Al-An'aam 6:99

"And it is He who sends down rain from the sky, and We produce thereby the growth of all things. We produce from it greenery from which We produce grains arranged in layers. And from the palm trees - of its emerging fruit are clusters hanging low. And [We produce] gardens of grapevines and olives and pomegranates, similar yet varied. Look at [each of] its fruit when it yields and [at] its ripening. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe."

وَهُوَ الَّذِى أَنشَأَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَحِدَةٍ

(It is He Who has created you from a single person,) 6:98 in reference to Adam, peace be upon him. In another Ayah, Allah said;

يَـأَيُّهَا النَّاسُ اتَّقُواْ رَبَّكُمُ الَّذِى خَلَقَكُمْ مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَحِدَةٍ وَخَلَقَ مِنْهَا زَوْجَهَا وَبَثَّ مِنْهُمَا رِجَالاً كَثِيراً وَنِسَآءً

(O mankind! Have Taqwa of your Lord, Who created you from a single person, and from him He created his mate, and from them both He created many men and women.)4:1 Allah said,

فَمُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمُسْتَوْدَعٌ

(Mustaqar and Mustawda`) Ibn Mas`ud, Ibn `Abbas, Abu `Abdur-Rahman As-Sulami, Qays bin Abu Hazim, Mujahid, `Ata', Ibrahim An-Nakha`i, Ad-Dahhak, Qatadah, As-Suddi and `Ata' Al-Khurasani and others said that,

فَمُسْتَقَرٌّ

(Mustaqar), `in the wombs'. They, or most of them, also said that,

وَمُسْتَوْدَعٌ

(And Mustawda`,) means, `in your father's loins'. Ibn Mas`ud and several others said that, Mustaqar, means residence in this life, while, Mustawda`, means the place of storage after death (the grave). Allah's statement,

قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا الاٌّيَـتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَفْقَهُونَ

(Indeed, We have explained in detail Our revelations for people who understand.) refers to those who comprehend and understand Allah's Words and its meanings. Allah said next,

وَهُوَ الَّذِى أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً

(It is He Who sends down water (rain) from the sky) in due measure, as a blessing and provision for the servants, relief and means of survival for the creatures and mercy from Allah for His creation. Allah's statement,

فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ نَبَاتَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ

(And with it We bring forth vegetation of all kinds,) is similar to,

وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَآءِ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ حَىٍّ

(And We have made from water every living thing.) 21:30

فَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهُ خَضِراً

(and out of it We bring forth green stalks,) green produce and trees, on which We grow seeds and fruits.

نُّخْرِجُ مِنْهُ حَبّاً مُّتَرَاكِباً

(from which We bring forth thick clustered grain.) lined on top of each other in clusters, like an ear or spike of grain.

وَمِنَ النَّخْلِ مِن طَلْعِهَا قِنْوَنٌ

(And out of the date-palm and its sprouts come forth clusters) of dates

دَانِيَةٌ

(hanging low) Within reach and easy to pick. `Ali bin Abi Talhah Al-Walibi said that Ibn `Abbas said that,

قِنْوَنٌ دَانِيَةٌ

(clusters hanging low) refers to short date trees whose branches hang low, close to the ground. This was recorded by Ibn Jarir. Allah's statement

وَجَنَّـتٍ مِّنْ أَعْنَـبٍ

(and gardens of grapes,) means, We bring forth gardens of grapes. Grapes and dates are the most precious fruits to the people of Al-Hijaz (Western Arabia), and perhaps both are the best fruits in this world. Allah has reminded His servants of His favor in making these two fruits for them, when He said,

وَمِن ثَمَرَتِ النَّخِيلِ وَالاٌّعْنَـبِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنْهُ سَكَرًا وَرِزْقًا حَسَنًا

(And from the fruits of date-palms and grapes, you derive strong drink and a goodly provision.) 16:67 before intoxicating drinks were prohibited, and;

وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا جَنَّـتٍ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَـبٍ

(And We have made therein gardens of date-palms and grapes.) 36:34. Allah said,

وَالزَّيْتُونَ وَالرُّمَّانَ مُشْتَبِهاً وَغَيْرَ مُتَشَـبِهٍ

(olives and pomegranates, each similar yet different.) The leaves are similar in shape and appearence, yet different in the shape, and taste. And the kind of fruit each plant produces is different, according to the explanation of Qatadah and several others. Allah's statement,

انْظُرُواْ إِلِى ثَمَرِهِ إِذَآ أَثْمَرَ وَيَنْعِهِ

(Look at their fruits when they begin to bear, and Yan`ih.) means, when the fruits become ripe, according to Al-Bara' bin `Azib, Ibn `Abbas, Ad-Dahhak, `Ata' Al-Khurasani, As-Suddi, Qatadah and others. This Ayah means, contemplate the ability of the Creator of these fruits, Who brought them into existence after they were dry wood, and they later became grapes and dates; and similar is the case with the various colors, shapes, tastes and fragrance of whatever Allah created. Allah said,

وَفِى الاٌّرْضِ قِطَعٌ مُّتَجَـوِرَتٌ وَجَنَّـتٌ مِّنْ أَعْنَـبٍ وَزَرْعٌ وَنَخِيلٌ صِنْوَنٌ وَغَيْرُ صِنْوَنٍ يُسْقَى بِمَآءٍ وَحِدٍ وَنُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَهَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ فِى الاٍّكُلِ

(And in the earth are neighbouring tracts, and gardens of vines, and green crops, and date-palms, growing out, two or three from a single stem root, or otherwise, watered with the same water, yet some of them We make better than others to eat.) 13:4 This is why Allah said here,

إِنَّ فِى ذلِكُمْ

(In these things there are...) O people,

لاّيَـتٍ

(signs...) and proofs that testify to the perfect ability, wisdom and mercy of He Who created these things,

لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

(for people who believe. ) in Allah and obey His Messengers.

وَهُوَ الَّذِى أَنشَأَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَحِدَةٍ

(It is He Who has created you from a single person,) 6:98 in reference to Adam, peace be upon him. In another Ayah, Allah said;

(O mankind! Have Taqwa of your Lord, Who created you from a single person, and from him He created his mate, and from them both He created many men and women.)4:1 Allah said,

فَمُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمُسْتَوْدَعٌ

فَمُسْتَقَرٌّ

(Mustaqar), `in the wombs'. They, or most of them, also said that,

وَمُسْتَوْدَعٌ

قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا الاٌّيَـتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَفْقَهُونَ

(Indeed, We have explained in detail Our revelations for people who understand.) refers to those who comprehend and understand Allah's Words and its meanings. Allah said next,

وَهُوَ الَّذِى أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً

فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ نَبَاتَ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ

(And with it We bring forth vegetation of all kinds,) is similar to,

وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَآءِ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ حَىٍّ

(And We have made from water every living thing.) 21:30

فَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهُ خَضِراً

(and out of it We bring forth green stalks,) green produce and trees, on which We grow seeds and fruits.

نُّخْرِجُ مِنْهُ حَبّاً مُّتَرَاكِباً

(from which We bring forth thick clustered grain.) lined on top of each other in clusters, like an ear or spike of grain.

وَمِنَ النَّخْلِ مِن طَلْعِهَا قِنْوَنٌ

(And out of the date-palm and its sprouts come forth clusters) of dates

دَانِيَةٌ

(hanging low) Within reach and easy to pick. `Ali bin Abi Talhah Al-Walibi said that Ibn `Abbas said that,

قِنْوَنٌ دَانِيَةٌ

(clusters hanging low) refers to short date trees whose branches hang low, close to the ground. This was recorded by Ibn Jarir. Allah's statement

وَجَنَّـتٍ مِّنْ أَعْنَـبٍ

وَمِن ثَمَرَتِ النَّخِيلِ وَالاٌّعْنَـبِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنْهُ سَكَرًا وَرِزْقًا حَسَنًا

(And from the fruits of date-palms and grapes, you derive strong drink and a goodly provision.) 16:67 before intoxicating drinks were prohibited, and;

وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا جَنَّـتٍ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَـبٍ

(And We have made therein gardens of date-palms and grapes.) 36:34. Allah said,

وَالزَّيْتُونَ وَالرُّمَّانَ مُشْتَبِهاً وَغَيْرَ مُتَشَـبِهٍ

انْظُرُواْ إِلِى ثَمَرِهِ إِذَآ أَثْمَرَ وَيَنْعِهِ

إِنَّ فِى ذلِكُمْ

(In these things there are...) O people,

لاّيَـتٍ

(signs...) and proofs that testify to the perfect ability, wisdom and mercy of He Who created these things,

لِّقَوْمٍ يُؤْمِنُونَ

(for people who believe. ) in Allah and obey His Messengers.

Всевышний упомянул об одном из величайших благ, в которых нуждаются люди и другие творения. Это - выпадение дождя, который проливается на землю, когда люди нуждаются в нем. Посредством дождевой воды Аллах взращивает растения, служащие едой для людей и кормом для животных. Творения наслаждаются Его щедротами и радуются дарованному им пропитанию и Его милости. Они спасаются от засухи и неурожая, и радость озаряет их сердца и лица. Милостивый и Милосердный Аллах осеняет их милостью, которая позволяет им насладиться жизнью и обязывает их усердно благодарить Того, Кто неустанно одаряет их благами, поклоняться Ему, стремиться к Нему и любить Его. После упоминания о деревьях и прочих растениях, которые произрастают благодаря воде, Всевышний Аллах особо отметил злаки и пальмы, которые приносят творениям огромную пользу и обеспечивают едой большинство людей. Аллах взращивает зеленые травы, на которых произрастают зерна пшеницы, ячменя, кукурузы, риса и других зерновых культур. Тесное расположение зерен связано с тем, что на одном колосе или початке развивается множество зерен, которые не соединены воедино. Будучи отдельными зернами, они имеют общее происхождение, и упоминание об этом указывает на то, что урожай зерновых является богатым и достаточным для того, чтобы люди могли заново засеять поля, запастись зерном и использовать значительную часть урожая для приготовления пищи. На пальмах из завязей вырастают гроздья фиников, которые опускаются низко и легко достаются тем, кто желает их сорвать. Сорвать финики не представляет особого труда, ибо, если даже пальма является высокой, на нее легко забраться по высохшим широким основаниям ветвей. Наряду с пальмами Всевышний Аллах благодаря дождевой воде взращивает виноградники, оливковые рощи и гранатовые сады. Эти деревья тоже приносят большую пользу и занимают важное место в жизни людей. Именно поэтому Аллах выделил их из числа остальных деревьев и растений. Аллах сообщил, что они имеют сходства и различия. Существует мнение, что это откровение относится к оливкам и гранатам, потому что эти деревья и их листья имеют большое сходство, хотя их плоды сильно отличаются друг от друга. Согласно другому толкованию, оно относится ко всем деревьям и фруктам. Некоторые из них имеют много общего, а некоторые совершенно не похожи. Однако все они приносят пользу рабам, доставляют им удовольствие, утоляют их голод и служат для них назиданием. Именно поэтому далее Аллах приказал задумываться над плодами и фруктами. Это относится ко всем фруктовым деревьям в целом и к финиковым пальмам в частности. Посмотрите, как на них завязываются плоды и как они созревают. В этом действительно заключено множество знамений, свидетельствующих о милости Аллаха, Его безграничном милосердии, абсолютном могуществе и особом внимании по отношению к Своим рабам. Однако далеко не каждый извлекает из этого уроки и задумывается над этими знамениями, и не каждый, кто задумывается над ними, постигает заложенный в них смысл. Вот почему Аллах отметил, что извлекают пользу из знамений только правоверные. Вера побуждает их совершать праведные дела, которые являются ее непременным условием и обязательным требованием. Одним из них является размышление над Его знамениями и постижение их истинного смысла, в пользу которого свидетельствуют разум, естество и шариат.

Commentary

The contents of this verse present a unique concern for thematic order. It will be noticed that three kinds of universes have been mentioned here: The low, the high and the atmosphere - that is, what generates in what we know as the Biosphere. The description was initiated with the mention of that which is on the lower level because it is closer to us. Then, it was split in two parts. One part of the statement covered vegetation which grows on the land, plants and trees and gardens. The other part featured life forms as beasts, human beings and animals. The first part was given precedence because it is more obvious as compared to the other. Then comes the case of that which has been made to come after, the other part. This is different. It has Ruh, soul or spirit. It is deep, depends on progression from the sperm to its various stages and attending conditions, something allied with the comprehension, diagnosis and judgment of physicians - contrary to the case of vegetation which, in its growth, flowering and ripening etc., is observable commonly. Then, mentioned there was the atmosphere and its life support system, the morning and the evening. Then, came the mention of what is higher, the sun, the moon, and the stars. After that, since what is at the lower level is observed more frequently, the subject was repeated and made the concluding statement. But, firstly it was taken up briefly, now it was taken up in detail - yet, in the order of this detail, the order of brevity was reversed by giving precedence to life forms and succession to the mention of vegetation. Perhaps, its basis is that the detailed statement highlights the expression of gratitude for blessings which, in that status, makes the blessed - being the intended recipients - deserving of being given precedence. As for vegetation, the previous order stays as the status of the donees, that is, of seeds and pits, remains preceded. That rain has been mentioned in between is subservient to the mention of vegetation. Incidentally, there might be another element of refinement here - in that rain has different states. In terms of its origin, it comes from the high; and in terms of its destination, it comes down to the low; and in terms of the distance covered, it is part of the atmosphere.

Other English translations

Tafsīr · classical commentary

Al-An'aam 6:99

Other English translations

Tafsīr · classical commentary