The Ant, The Ants — Verse 61
27:61 · an-Naml
Verse display
أَمَّن جَعَلَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ قَرَارࣰا وَجَعَلَ خِلَـٰلَهَاۤ أَنۡهَـٰرࣰا وَجَعَلَ لَهَا رَوَ ٰسِیَ وَجَعَلَ بَیۡنَ ٱلۡبَحۡرَیۡنِ حَاجِزًاۗ أَءِلَـٰهࣱ مَّعَ ٱللَّهِۚ بَلۡ أَكۡثَرُهُمۡ لَا یَعۡلَمُونَ ٦١
amman jaʿala l-arḍa qarāran wajaʿala khilālahā anhāran wajaʿala lahā rawāsiya wajaʿala bayna l-baḥrayni ḥājizan a-ilāhun maʿa l-lahi bal aktharuhum lā yaʿlamūn
The Ant, The Ants / an-Naml (27:61)
Connections 5 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 (5) cited by only one commentator
-
Q 25:53 (al-Furqan)
cited by
-
Q 27:59 (an-Naml)
cited by
-
Q 33:56 (al-Ahzab)
cited by
-
Q 37:181 (as-Saffat)
cited by
-
Q 40:64 (Ghafir)
cited by
By commentator who cites how many verses on this ayah
-
Ma'arif-ul-Quran 3 verses 5 mentions total
-
Tafsir Ibn Kathir (abridged) 2 verses
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.
Who is it that made the earth a stable place to live? Who made rivers flow through it? Who set immovable mountains on it and created a barrier between the fresh and salt water? Is it another god beside God? No! But most of them do not know
amman jaʿala l-arḍa qarāran wajaʿala khilālahā anhāran wajaʿala lahā rawāsiya wajaʿala bayna l-baḥrayni ḥājizan a-ilāhun maʿa l-lahi bal aktharuhum lā yaʿlamūn
Get a Print Copy
Support the Author
As an Amazon Associate, ParallelQuran earns from qualifying purchases.
Qur'an Tools
Tafsir Commentary
أَمَّن جَعَلَ الاٌّرْضَ قَرَاراً
(Is not He Who has made the earth as a fixed abode,) meaning, stable and stationary, so that it does not move or convulse, because if it were to do so, it would not be a good place for people to live on. But by His grace and mercy, He has made it smooth and calm, and it is not shaken or moved. This is like the Ayah,
اللَّهُ الَّذِى جَعَـلَ لَكُـمُ الاٌّرْضَ قَـرَاراً وَالسَّمَآءَ بِنَـآءً
(Allah, Who has made for you the earth as a dwelling place and the sky as a canopy) (40:64).
وَجَعَلَ خِلاَلَهَآ أَنْهَاراً
(and has placed rivers in its midst,) means, He has placed rivers which are fresh and sweet, cutting through the earth, and He has made them of different types, large rivers, small rivers and some in between. He has caused them to flow in all directions, east, west, south, north, according to the needs of mankind in different areas and regions, as He has created them throughout the world and sends them their provision according to their needs.
وَجَعَلَ لَهَا رَوَاسِىَ
(and has placed firm mountains therein, ) means, high mountains which stabilize the earth and make it steadfast, so that it does not shake.
وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ حَاجِزاً
(and has set a barrier between the two seas) means, He has placed a barrier between the fresh water and the salt water, to prevent them from mixing lest they corrupt one another. Divine wisdom dictates that each of them should stay as it is meant to be. The sweet water is that which flows in rivers among mankind, and it is meant to be fresh and palatable so that it may be used to water animals and plants and fruits. The salt water is that which surrounds the continents on all sides, and its water is meant to be salty and undrinkable lest the air be corrupted by its smell, as Allah says:
وَهُوَ الَّذِى مَرَجَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ هَـذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ وَهَـذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَهُمَا بَرْزَخاً وَحِجْراً مَّحْجُوراً
(And it is He Who has let free the two seas, this is palatable and sweet, and that is salty and bitter; and He has set a barrier and a complete partition between them.) (25:53) Allah says:
أَءِلـهٌ مَّعَ اللهِ
(Is there any god with Allah) meaning, any god who could do this, or who deserves to be worshipped Both meanings are indicated by the context.
بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ
(Nay, but most of them know not!) means, in that they worship others than Allah.
Or He Who made the earth an abode of stability that does not constantly shake beneath the feet of its inhabitants and made rivers to flow throughout it and set firm mountains for it with which He fixed the earth in place and set an isthmus between the two seas between the sweet one and the salty one the one not mixing with the other. Is there a god with God? Nay but most of them have no knowledge of His Oneness.
Who is it that made the earth a settledness, made rivers in its midst, made for it firm mountains, and made a barrier between the two oceans? Is there a god along with God? No, but most of them know not. The souls of the worshipers are where their obedience settles, the hearts of the recognizers are where their recognition settles, the spirits of the finders are where their love settles, and the secret cores of the tawḤīd-voicers are where their contemplation settles. In their spirits are the rivers of union and the springs of proximity. Thereby the thirst of their yearning and the agitation of their burning are quenched. Made for it firm mountains, namely the Substitutes, the friends, and the Pegs. Through them He continually holds fast to the earth and through their blessings trials are repelled from the creatures. It has also been said that the firm mountains are the ones who guide those who ask for directions to the Lord of the Worlds. Who is it that made the earth a settledness: Who is it that brought the earth of the submission under the feet of the tawḤīd of the tawḤīd-voicers? Made rivers in its midst: Who is it that made the springs of wisdom appear in the hearts of the recognizers? Made for it firm mountains: Who is it that built the fortresses of recognition in the secret cores of the friends? Made a barrier between the two oceans: Who is it that set up the clouds of going straight between the oceans of fear and hope? Is there a god along with God? Do you know of another god who did this? Do you know of another object of worship who made all this? It has also been said that made a barrier between the two oceans means between the heart and the soul, so that neither will overpower its companion. In the human makeup, there are both the Kaabah of the heart and the tavern of the soul, two opposite substances joined in creation and separate in path, each open toward the other, but between the two God's power has placed a barrier. Whenever the commanding soul raids the heart's pavilion, the afflicted heart goes to the Exalted Threshold to complain, and from the gardens of Eternity the robe of the gaze reaches it.
Who is it that made the earth a settledness, made rivers in its midst, made for it firm mountains, and made a barrier between the two oceans? Is there a god along with God? No, but most of them know not. The souls of the worshipers are where their obedience settles, the hearts of the recognizers are where their recognition settles, the spirits of the finders are where their love settles, and the secret cores of the tawḤīd-voicers are where their contemplation settles. In their spirits are the rivers of union and the springs of proximity. Thereby the thirst of their yearning and the agitation of their burning are quenched. Made for it firm mountains, namely the Substitutes, the friends, and the Pegs. Through them He continually holds fast to the earth and through their blessings trials are repelled from the creatures. It has also been said that the firm mountains are the ones who guide those who ask for directions to the Lord of the Worlds. Who is it that made the earth a settledness: Who is it that brought the earth of the submission under the feet of the tawḤīd of the tawḤīd-voicers? Made rivers in its midst: Who is it that made the springs of wisdom appear in the hearts of the recognizers? Made for it firm mountains: Who is it that built the fortresses of recognition in the secret cores of the friends? Made a barrier between the two oceans: Who is it that set up the clouds of going straight between the oceans of fear and hope? Is there a god along with God? Do you know of another god who did this? Do you know of another object of worship who made all this? It has also been said that made a barrier between the two oceans means between the heart and the soul, so that neither will overpower its companion. In the human makeup, there are both the Kaabah of the heart and the tavern of the soul, two opposite substances joined in creation and separate in path, each open toward the other, but between the two God's power has placed a barrier. Whenever the commanding soul raids the heart's pavilion, the afflicted heart goes to the Exalted Threshold to complain, and from the gardens of Eternity the robe of the gaze reaches it.
Who is it that made the earth a settledness, made rivers in its midst, made for it firm mountains, and made a barrier between the two oceans? Is there a god along with God? No, but most of them know not. The souls of the worshipers are where their obedience settles, the hearts of the recognizers are where their recognition settles, the spirits of the finders are where their love settles, and the secret cores of the tawḤīd-voicers are where their contemplation settles. In their spirits are the rivers of union and the springs of proximity. Thereby the thirst of their yearning and the agitation of their burning are quenched. Made for it firm mountains, namely the Substitutes, the friends, and the Pegs. Through them He continually holds fast to the earth and through their blessings trials are repelled from the creatures. It has also been said that the firm mountains are the ones who guide those who ask for directions to the Lord of the Worlds. Who is it that made the earth a settledness: Who is it that brought the earth of the submission under the feet of the tawḤīd of the tawḤīd-voicers? Made rivers in its midst: Who is it that made the springs of wisdom appear in the hearts of the recognizers? Made for it firm mountains: Who is it that built the fortresses of recognition in the secret cores of the friends? Made a barrier between the two oceans: Who is it that set up the clouds of going straight between the oceans of fear and hope? Is there a god along with God? Do you know of another god who did this? Do you know of another object of worship who made all this? It has also been said that made a barrier between the two oceans means between the heart and the soul, so that neither will overpower its companion. In the human makeup, there are both the Kaabah of the heart and the tavern of the soul, two opposite substances joined in creation and separate in path, each open toward the other, but between the two God's power has placed a barrier. Whenever the commanding soul raids the heart's pavilion, the afflicted heart goes to the Exalted Threshold to complain, and from the gardens of Eternity the robe of the gaze reaches it.
Who is it that made the earth a settledness, made rivers in its midst, made for it firm mountains, and made a barrier between the two oceans? Is there a god along with God? No, but most of them know not. The souls of the worshipers are where their obedience settles, the hearts of the recognizers are where their recognition settles, the spirits of the finders are where their love settles, and the secret cores of the tawḤīd-voicers are where their contemplation settles. In their spirits are the rivers of union and the springs of proximity. Thereby the thirst of their yearning and the agitation of their burning are quenched. Made for it firm mountains, namely the Substitutes, the friends, and the Pegs. Through them He continually holds fast to the earth and through their blessings trials are repelled from the creatures. It has also been said that the firm mountains are the ones who guide those who ask for directions to the Lord of the Worlds. Who is it that made the earth a settledness: Who is it that brought the earth of the submission under the feet of the tawḤīd of the tawḤīd-voicers? Made rivers in its midst: Who is it that made the springs of wisdom appear in the hearts of the recognizers? Made for it firm mountains: Who is it that built the fortresses of recognition in the secret cores of the friends? Made a barrier between the two oceans: Who is it that set up the clouds of going straight between the oceans of fear and hope? Is there a god along with God? Do you know of another god who did this? Do you know of another object of worship who made all this? It has also been said that made a barrier between the two oceans means between the heart and the soul, so that neither will overpower its companion. In the human makeup, there are both the Kaabah of the heart and the tavern of the soul, two opposite substances joined in creation and separate in path, each open toward the other, but between the two God's power has placed a barrier. Whenever the commanding soul raids the heart's pavilion, the afflicted heart goes to the Exalted Threshold to complain, and from the gardens of Eternity the robe of the gaze reaches it.
Who is it that made the earth a settledness, made rivers in its midst, made for it firm mountains, and made a barrier between the two oceans? Is there a god along with God? No, but most of them know not.The souls of the worshipers are where their obedience settles, the hearts of the recognizers are where their recognition settles, the spirits of the finders are where their love settles, and the secret cores of the tawḤīd-voicers are where their contemplation settles. In their spirits are the rivers of union and the springs of proximity. Thereby the thirst of their yearning and the agitation of their burning are quenched. Made for it firm mountains, namely the Substitutes, the friends, and the Pegs. Through them He continually holds fast to the earth and through their blessings trials are repelled from the creatures. It has also been said that the firm mountains are the ones who guide those who ask for directions to the Lord of the Worlds.Who is it that made the earth a settledness: Who is it that brought the earth of the submission under the feet of the tawḤīd of the tawḤīd-voicers? Made rivers in its midst: Who is it that made the springs of wisdom appear in the hearts of the recognizers? Made for it firm mountains: Who is it that built the fortresses of recognition in the secret cores of the friends? Made a barrier between the two oceans: Who is it that set up the clouds of going straight between the oceans of fear and hope? Is there a god along with God? Do you know of another god who did this? Do you know of another object of worship who made all this?It has also been said that made a barrier between the two oceans means between the heart and the soul, so that neither will overpower its companion. In the human makeup, there are both the Kaabah of the heart and the tavern of the soul, two opposite substances joined in creation and separate in path, each open toward the other, but between the two God's power has placed a barrier. Whenever the commanding soul raids the heart's pavilion, the afflicted heart goes to the Exalted Threshold to complain, and from the gardens of Eternity the robe of the gaze reaches it.
أعبادة ما تشركون بربكم خير أم الذي جعل لكم الأرض مستقرًا وجعل وسطها أنهارًا، وجعل لها الجبال ثوابت، وجعل بين البحرين العذب والملح حاجزًا حتى لا يُفسد أحدهما الآخر؟ أمعبود مع الله فَعَلَ ذلك حتى تشركوه معه في عبادتكم؟ بل أكثر هؤلاء المشركين لا يعلمون قَدْر عظمة الله، فهم يشركون به تقليدًا وظلمًا.
"أمن جعل الأرض قرارا" أي قارة ساكنة ثابتة لا تميد ولا تتحرك بأهلها ولا ترجف بهم فإنها لو كانت كذلك لما طاب عليها العيش والحياة بل جعلها من فضله ورحمته مهادا بساطا ثابتة لا تتزلزل ولا تتحرك كما قال تعالى في الآية الأخرى "الله الذي جعل لكم الأرض قرارا والسماء بناء" "وجعل خلالها أنهارا" أى جعل فيها الأنهار العذبة الطيبة شقها في خلالها وصرفها فيها ما بين أنهار كبار وصغار وبين ذلك وسيرها شرقا وغربا وجنوبا وشمالا بحسب مصالح عباده في أقاليمهم وأقطارهم حيث ذرأهم في أرجاء الأرض وسير لهم أرزاقهم بحسب ما يحتاجون إليه "وجعل لها رواسي" أى جبالا شامخة ترسي الأرض وتثبتها لئلا تميد بكم "وجعل بين البحرين حاجزا" أي جعل بين المياه العذبة والمالحة حاجزا أي مانعا يمنعها من الإختلاط لئلا يفسد هذا بهذا وهذا بهذا فإن الحكمة الإلهية تقتضي بقاء كل منهما على صفته المقصودة منه فإن البحر الحلو هو هذه الأنهار السارحة الجارية بين الناس والمقصود منها أن تكون عذبة زلالا يسقي الحيوان والنبات والثمار منها والبحار المالحة هي المحيطة بالأرجاء والأقطار من كل جانب والمقصود منها أن يكون ماؤها ملحا أجاجا لئلا يفسد الهواء بريحها كما قال تعالى: "وهو الذي مرج البحرين هذا عذب فرات وهذا ملح أجاج وجعل بينهما برزخا وحجرا محجورا" ولهذا قال تعالى: "أإله مع الله"؟ أي فعل هذا أو يعبد على القول الأول والآخر؟ وكلاهما متلازم صحيح "بل أكثرهم لا يعلمون" أي في عبادتهم غيره.
ثم انتقلت السورة الكريمة إلى لفت أنظارهم إلى حقائق كونية أخرى يشاهدونها بأعينهم ، ويحسونها بحواسهم . فقال - تعالى - : ( أَمَّن جَعَلَ الأرض قَرَاراً ) والقرار : المكان الذى يستقر فيه الإنسان ، ويصلح لبناء حياته عليه .أى : بل قولوا لنا - أيها المشركون : من الذى جعل هذه بالأرض التى تعيشون عليها ، مكانا صالحا لاستقراركم ، ولحرثكم ، ولتبادل المنافع فيما بينكم ، ومن الذى دحاها وسواها وجعلها بهذه الطريقة البديعة .ومن الذى ( وَجَعَلَ خِلاَلَهَآ ) أى : جعل فيما بينها ( أَنْهَاراً ) تجرى بين أجزائها ، لتنتفعوا بمياه هذه الأنهار فى شربكم ، وفى غير ذلك من شئون حياتكم . ومن الذى ( وَجَعَلَ لَهَا رَوَاسِيَ ) أى : جعل لصلاح حالها جبالا ثوابت ، تحفظها من أن تضطرب بكم .ومن الذى : ( جَعَلَ بَيْنَ البحرين ) أى : جعل بين البحر العذب والبحر الملح ( حَاجِزاً ) يجعلهما لا يختلطان ولا يمتزجان .ثم يأتى الاستفهام الإنكارى ( أإله مَّعَ الله ) ؟ أى : أإله مع الله - تعالى - هو الذى فعل ذلك؟ كلا ، ليس مع الله - تعالى - آلهة أخرى فعلت ذلك .( بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ ) أى : بل أكثر هؤلاء المشركين ، لا يعلمون الأمور على وجهها الصحيح ، لجهلهم ، وعكوفهم على ما ورثوه عن آبائهم بدون تفكير أو تدبر .وعبر بأكثرهم ، لأن هناك قلة منهم تعلم الحق ، لكنها تنكره جحودا وعنادا .
يقول تعالى ذكره: أعبادة ما تشركون أيها الناس بربكم خير وهو لا يضرّ ولا ينفع, أم الذي جعل الأرض لكم قرارا تستقرّون عليها لا تميد بكم (وَجَعَلَ ) لكم (خِلالَهَا أَنْهَارًا ) يقول: بينها أنهارا(وَجَعَلَ لَهَا رَوَاسِيَ ) وهي ثوابت الجبال،(وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ حَاجِزًا ) بين العذب والملح, أن يفسد أحدهما صاحبه (أَإِلَهٌ مَعَ اللَّهِ ) سواه فعل هذه الأشياء فأشركتموه في عبادتكم إياه؟وقوله: (بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لا يَعْلَمُونَ ) يقول تعالى ذكره: بل أكثر هؤلاء المشركين لا يعلمون قدر عظمة الله, وما عليهم من الضرّ في إشراكهم في عبادة الله غيره, وما لهم من النفع في إفرادهم الله بالألوهة, وإخلاصهم له العبادة, وبراءتهم من كلّ معبود سواه.
( أمن جعل الأرض قرارا ) لا تميد بأهلها ، ( وجعل خلالها ) وسطها ( أنهارا ) تطرد بالمياه ، ( وجعل لها رواسي ) جبالا ثوابت ، ( وجعل بين البحرين ) العذب والمالح ، ( حاجزا ) مانعا لئلا يختلط أحدهما بالآخر ، ( أإله مع الله بل أكثرهم لا يعلمون ) توحيد ربه وسلطانه .
أَمْ مَنْ جَعَلَ الْأَرْضَ قَرَارًا وَجَعَلَ خِلَالَهَا أَنْهَارًا وَجَعَلَ لَهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ حَاجِزًا أَئِلَهٌ مَعَ اللَّهِ بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ (61){ أم } للإضراب الانتقالي مثل أختها السابقة . وهذا انتقال من الاستدلال المشوب بالامتنان إلى الاستدلال المجرد بدلائل قدرته وعلمه بأن خلق المخلوقات العظيمة وبتدبيره نظامها حتى لا يطغى بعضها على بعض فيختل نظام الجميع .ولأجل كون الغرض من هذا الاستدلال إثبات عظم القدرة وحكمة الصنع لم يجيء خلاله بخطاب للمشركين كما جاء في قوله في الآية قبلها { وأنزل لكم من السماء ماء } [ النمل : 60 ] الآية ، وإن كان هذا الصنع العجيب لا يخلو من لطف بالمخلوقات أراده خالقها ، ولكن ذلك غير مقصود بالقصد الأول من سوق الدليل هنا .والقرار : مصدر قرّ ، إذا ثبت وسكن . ووصف الأرض به للمبالغة ، أي ذات قرار . والمعنى جعل الأرض ثابتة قارّة غير مضطربة . وهذا تدبير عجيب ولا يُدرك تمام هذا الصنع العجيب إلا عند العلم بأن هذه الأرض سابحة في الهواء متحركة في كل لحظة وهي مع ذلك قارّة فيما يبدو لسكانها فهذا تدبير أعجب ، وفيه مع ذلك رحمة ونعمة . ولولا قرارها لكان الناس عليها متزلزلين مضطربين ولكانت أشغالهم مُعنتة لهم .ومع جعلها قراراً شقّ فيها الأنهار فجعلها خلالها . وخلال الشيء : منفرج ما بين أجزائه . والأنهار تشق الأرض في أخاديد فتجري خلال الأرض .والرواسي : الجبال ، جمع راسسٍ وهو الثابت . واللام في { لها } لام العلة ، أي الرواسي لأجلها أي لفائدتها ، فإن في تكوين الجبال حكمة لدفع الملاسة عن الأرض ليكون سيرها في الكرة الهوائية معدلاً غير شديد السرعة وبذلك دوام سيرها .وجعل الحاجز بين البحرين من بديع الحكمة ، وهو حاجز معنوي حاصل من دفع كلا الماءين : أحدهما الآخر عن الاختلاط به ، بسبب تفاوت الثقل النسبي لاختلاف الأجزاء المركب منها الماء الملح والماء العذب . فالحاحز حاجز من طبعهما وليس جسماً آخر فاصلاً بينهما ، وتقدم في سورة النحل .وهذا الجعل كناية عن خلق البحرين أيضاً لأن الحجز بينهما يقتضي خلقهما وخلق الملوحة والعذوبة فيهما .ثم ذيّل بالاستفهام الإنكاري وبالاستدراك بجملة مماثلة لما ذُيّل به الاستدلال الذي قبلها على طريقة التكرير تعديداً للإنكار وتمهيداً للتوبيخ بقوله { بل أكثرهم لا يعلمون . } وأوثر هنا نفي صفة العلم عن أكثر المشركين لقلة من ينظر في دقائق هذه المصنوعات وخصائصها منهم فإن اعتياد مشاهدتها من أول نشأة الناظر يذهله عما فيها من دلائل بديع الصنع . فأكثر المشركين يجهل ذلك ولا يهتدي بما فيه ، أما المؤمنون فقد نبههم القرآن إلى ذلك فهم يقرأون آياته المتكرر فيها الاستدلال والنظر .وهذه الدلائل لا تخلو عن نعمة من ورائها كما علمته آنفاً ولكنها سيقت هنا لإرادة الاستدلال لا للامتنان .
أي: هل الأصنام والأوثان الناقصة من كل وجه التي لا فعل منها ولا رزق ولا نفع خير؟ أم الله الذي { جَعَلَ الْأَرْضَ قَرَارًا ْ} يستقر عليها العباد ويتمكنون من السكنى والحرث والبناء والذهاب والإياب. { وَجَعَلَ خِلَالَهَا أَنْهَارًا } أي: جعل في خلال الأرض أنهارا ينتفع بها العباد في زروعهم وأشجارهم، وشربهم وشرب مواشيهم.{ وَجَعَلَ لَهَا رَوَاسِيَ } أي: جبالا ترسيها وتثبتها لئلا تميد وتكون أوتادا لها لئلا تضطرب. { وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ } البحر المالح والبحر العذب { حَاجِزًا } يمنع من اختلاطهما فتفوت المنفعة المقصودة من كل منهما بل جعل بينهما حاجزا من الأرض، جعل مجرى الأنهار في الأرض مبعدة عن البحار فيحصل منها مقاصدها ومصالحها، { أَإِلَهٌ مَعَ اللَّهِ ْ} فعل ذلك حتى يعدل به الله ويشرك به معه. { بَلْ أَكْثَرُهُمْ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ْ} فيشركون بالله تقليدا لرؤسائهم وإلا فلو علموا حق العلم لم يشركوا به شيئا.
قوله تعالى : أمن جعل الأرض قرارا أي مستقرا . وجعل خلالها أنهارا أي وسطها مثل : وفجرنا خلالهما نهرا . وجعل لها رواسي يعني جبالا ثوابت تمسكها وتمنعها من الحركة . وجعل بين البحرين حاجزا مانعا من قدرته لئلا يختلط الأجاج بالعذب . وقال [ ص: 206 ] ابن عباس : سلطانا من قدرته فلا هذا يغير ذاك ولا ذاك يغير هذا . والحجز : المنع . أإله مع الله أي إذا ثبت أنه لا يقدر على هذا غيره فلم يعبدون ما لا يضر ولا ينفع . بل أكثرهم لا يعلمون يعني كأنهم يجهلون الله فلا يعلمون ما يجب له من الوحدانية .
Expressed as a chain of cause and effect, the theories propounded by atheists or agnostics, remain woefully inadequate to explain the creation of the unimaginably vast universe. Be it the creation of the innumerable heavenly bodies that float in boundless space, or the elaborate arrangements that make the earth habitable—all these and many other such phenomena are too great and too wonderful to have been wrought by any idol or occasioned by any blind physical law. The fact is that any explanation of the universe on bases other than God amounts to giving a false explanation of reality. This is merely a fabrication and not a genuine explanation.
Commentary
This incident has been related at many places in the Qur'an, especially in Surah Al-A` raf, where its necessary details have been discussed and may be consulted if required.
قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ (Say,"Praise belongs to Allah - 27:59). After describing some events of the prophets and earlier people, and the episodes of torments they faced, this sentence is addressed to the Holy Prophet ﷺ ، that he should express his gratitude to Allah Ta’ ala, for his followers have been exempted from the punishment in this world. He is further asked to say salam to the earlier prophets and God-fearing persons. Majority of the commentators have adopted this explanation, but some feel that this sentence is also addressed to Sayyidna Lut (علیہ السلام) .
It appears that the expression الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَىٰ (His slaves whom He has chosen - 27:59) is used in this verse for the prophets, like in another verse salam has been addressed to the prophets, وَسَلَامٌ عَلَى الْمُرْسَلِينَ ﴿181﴾ (And salam is on the messengers - 37:181). But Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ is of the opinion that it refers to the companions of the Holy Prophet ﷺ . This explanation is also adopted by Sufyan Ath-Thauri. (Ibn Jarir)
If the explanation of Sayyidna Ibn ` Abbas ؓ عنہما is adopted and the meaning of الَّذِينَ اصْطَفَىٰ - 27:59 is taken for the companions, then there will be a case for saying "Alaihis Salam" to non-prophets also. This subject will be discussed in detail Inshallah under Surah Al-Ahzab for the verse صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا (33:56).
Ruling
This verse also teaches the formalities of an address, a sermon or a lecture, that it should start with the praise of Allah and the salah (durood) and salam to the prophets. This had always been the practice of the Holy Prophet ﷺ in his addresses. His companions also adopted the same practice by commencing not only their addresses but also all the important jobs by praising Allah Ta’ ala and then salah and salam on the Holy Prophet ﷺ '. (Ruh).
(Is not He (best) Who made the earth a fixed abode, and placed rivers in the folds thereof) in the middle thereof, (and placed firm hills therein) on earth, (and hath set a barrier) preventing mixture (between the two seas) the sweet and salty seas? (Is there any God beside Allah) who has done this? (Nay, but most of them know not) most of them believe not!