The Quran repeats mentioning signs denoting the ability of Allah, especially, after talking about the stubbornness of the disbelievers and warning them of severe torment. Indeed, Allah is Omnipotent and nothing stands before His ability. Knowing this fact should persuade those who endowed with sound intellect to follow the path of truth and give up stubbornness and disbelief in Allah’s Oneness. Verily, the universe has countless signs inviting to believe in its Creator, Allah.
Indeed, We have made constellations in the sky and beautified it for the observers. [Q15:16]
And We have protected it from every accursed devil. [Q 15:17]
But he who eavesdrops, then he will be chased by a visible flame. [Q15:18]
And the earth – We have spread it, placed firm mountains therein, and caused to grow all kinds of things therein in due proportion. [Q15:19]
We have made for you therein means of sustenance and those for whom you are not the sustainers. [Q 15: 20]
There is not a thing, but with Us are its treasuries and We do not cause it to come down except in due proportion. [Q 15:21]
We have sent the winds fertilizing. Thus, We have caused water to come down from the sky. We have made you drink therefrom and you cannot store it. [Q 15:22]
Indeed, it is We who give life and cause death and We are the Inheritor. [Q 15:23]
We surely know those who passed away and We surely know those who will come later [Q 15:24]
Indeed, your Lord Himself will gather them. Indeed, He is All-Wise, All-Knowing. [Q 15: 25]
Relationship with the Previous Part
The previous part refuted the claims of the deniers of prophet-hood. Belief in the truthfulness of Allah’s prophets necessitates belief in the Oneness of Allah, as He is the One, who sent them to people. Therefore, this part mentions some signs of Allah’s Oneness in the heavens and earth.
Tafsir
Indeed, We have made constellations in the sky and beautified it for the observers. [Q15:16]
The ayah begins with emphasis, i.e. indeed, to draw people’s attention to the ability of Allah, Exalted be He.
Allah created constellations that look like great landmarks in the sky so that people find their ways on land and at sea. He, Exalted be He, beautified the sky with stars that attract the beholders, so that they carefully contemplate the stars’ beauty and conclude that there must be a great Creator, who perfectly created them.
Some scholars believe that ‘constellations’ mentioned in the ayah refer to the constellations of the suns and the moon. They are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, and Pisces. Other scholars maintain that ‘constellations’ refer to great stars in the sky. Anyway, the meaning refers to one thing, namely, great stars that can be seen clearly in the sky.
Beautifying the sky with the constellations with their amazing creation implies that beauty is intended in the creation of the universe. It also invites the believers to build their life, seeking to achieve inward and outward beauty.
Then the ayat mention that as Allah has beautified the sky with the stars, and He has protected it from whatever thing that may tarnish its purity.
And We have protected it from every accursed devil. [Q 15:17]
Allah has protected the sky from every accursed devil. Thus, devils cannot settle in or come close to it. They cannot also spread corruption therein as it the dwelling of the pious ones.
But he who eavesdrops, then he will be chased by a visible flame. [Q15:18]
If any devil tries to eavesdrop in the heavens by coming close to it, a visible flame will burn him and prevent him from eavesdropping.
The meteors act as guards for the heavens. They prevent rebellious devils from eavesdropping. If a devil tries to eavesdrop, a burning flame will chase him and kill him. The devil might tell some of what he heard to another devil, who might tell another devil, as it was mentioned in a prophetic narration. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that Messenger Muhammad said, ‘When Allah decrees some order in heaven, the angels flutter their wings out of submission to what He decreed. The sound of the flutter looks like the sound of chains when dragged on smooth rock. When the angels are no longer afraid, they say, ‘What has your Lord said?’ They will be answered, ‘He has said the truth and He is the all-High, the all-Great.’ Standing one over the other, the devils would try to eavesdrop what Allah decreed. A burning flame may catch one of the eavesdroppers before he tells what he heard to another devil, so it burns him, and the burning flame may not catch him and he tells what he heard to another devil so what they heard reaches the earth. Thus, it reaches a soothsayer, who will tell it and mix a hundred lies with it. Then people will say, ‘Has not he told us such and such on such a day and he said the truth?’ The soothsayer’s statement will be true because of the information that was eavesdropped from the heavens [Sahih al-Bukhari].’
After Allah mentioned some proofs, denoting His Oneness and signs of His ability in the heavens, He mentions some proofs found on earth.
And the earth – We have spread it, placed firm mountains therein, and caused to grow all kinds of things therein in due proportion. [Q15:19]
Allah has made the earth flat so it will be easy for people to live on it and benefit from its resources. He has also placed firm mountains on earth to make it stable. Moreover, Allah has caused plants of all kinds to grow on earth in due proportion according to wise and beneficial planning.
We have made for you therein means of sustenance and those for whom you are not the sustainers. [Q 15: 20]
Allah has created means of sustenance, such as food and drinks that are important for man’s life on earth. Allah has also created those whom man does not sustain, such as children, servants, and cattle, for man. He, Exalted be He, is their Provider and Sustainer.
The intended meaning of the ayah is that Allah, Exalted be He, reminds people of His bounty on them as He has made life on earth easy for them by creating means of living, servants, cattle, etc. for them. He, out of His generosity, provides for people and all created beings on earth.
Then Allah mentions that everything in this universe is under His control.
There is not a thing, but with Us are its treasuries and We do not cause it to come down except in due proportion. [Q 15:21]
Allah, Exalted be He, is the Owner of everything in this universe. He owns the treasuries of all things, such as plants, minerals, and so on. Allah alone can also create what people need in their life.
[We do not cause it to come down except in due proportion.]
Allah, the generous, causes beneficial things for people to come down on earth in due proportion and at a specific time determined according to His wisdom and will, and according to people’s needs and situations.
Abdul-Allah bin Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said, ‘There is no year that has more rain than another one. However, Allah divides His sustenance among people as He wills. Some years, it rains in this area and it rains in another area in another year.’ Then he recited ayah [Q 15:21][Tafsir al-Tabari].
After mentioning proofs denoting the Oneness and ability of Allah on earth, Allah mentions proofs found in the heavens.
We have sent the winds fertilizing. Thus, We have caused water to come down from the sky. We have made you drink therefrom and you cannot store it. [Q 15:22]
Sending winds means making the winds blow and move from a place to another one.
Fertilizing refers to the fact that winds carry what causes rain to come down from the sky. The winds act as pollinators that make the rain come down on earth just as living beings, such as plants, need pollinators for fertilization. The meaning is as follows: the winds act like fertilizers that fertilize the clouds. Then rain falls on earth and the trees produce fruits.
The winds have eloquently been described as fertilizers. This usage has double meanings. It refers to the clouds and rain and it also refers to the pollination of plants.
Allah, All-Powerful, has caused the winds to move from a place to another place, carrying and moving clouds, pollinators, and other things. This makes the rain come down on earth from the sky. Thus, people use water for drinking, providing water for their cattle, and other things necessary for their life.
[…and you cannot store it.]
Allah has caused the rain to come down on earth and He only has its storage. People do not have its storage. Allah, Exalted be He, causes rain to come down on earth when He wants and stops it from coming down when He wants.
The meaning could also be as follows: Allah has caused the rain to come down from the sky. Then people use it for their needs. He also can store it in springs, lakes, etc. and people cannot store it.
Then Allah, Exalted be He, mentions that He alone can give life and cause death.
Indeed, it is We who give life and cause death and We are the Inheritor. [Q 15:23]
Allah alone can give life to creatures and He alone can cause death. He, Exalted be He, is the only Inheritor of this universe and He is the only One who remains after its destruction.
The fact that Allah alone can give life and cause death refutes the claims of the disbelievers who allege that there is no life, no reward, and no punishment after death. Allah, who created the creatures in this life, can resurrect them for reckoning on the Day of Judgment.
Then, Allah, Exalted be He, confirms His comprehensive knowledge and ability.
We surely know those who passed away and We surely know those who will come later [Q 15:24]
Allah alone knows those who died in former times, those who are still alive, and those who will be created in the future until the Day of Judgment takes place.
Then Allah mentions that all creatures will return to Him on the Day of Judgment.
Indeed, your Lord Himself will gather them. Indeed, He is All-Wise, All-Knowing. [Q 15: 25]
Allah, Exalted be He, will gather and resurrect all people for reckoning on the Day of Judgment. Indeed, Allah is wise in all His actions and statements. He is Omniscient. He knows all affairs of His creatures, hidden and apparent.
Learned Lessons from Surah al-Hijr Ayah: 16-25
• Allah has created constellations in the sky and He has beautified it with stars that are appealing to those who see them.
• Allah has protected the sky. Thus, the devils cannot eavesdrop therein. If any devil tries to eavesdrop in the sky, a burning flame will chase and burn it.
• Allah has created the earth and made it flat and stable so that people’s life will be comfortable and easy on it. Allah has also put firm mountains on earth so that it remains stable and does not shake.
• Allah has created all kinds of plants on earth in due proportion according to wise planning.
• Allah has created sustenance necessary for people’s life on earth and He has created servants, cattle, etc. for the benefit of people.
• Allah alone is the owner of all things in this universe. He gives and provides for the creatures in due proportion.
• Allah has caused the winds to blow whereby rain comes down on earth and plants are pollinated.
• Allah alone can give life and cause death.
• Allah is Omniscient. He knows all those who passed away, those who are still alive, and those who will be created in the future.
• Allah will gather and resurrect people for reckoning on the Day of Judgment.
Introduction to Tafsir of Surah al-Hijr
Introduction to Tafsir of Surah Ibrahim
Quran, English Translation, Surah al-Hijr
Quran, Tafsir ibn Kathir, Tafsir of Surah al-Hijr
Quran, Towards Understanding the Quran, Surah al-Hijr
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