The Light — Verse 44

The Power of Allah to create the Clouds and that which comes from Them Allah tells us that He drives the clouds from the beginning, when they are formed and are still weak. This is the "Gentle driving." ثُمَّ يُؤَلِّفُ بَيْنَهُ (then joins them together,) means, He brings them together after they have been scattered. ثُمَّ يَجْعَلُهُ رُكَاماً (then makes them into a heap of layers,) means, He piles them up on top of one another. فَتَرَى الْوَدْقَ (and you see the Wadq) meaning the rain, يَخْرُجُ مِنْ خِلاَلِهِ (come forth from between them;) means, from the gaps between them. This is how it was understood by Ibn `Abbas and Ad-Dahhak. `Ubayd bin `Umayr Al-Laythi said: "Allah sends the scatterer wind, which stirs up that which is on the surface of the earth. Then he sends the generator wind, which forms the clouds. Then He sends the joiner wind which brings them together. Then He sends the fertilizer wind which fertilizes or `seeds' the clouds." This was recorded by Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir. وَيُنَزِّلُ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مِن جِبَالٍ فِيهَا مِن بَرَدٍ (and He sends down from Min the sky, from Min mountains in it of Min ice,) Some of the grammarians said that the first Min describes the place from which it is coming, the second specifies from which part of the sky it comes, and the third means some kind of mountains. This is based on the view of those scholars of Tafsir who say that, مِن جِبَالٍ فِيهَا مِن بَرَدٍ (from Min mountains in it of Min ice) means that there are mountains of hail in the sky from which Allah sends down ice. As for those who say that "mountains" here is used as a metaphor for clouds, they think that the second Min is also used to describe the place from which the ice is coming, and is thus interchangeable with the first. And Allah knows best. فَيُصِيبُ بِهِ مَن يَشَآءُ وَيَصْرِفُهُ عَن مَّن يَشَآءُ (and strikes therewith whom He wills, and averts it from whom He wills.) It may be that the phrase فَيُصِيبُ بِهِ (and strikes therewith) means, with what He sends down from the sky of different kinds of rain and hail. So then the phrase فَيُصِيبُ بِهِ مَن يَشَآءُ (and strikes therewith whom He wills) means, by His mercy towards them, and وَيَصْرِفُهُ عَن مَّن يَشَآءُ (and averts it from whom He wills. ) means, He withholds rain from them. Or it may be that فَيُصِيبُ بِهِ (and strikes therewith) means, with hail, as a punishment towards whomever He wills, striking their fruits and destroying their crops and trees. And He averts it from whomever He wills as a mercy towards them. يَكَادُ سَنَا بَرْقِهِ يَذْهَبُ بِالاٌّبْصَـرِ (The vivid flash of its lightning nearly blinds the sight.) the brightness of its lightning almost takes away their sight if the eyes follow it and try to look at it. يُقَلِّبُ اللَّهُ الَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ (Allah causes the night and the day to succeed each other.) He is controlling them, so that He takes something from the length of one and adds it to the other, which is short, until they become equal, then He does the opposite so that the one which was short becomes long and vice versa. Allah is the One Who is controlling that by His command, power, might and knowledge. إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لاوْلِى الاٌّبْصَـرِ (Truly, in this is indeed a lesson for those who have insight.) means, this is an indication of His greatness, may He be exalted. This is like the Ayah: إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ وَاخْتِلَـفِ الَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لاّيَـتٍ لاٌّوْلِى الاٌّلْبَـبِ (Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are indeed signs for men of understanding.) 3:190 and thereafter.

God alternates the night and the day that is He brings one in place of the other. Surely in that alternation there is a lesson an indication for those who see those possessing insight an indication of God’s power exalted be He.

God turns about the night and the day. Surely in that is a lesson for the possessors of eyes. WāsiṬī said, “No one has ever opposed Him and no one has ever conformed with Him. All of them are put to use by His will and His power. How can there be conformity and opposition when He turns about the night and the day along with what is within them and He stands over the things and in the things through their subsistence and their annihilation. Finding does not become intimate with Him, nor does not finding bring about alienation.” Whatever the ulama have said is a report and whatever the shaykhs have said is a tradition. The reality of the Real is beyond reports and traditions. A field has been placed before the creatures and the call has gone out, “O folk of the world! Step into this field and walk in the veil. Know not where you go, and know not whence you are coming. Set out from the threshold of Our knowledge and settle down at the threshold of Our de- cree. Tighten the belt of serving Us and keep watch over Our will. Be ready for Our power, which comes along with Our pardon and forgiveness and Our severity and punishment. 'The power of the powerful suspends every contrivance.'” When someone's secret core is the mine of secret whispering, his heart is in the grasp of joy, his forehead has the mark of prosperity, and the eye of his certainty sees with the light of learn- ing lessons from the acts of the Majestic, then he will be aware of the secrets and intimations in these verses and understand these states, for the Exalted Lord says, “Surely in that is a lesson for the possessors of eyes.” In another place He says, “Surely in that is a reminder for him who has a heart” [50:37].

God turns about the night and the day. Surely in that is a lesson for the possessors of eyes. WāsiṬī said, “No one has ever opposed Him and no one has ever conformed with Him. All of them are put to use by His will and His power. How can there be conformity and opposition when He turns about the night and the day along with what is within them and He stands over the things and in the things through their subsistence and their annihilation. Finding does not become intimate with Him, nor does not finding bring about alienation.” Whatever the ulama have said is a report and whatever the shaykhs have said is a tradition. The reality of the Real is beyond reports and traditions. A field has been placed before the creatures and the call has gone out, “O folk of the world! Step into this field and walk in the veil. Know not where you go, and know not whence you are coming. Set out from the threshold of Our knowledge and settle down at the threshold of Our de- cree. Tighten the belt of serving Us and keep watch over Our will. Be ready for Our power, which comes along with Our pardon and forgiveness and Our severity and punishment. 'The power of the powerful suspends every contrivance.'” When someone's secret core is the mine of secret whispering, his heart is in the grasp of joy, his forehead has the mark of prosperity, and the eye of his certainty sees with the light of learn- ing lessons from the acts of the Majestic, then he will be aware of the secrets and intimations in these verses and understand these states, for the Exalted Lord says, “Surely in that is a lesson for the possessors of eyes.” In another place He says, “Surely in that is a reminder for him who has a heart” [50:37].

God turns about the night and the day. Surely in that is a lesson for the possessors of eyes. WāsiṬī said, “No one has ever opposed Him and no one has ever conformed with Him. All of them are put to use by His will and His power. How can there be conformity and opposition when He turns about the night and the day along with what is within them and He stands over the things and in the things through their subsistence and their annihilation. Finding does not become intimate with Him, nor does not finding bring about alienation.” Whatever the ulama have said is a report and whatever the shaykhs have said is a tradition. The reality of the Real is beyond reports and traditions. A field has been placed before the creatures and the call has gone out, “O folk of the world! Step into this field and walk in the veil. Know not where you go, and know not whence you are coming. Set out from the threshold of Our knowledge and settle down at the threshold of Our de- cree. Tighten the belt of serving Us and keep watch over Our will. Be ready for Our power, which comes along with Our pardon and forgiveness and Our severity and punishment. 'The power of the powerful suspends every contrivance.'” When someone's secret core is the mine of secret whispering, his heart is in the grasp of joy, his forehead has the mark of prosperity, and the eye of his certainty sees with the light of learn- ing lessons from the acts of the Majestic, then he will be aware of the secrets and intimations in these verses and understand these states, for the Exalted Lord says, “Surely in that is a lesson for the possessors of eyes.” In another place He says, “Surely in that is a reminder for him who has a heart” [50:37].

God turns about the night and the day. Surely in that is a lesson for the possessors of eyes. WāsiṬī said, “No one has ever opposed Him and no one has ever conformed with Him. All of them are put to use by His will and His power. How can there be conformity and opposition when He turns about the night and the day along with what is within them and He stands over the things and in the things through their subsistence and their annihilation. Finding does not become intimate with Him, nor does not finding bring about alienation.” Whatever the ulama have said is a report and whatever the shaykhs have said is a tradition. The reality of the Real is beyond reports and traditions. A field has been placed before the creatures and the call has gone out, “O folk of the world! Step into this field and walk in the veil. Know not where you go, and know not whence you are coming. Set out from the threshold of Our knowledge and settle down at the threshold of Our de- cree. Tighten the belt of serving Us and keep watch over Our will. Be ready for Our power, which comes along with Our pardon and forgiveness and Our severity and punishment. 'The power of the powerful suspends every contrivance.'” When someone's secret core is the mine of secret whispering, his heart is in the grasp of joy, his forehead has the mark of prosperity, and the eye of his certainty sees with the light of learn- ing lessons from the acts of the Majestic, then he will be aware of the secrets and intimations in these verses and understand these states, for the Exalted Lord says, “Surely in that is a lesson for the possessors of eyes.” In another place He says, “Surely in that is a reminder for him who has a heart” [50:37].

God turns about the night and the day. Surely in that is a lesson for the possessors of eyes.WāsiṬī said, �No one has ever opposed Him and no one has ever conformed with Him. All of them are put to use by His will and His power. How can there be conformity and opposition when He turns about the night and the day along with what is within them and He stands over the things and in the things through their subsistence and their annihilation. Finding does not become intimate with Him, nor does not finding bring about alienation.�Whatever the ulama have said is a report and whatever the shaykhs have said is a tradition.The reality of the Real is beyond reports and traditions.A field has been placed before the creatures and the call has gone out, �O folk of the world! Step into this field and walk in the veil. Know not where you go, and know not whence you are coming. Set out from the threshold of Our knowledge and settle down at the threshold of Our de- cree. Tighten the belt of serving Us and keep watch over Our will. Be ready for Our power, which comes along with Our pardon and forgiveness and Our severity and punishment. 'The power of the powerful suspends every contrivance.'�When someone's secret core is the mine of secret whispering, his heart is in the grasp of joy, his forehead has the mark of prosperity, and the eye of his certainty sees with the light of learn- ing lessons from the acts of the Majestic, then he will be aware of the secrets and intimations in these verses and understand these states, for the Exalted Lord says, �Surely in that is a lesson for the possessors of eyes.� In another place He says, �Surely in that is a reminder for him who has a heart� [50:37].

ومن دلائل قدرة الله سبحانه وتعالى أنه يقلب الليل والنهار بمجيء أحدهما بعد الآخر، واختلافهما طولا وقِصَرًا، إن في ذلك لَدلالة يعتبر بها كل مَن له بصيرة.

أي يتصرف فهما فيأخذ من طول هذا في قصر هذا حتى يعتدلا ثم يأخذ من هذا في هذا فيطول الذي كان قصيرا ويقصر الذي كان طويلا والله هو المتصرف في ذلك بأمره وقهره وعزته وعلمه "إن فى ذلك لعبرة لأولى الأبصار" أي لدليلا على عظمته تعالى كما قال تعالى "إن في خلق السموات والأرض واختلاف الليل والنهار لآيات لأولي الألباب" وما بعدها من الآيات الكريمات.

وبعد أن ساق - سبحانه - هذا الدليل العلوى على وحدانيته وقدرته . أتبعه بدليل زمنى يحسه الناس ويشاهدونه فى حياتهم فقال : ( يُقَلِّبُ الله الليل والنهار ) أى : يعاقب بينهما فيأتى بهذا ، ويذهب بذاك ، وينقص أحدهما ويزيد فى الآخر ، ويجعل أولهما وقتا لحلول نعمه والثانى لنزول نقمه ، أو العكس ، فهو - سبحانه - صاحبهما والمتصرف فيها " إن فى ذلك " التقليب والإزجاء والتأليف ، وغير ذلك من مظاهر قدرته المبثوثة فى الآفاق " لآيات " عظيمة " لأولى الأبصار " التى تبصر قدرة الله - تعالى - وتعتبر بها ، فتخلص له العبادة والطاعة .

وقوله: ( يُقَلِّبُ اللَّهُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ ) يقول: يعقب اللهُ بين الليل والنهار ويصرفهما، إذا أذهب هذا جاء هذا، وإذا أذهب هذا جاء هذا( إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لأولِي الأبْصَارِ ) يقول: إنّ في إنشاء الله السحاب، وإنـزاله منه الودق، ومن السماء البردَ، وفي تقليبه الليل والنهار لعبرة لمن اعتبر به، وعظةً لمن اتعظ به. ممن له فهم وعقل; لأن ذلك ينبئ ويدلّ على أنه له مدبِّرا ومصرِّفًا ومقلبا لا يشبهه شيء.

( يقلب الله الليل والنهار ) يصرفهما في اختلافهما وتعاقبهما يأتي بالليل ويذهب بالنهار ، ويأتي بالنهار ويذهب بالليل . أخبرنا عبد الواحد المليحي ، أخبرنا عبد الله النعيمي ، أخبرنا محمد بن يوسف ، أخبرنا محمد بن إسماعيل ، أخبرنا الحميدي ، أخبرنا سفيان ، أخبرنا الزهري ، عن سعيد بن المسيب ، عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال : قال رسول الله - صلى الله عليه وسلم - : قال الله تعالى : " يؤذيني ابن آدم ، يسب الدهر وأنا الدهر ، بيدي الأمر ، أقلب الليل والنهار " قوله تعالى : ( إن في ذلك ) يعني في ذلك الذي ذكرت من هذه الأشياء ، ( لعبرة لأولي الأبصار ) يعني : دلالة لأهل العقول والبصائر على قدرة الله تعالى وتوحيده .

يُقَلِّبُ اللَّهُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِأُولِي الْأَبْصَارِ (44)التقليب تغيير هيئة إلى ضدها ومنه { فأصبح يُقلب كفيه على ما أنفق فيها } [ الكهف : 42 ] أي يدير كفيه من ظاهر إلى باطن ، فتقليب الليل والنهار تغيير الأفق من حالة الليل إلى حالة الضياء ومن حالة النهار إلى حالة الظلام ، فالمقلَّب هو الجو بما يختلف عليه من الأعراض ولكن لما كانت حالة ظلمة الجو تُسمى ليلاً وحالة نوره تسمى نهاراً عُبر عن الجو في حالتيه بهما ، وعدي التقليب إليهما بهذا الاعتبار .ومما يدخل في معنى التقليب تغيير هيئة الليل والنهار بالطول والقصر . ولرعي تكرر التقلب بمعنييه عبر بالمضارع المقتضي للتكرر والتجدد .والكلام استئناف . وجيء به مستأنفاً غير معطوف على آيات الاعتبار المذكورة قبله لأنه أريد الانتقال من الاستدلال بما قد يخفى على بعض الأبصار إلى الاستدلال بما يشاهده كل ذي بصر كل يوم وكل شهر فهو لا يكاد يخفى على ذي بصر . وهذا تدرج في موقع هذه الجملة عقب جملة { يكاد سنا برقه يذهب بالأبصار } [ النور : 43 ] كما أشرنا إليه آنفاً . ولذلك فالمقصود من الكلام هو جملة { إن في ذلك لعبرة لأولى الأبصار } ، ولكن بني نظم الكلام على تقديم الجملة الفعلية لما تقتضيه من إفادة التجدد بخلاف أن يقال : إن في تقليب الليل والنهار لعبرة .والإشارة الواقعة في قوله : { إن في ذلك } إلى ما تضمنه فعل { يقلب } من المصدر . أي إن في التقليب . ويرجح هذا القصد ذكر العبرة بلفظ المفرد المنكر .والتأكيد ب { إن } إما لمجرد الاهتمام بالخبر وإما لتنزيل المشركين في تركهم الاعتبار بذلك منزلة من ينكر أن في ذلك عبرة .وقيل : الإشارة بقوله : { إن في ذلك } إلى جميع ما ذكر آنفاً ابتداء من قوله : { ألم تر أن الله يزجي سحاباً } [ النور : 43 ] فيكون الإفراد في قوله : { لعبرة } ناظراً إلى أن مجموع ذلك يفيد جنس العبرة الجامعة لليقين بأن الله هو المتصرف في الكون .ولم تَرد العبرة في القرآن معرّفة بلام الجنس ولا مذكورة بلفظ الجمع .

{ يُقَلِّبُ اللَّهُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ } من حر إلى برد، ومن برد إلى حر، من ليل إلى نهار، ومن نهار إلى ليل، ويديل الأيام بين عباده، { إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَعِبْرَةً لِأُولِي الْأَبْصَارِ } أي: لذوي البصائر، والعقول النافذة للأمور المطلوبة منها، كما تنفذ الأبصار إلى الأمور المشاهدة الحسية. فالبصير ينظر إلى هذه المخلوقات نظر اعتبار وتفكر وتدبر لما أريد بها ومنها، والمعرض الجاهل نظره إليها نظر غفلة، بمنزلة نظر البهائم.

يقلب الله الليل والنهار قيل : تقليبهما أن يأتي بأحدهما بعد الآخر . وقيل : تقليبهما نقصهما وزيادتهما . وقيل : هو تغيير النهار بظلمة السحاب مرة وبضوء الشمس أخرى ؛ وكذا الليل مرة بظلمة السحاب ومرة بضوء القمر ؛ قاله النقاش . وقيل : تقليبهما باختلاف ما يقدر فيهما من خير وشر ونفع وضر . إن في ذلك أي في الذي ذكرناه من تقلب الليل والنهار ، وأحوال المطر والصيف والشتاء لعبرة أي اعتبارا لأولي الأبصار أي لأهل البصائر من خلقي .

Events of the physical world give direct introduction of the Creator, but only to those who possess insight. Rain for example, results after a series of events that comprise the rain cycle. The lightning and thunder, and the succession of day and night are likewise miraculous phenomena. On seeing such occurences an insightful man mentally journeys to reach beyond external appearances to grasp the higher, innate reality of things. This is called ‘ibrah, meaning ‘to traverse’.

مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِن جِبَالٍ فِيهَا From the sky mountains (of clouds) having hail in them - 43. Here the word سَمَاء is purported for clouds, and Jibal جِبَالٍ (mountains) for big masses of clouds, while hails are called Barad.

(Allah causeth the revolution of the day and the night) He takes away the night and brings in its stead the day and takes away the day and brings in its stead the night; this is what is meant by their revolution. (Lo! Herein) in the alternation of day and night which I have mentioned (is indeed a lesson) a sign (for those who see) in relation to matters of religion; it is also said that this means: those who see with their eyes.