The Event, The Inevitable, That Which is Coming — Verse 61

replacing you with We are not incapable of appointing your likes in your place and making you creating you in what you do not know in the way of forms such as apes or swine.

We have determined death among you. “In creation, I showed the attributes of gentleness, and in making to die I showed the perfection of severity. I created so that you would see power and gentleness. I make to die so that you may see harshness and severity. Again I bring to life so that you may see awesomeness and ruling authority. Since you know that I am powerful and able, wise and knowing, peerless in ability and knowledge, then you should

We have determined death among you. “In creation, I showed the attributes of gentleness, and in making to die I showed the perfection of severity. I created so that you would see power and gentleness. I make to die so that you may see harshness and severity. Again I bring to life so that you may see awesomeness and ruling authority. Since you know that I am powerful and able, wise and knowing, peerless in ability and knowledge, then you should

We have determined death among you. “In creation, I showed the attributes of gentleness, and in making to die I showed the perfection of severity. I created so that you would see power and gentleness. I make to die so that you may see harshness and severity. Again I bring to life so that you may see awesomeness and ruling authority. Since you know that I am powerful and able, wise and knowing, peerless in ability and knowledge, then you should

We have determined death among you. “In creation, I showed the attributes of gentleness, and in making to die I showed the perfection of severity. I created so that you would see power and gentleness. I make to die so that you may see harshness and severity. Again I bring to life so that you may see awesomeness and ruling authority. Since you know that I am powerful and able, wise and knowing, peerless in ability and knowledge, then you should

We have determined death among you.�In creation, I showed the attributes of gentleness, and in making to die I showed the perfection of severity. I created so that you would see power and gentleness. I make to die so that you may see harshness and severity. Again I bring to life so that you may see awesomeness and ruling authority. Since you know that I am powerful and able, wise and knowing, peerless in ability and knowledge, then you should

نحن قَدَّرنا بينكم الموت، وما نحن بعاجزين عن أن نغيِّر خلقكم يوم القيامة، وننشئكم فيما لا تعلمونه من الصفات والأحوال.

"على أن نبدل أمثالكم" أي نغير خلقكم يوم القيامـة "وننشئكم فيما لا تعلمون" أي من الصفات والأحـوال.

وقوله - تعالى - : ( على أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ ) متعلق بقوله : ( نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ الموت . . ) .والمراد بتبديل أمثالهم : إيجاد قوم آخرين من ذرية أولئك الذين ماتوا .والمعنى : نحن وحدنا الذين قدرنا بينكم الموت وحددناه على حسب مشيئتنا ونحن الذين فى قدرتنا أن نبدل من الذين ماتوا منكم أشباها لهم ، نوجدهم بقدرتنا - أيضا - كما قال - سبحانه - : ( وَرَبُّكَ الغني ذُو الرحمة إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَسْتَخْلِفْ مِن بَعْدِكُمْ مَّا يَشَآءُ كَمَآ أَنشَأَكُمْ مِّن ذُرِّيَّةِ قَوْمٍ آخَرِينَ ) ويصح أن يكون قوله - تعالى - : ( قَدَّرْنَا ) بمعنى قضينا وكتبنا ، ويكون قوله : ( على أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ ) متعلق بقوله ( بِمَسْبُوقِينَ ) ، ويكون المراد بتبديل أمثالهم . إيجاد قوم آخرين سواهم .والمعنى : نحن الذين وحدنا كتبنا عليكم ، وقضيناه على جميع الخلق فكل نفس ذائقة الموت ، وما نحن بمغلوبين على إهلاككم ، وعلى خلق أمثالكم بدلا منكم كما قال - تعالى - : ( ياأيها الناس أَنتُمُ الفقرآء إِلَى الله والله هُوَ الغني الحميد إِن يَشَأْ يُذْهِبْكُمْ وَيَأْتِ بِخَلْقٍ جَدِيدٍ وَمَا ذَلِكَ عَلَى الله بِعَزِيزٍ ) وقوله - سبحانه - : ( وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِي مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ ) بيان للون آخر من ألوان قدرته - تعالى - .أى : نحن لسنا بعاجزين ولا بمغلوبين . . . على أن نهلككم ونأتى بدلا منكم بغيركم . ولسنا - أيضا - بعاجزين على أن ننشئكم بعد إهلاككم فيما لا تعلمونه من الصور ، والهيئات ، والصفات .قال صاحب الكشاف : قوله - تعالى - : ( نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ الموت ) أى : قدرناه تقديرا ، وقسمناه عليكم قسمة الرزق على اختلاف وتفاوت كما تقتضيه مشيئتنا فاختلف أعماركم من قصير وطويل ومتوسط .وقوله : ( وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ ) يقال : سبقته على الشىء إذا أعجزته عنه ، وغلبته عليه ، ولم تمكنه منه ، فمعنى قوله ( وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ على أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ ) أنا قادرون على ذلك لا تغلبوننا عليه . وأمثالكم جمع مثل - بسكون الثاء - أى : على أن نبدل منكم ومكانكم أشباهكم من الخلق ( وَ ) على أن ( نُنشِئَكُمْ ) فى خلق لا تعلمونها وما عهدتم مثلها . يعنى أنا نقدر على الأمرين جميعا : على خلق ما يماثلكم وما لا يماثلكم ، فيكف نعجز عن إعادتكم .ويجوز أن يكون أمثالكم جمع مثل ، بفتحتين أى : على أن نبدل ونغير صفاتكم التى أنتم عليها فى خلقكم وأخلاقكم ، وننشئكم فى صفات لا تعلمونها .

وقوله: (عَلَى أَنْ نُبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ ) يقول: على أن نُبَدّل منكم أمْثالَكَمْ بعد مهلككم فنجيء بآخرين من جنسكم.وقوله: (وَنُنْشِئَكُمْ فِيمَا لا تَعْلَمُونَ ) يقول: ونبدلكم عما تعلمون من أنفسكم فيما لا تعلمون منها من الصور.وبنحو الذي قلنا في ذلك قال أهل التأويل.* ذكر من قال ذلك:حدثني محمد بن عمرو، قال: ثنا أبو عاصم، قال: ثنا عيسى؛ وحدثني الحارث، قال: ثنا الحسن، قال: ثنا ورقاء جميعًا، عن ابن أبي نجيح، عن مجاهد، في قوله: (وَنُنْشِئَكُمْ ) في أي خلق شئنا.

فذلك قوله - عز وجل - : ( على أن نبدل أمثالكم ) . يعني : نأتي بخلق مثلكم بدلا منكم ، ( وننشئكم ) نخلقكم ( في ما لا تعلمون ) من الصور ، قال مجاهد : في أي خلق شئنا .وقال الحسن : أي نبدل صفاتكم فنجعلكم قردة وخنازير ، كما فعلنا بمن كان قبلكم يعني : إن أردنا أن نفعل ذلك ما فاتنا ذلك . وقال سعيد بن المسيب : " في ما لا تعلمون " يعني : في حواصل طير سود ، تكون ببرهوت كأنها الخطاطيف ، وبرهوت واد باليمن .

عَلَى أَنْ نُبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ وَنُنْشِئَكُمْ فِي مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ (61({ ] .ومعنى : { أن نبدل أمثالكم } : نبدل بكم أمثالكم ، أي نجعل أمثالكم بدلاً .وفعل ( بدّل ( ينصب مفعولاً واحداً ويتعدى إلى ما هو في معنى المفعول الثاني بحرف الباء ، وهو الغالب أو ب ( مِن ( البدلية فإن مفعول ( بدّل ( صالح لأن يكون مُبدَلاً ومبدَلا منه ، وقد تقدم في سورة البقرة ( 61 ( قوله تعالى : { أتستبدلون الذي هو أدنى } وفي سورة النساء ( 2 ( عند قوله : ولا تَتَبَدّلوا الخبيث بالطّيب ، فالتقدير هنا : على أن نبدّل منكم أمثالكم ، فحذف ، متعلق نبدل } وأبقي المفعول لأن المجرور أولى بالحذف .والأمثال : جمع مِثْل بكسر الميم وسكون المثلثة وهو النظير ، أي نخلق ذوات مماثلة لذواتكم التي كانت في الدنيا ونودع فيها أرواحكم .وهذا يؤذن بأن الإِعادة عن عدم لا عن تفريق . وقد تردد في تعيين ذلك علماء السنة والكلام .ويجوز أن يفيد معنى التهديد بالاستئصال ، أي لو شئنا استئصالكم لما أعجزتمونا فيكون إدماجاً للتهديد في أثناء الاستدلال ويكون من باب قوله تعالى : { إن يشأ يذهبكم ويأت بخلق جديد } [ إبراهيم : 19 ] .{ وننشئكم } عطف على { نبدل } ، أي ما نحن بمغلوبين على إنشائكم .وهذا العطف يحتمل أن يكون عطف مغاير بالذات فيكون إنشاؤهم شيئاً آخر غير تبديل أمثالهم ، أي نحن قادرون على الأمرين جميعاً ، فتبديل أمثالهم خلق أجساد أخرى تودع فيها الأرواح ، وأما إنشاؤهم فهو نفخ الأرواح في الأجساد الميتة الكاملة وفي الأجساد البالية بعد إعادتها بجمع متفرقها أو بإنشاء أمثالها من ذواتها مثل : عَجب الذنب ، وهذا إبطال لاستبعادهم البعث بعد استقرار صور شبهتهم الباعثة على إنكار البعث .ويحتمل أن يكون عطف مغاير بالوصف بأن يراد من قوله : { وننشئكم في ما لا تعلمون } الإِشارة إلى كيفية التبديل إشارة على وجه الإِبهام .وعطف بالواو دون الفاء لأنه بمفرده تصوير لقدرة الله تعالى وحكمته بعدما أفاده قوله : { أن نبدل أمثالكم } من إثبات أن الله قادر على البعث .و { ما } من قوله : { في ما لا تعلمون } صادقة على الكيفية ، أو الهيئة التي يتكيّف بها الإنشاء ، أي في كيفية لا تعلمونها إذ لم تحيطوا علماً بخفايا الخلقة . وهذا الإجمال جامع لجميع الصور التي يفرضها الإمكان في بعث الأجساد لإيداع الأرواح .والظرفية المستفادة من { في } ظرفية مجازية معناها قوة الملابسة الشبيهة بإحاطة الظرف بالمظروف كقوله : { فعدلك في أي صورة ما شاء ركّبك } [ الانفطار : 7 ، 8 ] .ومعنى { لا تعلمون } : أنهم لا يعلمون تفاصيل تلك الأحوال .

فهل أنتم خالقون ذلك المني وما ينشأ منه؟ أم الله تعالى الخالق الذي خلق فيكم من الشهوة وآلتها من الذكر والأنثى، وهدى كلا منهما لما هنالك، وحبب بين الزوجين، وجعل بينهما من المودة والرحمة ما هو سبب للتناسل.

وقال الطبري : المعنى نحن قدرنا بينكم الموت على أن نبدل أمثالكم بعد موتكم بآخرين من جنسكم ، وما نحن بمسبوقين في آجالكم ، أي : لا يتقدم متأخر ، ولا يتأخر متقدم .وننشئكم في ما لا تعلمون من الصور والهيئات . قال الحسن : أي : نجعلكم قردة وخنازير كما فعلنا بأقوام قبلكم . وقيل : المعنى ننشئكم في البعث على غير صوركم في الدنيا ، فيجمل المؤمن ببياض وجهه ، ويقبح الكافر بسواد وجهه . سعيد بن جبير : قوله تعالى : فيما لا تعلمون يعني في حواصل طير سود تكون ببرهوت كأنها الخطاطيف ، وبرهوت واد في اليمن . وقال مجاهد : فيما لا تعلمون في أي خلق شئنا . وقيل : المعنى ننشئكم في عالم لا تعلمون ، وفي مكان لا تعلمون .

For one who ponders over these events, there are countless lessons. In them there is proof of a second life after the present life. Similarly, there is a sure indication in them that He who has given things can also take them away. Then, there is the example of water. Reservoirs of water are mostly found here in the shape of seas containing salt water. About 98 percent of the water is found in seas and one tenth of its volume is made up of salt. It is a miracle of God’s law that when water vapour rises from the sea, pure water rises and the salt is left below. The fact is that the system of rain is a huge universal desalination process. Had this natural arrangement not been in place, all of the water in the world would have been brackish just like sea water. The snow on mountain peaks, the water flowing in rivers would all have been extremely salty. In spite of the vast stores of water on the earth, the non-availability of fresh water would have presented an insurmountable problem for humanity. If man gave this matter consideration, his heart would be full of praises for God.

Proof of the occurrence of the Day of Resurrection Thus far the Surah dealt with three categories of people on the Plain of Hashr (Gathering.) The verses so far described the reward and punishment of these three groups. The current set of verses warn the deviant skeptics and atheists who completely deny the Day of Judgment and life after death, or set up partners to Allah in His worship. The verses purport to tear down the curtain of negligence and ignorance that has kept man in the dark. Whatever exists, or is coming into existence at the present time, or will come into existence in the future in this cosmic world is as a result of the creative power of Allah. He brings them into existence, retains them and makes them subservient to man. The apparent causes of these events act as veils over Reality. Had these veils been removed and man is able to witness the creation of these things directly without the mediation of these apparent causes, he will be forced to believe in Allah. However, Allah has made this world a venue of test. Therefore, whatever comes into existence comes under the veils of causes. Allah has, with His encompassing power and consummate wisdom, created a strong connection or relation between 'causes' and 'effects'. Wherever and whenever a secondary cause occurs, the effect necessarily follows. A casual observer assigns to every 'effect' a 'secondary or extrinsic cause', thus straying into the philosophy of 'causes' and 'effects'. Man does not seem to realize that the whole system of cause and effect ends with Allah. He is the First or Primary or Intrinsic Cause or Cause of all causes [ musabbib-ul-asbab ]. It was explained earlier in Surah An-Najm that a natural order of cause and effect pervades the entire universe. Every cause, which is not itself primary, is traceable to some other cause, and this to another and so on. But as the series of cause and effect in our finite world cannot be indefinite, it must terminate at some point. The Final Cause is, therefore, the Author of the universe. It is this Final Cause towards which the present verses call our attention. نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَاكُمْ فَلَوْلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ أَفَرَ‌أَيْتُم مَّا تُمْنُونَ أَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْخَالِقُونَ (We have created you; then why do you not appreciate it as true? So, tell Me about the semen you drop [ in the wombs ]: Is it you who create it, or are We the Creator?...56:57-59). With verse 57 begins a series of arguments in support of Allah's Oneness and His power to raise the dead. The first argument in the current verse is taken from the very subtle and wonderful phenomenon of man's birth, starting with a drop of semen and developing into a full-fledged human being - the crown of all creation. Humans stop at thinking that male-female cohabitation in the process of their creation is the ultimate or real cause. Therefore, the Qur'an poses the question to them in verse [ 58]: أَفَرَ‌أَيْتُم مَّا تُمْنُونَ أَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْخَالِقُونَ 'So, tell Me about the semen you drop [ in the wombs ]: Is it you who create it, or are We the Creator? In other words, a male plays a very insignificant biological role in the birth of a child in that he delivers a drop of microscopic semen in the womb of a female to combine with the microscopic ovum. Once this is done, it goes through several stages of growth and development without anyone, besides Allah, knowing what is happening. Eventually it forms into a foetus with a bone-structure. The skeleton is then clothed with flesh and skin. The soul is infused into it and the little universe [ microcosm ] comes into being with various systems: The nutritive and digestive system, the blood and the circulatory system, a system of human senses [ sight, touch, smell, hearing and taste ] and communication and the ability to think and understand. Man thus becomes a moving factory, and in none of these biological processes he has any say. Neither of the parents [ especially the mother in whose womb all this is taking place ] knows whether the child is a boy or a girl, until it is born. The question is: Who creates the child in the womb of the mother, creation after creation, within three darknesses [ i.e. the darkness of belly, the darkness of womb and the darkness of amniotic membrane ]? Who made it beautiful, gave it the power of hearing and sight? Who bestowed on it the faculty of thinking and comprehension? Only mentally blind person will fail to exclaim: "Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators!" The forthcoming verses [ 60 and 61] نَحْنُ قَدَّرْ‌نَا بَيْنَكُمُ الْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ ﴿60﴾ عَلَىٰ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِي مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ ﴿61﴾ "We have appointed (the times of) death among you, and We cannot be frustrated from replacing you with others like you, and creating you [ afresh ] in that [ form ] which you do not know....56:60-61]." 'Death' is the end of all physical life. This is the eternal law of Allah from which there is no escape. Allah pre-determines the time of human death. Man has no choice in the matter of death which frees the human soul from the fetters and shackles of its physical habitat. Allah has pre-designated a particular point in time up to which he could live. But one should not remain lulled into a fancy that he would continue to enjoy power and his free will. Allah has the power to eliminate him any time, and create another people in his place. This is the import of the words, نَحْنُ قَدَّرْ‌نَا بَيْنَكُمُ الْمَوْتَ وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ ﴿60﴾ عَلَىٰ أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَالَكُمْ "We have appointed (the times of) death among you, and We cannot be frustrated from replacing you with others like you," The concluding part of verse [ 61] وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِي مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ '...and creating you (afresh) in that (form) which you do not know" implies that 'Allah has the power to reshape you in a form unknown to you at the moment.' It may happen either by one's turning into dust after death, or by his being metamorphosed into an animal shape as it happened in the past nations, some turned into monkeys and others into swine by way of punishment. It is also possible that they might be transformed into stones or minerals. Creation of Plants, Sending down of Rain and Creation of Fire are Proof of Allah's Oneness After referring to the birth of man from very insignificant beginning, the Surah, from verse [ 63] onwards, proceeds to give a brief account of things upon which man's life on earth depends. There are three principal things upon which man's life in this world depends - food, water and fire. The first thing is food to which verse [ 63] refers.

(That We may transfigure you) that We may destroy you and bring instead other people who are better and more obedient than you (and make you) and create you on the Day of Judgement in (what ye know not) in a form that you know not: with dark faces and bluish eyes; it is also said that this means: in the form of apes and swine; and it is also said that this means: We shall place your spirits in the Fire which you do not believe in.

Proof that Resurrection will occur Allah asserts that Resurrection will occur and refutes the misguided atheists who deny it, those who said, أَءِذَا مِتْنَا وَكُنَّا تُرَاباً وَعِظَـماً أَءِنَّا لَمَبْعُوثُونَ (When we die and become dust and bones, shall we then indeed be resurrected) 56:47 They said this statement in denial and discounting Resurrection. Allah the Exalted said, نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَـكُمْ (We created you,) meaning, `We have created you after you were nothing. Therefore, is not that Who is able to start the creation, more able to bring it back' Allah's statement, فَلَوْلاَ تُصَدِّقُونَ (then why do you believe not) `why do you not then believe in Resurrection' Then Allah said, while bringing forth evidence that Resurrection occurs, أَفَرَءَيْتُمْ مَّا تُمْنُونَ - أَءَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُ أَم نَحْنُ الْخَـلِقُونَ (Do you not see the semen you emit. Is it you who create it, or are We the Creator) meaning, `do you make the semen remain in the wombs and create life from it therein, stage after stage Or is Allah the One Who does all this' Allah said, نَحْنُ قَدَّرْنَا بَيْنَكُمُ الْمَوْتَ (We have decreed death to you all,) meaning, `We made death exist between you.' Ad-Dahhak commented, "Allah made the residents of the heavens and earth equal with regards to death." Allah said, وَمَا نَحْنُ بِمَسْبُوقِينَ (and We are not outstripped,) meaning, `We are never unable,' عَلَى أَن نُّبَدِّلَ أَمْثَـلَكُمْ (To transfigure you), meaning, `to change your current shapes, on the Day of Resurrection,' وَنُنشِئَكُمْ فِى مَا لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ (and create you in that you know not.) meaning, `out of shapes and forms.' Allah the Exalted said, وَلَقَدْ عَلِمْتُمُ النَّشْأَةَ الاٍّولَى فَلَوْلاَ تَذَكَّرُونَ (And indeed, you have already known the first form of creation, why then do you not remember) meaning, `you know that Allah has created you after you were nothing. He created you and gave you hearing, sight and hearts. Will you not then remember and take heed that He Who is able to create you in the beginning is more able to bring you back and resurrect you to life anew' Allah the Exalted said in other Ayat, وَهُوَ الَّذِى يَبْدَأُ الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ يُعِيدُهُ وَهُوَ أَهْوَنُ عَلَيْهِ (And He it is Who originates the creation, then He will repeat it; and this is easier for Him.)(30:27), أَوَلاَ يَذْكُرُ إلإِنْسَـنُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَاهُ مِن قَبْلُ وَلَمْ يَكُ شَيْئاً (Does not man remember that We created him before, while he was nothing)(19:67), أَوَلَمْ يَرَ الإِنسَـنُ أَنَّا خَلَقْنَـهُ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌ مٌّبِينٌ - وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلاً وَنَسِىَ خَلْقَهُ قَالَ مَن يُحىِ الْعِظَـمَ وَهِىَ رَمِيمٌ - قُلْ يُحْيِيهَا الَّذِى أَنشَأَهَآ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلْقٍ عَلِيمٌ (Does not man see that We have created him from Nutfah. Yet behold he (stands forth) as an open opponent. And he puts forth for Us a parable, and forgets his own creation. He says: " Who will give life to these bones after they are rotten and have become dust" Say: "He will give life to them Who created them for the first time! And He is the All-Knower of every creation.")(36:77-79), and, أَيَحْسَبُ الإِنسَـنُ أَن يُتْرَكَ سُدًى - أَلَمْ يَكُ نُطْفَةً مِّن مَّنِىٍّ يُمْنَى - ثُمَّ كَانَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقَ فَسَوَّى - فَجَعَلَ مِنْهُ الزَّوْجَيْنِ الذَّكَرَ وَالاٍّنثَى - أَلَيْسَ ذَلِكَ بِقَـدِرٍ عَلَى أَن يُحْيِىَ الْمَوْتَى (Does man think that he will be left neglected Was he not a Nutfah of semen emitted Then he became an `Alaqah (a clot); then shaped and fashioned in due proportion. And made of him two sexes, male and female. Is not He able to give life to the dead)(75:36-40)