Sura-22 [Al Hajj madina 103]

The Quranic Text & Ali’s version:

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.

Section 9

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 [al-Hajj, Medina 103]

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. ]]

22:64 [al-Hajj, Medina 103]

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. ]]

for Allah is Most Kind and Most Merciful to man.

22:65