Al-Israa (The Night Journey)

66. “Your Lord is He Who makes the ship go for you through the sea that you may seek of His grace; verily He is ever Merciful to you.”

This verse pursues the discussions which we had before about monotheism and about the campaigns against paganism. It enters this discussion through two different ways: by reasoning, and through the way of conscience and the inside or internal system.

At first, the Holy Qur’an alludes to the monotheism through reasoning, saying:

“Your Lord is He Who makes the ship go for you through the sea…”

Obviously, there are numerous benefits for transportation available by sea-routes, including cheapness of traveling, their suitability for being used at all the times by all the general public and for transportation of goods passengers and fishing.

The role of the seas in the field of providing oxygen, production of water vapor, clouds, and rain; developing beds for fishery industries and wanders of material, plants and animals are remarkable. The amazing surprises they present in matters relating to the inanimate objects, plant and animal life are abundant.

We read in the ‘Joushan Kabir’ supplication:

“O! The One Whose wonders of creation are found in abundance at sea!”

Then the Qur’an adds that the aim of all these preparations are that you benefit from His blessings in matters relating to your travels, to the transportation of your goods, merchandise, and to whatever else which is of help to your religion as well as to your worldly life, for the Lord is kind to you.

The holy verse says:

“…that you may seek of His grace; verily He is ever Merciful to you.”