2. [ al-Baqarah, Medina 87 ]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلاَفِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ...

2: 164. Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of the night and the day;

... وَالْفُلْكِ الَّتِي تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِمَا يَنفَعُ النَّاسَ ...

in the sailing of the ships through the ocean for the profit of mankind;

... وَمَا أَنزَلَ اللّهُ مِنَ السَّمَاء مِن مَّاء فَأَحْيَا بِهِ الأرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا...

in the rain which Allah sends down from the skies, and the life which He gives therewith to an earth that is dead;

... وَبَثَّ فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ دَآبَّةٍ ...

in the beasts of all kinds that He scatters through the earth;

... وَتَصْرِيفِ الرِّيَاحِ وَالسَّحَابِ الْمُسَخِّرِ بَيْنَ السَّمَاء وَالأَرْضِ...

in the change of the winds, and the clouds which they trail like their slaves between the sky and the earth;

... لآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ ﴿١٦٤﴾

(here) indeed are signs for a people that are wise.

C166. This magnificent Nature passage stands out like a hill in a landscape, enhancing the beauty of our view, and preparing us for the every-day laws and ordinances which follow.

Note its literary architecture. Allah is One and among His wondrous Signs is the unity of design in the widest diversity of Nature. The Signs are taken from the features of beauty, power, ad utility to man himself, and lead up to an appeal to Man’s own intelligence ad wisdom.

We begin with the glory of the heavens ad the earth, the wide spaces covered by man’s imagination, remote and yet so near to his own life. The most striking everyday phenomenon resulting from the interrelations of the heavens ad the earth is the alternation of day ad night, regular and yet changing in duration with the seasons ad the latitudes of our globe.

The night for rest, and the day for work; and we can think of the work in terms of nature’s beauty; the stately ships “flowing” (as the original text has it) across the seas, for communications ad merchandise as between men ad men. The seas thus serve us no less than land, and the give-and-take as between sea, sky, ad land, is further exemplified by the rain.

The rain leads to the fertility of the land, and here we are reminded of the contrast between Winter’s death of Nature ad her revivification in the Spring. Here we are reminded of agriculture ad the use we make of cattle ad all kinds of living creatures.

The word translated “beasts” has a wide meaning, including crawling creatures, insects, etc. - all contributing to the round of Nature’s operations.

This leads us on to the wonderful winds, the region of the air, which man is just beginning to explore ad navigate. The personified winds drive the clouds in the sky like “slaves.”

Here is another aspect of clouds besides that of giving rain. The fleecy clouds are things of sunset beauty; at midday they temper the glare of the sun; at all times they affect radiation ad other processes going on in the sky. So we come back to the sky, rounding off the argument, and correlating our life with the Will ad Power of Allah, if we had the wisdom to see!.

Other Versions:

2: 164

Asad Verily, in the creation of the heavens and of the earth, and the succession of night and day: and in the ships that speed through the sea with what is useful to man: and in the waters which God sends down from the sky, giving life thereby to the earth after it had been lifeless, and causing all manner of living creatures to multiply thereon: and in the change of the winds, and the clouds that run their appointed courses between sky and earth: [in all this] there are messages indeed for people who use their reason.

Pickthall Lo! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of night and day, and the ships which run upon the sea with that which is of use to men, and the water which Allah sendeth down from the sky, thereby reviving the earth after its death, and dispersing all kinds of beasts therein, and (in) the ordinance of the winds, and the clouds obedient between heaven and earth: are signs (of Allah's sovereignty) for people who have sense.

Transliteration Inna fi khalqis sama_wa_ti wal ardi wakhtila_fil laili wan naha_ri wal fulkil lati tajri fil bahri bima_yanfa'un na_sa wa ma_ anzalalla_hu minas sama_'i mim ma_'in fa ahya_ bihil arda ba'da mautiha_ wa bassa fiha_ min kulli da_bbah(tin), wa tasrifir riya_hi was saha_bil musakhkhari bainas sama_'i wal ardi la a_ya_til li qaumiy ya'qilu_n(a).

[ Asad’s note 130 This passage is one of the many in which the Quran appeals to “those who use their reason” to observe the daily wonders of nature, including the evidence of man’s own ingenuity (“the ships that speed upon the sea”), as so many indications of a conscious, creative Power pervading the universe. ]

[ Ruby’s note – The word “ayat” is used here the same term is used to denote a verse of the Quran or of another scripture meaning a “Message” or a “Sign”. It is important to note this because a message inscribed in the nature can be read and understood in the same way a verse can be read. Both convey the Messages of God in the same way. It is interesting the way the Quran use this term “ayat” to convey that God is speaking not only through the scriptures and revelations but He is also speaking or revealing the same way through nature and the reality. It is up to one’s reason and sincerity to receive that Message. Islam is proclaiming here that faith is based on “reason”. The reason that is exercised through humility, purity and sincerity in taking everything into account and in helping

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14. Surah Ibrahim

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).

Pickthall’s Version:

14: 32

Pickthall Allah is He Who created the heavens and the earth, and causeth water to descend from the sky, thereby producing fruits as food for you, and maketh 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).

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The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

Pickthall’s Version:

16: 14

Pickthall And He it is Who hath constrained the sea to be of service that ye eat fresh meat from thence, and bring forth from thence ornaments which ye wear. And thou seest the ships ploughing it that ye (mankind) may seek of His bounty, and that haply ye may give thanks.

Transliteration Wa huwal lazi sakhkharal bahra lita'kulu_ minhu lahman tariyyaw wa tastakhriju_ minhu hilyatan talbasu_naha_, wa taral fulka mawa_khira fihi wa litabtagu_ min fadlihi wa la'allakum tasykuru_n(a).

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17. [al-Israa, Mecca 50]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

رَّبُّكُمُ الَّذِي يُزْجِي لَكُمُ الْفُلْكَ فِي الْبَحْرِ لِتَبْتَغُواْ مِن فَضْلِهِ...   

17: 66.  Your Lord is He that maketh the Ship go smoothly for you through the sea, in order that ye may seek of His Bounty:

C2261. This illustration of the sea, and the skill with which, by Allah's grace, men pass through it with ease in order to earn material gains by commerce, social gains by human intercourse, and spiritual gains by knowledge, is frequently used to enforce Allah's goodness to man.

Cf. 2:164.

...إِنَّهُ كَانَ بِكُمْ رَحِيمًا ﴿٦٦﴾

for He is unto you Most Merciful.

وَإِذَا مَسَّكُمُ الْضُّرُّ فِي الْبَحْرِ ضَلَّ مَن تَدْعُونَ إِلاَّ إِيَّاهُ...   

17: 67.  When distress seizes you at sea, those that ye call upon -- besides Himself -- leave you in the lurch!

...فَلَمَّا نَجَّاكُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ أَعْرَضْتُمْ...

But when He brings you back safe to land, ye turn away (from Him).

...وَكَانَ الإِنْسَانُ كَفُورًا ﴿٦٧﴾

Most ungrateful is man!

C2262. Against Allah's gracious gifts and mercies is contrasted man's ingratitude.

In danger he remembers Allah, the One True God, but relapses into his own fancies when the danger is past.

Cf. also 10:22-23. (R).

أَفَأَمِنتُمْ أَن يَخْسِفَ بِكُمْ جَانِبَ الْبَرِّ أَوْ يُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ حَاصِبًا...   

17: 68.  Do ye then feel secure that He will not cause you to be swallowed up beneath the earth when ye are on land, or that He will not send against you a violent tornado (with showers of stones)

C2263. Man is safe neither on land nor at sea except by the grace and mercy of Allah.

How forcibly this is brought home to us by the Quetta earthquake of 31st May 1935, when tens of thousands of men, women, and children, perished in a few moments, by night, buried in debris!

The stories of violent destructive tornadoes in such areas as the southern United States are equally impressive.

The destruction is so sudden that the victims have no time to arrange anything. They are simply wiped out.

...ثُمَّ لاَ تَجِدُواْ لَكُمْ وَكِيلاً ﴿٦٨﴾

so that ye shall find no one to carry out your affairs for you?

أَمْ أَمِنتُمْ أَن يُعِيدَكُمْ فِيهِ تَارَةً أُخْرَى...   

17: 69.  Or do ye feel secure that He will not send you back a second time to sea

...فَيُرْسِلَ عَلَيْكُمْ قَاصِفا مِّنَ الرِّيحِ فَيُغْرِقَكُم بِمَا كَفَرْتُمْ...

and send against you a heavy gale to drown you because of your ingratitude,

C2264. If a man flees from the Wrath of Allah, there is no place secure for him.

He may flee from sea to land, and back again from land to sea. But his life depends on the Disposer of all affairs. He may go again and again to sea, and perhaps finally end by being drowned.

...ثُمَّ لاَ تَجِدُواْ لَكُمْ عَلَيْنَا بِهِ تَبِيعًا ﴿٦٩﴾

so that ye find no helper therein against Us?

Pickthall’s Version:

17: 66

Pickthall (O mankind), your Lord is He Who driveth for you the ship upon the sea that ye may seek of His bounty. Lo! He was ever Merciful toward you.

Transliteration Rabbukumul lazi yuzji lakumul fulka fil bahri litabtagu_ min fadlih(i), innahu_ ka_na bikum rahimu_(n).

17: 67

Pickthall And when harm toucheth you upon the sea, all unto whom ye cry (for succour) fail save Him (alone), but when He bringeth you safe to land, ye turn away, for man was ever thankless.

Transliteration Wa iza_ massakumud durru fil bahri dalla man tad'u_na illa_ iyya_h(u), falamma_ najja_kum ilal barri a'radtum, wa ka_nal insa_nu kafu_ra_(n).

17: 68

Pickthall Feel ye then secure that He will not cause a slope of the land to engulf you, or send a sandstorm, upon you, and then ye will find that ye have no protector?

Transliteration Afa amintum ay yakhsifa bikum ja_nibal barri au yursila 'alaikum ha_siban summa la_ tajidu lakum wakila_(n),

17: 69

Pickthall Or feel ye secure that He will not return you to that (plight) a second time, and send against you a hurricane of wind and drown you for your thanklessness, and then ye will not find therein that ye have any avenger against Us?

Transliteration Am amintum ay yu'idakum fihi ta_ratan ukhra_ fayursila 'alaikum qa_sifam minar rihi fayugriqakum bima_ kafartum, summa la_ tajidu lakum'alaina_ bihi tabi'a_(n).

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22. [al-Hajj, Medina 103]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

لَهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ...

22: 64. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth:

...وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ لَهُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ ﴿٦٤﴾

for verily Allah -- He is Free of all wants, Worthy of all praise.

C2845. Each of the verses 22:61-63 mentioned two attributes of Allah with reference to the contents of that verse.

This verse now sums up the whole argument, and the two attributes with which it closes sum up the idea by which we can understand Allah's goodness.

Allah's loving kindness and mercies are not like those of human creatures who all depend upon one another, and often expect some kindness or recognition in return. Allah is above all wants and depends in no way whatever on His creatures. His mercies have therefore a special quality, which we cannot describe except by gratefully singing the praises of Allah.

Cf. 2:267.

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ سَخَّرَ لَكُم مَّا فِي الْأَرْضِ...

22: 65. Seest thou not that Allah has made subject to you (men) all that is on the earth,

...وَالْفُلْكَ تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِ...

and the ships that sail through the sea by His command?

C2846. Land and sea have been made subject to man by Allah's command, so that man can develop his life freely on earth.

...وَيُمْسِكُ السَّمَاء أَن تَقَعَ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِهِ...

He withholds the sky (rain) from falling on the earth except by His leave:

C2847. Sama means

1. something high,

2. a roof, a ceiling,

3. the sky, the canopy of heaven.

4. cloud or rain.

I understand the last meaning here, though most authorities seem to render it by some such words as "sky".

If we understand rain here, we have a complete picture of the three elements in which man lives-land, air and sea. Rain is also appropriate for mention with Allah's kindness and mercy. He regulates the rain for man's benefit.

...إِنَّ اللَّهَ بِالنَّاسِ لَرَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ ﴿٦٥﴾

for Allah is Most Kind and Most Merciful to man.

Asad’s Version:

22:64

Unto Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth; and, verily, God - He alone

• is self-sufficient, the One to whom all praise is due.

(22:65) Art thou not aware that it is God who has made subservient to you all that is on earth, 7 ' and the ships that sail through the sea at His behest - and [that it is He who] holds the celestial bodies- [in their orbits], so that they

may not fall upon the earth otherwise than by His leave? 81

Verily, God is most compassionate towards men, a dispenser of grace –

[[Asad’s notes - 79 I.e., "has enabled you to benefit from all...", etc. (cf. surah 14, note 46).

80 Lit., "the sky" - used here as a metonym for the stars and planets, which are held on their courses by the God- willed laws of cosmic movement (Maraghi XVII, 137).

81 I.e., at the Last Hour, which - as the Qur'an so often states - will manifest itself in a universal cosmic catastrophe. ]]

Other Versions:

22:65

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23. Surah Al-Muminun

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَعَلَيْهَا وَعَلَى الْفُلْكِ تُحْمَلُونَ ﴿٢٢﴾

23: 22. And on them, as well as in ships, ye ride.

Asad’s Version:

(23:22) and by them - as by the ships [over the sea) - you are borne [overland

30. Ar-Rum (The Byzantines)

Mecca Period [6-7 years before Hijra]

Asad’s Version:

(30:46) for among His wonders is this: He sends forth [His messages as He sends forth] the winds that bear glad tidings," so that He might give you a taste of His grace [through life-giving rains], and that ships might sail at His behest, and that you might go about in quest of some of His bounties, and that you might have cause to be grateful.

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَن يُرْسِلَ الرِّيَاحَ مُبَشِّرَاتٍ...

30:46. Among His Signs is this, that He sends the Winds, as heralds of Glad Tidings,

C3563. The theme of Allah's artistry in the physical and the spiritual world was placed before us above in 30:20-27.

Then, in verse 28-40, we were shown how man and nature were pure as they came out of the hand of Allah, and how we must restore this purity in order to fulfill the Will and Plan of Allah.

Now we are told how the restorative and purifying agencies are sent by Allah Himself, in both the physical and the spiritual world.

...وَلِيُذِيقَكُم مِّن رَّحْمَتِهِ...

giving you a taste of His (Grace and) Mercy, --

C3564. Cf. 7:57 and n. 1036 and 25:48 and n. 3104.

...وَلِتَجْرِيَ الْفُلْكُ بِأَمْرِهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِهِ...

that the ships may sail (majestically) by His Command and that ye may seek of His Bounty:

...وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ ﴿٤٦﴾

in order that ye may be grateful.

31. Surah Luqman

Mecca Period

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

أَلَمْ تَرَ أَنَّ الْفُلْكَ تَجْرِي فِي الْبَحْرِ بِنِعْمَتِ اللَّهِ لِيُرِيَكُم مِّنْ آيَاتِهِ...

31:31. Seest thou not that the ships sail through the Ocean by the grace of Allah? -- that He may show you of His Signs?

...إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّكُلِّ صَبَّارٍ شَكُورٍ ﴿٣١﴾

Verily in this are Signs for all who constantly persevere and give thanks.

C3620. Even the things that man makes are, as using the forces of Nature, evidence of the grace of Allah, Who has subdued these wonderful forces to the use of man.

But this gift of mastery can only be understood and appreciated by constant perseverance, combined with a recognition of the divine gifts ("giving thanks").

Sabbar is an intensive form from sabr and I have indicated it by the adverb "constantly".

Asad’s Version:

(31:31) Art thou not aware how the ships speed through the sea by God's favour, so that He might show you some of His wonders? Herein, behold, there are messages indeed for all who are wholly patient in adversity and deeply grateful [to God].