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30. Ar-Rum (The Byzantines)
Mecca Period [6-7 years before Hijra]
The Quranic Text & Ali’s Version:
يُخْرِجُ
الْحَيَّ مِنَ
الْمَيِّتِ
وَيُخْرِجُ
الْمَيِّتَ
مِنَ الْحَيِّ...
30: 19. It is He Who brings out the living from the dead, and brings out the dead from the living,
C3522. Cf. 10:31.
From dead matter Allah's creative act produces life and living matter, and even science has not yet been able to explain the mystery of life.
Life and living matter again seem to reach maturity and again die, as we see every day. No material thing seems to have perpetual life. But again we see the creative process of Allah constantly at work, and the cycle of life and death seems to go on.
... وَيُحْيِي الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا...
and Who gives life to the earth after it is dead:
C3523. Cf. 2:164.
The earth itself, seemingly so inert, produces vegetable life at once from a single shower of rain, and in various ways sustains animal life.
Normally it seems to die in the winter in northern climates, and in a drought everywhere, and the spring revives it in all its glory.
Metaphorically many movements, institutions, organizations, seem to die and then to live again, all under the wonderful dispensation of Allah. So will our personality be revived when we die on this earth, in order to reap the fruit of this our probationary life.
... وَكَذَلِكَ تُخْرَجُونَ ﴿١٩﴾
and thus shall ye be brought out (from the dead).
وَمِنْ
آيَاتِهِ أَنْ
خَلَقَكُم مِّن
تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ
إِذَا أَنتُم
بَشَرٌ تَنتَشِرُونَ
﴿٢٠﴾
30: 20. Among His Signs is this, that He created you from dust; and then, behold, ye are men scattered (far and wide)!
In spite of the lowly origin of man's body, Allah has given him a mind and soul by which he can almost compass the farthest reaches of Time and Space.
Is this not enough for a miracle or Sign?
From a physical point of view, see how man, a creature of dust, scatters himself over the furthest corners of the earth!
Asad’s Version:
30:19 He (it is who] brings forth the living out of that which is dead, and brings forth the dead out of that which is alive, and gives life to the earth after it had been lifeless: and even thus will you be brought forth [from death to life].
(30:20) And among His wonders is this: He creates you out of dust 14 - and then, lo! you become human beings ranging far and wide.
[[14 See second half of note 47 on 3:59, and note 4 on 23:12.
15 Lit., "from among yourselves" (see surah 4, note 1). ]]