An-Nahl (The Bee)

65. “And Allah has sent down water from the sky, and therewith given life to the earth after its death. Verily, in that is a sign for a people who listen (to the words of truth whole-heartedly).”

The previous verse dealt with the revelation of the ‘Book’, which serves as a source of enlivening of the hearts. In the current verse, the process of descending of rain is being discussed which provides life for the earth.

Therefore, He returns once again to the issue of the explanation of the various blessings and the favors which serve both as an emphasis concerning the issue of monotheism and cognition of Allah, and alludes to the issue of resurrection in that passing. Moreover, by stressing these graces, He incites the sense of gratitude of the servants, thus enabling them to approach Allah more and more.

At first, it says:

“And Allah has sent down water from the sky, and therewith given life to the earth after its death…”

There are clear signs for those who lend their ears as to the magnanimity of Allah while furnishing clues for all regarding His power and splendor.

There are also justifications provided for the coming of the resurrection day while exhibiting one of the numerous blessings of Allah. Nevertheless, the sinful man has been so deafened and become out of touch with realities that he can neither hear nor understand.

The verse continues saying:

“…Verily, in that is a sign for a people who listen (to the words of truth whole-heartedly).” But as for those who do not hearken by their hearts, they are the ones who relate these issues to nature, and we have proclaimed repeatedly that such people are overtaken by blasphemy, paganism, dissidence, and sinfulness, and their rational souls are not moralized and they are the examples of the people who: “do not understand,” “do not see”, “do not listen”, and “do not know”. As for those who have managed to elevate their souls by the light of faith and moral values, the examples of the following hold true in their cases: to be said: “they understand”, “they listen”, “they see”, and “they know”.

The first category is addressed as:

“They are a cattle, rather they are more astray…”1

For they had the power to discriminate the vices from the virtues though they did not implement their sense of discrimination. They are those who took no notice of Allah, the Resurrection Day, and the ultimate aim of their existence, forsaking them for the worldly, matters.

The second category comprises of the examples of: Surah Ar-Ra‘d, No. 13, verse 19 which signifies that only the sage and men of wisdom are considerate with regard to this.