THE WORD OF GOD
From The Scriptures
The Quran is the book of God. It has been preserved in its entirety since its revelation to the Prophet of Islam between AD 610 and 632. It is a book that brings glad tidings to humankind, along with divine admonition, and stresses the importance of man’s discovery of the Truth on a spiritual and intellectual level.
Translated from Arabic and commentary by
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful The Merciful who taught the Quran—He created man and He taught him speech. The sun and the moon move according to a fixed reckoning; the stars and the trees bend in prostration. He raised the heavens and set up the measure, so that you should not transgress the measure. Always measure with justice and do not give short measure. (55: 1-9)
God created human beings. He granted them the unique power of speech—a power not bestowed upon any other creature or anything else in the whole known universe. Then, there is the practical example of the role of justice and fair play which is inherent in the universe at God’s behest. The whole world surrounding the human being is based on these principles of balance and justice, which God wants human beings to follow; and this is clearly set forth in the Quran. The Quran is the verbal expression of this Divine justice and the universe is its practical expression. It is imperative that the subjects of God weigh their words and deeds in this balance. They should not be unjust in either giving or taking.
He has laid out the earth for His creatures. On it are fruits and palmtrees with sheathed clusters [of dates], and grains with their husk and fragrant plants. Which of your Lord’s wonders would you deny? He has created man, from dry ringing clay, like the potter’s, and He created the jinns from a flame of fire. Which of your Lord’s wonders would you deny? He is the Lord of the two easts and the Lord of the two wests. Which of your Lord’s wonders would you deny? He has set the two oceans in motion, converging together. Between them is a barrier, which they do not overrun. Which of your Lord’s wonders would you deny? Pearls and corals come forth from both of them. Which, of your Lord’s wonders would you deny? His are the lofty ships, that rear aloft on the sea like mountains. Which of your Lord’s wonders would you deny? (55: 10-25)
A large part of this universe is filled with stars which consist entirely of fire. Jinns are also made of this fire. But human beings have been given special treatment by God in that they have been made of earth, or clay, which is an extremely rare thing in this extensive universe.
In the whole universe the earth is a unique exception. Here, all the factors that are conducive to the existence, survival, and cultural development of man have been provided in the most appropriate proportions and in the most balanced manner. One of these arrangements is the system of ‘two easts’ and ‘two wests’ on the earth. In winter, the places on the horizon where the sun rises and sets are different from those in summer. In this way, there is a range of ‘easts’ and ‘wests’. This seasonal difference occurs due to the axial tilt of the earth in space. This tilt is a most unique feature, and man receives many natural advantages on account of this.
The exceptional treatment of man and the earth in this universe is such a great manifestation of God’s grace and bounty that man is in no way capable of thanking his Creator sufficiently.
All that is on the earth is doomed to perish, while your Lord’s own Self will remain full of majesty and glory. Which of your Lord’s wonders would you deny? Everyone in the heavens and on the earth entreats Him. Every day He manifests Himself in a new state. (55: 26-29)
Nothing in this world possesses creative power i.e. the objects on which things depend for their continued existence are not self-created. This shows the boundless power of the Creator.
The signs of God in this world are so many that it is not possible for any thinking individual to ignore them. But man is such a transgressor that, even when surrounded by a host of signs, he denies them.