Nature Made to Serve Human Beings
14. [Ibrahim, Mecca 72]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
اللّهُ الَّذِي
خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَالأَرْضَ...
14: 32. It is Allah Who hath created the heavens and the earth
...وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاء مَاء فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ...
and sendeth down rain from the skies, and with it bringeth out fruits wherewith to feed you;
...وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الْفُلْكَ لِتَجْرِيَ فِي الْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِ...
it is He Who hath made the ships subject to you, that they may sail through the sea by His command;
...وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الأَنْهَارَ ﴿٣٢﴾
and the rivers (also) hath He made subject to you.
C1908. We must realise that behind all our strength, skill, and intelligence there is the power and goodness of Allah, Who gave us all these things. Man can understand and control the forces of nature so as to bring them to his own service: he can only do so, because
- he has got these gifts from Allah, and
- Allah has fixed definite laws in nature, of which he can take advantage by Allah's command and permission.
He has been made Vicegerent on earth (2:30);
Allah commanded the highest creatures to bow down to Adam (2:34).
Man, by Allah's command, can use rain to produce food for himself; make ships to sail the seas; use rivers as highways, and cut canals for traffic and irrigation.
Not only this, but even the heavenly bodies can (by Allah's command) contribute to his needs (see next verse).
وَسَخَّر
لَكُمُ الشَّمْسَ
وَالْقَمَرَ
دَآئِبَينَ...
14: 33. And He hath made subject to you the sun and the moon, both diligently pursuing their courses:
C1909. The sun gives out heat, which is the source of all life and energy on this planet, and produces the seasons of the year, by utilizing which man can supply his needs, not only material, but immaterial in the shape of light, health, and other blessings.
The sun and the moon together produce tides, and are responsible for atmospheric changes which are of the highest importance in the life of man.
The succession of Day and Night is due to the apparent daily course of the sun through the skies; and the cool light of the moon performs other services different from those of warm day-light.
Because there are laws here, which man can understand and calculate, he can use all such things for his own service, and in that sense the heavenly bodies are themselves made subject to him by Allah's command.
...وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ ﴿٣٣﴾
and the Night and the Day hath He (also) made subject you.
وَآتَاكُم
مِّن كُلِّ مَا
سَأَلْتُمُوهُ...
14: 34. And He giveth you of all that ye ask for.
C1910. Sincere and true prayer in faith is answered by Allah. Thus He gives us everything which a wise and benevolent Providence can give.
...وَإِن تَعُدُّواْ نِعْمَتَ اللّهِ لاَ تُحْصُوهَا...
But if ye count the favors of Allah, never will ye be able to number them:
...إِنَّ الإِنسَانَ لَظَلُومٌ كَفَّارٌ ﴿٣٤﴾
verily, man is given up to injustice and ingratitude.
C1911. I have tried to render the intensive forms of the Arabic by what I consider their near equivalent here:
the phrase "given up to injustice and ingratitude" suggests habitual ignoring of just values and ingratitude for the innumerable gifts and favours which Allah has showered on mankind.
14: 32
Pickthall Allah is He Who created the heavens and the earth, and cause water to descend from the sky, thereby producing fruits as food for you, and make the ships to be of service unto you, that they may run upon the sea at His command, and hath made of service unto you the rivers;
Transliteration Alla_hul lazi khalaqas sama_wa_ti wal arda wa anzala minas sama_'i ma_'an fa akhraja bihi minas samara_ti rizqal lakum, wa sakhkhara lakumul fulka litajriya fil bahri bi amrih(i), wa sakhkhara lakumul anha_r(a).
14: 33
Pickthall And maketh the sun and the moon, constant in their courses, to be of service unto you, and hath made of service unto you the night and the day.
Yuksel He committed for you the sun and the moon, both in continuity; and He committed for you the night and the day.
Transliteration Wa sakhkhara lakumusy syamsa wal qamara da_'ibain(i), wa sakhkhara lakumul laila wan naha_r(a).
1908 We must realise that behind all our strength, skill, and intelligence there is the power and goodness of Allah, Who gave us all these things. Man can understand and control the forces of nature so as to bring them to his own service: he can only do so, because (1) he has got these gifts from Allah, and (2) Allah has fixed definite laws in nature, of which he can take advantage by Allah's command and permission. He has been made Vicegerent on earth (ii. 30); Allah commanded the highest creatures to bow down to Adam (ii. 34). Man, by Allah's command, can use rain to produce food for himself; make ships to sail the seas; use rivers as highways, and cut canals for traffic and irrigation. Not only this, but even the heavenly bodies can (by Allah's command) contribute to his needs (see next verse). (14.32)
1909 The sun gives out heat, which is the source of all life and energy on this planet, and produces the seasons of the year, by utilising which man can supply his needs, not only material, but immaterial in the shape of light, health, and other blessings. The sun and the moon together produce tides, and are responsible for atmospheric changes which are of the highest importance in the life of man. The succession of Day and Night is due to the apparent daily course of the sun through the skies; and the cool light of the moon performs other services different from those of warm day-light. Because there are laws here, which man can understand and calculate, he can use all such things for his own service, and in that sense the heavenly bodies are themselves made subject to him by Allah's command. (14.33)
14: 34
Pickthall And He giveth you of all ye ask of Him, and if ye would count the bounty of Allah ye cannot reckon it. Lo! man is verily a wrong-doer, an ingrate.
Yuksel He gave you all that you have asked Him. If you were to count God's blessings, you will never enumerate them. The human is indeed transgressing, unappreciative.
Transliteration Wa a_ta_kum min kulli ma_ sa'altumu_h(u), wa in ta'uddu_ ni'matalla_hi la_ tuhsa_ha_, innal insa_na lazalu_mun kaffa_r(un).
[Asad note 46: Almost all classical commentators agree that God’s having made the natural phenomena “subservient” to man is a metaphor [majaz] of His having enabled man to derive lasting benefit from them: hence my explanatory interpolations, In the same sense the night and the day are spoken of in 10:67, 27:86, or 40:61 as having been “made for you”…..]
[Ruby’s note: God has created many things if not all things to serve human being, therefore, there comes the responsibility to accept them with gratitude and appreciation and make good use of everything that is give to us from His Grace to serve fellow human beings. That is why, I believe, the giving the charity and prayer is mentioned so close and as context to this verse.]