2.38. SILENCE AND REFLECTION (to be continued)

God says

He creates man out of a [mere] drop of sperm: and lo! this same being shows himself endowed with the power to think and to argue!* -- Q.16:4
* Lit., “he becomes an open contender in argument”. According to Zamakhshari, the above phrase is liable to two interpretations. “One interpretation is that after having been a [mere] drop of sperm, a particle of matter without consciousness or motion, man becomes highly articulate, able to argue on his own [for or against a proposition], courageously facing disputes, and clearly formulating his arguments: [and here lies] an indication of God’s creative power. The other [interpretation] is that man is [prone to become] a contender in argument against his Sustainer, refusing to acknowledge his [very] Creator.” However, ( in Muhammad Asad’s opinion), “in view of 36:77-78 (revealed at a considerably earlier period) the above two interpretations are not mutually exclusive but, rather, complementary, inasmuch as this passage is meant to bring out man’s unique quality as a rational being – a quality that may lead him to great heights of achievement, but may equally well lead him utterly astray: hence, my free rendering of this profound, elliptic phrase”.

… We have established the night and the day as two symbols;* and thereupon We have effaced the symbol of night and set up [in its place] the light-giving symbols of day,** so that you might seek to obtain your Sustainer’s bounty and be aware of the passing years*** and of the reckoning [that is bound to come]. For clearly, have We spelt out everything!**** -- Q.17:12
*The expression aayatayn (“two symbols”) refers – as the subsequent clause shows, to the spiritual darkness and light.
** I.e., the message of the Quran, which is to lead man out of spiritual ignorance and error into the light of faith and reason.
*** Lit., “the count of years). Since this phrase denotes also “the years of [a person’s] life, which he counts”, it also implies here a call to spiritual self-criticism in view of the ephemeral nature of one’s worldly life.
**** I.e., everything that man may be in need of in the domain of ethics and religion.


Prophet said

“If you put your faith completely in God, He will arrange your sustenance in the same way as He provides for the birds. They go out in the morning with the stomachs empty and return filled in the evening.” -- H: Tirmizi. N: Umer Bin Khattab.