Tafsir

Signs in the Subjection of Night and Day, the Sun and the Moon, and in that which grows on Earth

Allah mentions the mighty signs and immense blessings to be found in His subjection of night and day, which follow one another; the sun and moon, which revolve; the stars, both fixed and moving through the skies, offering light by which people may find their way in the darkness. Each of (these heavenly bodies) travels in its own orbit, which Allah has ordained for it, and travels in the manner prescribed for it, without deviating in any way. All of them are under His subjugation, His control and His decree, as Allah says: إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ اللَّهُ الَّذِى خَلَقَ السَمَـوَتِ وَالاٌّرْضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٍ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَى عَلَى الْعَرْشِ يُغْشِى الَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ أَلاَ لَهُ الْخَلْقُ وَالاٌّمْرُ تَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ رَبُّ الْعَـلَمِينَ (Indeed, your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days, and then He rose (Istawa) over the Throne. He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly, and (He created) the sun, the moon, the stars (all) subjected to His command.

Surely, His is the creation and commandment. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of all that exists!) (7:54) Thus Allah says; إِنَّ فِى ذلِكَ لآيَـتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ(Surely, in this are proofs for people who understand.) meaning, they are indications of His immense power and might, for those who think about Allah and understand His signs. وَمَا ذَرَأَ لَكُمْ فِى الاٌّرْضِ مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَانُهُ(And whatsoever He has created of varying colors on the earth for you. ) When Allah points out the features of the skies, He also points out the wondrous things that He has created on earth, the variety of its animals, minerals, plants and inanimate features, all having different colors and shapes, benefits and qualities. إِنَّ فِى ذَلِكَ لآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَذَّكَّرُونَ(Verily, in this is a sign for people who reflect.) meaning (those who remember) the blessings of Allah and give thanks to Him for them.

Before we move to the next verse, let us clarify the first sentence of verse 12: سَخَّرَ‌ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ‌ (And He has subjugated for you the day and the night). Here, 'subjugating the day and the night' means that Allah made them subservient to His command in order that they can serve man, pursuant to which the night brings comfort to him and the day smooths out the avenues of his work. 'Subjugating them' never means that the day and the night start alternating under human command.

وسخَّر لكم الليل لراحتكم، والنهار لمعاشكم، وسخَّر لكم الشمس ضياء، والقمر نورًا ولمعرفة السنين والحساب، وغير ذلك من المنافع، والنجوم في السماء مذللات لكم بأمر الله لمعرفة الأوقات، ونضج الثمار والزروع، والاهتداء بها في الظلمات. إن في ذلك التسخير لَدلائلَ واضحةً لقوم سيعقلون عن الله حججه وبراهينه.

ينبه تعالى عباده على آياته العظام ، ومننه الجسام ، في تسخيره الليل والنهار يتعاقبان ، والشمس والقمر يدوران ، والنجوم الثوابت والسيارات ، في أرجاء السموات نورا وضياء لمهتدين بها في الظلمات ، وكل منها يسير في فلكه الذي جعله الله تعالى فيه ، يسير بحركة مقدرة ، لا يزيد عليها ولا ينقص منها ، والجميع تحت قهره وسلطانه وتسخيره وتقديره وتسييره ، كما قال : ( إن ربكم الله الذي خلق السماوات والأرض في ستة أيام ثم استوى على العرش يغشي الليل النهار يطلبه حثيثا والشمس والقمر والنجوم مسخرات بأمره ألا له الخلق والأمر تبارك الله رب العالمين ) [ الأعراف : 54 ] ; ولهذا قال : ( إن في ذلك لآيات لقوم يعقلون ) أي : لدلالات على قدرته الباهرة وسلطانه العظيم ، لقوم يعقلون عن الله ويفهمون حججه .