The Bee — Verse 13
16:13 · an-Nahl
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وَمَا ذَرَأَ لَكُمۡ فِی ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مُخۡتَلِفًا أَلۡوَ ٰنُهُۥۤۚ إِنَّ فِی ذَ ٰلِكَ لَءَایَةࣰ لِّقَوۡمࣲ یَذَّكَّرُونَ ١٣
wamā dhara-a lakum fī l-arḍi mukh'talifan alwānuhu inna fī dhālika laāyatan liqawmin yadhakkarūn
The Bee / an-Nahl (16:13)
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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.
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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.
He has made of benefit to you the many-coloured things He has multiplied on the earth. There truly are signs in this for those who take it to heart
wamā dhara-a lakum fī l-arḍi mukh'talifan alwānuhu inna fī dhālika laāyatan liqawmin yadhakkarūn
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Tafsir Commentary
Signs in the Subjection of Night and Day, the Sun and the Moon, and in that which grows on Earth
Allah mentions the mighty signs and immense blessings to be found in His subjection of night and day, which follow one another; the sun and moon, which revolve; the stars, both fixed and moving through the skies, offering light by which people may find their way in the darkness. Each of (these heavenly bodies) travels in its own orbit, which Allah has ordained for it, and travels in the manner prescribed for it, without deviating in any way. All of them are under His subjugation, His control and His decree, as Allah says:
إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِى خَلَقَ السَمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِى الَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ أَلاَ لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالاٌّمْرُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَـلَمِينَ
(Indeed, your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, and then He rose (Istawa) over the Throne. He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly, and (He created) the sun, the moon, the stars (all) subjected to His command. Surely, His is the creation and commandment. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of all that exists!) (7:54) Thus Allah says;
إِنَّ فِى ذلِكَ لآيَـتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
(Surely, in this are proofs for people who understand.) meaning, they are indications of His immense power and might, for those who think about Allah and understand His signs.
وَمَا ذَرَأَ لَكُمْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَانُهُ
(And whatsoever He has created of varying colors on the earth for you. ) When Allah points out the features of the skies, He also points out the wondrous things that He has created on earth, the variety of its animals, minerals, plants and inanimate features, all having different colors and shapes, benefits and qualities.
إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَذَّكَّرُونَ
(Verily, in this is a sign for people who reflect.) meaning (those who remember) the blessings of Allah and give thanks to Him for them.
And He has disposed for you whatever He has created for you in the earth of animals plants and otherwise diverse in hue such as red yellow green and otherwise. Surely in that there is a sign for people who remember a people who are admonished.
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.
وسخَّر ما خلقه لكم في الأرض من الدوابِّ والثمار والمعادن، وغير ذلك مما تختلف ألوانه ومنافعه. إن في ذلك الخَلْق واختلاف الألوان والمنافع لَعبرةً لقوم يتعظون، ويعلمون أنَّ في تسخير هذه الأشياء علاماتٍ على وحدانية الله تعالى وإفراده بالعبادة.
وقوله "وما ذرأ لكم في الأرض مختلفا ألوانه" لما نبه تعالى على معالم السموات نبه على ما خلق في الأرض من الأمور العجيبة والأشياء المختلفة من الحيوانات والمعادن والنباتات والجمادات على اختلاف ألوانها وأشكالها وما فيها من المنافع والخواص "إن في ذلك لآية لقوم يذكرون" أي آلاء الله ونعمه فيشكرونها.
وقوله - سبحانه - : ( وَمَا ذَرَأَ لَكُمْ فِي الأرض مُخْتَلِفاً أَلْوَانُهُ ) . . معطوف على ما قبله من النعم وأصل الذرأ : الخلق بالتناسل والتوالد عن طريق الحمل والتفريخ .قال القرطبى : ذرأ الله الخلق يذرؤهم ذرءا ، أى خلقهم ، ومنه الذرية وهى نسل الثقلين ، والجمع الذرارى ، ويقال : أنمى الله ذرأك وذروك أى : ذريتك .والمعنى : وسخر لكم - أيضاً - ما أوجده فى الأرض من أجل منفعتكم من عجائب الأمور ، ومختلف الأشياء ، من حيوان ونبات ، ومعادن مختلفة الألوان والأجناس والخواص .ولا شك أن فى اختلاف الألوان والمناظر والهيئات وغير ذلك ، فيه الدلالة الواضحة على قدرة الله - تعالى - وعلى أنه الخالق لكل شئ .قال - تعالى - ( وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السماوات والأرض واختلاف أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَلْوَانِكُمْ . . . ) ثم ختم - سبحانه - الآية الكريمة بقوله ( إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَذَّكَّرُونَ ) أى : إن فى ذلك الذى بيناه لكم ، لآية واضحة على قدرة الله - تعالى - لقوم يعتبرون ، ويتذكرون آلاء الله ونعمه ، فيشكرونه عليها ، ويخلصون له العبادة .وبعد أن ذكر - سبحانه - جملة من نعمه التى أوجدها لعباده فى البر ، أتبع ذلك ببيان جانب من نعمه عليهم عن طريق خلقه للبحر ، فقال - تعالى - : ( وَهُوَ الذي سَخَّرَ البحر لِتَأْكُلُواْ مِنْهُ لَحْماً طَرِيّاً وَتَسْتَخْرِجُواْ مِنْهُ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى الفلك مَوَاخِرَ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُواْ مِن فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُون )
يعني جلّ ثناؤه بقوله ( وَمَا ذَرَأَ لَكُمْ ) وسخر لكم ما ذرأ: أي ما خلق لكم في الأرض مختلفا ألوانه من الدوابّ والثمار.كما حدثنا بشر، قال: ثنا يزيد ، قال: ثنا سعيد، عن قتادة، قوله ( وَمَا ذَرَأَ لَكُمْ فِي الأرْضِ ) يقول: وما خلق لكم مختلفا ألوانه من الدوابّ ، ومن الشجر والثمار، نعم من الله متظاهرة فاشكروها لله.حدثنا الحسن بن يحيى، قال: أخبرنا عبد الرزاق، قال: أخبرنا معمر، عن قتادة، قال: من الدوابّ والأشجار والثمار ، ونصب قوله مختلفا ، لأن قوله (وما) في موضع نصب بالمعنى الذي وصفت. وإذا كان ذلك كذلك، وجب أن يكون مختلفا ألوانه حالا من " ما "، والخبر دونه تامّ، ولو لم تكن " ما " في موضع نصب، وكان الكلام مبتدأ من قوله ( وَمَا ذَرَأَ لَكُمْ ) لم يكن في مختلف إلا الرفع، لأنه كان يصير مرافع " ما " حينئذ.
( وما ذرأ ) خلق ، ( لكم ) لأجلكم ، أي : وسخر ما خلق لأجلكم ، ( في الأرض ) من الدواب والأشجار والثمار وغيرها ، ( مختلفا ) نصب على الحال ، ( ألوانه )( إن في ذلك لآية لقوم يذكرون ) يعتبرون .
عطف على { الليل والنهار } [ سورة النحل : 12 ] ، أي وسخّر لكم ما ذرأ لكم في الأرض . وهو دليل على دقيق الصّنع والحكمة لقوله تعالى : { مختلفاً ألوانه إن في ذلك لآية لقوم يذكرون }. وأومىء إلى ما فيه من منّة بقوله { لكم }.والذرء : الخلق بالتناسل والتوّلد بالحمل والتفريخ ، فليس الإنبات ذرءاً ، وهو شامل للأنعام والكراع ( وقد مضت المنّة به ) ولغيرها مثل كلاب الصيد والحراسة ، وجوارح الصيد ، والطيور ، والوحوش المأكولة ، ومن الشجر والنبات .وزيد هنا وصف اختلاف ألوانه وهو زيادة للتعجيب ولا دخل له في الامتنان ، فهو كقوله تعالى : { تسقى بماء واحد ونفضل بعضها على بعض في الأكل } في سورة الرعد ( 4 ) ، وقوله تعالى : { ومن الجبال جدد بيض وحمر مختلف ألوانها وغرابيب سود ومن الناس والدواب والأنعام مختلف ألوانه } في سورة فاطر ( 27 ). وبذلك صار هذا آية مستقلة فلذلك ذيّله بجملة { إن في ذلك لآية لقوم يذكرون } ، ولكون محل الاستدلال هو اختلاف الألوان مع اتّحاد أصل الذرء أفردت الآية في قوله تعالى : { إن في ذلك لآية }.والألوان : جمع لون . وهو كيفية لسطوح الأجسام مدركة بالبصر تنشأ من امتزاج بعض العناصر بالسطح بأصل الخلقة أو بصبغها بعنصر ذي لون معروف . وتنشأ من اختلاط عنصرين فأكثر ألوانٌ غير متناهية . وقد تقدم عند قوله تعالى : { قالوا ادع لنا ربك يبيّن لنا ما لونها } في سورة البقرة ( 69 ).ونيط الاستدلال باختلاف الألوان بوصف التذكّر لأنه استدلال يحصل بمجرّد تذكّر الألوان المختلفة إذ هي مشهورة .وإقحام لفظ ( قوم ) وكون الجملة تذييلاً تقدم آنفاً .وأبدى الفخر في درة التنزيل } وجهاً لاختلاف الأوصاف في قوله تعالى : { لقوم يتفكرون } [ سورة النحل : 11 ] وقوله : { لقوم يعقلون } [ سورة النحل : 12 ] وقوله : { لقوم يذكرون } : بأن ذلك لمراعاة اختلاف شدّة الحاجة إلى قوة التأمل بدلالة المخلوقات الناجمة عن الأرض يحتاج إلى التفكر ، وهو إعمال النظر المؤدي إلى العلم . ودلالة ما ذرأه في الأرض من الحيوان محتاجة إلى مزيد تأمّل في التفكير للاستدلال على اختلاف أحوالها وتناسلها وفوائدها ، فكانت بحاجة إلى التذكّر ، وهو التفكّر مع تذكّر أجناسها واختلاف خصائصها . وأما دلالة تسخير الليل والنهار والعوالم العلوية فلأنها أدقّ وأحوج إلى التعمّق . عبر عن المستدلّين عليها بأنهم يعقلون ، والتعقّل هو أعلى أحوال الاستدلال ا ه .
أي: فيما ذرأ الله ونشر للعباد من كل ما على وجه الأرض، من حيوان وأشجار ونبات، وغير ذلك، مما تختلف ألوانه، وتختلف منافعه، آية على كمال قدرة الله وعميم إحسانه، وسعة بره، وأنه الذي لا تنبغي العبادة إلا له وحده لا شريك له، { لِقَوْمٍ يَذَّكَّرُونَ } أي: يستحضرون في ذاكرتهم ما ينفعهم من العلم النافع، ويتأملون ما دعاهم الله إلى التأمل فيه حتى يتذكروا بذلك ما هو دليل عليه.
قوله تعالى : وما ذرأ لكم في الأرض مختلفا ألوانه إن في ذلك لآية لقوم يذكرون فيه ثلاث مسائل :الأولى : قوله تعالى : وما ذرأ أي وسخر ما ذرأ في الأرض لكم . ذرأ أي خلق ; ذرأ الله الخلق يذرؤهم ذرءا خلقهم ، فهو ذارئ ; ومنه الذرية وهي نسل الثقلين ، إلا أن العرب تركت همزها ، والجمع الذراري . يقال : أنمى الله ذرأك وذروك ، أي ذريتك . وأصل الذرو والذرء التفريق عن جمع . وفي الحديث : ذرء النار ; أي أنهم خلقوا لها .الثانية : ما ذرأه الله سبحانه منه مسخر مذلل كالدواب والأنعام والأشجار وغيرها ، ومنه غير ذلك . والدليل عليه ما رواه مالك في الموطأ عن كعب الأحبار قال : لولا كلمات أقولهن لجعلتني يهود حمارا . فقيل له : وما هن ؟ فقال : أعوذ بوجه الله العظيم الذي ليس شيء أعظم منه ، وبكلمات الله التامات التي لا يجاوزهن بر ولا فاجر ، وبأسماء الله الحسنى كلها ما علمت منها وما لم أعلم ، من شر ما خلق وبرأ وذرأ . وفيه عن يحيى بن سعيد أنه قال : أسري برسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - فرأى عفريتا من الجن يطلبه بشعلة من نار ، الحديث . وفيه : وشر ما ذرأ في الأرض . وقد ذكرناه وما في معناه في غير هذا الموضع .[ ص: 78 ] الثالثة : قوله تعالى : مختلفا ألوانه مختلفا نصب على الحال . وألوانه هيئاته ومناظره ، يعني الدواب والشجر وغيرها .إن في ذلك أي في اختلاف ألوانها .لآية أي لعبرة .لقوم يذكرون أي يتعظون ويعلمون أن في تسخير هذه المكونات لعلامات على وحدانية الله - تعالى - ، وأنه لا يقدر على ذلك أحد غيره .
The sun, the moon and the stars all revolve continuously in the vastness of space with total precision. On the earth, there are innumerable examples of God’s creation (animals, vegetation, rocks and minerals, etc.). The former phenomenon highlights the totally submissive aspect of creation, (musakhkharatun bi amrihi), while the latter phenomenon highlights the endless variety of creation (mukhtalifan alwanuhu). The first scene reminds man of the limitlessness of God’s power, while the second scene reminds him of the multiplicity of God’s attributes. These scenes are so wonderful that the keen-eyed observer cannot remain unaffected by them. In these things, he will see God’s majesty and His role as Sustainer; he will discover unseen realities hidden in external occurrences; by looking at God’s creations, he will be immersed in the realization of the Creator.
Then, in verse 13, after mentioning all other varied produce of the land, it was said: إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَذَّكَّرُونَ (Surely, in that, there is a sign for a people who accept advice). The sense is that no deep thinking is needed here as well - because, the proof has been furnished openly. But, the condition is that one must look at it carefully and learn his lesson. Otherwise, one who has no sense or concern and who just pays no attention could hardly hope to benefit from it.
(And whatsoever He hath created for you in the earth of diverse hues) of different species of plants and fruits and other things, (lo! Therein) in the different things that Allah has created (is indeed a portent) a sign and lesson (for people who take heed) for people who take admonition from that which is in the Qur'an.