Az-Zumar (The Groups)

21. See you not that Allah sends down water from the sky and causes it to penetrate the earth [then makes it to spring up] as water springs and afterward thereby produces crops of different colors and afterwards they wither and you see them turn yellow; then He makes them dry and broken pieces. Indeed, in this is a Reminder for men of understanding [to know that the world is transient].

Rain is the source of springs and subterranean waters. Natural phenomena serve to fulfill Divine Will (making plants to grow is God’s work but it is done by means of water). In the blessed Verse in question, the Holy Qur’an once more returns to the arguments substantiating Divine Unity and the Hereafter and pursues to complete the foregoing discussions concerning disbelief and faith.

From amongst the signs of Divine Glory and Lordship in the world of existence, mention are made of sending down rain from the sky and making verdure grow with many a color out of the colorless water, different stages of life, and attaining to the final stage.

Addressing the Noble Prophet (S), the Verse gives a lesson to all believers, saying:

“See you not that Allah sends down water from the sky?”

The life giving drops of rain are sent down from the sky. They penetrate the penetrable layer of the earth and the process of penetration stops at the impenetrable layer. The water fills the subterranean basins and thence it exudes in the forms of rivers, manmade subterranean water canals, and spring wells.

The clause:

salakahu (“caused it [rain water] to penetrate it [the earth]”) makes a brief reference to what has been already mentioned. The word yanabi’ is the plural form of yanbu’ (“spring”) is taken from n-b-’ (“well up; gush forth [water]”).

Had the earth had no impenetrable layer, one single drop of water would not have been reserved in it and all rain would have flowed into seas.

There would have been no spring, nor manmade subterranean water canal, nor well. Had it had solely one penetrable layer, all rain would have penetrated into the earth such that it would have been impossible to have access to it.

The two penetrable and impenetrable layers are made use of in digging shallow, semi-deep, and deep wells.

The Verse further adds:

“Afterward thereby [God Almighty] produces crops of different colors.”

The kinds of plants, e.g. wheat, barley, rice, and corn, as well as their qualities and colors differ; some are light green in color, some have broad and some narrow and delicate leaves.

The word zar’ is applied to plants with fragile stems, as the opposite of shajar often applied to trees with strong trunks.

The former is broader in its semantic range embracing non-nutritive plants, e.g. different kinds of flowers, luxurious plants, and medicinal herbs extraordinarily diverse in types, forms, and colors, such that at times different colors are quite interestingly and delicately intertwined in one branch, stem, twig, or even one single flower or blossom which sing the song of Divine Glory and Unity.

The Verse further treats of the other stages of the plant:

“afterward thereby produces crops of different colors and afterwards they wither and you see them turn yellow.”

Harsh winds blow uprooting those whose roots are weak,

“then He makes them dry and broken pieces.”

It serves as a reminder for thinkers and intellectuals,

“Indeed, in this is a Reminder for men of understanding.”

It is a reminder referring to the well measured and astonishing system of the world of existence and Divine Lordship reflected in this astounding scene and also a reminder of the end of life and extinguishing the flames of life, Resurrection, and the raising of the dead.

Despite the fact that the Verse depicts the world of plants, but It warns mankind that the same happens in your lifespan, though whose duration may differ; however they share the same features: birth, youth and rigor, withering away and old age, and finally death.