31. Surah Luqman
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
أَلَمْ
تَرَوْا
أَنَّ اللَّهَ
سَخَّرَ لَكُم
مَّا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَمَا فِي
الْأَرْضِ...
31:20. Do ye not see that Allah has subjected to your (use) all things in the heavens and on earth,
C3605. Allah's Creation is independent of man. But Allah, in His infinite mercy, has given man the faculty to subdue the forces of nature and to penetrate through high mysteries with his powers of reason and insight.
But this is not merely a question of power. For in His Universal Plan, all are safeguarded. But man's destiny, as far as we can see, is noble to the highest degree.
...وَأَسْبَغَ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعَمَهُ ظَاهِرَةً وَبَاطِنَةً ...
and has made His bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, (both) seen and unseen?
Asad’s Version:
31:20
ARE YOU NOT aware that God has made subservient to you all 18 that is in the heavens and all that is on earth, and has lavished upon you His blessings, both outward and inward?" And yet, among men there is many a one that argues about God without having any knowledge [of Him], without any guidance, and without any light-giving revelation;
[[Asad’s note - 18 I.e., "has enabled you to derive benefit from all ...", etc. (Cf note 46 on 14:32-33.)
19 I.e.; both visible and invisible benefits, as well as both physical and intellectual (or spiritual) endowments. ]]
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45. Surah Al-Jathiyah
Mecca Period 65
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
اللَّهُ
الَّذِي
سخَّرَ
لَكُمُ
الْبَحْرَ
لِتَجْرِيَ
الْفُلْكُ
فِيهِ
بِأَمْرِهِ
وَلِتَبْتَغُوا
مِن
فَضْلِهِ...
45:12. It is Allah Who has subjected the sea to you, that ships may sail through it by His command, that ye may seek of His Bounty,
C4746. Cf. 16:14 and notes thereon, especially n. 2037.
The one encircling ocean of our globe is one of the most significant facts in our physical geography. Its salt water is an agent of global sanitation. The salubrious effects of sea-air, with its ozone, are well known to everyone who has recouped his health by its means. Thanks to ships, the sea unites rather than divides: communications are, and have always been, more active between sea-coast towns than further inland. They thus further human intercourse, and help us to seek the "Bounty of Allah", not only in a commercial but in an intellectual and spiritual sense.
...وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿١٢﴾
and that ye may be grateful.
All this is through "Allah's command" i.e., by His beneficent ordering of the universe, and we should be grateful.
وَسَخَّرَ
لَكُم
مَّا
فِي
السَّمَاوَاتِ
وَمَا
فِي
الْأَرْضِ
جَمِيعًا
مِّنْهُ...
45: 13. And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the heavens and on earth:
C4747. Cf. 31:20, and n. 3605.
The sea was only one example of Allah's cherishing care in making all things in nature available for the use of man, through the genius and faculties which He has given to man. Man should never forget that it is all "as from Him", i.e., from Allah, For is not man Allah's vicegerent on earth (2:30)
...إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لَّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿١٣﴾
behold, in that are Signs indeed for those who reflect.
Asad’s Version:
45:12 IT IS GOD who has made the sea subservient [to His laws, so that it be of use] to you 10 - so that ships might sail through it at His behest, and that you might seek to obtain [what you need] of His bounty, and that you might have cause to be grateful.
45:13 And He has made subservient to you, [as a gift] from Himself, all that is in the heavens and on earth: 11 in this, behold, there are messages indeed for people who think!
Yuksel’s Version:
45:12 God is the One who committed the sea in your service, so that the ships can sail in it by His command, and that you may seek of His provisions, and that you may be appreciative.
45:13 He committed in your service all that is in the heavens and in the earth; all from Him. In that are signs for a people who reflect.