Purpose of Creation

3. Sura al-Imran

The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:

إِنَّ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلاَفِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ ...

3: 190. Behold! in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of Night and Day,

C497. See 2:164.

The two items mentioned here are just brief symbols recalling the six or seven mentioned in the other passage. And those too are but brief symbols and reminders of the glorious majesty of Allah and His goodness to man.

... لآيَاتٍ لِّأُوْلِي الألْبَابِ ﴿١٩٠﴾

there are indeed Signs for men of understanding.

الَّذِينَ يَذْكُرُونَ اللّهَ قِيَامًا وَقُعُودًا وَعَلَىَ جُنُوبِهِمْ ...

3: 191. Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides,

C498. That is, in all postures, which again is symbolical of all circumstances, personal, social, economic, historical and other.

...وَيَتَفَكَّرُونَ فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِ ...

and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (with the thought):

...رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذا بَاطِلاً ...

"Our Lord! not for naught hast thou created (all) this!

... سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ﴿١٩١﴾

Glory to thee! give us salvation from the penalty of the fire.

C499. It is the thought of Salvation that connects all these glories with man. Otherwise man would be a miserable, contemptible creature in these beauties and wonders of Nature. With his high destiny of Salvation he can be lifted even higher than these glories!

The Fire is a symbol of penalty. We pray for salvation from the penalty.

Asad’s Version:

3: 190, 191 Verily, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the succession of night and day, there are indeed messages for all who are endowed with insight, who remember God when they stand, and when they sit, and when they lie down to sleep, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth: "O our Sustainer! You have not created this without meaning and purpose. Limitless are you in Thy glory! Keep us safe then from suffering through fire!"

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