22:63 Al-Hajj (The Pilgrimage)

هذا حث منه تعالى، وترغيب في النظر بآياته الدالات على وحدانيته، وكماله فقال: { أَلَمْ تَرَ } أي: ألم تشاهد ببصرك وبصيرتك { أَنَّ اللَّهَ أَنْزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً } وهو: المطر، فينزل على أرض خاشعة مجدبة، قد أغبرت أرجاؤها، ويبس ما فيها، من شجر ونبات، فتصبح مخضرة قد اكتست من كل زوج كريم، وصار لها بذلك منظر بهيج، إن الذي أحياها بعد موتها وهمودها لمحيي الموتى بعد أن كانوا رميما. { إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ } اللطيف الذي يدرك بواطن الأشياء، وخفياتها، وسرائرها، الذي يسوق إلى عبده الخير، ويدفع عنه الشر بطرق لطيفة تخفى على العباد، ومن لطفه، أنه يري عبده، عزته في انتقامه وكمال اقتداره، ثم يظهر لطفه بعد أن أشرف العبد على الهلاك، ومن لطفه، أنه يعلم مواقع القطر من الأرض، وبذور الأرض في باطنها، فيسوق ذلك الماء إلى ذلك البذر، الذي خفي على علم الخلائق فينبت منه أنواع النبات، { خَبِيرٌ } بسرائر الأمور، وخبايا الصدور، وخفايا الأمور.

وهذا أيضا من الدلالة على قدرته وعظيم سلطانه وأنه يرسل الرياح فتثير سحابا فتمطر على الأرض الجرز التي لا نبات فيها وهي جامدة يابسة سوداء ممحلة " فإذا أنزلنا عليها الماء اهتزت وربت" وقوله: " فتصبح الأرض مخضرة " الفاء ههنـا للتعقيب وتعقيب كل شيء بحسبه كما قال تعالى " ثم خلقنا النطفة علقة فخلقنا العلقة مضغة " الآية وقد ثبت في الصحيحين أن بين كل شيئين أربعين يوما ومع هذا هو معقب بالفاء وهكذا ههنا قال " فتصبح الأرض مخضرة " أي خضراء بعد يباسها ومحولها وقد ذكر عن بعض أهل الحجاز أنها تصبح عقب المطر خضراء فالله أعلم وقوله " إن الله لطيف خبير " أي عليم بما في أرجاء الأرض وأقطارها وأجزائها من الحب وإن صغر لا يخفي عليه خافية فيوصل إلى كل منه قسطه من الماء فينبته به كما قال لقمان " يا بني إنها إن تك مثقال حبة من خردل فتكن في صخرة أو في السموات أو في الأرض يأتي بها الله إن الله لطيف خبير " وقال: "ألا يسجدوا لله الذي يخرج الخبء في السموات والأرض " وقال تعالى " وما تسقط من ورقة إلا يعلمها ولا حبة في ظلمات الأرض ولا رطب ولا يابس إلا في كتاب مبين " وقال " وما يعزب عن ربك من مثقال ذرة في الأرض ولا في السماء ولا أصغر من ذلك ولا أكبر إلا في كتاب مبين " ولهذا قال أمية بن أبي الصلت أو زيد بن عمرو بن نفيل في قصيدته: وقولا له من ينبت الحب في الثرى فيصبح منه البقل يهتز رابيا ويخرج منه حبه في رءوسه في رءوسه ففي ذلك آيات لمن كان واعيا

Signs of the Power of Allah

This is a further sign of His might and power; that he sends the winds to drive the clouds which deliver rain to the barren land where nothing grows, land which is dry, dusty and desiccated.

فَإِذَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا الْمَآءَ اهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ

(but when We send down water on it, it is stirred (to life), and it swells) 22:5.

فَتُصْبِحُ الاٌّرْضُ مُخْضَرَّةً

(and then the earth becomes green) This indicates the sequence of events and how everything follows on according to its nature. This is like the Ayah:

ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا النُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةً

(Then We made the Nutfah into a clot , then We made the clot into a little lump of flesh) 23:14. It was recorded in the Two Sahihs that between each stage there are forty days. Allah's saying,

فَتُصْبِحُ الاٌّرْضُ مُخْضَرَّةً

(and then the earth becomes green) means, it becomes green after being dry and lifeless. It was reported from some of the people of Al-Hijaz that the land turns green after rainfall. And Allah knows best.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ

(Verily, Allah is the Most Kind and Courteous, Well-Acquainted with all things.) He knows what seeds are in the various regions of the earth, no matter how small they are. Nothing whatsoever is hidden from Him. Each of those seeds receives its share of water and begins to grow, as Luqman said:

يبُنَىَّ إِنَّهَآ إِن تَكُ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِّنْ خَرْدَلٍ فَتَكُنْ فِى صَخْرَةٍ أَوْ فِى السَّمَـوَتِ أَوْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ يَأْتِ بِهَا اللَّهُ إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَطِيفٌ خَبِيرٌ

("O my son! If it be equal to the weight of a grain of mustard seed, and though it be in a rock, or in the heavens or in the earth, Allah will bring it forth. Verily, Allah is Subtle, Well-Aware.) 31:16 And Allah says:

أَلاَّ يَسْجُدُواْ للَّهِ الَّذِى يُخْرِجُ الْخَبْءَ فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضِ

(...so they do not worship Allah, Who brings to light what is hidden in the heavens and the earth.) 27:25

وَمَا تَسْقُطُ مِن وَرَقَةٍ إِلاَّ يَعْلَمُهَا وَلاَ حَبَّةٍ فِى ظُلُمَـتِ الاٌّرْضِ وَلاَ رَطْبٍ وَلاَ يَابِسٍ إِلاَّ فِى كِتَـبٍ مُّبِينٍ

(not a leaf falls, but He knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry, but is written in a Clear Record.) 6:59

وَمَا يَعْزُبُ عَن رَّبِّكَ مِن مِّثْقَالِ ذَرَّةٍ فِي الاٌّرْضِ وَلاَ فِى السَّمَآءِ وَلاَ أَصْغَرَ مِن ذَلِكَ وَلا أَكْبَرَ إِلاَّ فِى كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ

(And nothing is hidden from your Lord, the weight of a speck of dust on the earth or in the heaven. Not what is less than that or what is greater than that but it is (written) in a Clear Record.) 10:61

لَهُ مَا فِى السَّمَـوَت وَمَا فِى الاٌّرْضِ

(To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on the earth.) He owns all things, and He has no need of anything besides Himself, everything is in need of Him and in a state of submission to Him.

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِى الاٌّرْضِ

(See you not that Allah has subjected to you all that is on the earth,) animals, inanimate things, crops and fruits. This is like the Ayah:

وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمْ مَّا فِى السَّمَـوَتِ وَمَا فِى الاٌّرْضِ جَمِيعاً مِّنْهُ

(And has subjected to you all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth) 45:13, meaning that all of this is a blessing and out of His kindness.

وَالْفُلْكَ تَجْرِى فِى الْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِ

(and the ships that sail through the sea by His command) That is because He subjugates it to them and makes it easy for them. In the raging sea with its tempestuous waves, the ships sail gently with their passengers and carry them wherever they want to go for trading and other purposes from one land to another, so that they bring goods from here to there, or vice versa, whatever people want or need.

وَيُمْسِكُ السَّمَآءَ أَن تَقَعَ عَلَى الاٌّرْضِ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ

(He withholds the heaven from falling on the earth except by His leave.) If He willed, He could give the sky permission to fall on the earth, and whoever is in it would be killed, but by His kindness, mercy and power, He withholds the heaven from falling on the earth, except by His leave. He says:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَءُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

(Verily, Allah is for mankind, full of kindness, Most Merciful.) meaning, even though they do wrong. As Allah says elsewhere:

وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَذُو مَغْفِرَةٍ لِّلنَّاسِ عَلَى ظُلْمِهِمْ وَإِنَّ رَبَّكَ لَشَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ

(But verily, your Lord is full of forgiveness for mankind in spite of their wrongdoing. And verily, your Lord is severe in punishment) 13:6.

وَهُوَ الَّذِى أَحْيَاكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ إِنَّ الإِنْسَـنَ لَكَفُورٌ

(It is He, Who gave you life, and then will cause you to die, and will again give you life. Verily, man is indeed Kafurun.) This is like the Ayat:

كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَتًا فَأَحْيَـكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ

(How can you disbelieve in Allah Seeing that you were dead and He gave you life. Then He will give you death, then again will bring you to life and then unto Him you will return.) 2:28,

قُلِ اللَّهُ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يَجْمَعُكُمْ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَـمَةِ لاَ رَيْبَ فِيهِ

(Say: "Allah gives you life, then causes you to die, then He will assemble you on the Day of Resurrection about which there is no doubt.") 45:26,

قَالُواْ رَبَّنَآ أَمَتَّنَا اثْنَتَيْنِ وَأَحْيَيْتَنَا اثْنَتَيْنِ

(They will say: "Our Lord! You have made us to die twice, and You have given us life twice!") 40:11 So how can you set up rivals to Allah and worship others besides Him when He is the One Who is independent in His powers of creation, provision and control of the existence

وَهُوَ الَّذِى أَحْيَاكُمْ

(It is He, Who gave you life,) means, He gave you life after you were nothing, and brought you into existence.

ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ

(and then will cause you to die, and will again give you life.) means, on the Day of Resurrection.

إِنَّ الإِنْسَـنَ لَكَفُورٌ

(Verily, man is indeed Kafurun.) meaning, denying.

Have you not seen realised that God sends down water rain from the heaven whereupon the earth turns green with plants — and this too is a sign of His power. Indeed God is Subtle in dealing with His servants when He brings forth plants through water Aware of what is in their hearts when the rain is delayed.

Commentary

In an earlier verse it has been mentioned that Allah Ta’ ala helps those who are wronged unjustly وَإِنَّ اللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ نَصْرِ‌هِمْ لَقَدِيرٌ‌ (Allah is powerful to give them victory - 22:39) Some people bear their sufferings patiently and do not seek vengeance from their oppressors, but there are others who retaliate and serve a full measure of retribution on their oppressors which should, therefore, place them both on even terms as being quits. But if the oppressor, incensed at the retaliation, attacks him again, then this person once again becomes the victim of oppression. This verse promises Allah's help for such a person also. On the other hand there are several verses which promise Allah's goodwill to those Muslims who bear their sufferings with patience and equanimity and do not seek vengeance from their oppressors. Some of these verses are:

فَمَنْ عَفَا وَأَصْلَحَ فَأَجْرُ‌هُ عَلَى اللَّـهِ

But whoso pardons and puts things right, his wage falls upon Allah - 42:40.

وَلَمَن صَبَرَ‌ وَغَفَرَ‌ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ لَمِنْ عَزْمِ الْأُمُورِ‌

And that you forgive is closer to Taqwa - 2:237.

But surely he who bears patiently and forgives - surely that is true constancy - 42:43.

In all these verses it is encouraged not to retaliate for revenge and rather forgive and forget, which is a magnanimous way of dealing with fellow human beings. This is the way Qur'anic teachings stand and call it a supreme and superior trait. Thus it may perhaps be argued that the person who retaliates against the wrongs done to him and conducts himself contrary to the course of action preferred by Allah Ta’ ala will be deprived of His support and help. But this doubt has been allayed in the final part of this verseإِنَّ اللَّـهَ لَعَفُوٌّ غَفُورٌ‌ (22:60) that is, Allah will not punish him for this lapse and will help him if he is subjected to injustice by his oppressors ever again. (Ruh-ul-Ma’ ani)

Hast thou not seen that God sends down water from heaven, and then the earth becomes green? The purport of this verse and the verses that follow is to remind of the blessings and to manifest the wisdom of creating benefits for creation. Whatever He created, He created as is worthy of Himself and as it should be created. Whatever He put, He put in its own place. Whatever He gave, He gave to its own folk. He is the powerful who does whatever He wants. And He is the wise who does not do whatever He can. In this world, He created even the foot of an ant and the wing of a gnat in keeping with the requirement of power, the requisite of wisdom, and according to His will. He gave wisdom and power each other's hands so that the work of the Divinity would go forth well- ordered. If wisdom had not been with power, the universe would have been disrupted. God has attributes that are the antagonists of the existence and acts of the creatures. These are the attributes of exaltedness, tremendousness, compulsion, magnificence, and endless unneedi- ness. He also has attributes that are the interceders for the existence and acts of the creatures, like wisdom, mercy, gentleness, clemency, munificence, and generosity. The attributes of mercy and wisdom hold back the reins of the attributes of exaltedness and unneediness so that this handful of hapless creatures may live out their lives in the shadow of gentleness and mercy in accordance with wisdom. Were it not for these interceders, everything-from the Throne and the Footstool down to the ant's foot and the gnat's wing-would become nothing and nonexistent. One word of the beginningless unneediness and independence showed itself to this world, and the day of deprivation came forth for the unbelievers and the estranged. Like strangers, they set their heads to their own thoughts and did not recognize God's measure or gain access to what is worthy of Him. They set up a helpless, inanimate idol without attributes as His partner, worshiping it and taking it as a friend, such that the Exalted Lord said of them,