16. [an-Nahl, mecca 70]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يُنبِتُ
لَكُم بِهِ
الزَّرْعَ
وَالزَّيْتُونَ
وَالنَّخِيلَ
وَالأَعْنَابَ
وَمِن كُلِّ
الثَّمَرَاتِ...
16: 11. With it He produces for you corn, olives, date-palms, grapes, and every kind of fruit:
... إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ﴿١١﴾
verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought.
C2030. The least thought and study of nature will show you Allah's wise and benign Providence in making the processes of nature subserve man's use and refined life.
A higher degree of intelligence and study is required ("men who are wise") to understand Allah's Signs to man in the processes connected with the heavenly bodies (verse 12).
And a still higher spiritual understanding ("men who celebrate His praises" with gratitude) to realise the marvelous gradations, colours, and nuances in the creatures on this little globe of ours (verse 13), Reason this out carefully.
وَمَا ذَرَأَ
لَكُمْ فِي
الأَرْضِ مُخْتَلِفًا
أَلْوَانُهُ...
16: 13. And the things on this earth which He has multiplied in varying colors (and qualities):
C2032. Whose heart has not been moved by the glorious gradation of colours in the sunset clouds?
The gradations are infinite, and it is only the eye of an artist that can express their collective beauty. They are but a type of the infinite variety and gradation of qualities in the spiritual sphere even in the little space of our own globe.
The big things that can be measured and defined have been spoken of before. Here we have mention of the subtle nuances in the spiritual world which can only be perceived by men who are so high in spiritual insight that their only reaction is to "cerebrate the praises of Allah" in gratitude for His infinite Mercies.
... إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَذَّكَّرُونَ ﴿١٣﴾
verily in this is a Sign for men who celebrate the praises of Allah (in gratitude).
C2033. Read again n. 2030 above, and see how subtly we are led up from the perception of the big to the perception of the subtle and delicate colours and qualities in the spiritual world.
16: 11
Asad By virtue thereof He causes crops to grow for you, and olive trees, and date-palms, and grapes, and all kinds of fruit: in this, behold, there is a message indeed for people who think!
Pickthall Therewith He causeth crops to grow for you, and the olive and the date palm and grapes and all kinds of fruit. Lo! herein is indeed a portent for people who reflect.
Transliteration Yumbitu lakum bihiz zar'a waz zaitu_na wan nakhila wal a'na_ba wa min kullis samara_t(i), inna fi za_lika la a_yatal liqaumiy yatafakkaru_n(a).
16: 13
Pickthall And whatsoever He hath created for you in the earth of divers hues, lo! therein is indeed a portent for people who take heed.
Transliteration Wa ma_ zara'a lakum fil ardi mukhtalifan alwa_nuh(a_), inna fi za_lika la a_yatal liqaumiy yazzakkaru_n(a).