفكرون )
جملة { ينبت } حال من ضمير { أنزل } [ سورة النحل : 10 ] ، أي ينبت الله لكم .وإنما لم يعطف هذا على جملة { لكم منه شراب } [ سورة النحل : 10 ] لأنّه ليس مما يحصل بنزول الماء وحده بل لا بدّ معه من زرع وغرس .وهذا الإنبات من دلائل عظيم القدرة الربّانية ، فالغرض منه الاستدلال ممزوجاً بالتذكير بالنّعمة ، كما دلّ عليه قوله : { لكم } على وزان ما تقدم في قوله تعالى : { والأنعام خلقها لكم فيها دفء } [ سورة النحل : 5 ] الآية ، وقوله تعالى : { والخيل والبغال والحمير لتركبوها } [ سورة النحل : 8 ] الآية .وأسند الإنبات إلى الله لأنه الملهم لأسبابه والخالق لأصوله تنبيهاً للناس على دفع غرورهم بقدرة أنفسهم ، ولذلك قال : { إن في ذلك لآية لقوم يتفكرون } لكثرة ما تحت ذلك من الدقائق .وذكر الزرع والزيتون وما معهما تقدم غير مرة في سورة الأنعام .والتفكّر تقدم عند قوله تعالى : { قل هل يستوي الأعمى والبصيرأفلا تتفكرون } في سورة الأنعام ( 50 ).وإقحام لفظ قوم للدلالة على أن التفكّر من سجاياهم ، كما تقدم عند قوله تعالى : { لآيات لقوم يعقلون } في سورة البقرة ( 164 ).{ ومن كل الثمرات } عطف على { الزرع والزيتون } ، أي وينبت لكم به من كل الثمرات مما لم يذكر هنا .والتعريف تعريف الجنس . والمراد : أجناس ثمرات الأرض التي ينبتها الماء ، ولكل قوم من الناس ثمرات أرضهم وجَوّهم . و { من } تبعيضية قصد منها تنويع الامتنان على كل قوم بما نالهم من نعم الثمرات . وإنما لم تدخل على الزرع وما عطف عليه لأنها من الثمرات التي تنبت في كل مكان .وجملة { إن في ذلك لآية لقوم يتفكرون } تذييل .والآية : الدلالة على أنه تعالى المبدع الحكيم . وتلك هي إنبات أصناف مختلفة من ماء واحد ، كما قال : { تسقى بماء واحد } في سورة الرعد ( 4 ).ونيطت دلالة هذه بوصف التفكير لأنها دلالة خفية لحصولها بالتدريج . وهو تعريض بالمشركين الذين لم يهتدوا بما في ذلك من دلالة على تفرّد الله بالإلهية بأنهم قوم لا يتفكرون .وقرأ الجمهور { ينبت } بياء الغيبة . وقرأه أبو بكر عن عاصم بنون العظمة .
تفسير الآيتين 10 و11:ـ بذلك على كمال قدرة الله الذي أنزل هذا الماء من السحاب الرقيق اللطيف ورحمته حيث جعل فيه ماء غزيرا منه يشربون وتشرب مواشيهم ويسقون منه حروثهم فتخرج لهم الثمرات الكثيرة والنعم الغزيرة.
قوله تعالى : ينبت لكم به الزرع والزيتون والنخيل والأعناب ومن كل الثمرات إن في ذلك لآية لقوم يتفكرون قوله تعالى : ينبت لكم به الزرع والزيتون والنخيل والأعناب ومن كل الثمرات قرأ أبو بكر عن عاصم " ننبت " بالنون على التعظيم . العامة بالياء على معنى ينبت الله لكم ; يقال : نبتت الأرض وأنبتت بمعنى ، ونبت البقل وأنبت بمعنى . وأنشد الفراء :رأيت ذوي الحاجات حول بيوتهم قطينا بها حتى إذا أنبت البقلأي نبت . وأنبته الله فهو منبوت ، على غير قياس . وأنبت الغلام نبتت عانته . ونبت الشجر غرسه ; يقال : نبت أجلك بين عينيك . ونبت الصبي تنبيتا ربيته . والمنبت موضع النبات ; يقال : ما أحسن نابتة بني فلان ; أي ما ينبت عليه أموالهم وأولادهم . ونبتت لهم نابتة إذا نشأ لهم نشء صغار . وإن بني فلان لنابتة شر . والنوابت من الأحداث الأغمار . والنبيت حي من اليمن . والينبوت شجر ; كله عن الجوهري . والزيتون جمع زيتونة . ويقال للشجرة نفسها : زيتونة ، وللثمرة زيتونة . وقد مضى في سورة " الأنعام " حكم زكاة هذه الثمار فلا معنى للإعادة .إن في ذلك أي الإنزال والإنبات .لآية أي دلالة لقوم يتفكرون .
The clouds send down rain from the sky and, thanks to this, extremely fruitful results appear on the earth down below. This coordinated and harmonious action of ‘heaven and earth’ clearly proves that the God of earth is the same as that of heaven. There is perfect harmony among the different parts of the universe. This harmony is definite proof of the fact that the Creator and Lord of the whole universe is only one. In the present structure of the universe, there is no scope for more than one God, and when the real Creator and Lord is one God, making any thing other than Him an object of worship will be absolutely indefensible.
It will be noticed that all verses cited above point out to Divine blessings and mention the creation of the universe with unprecedented wisdom. In them, those who ponder find significant indicators and proofs which lead them to perceive the truth of Tauhid, the truth that Allah Ta` ala is One. Therefore, while these blessings are being mentioned, they are tied up with a notice to pay attention, think, understand and accept advice. Consequently, at the end of verse 11, it was said: إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ (Indeed, in that, there is a sign for a people who ponder). The reason is that the linkage of pastures, crops, trees and their flowers and fruits with the creativity and wisdom of Allah Ta` ala needs some reflection. If one ponders over a grain or pit, he will come to realize that simply putting it inside the land and watering it cannot automatically cause it to grow into a huge big tree with flowers of many colours opening up all over it. No tiller or farmer or land owner has made this happen. Their role in this process is nil. All this is linked with and tied to the creativity and wisdom of the Absolute Master.
After that, when came the description of the night and day, the sun, the moon and the stars which have been made subservient by His command, it was said in the concluding sentence of verse 12: إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ (Indeed, in that, there are signs for a people who understand). Given here is the hint that these things are of course subservient to the command of Allah, an open fact which does not need a lot of thinking. Anyone having some reason in him would understand, because there was obviously some human input in the growth of vegetation and trees, but, in this case, there is none.
(Therewith) by means of water (He causeth crops to grow for you, and the olive and the date-palm and grapes and all kinds of fruit. Lo! Herein) in all the different kinds of fruit and of their tastes (is indeed a portent) a sign and a lesson (for people who reflect) upon that which Allah has created for them.
�and all kinds of fruit...! [And He disposed for you the night and the day and the sun and the moon and the stars.] Surely in that there are signs�He said:This is because the crops [mentioned] are of one species [i.e. fruit], whereas the night and day are two kinds, and likewise are the sun and moon. And He said: �signs in this for people who understand (yaʿqilūn) [16:12]. Know that God, Exalted is He, when He wished to make His knowledge apparent, deposited His knowledge in the intellect (ʿaql). Then He ruled that no one could have access to any of it [His knowledge] except through the intellect. Thus whoever has been deprived of his intellect has also been deprived of knowledge. His words: