Ar-Ra'd (The Thunder)

16. “Say: ‘Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?’ Say: ‘Allah’. (Then) say: ‘Why is it that you have taken guardians other than Him who own no profit and loss for themselves?’ Say: ‘Are the blind and the eyed equal? Or are the darknesses and light identical? Or have they set up partners for Allah who have created (something) like His creation, so that creation is all alike to them?’ Say: ‘Allah is the Creator of everything, and He is the One, the All-Dominant’.”

As there were numerous discussions as to the cognition of Allah’s Existence in the previous holy verses, the Qur’an has devoted the discussion in this verse to the mistakes of the pagans and the worshippers of the idols. It follows this discussion on several fronts.

At first, the Qur’an addresses the Prophet (S) and tells him to ask them about the creator and administrator of the heavens and the earth.

It declares:

“Say: ‘Who is the Lord of the heavens and the earth?’…”

Then, before that the Prophet (S) waits for any answer from them, it immediately issues the decree to him (S) that he provides the best answer to this query, proclaiming that:

“…Say: ‘Allah’…”

Then blaming them and reproaching them with this sentence the Qur’an issues another query for the Prophet (S) to ask them, saying whether they have designated any one other than Allah as their worshipping center and their supporting person, without considering the fact that these idols can be of no profit or loss even for themselves.

The verse says:

“…(Then) say: ‘Why is it that you have taken guardians other than Him who own no profit and loss for themselves?’…”

Then, by providing two explicit and clear examples, the Qur’an differentiates between the position of the individuals who are ‘monotheist’ and that of ‘pagans’, stating:

“…Say: ‘Are the blind and the eyed equal?…”

As the blind and the eyed people are not similar, therefore, the pagan and the faithful are not alike either, and one cannot designate the position of the idols alongside Allah.

The other point the verse remarks is that:

“…Or are the darknesses and light identical?…”

How would it be possible to align the idols, which are utter darkness, alongside Allah (s.w.t.) Who is the absolute light of existence?

Then, the Qur’an stresses further the rejection of the ideas of the pagans, asking whether they have aligned counterparts for Allah for the sake that they are engaged in the process of creation like Allah, and hence, such a creation has brought about for them a state of confusion.

The verse says:

“…Or have they set up partners for Allah who have created (something) like His creation, so that creation is all alike to them?’…”

However, even the idol worshippers are not of the same opinion about idols. They, too, regard Allah as the Creator of everything and consider the world of creation as a whole package in His Authority.

Therefore, the verse instantly adds:

“…Say: ‘Allah is the Creator of everything, and He is the One, the All-Dominant’.”

One can infer from the above verse that the process of creation is a continuous matter and Allah (s.w.t.) is continuously shedding rays of existence, in which case, every being is benefiting existence from His Pure Essence from moment to moment.

Therefore, the process of creation and administration of the world of existence are both in His Own Power, just like the onset of creation.

Explanations

Discussing issues in the form of ‘question-and-answer’ is one of the methods of propagation, and dissemination of information, and is an educational means, which has been notably used by the Qur’an.

“Say: ‘Who is the Lord of heavens and the earth?’…”

Some pagans only accepted the creative nature of Allah and considered others as administrators.

Therefore, in Surah ‘Ankabūt, No. 29, verse 61, the Qur’an proclaims:

“And if you ask them (these pagans) who created the heavens and the earth and made the sun and the moon subservient, they will certainly say ‘Allah’…”

Then how is it that they hasten to paganism, ‘Deism’, and ignorance after making such a confession?

Paganism in all its forms, according to some Islamic quotations, is more hidden and covert than the movement of an ant over a dark stone by night. An example of this is that one might say that this task was done under Allah’s blessings and with the help of such a person.