Al-Furqaan (The Criterion)

45. “Have you not seen (the might of) your Lord, how He extends the shadow? And if He had pleased He would certainly have made it stationary, then We have made the sun an indication of it;”

46. “Then We draw it in towards Ourselves, by an easy (gradual) contraction.”

The best way of knowing Allah for all is to ponder the phenomena of existence, which are created according to divine wisdom. The rotation of the earth around itself and around the sun is not accidental. It is wisely and prudently.

Imam Baqir (as) said:

“The purpose of the extension of shadow in the verse is the shade that is between the dawn and rising of sun.”1

Although some count the shade as the shade of night or afternoon, but with regard to the next sentence which says:

“...then We have made the sun an indication of it”,

what Imam says is accepted.

Anyway, these two noble verses mention some of the main parts of divine blessings as the secrets of monotheism and knowledge of Allah. Deliberating on these affairs helps us to be more familiar with our Creator.

It first says:

“Have you not seen (the might of) your Lord, how He extends the shadow? And if He had pleased He would certainly have made it stationary...”

Certainly, this part of the verse refers to the importance of the blessing of vast and moving shades. These shades do not stay still but they move.

Commentators have various opinions about the purpose of the shade or which shade is meant by the verse:

Some say that this spread and vast shade is that one which covers the earth between the dawn and the rising of the sun which is the most pleasant shade and hours of the day. This pale shading light begins from the dawn and at the rising of the sun, sun’s brightness replaces it.

Some have said that its purpose is all shade of night that begins from evening and ends with the rising of the sun, for we know that night is in fact the shade of the hemisphere of the earth that is in front of the sun. This shade is conical that expands in space in opposite side. That conical shade always moves. It ends in an area with the rising of the sun and it begins in another area.

Some others have also said that it is the shade of objects that forms in afternoon and it gradually expands.

Of course, if there were not the next sentences, we would understand an extensive meaning from this sentence that includes all shades, but other indications that have come later show that the first commentary is more proper, for the verse continues:

“...then We have made the sun an indication of it;”

This refers to the fact that if there was not the sun, the concept of shade would not be clear. Basically, shade is formed by rays of the sun, for shade is usually partial darkness that happens for objects. It happens when light is cast on an impassible object and in front of it a shade will be formed.

Therefore, we must not only know shade by light according to the law ‘know objects by their opposites’, but also the existence of shade is caused by light.

In the next verse, Allah says:

“Then We draw it in towards Ourselves...”

We know that when sun rises, shades are gradually taken away until noontime that there will be no shade in some areas for the sun is above every creature, and in other areas it will be in its minimum size.

Therefore, shades neither appear instantly nor are taken away instantly. This is one of the wisdoms of Allah, for if this changing of light and darkness happened immediately, it would surely be harmful for all creatures. This gradual system of changing is in a way that it has the most benefits for all creatures without having any harm.

The Arabic word /yasira/ (gradual) refers to the gradual withdrawal of shades, or it refers to this matter that special system of light and darkness is a simple and easy thing comparing with the might of Allah.

The Qur’anic word /’ilayna/ also emphasizes this divine might.

The holy verse continues saying:

“...by an easy (gradual) contraction.”

Anyway, there is no doubt that as man needs light in his life, he needs shade for modification and prevention of intense light. Continual light makes life deranged, as stable and permanent shade is fatal.

In the first case, all creatures would be burnt and in the second case all creatures would be frozen. This alternative system of light and shade makes life pleasant and possible for man.