Surah Ibrahim (Abraham ) 14 : 32

Overview  (Verses 32 - 34)

God’s Numerous Blessings
 
At this point, the sūrah opens the book of the universe where every page speaks of God’s countless blessings. These extend beyond the furthest point our senses can reach, and go into the skies, the earth, the sun, the moon, the day and night, the water pouring down from the skies and the fruits of all plants on earth, the oceans and seas where ships and boats sail, and the rivers flowing with the different means of producing what sustains life. All these universal images are available for all to see, but people do not look, reflect or express gratitude. Man is truly unjust, ingrate, exchanging God’s blessings for unbelief, and setting up deities which he claims to be equal to God, when it is God who creates, sustains and controls the universe and all creatures therein: “It is God who has created the heavens and the earth, and who sends down water from the sky with which He brings forth fruits for your sustenance. He has placed under your service ships which by His leave sail through the sea, and He has made the rivers subservient to [His law] for your benefit. And for your benefit He has made the sun and the moon, both diligently pursuing their courses, subservient to [His law]; and has made the night and the day subservient to [His law]. And He gives you of everything you ask of Him. Should you try to count God’s blessings, you will never be able to compute them. Yet man is persistent in wrongdoing, stubbornly ungrateful.” (Verses 32-34)
 
These verses represent an onslaught that employs such universal phenomena as tools, or rather as whips with rhythm and sound to awaken the conscience of man, a creature indulging in wrongdoing and lacking gratitude. One aspect of the unique nature of the Qur’ān is the way it relates everything in the universe and every human feeling to belief in God’s oneness. Thus, every flash of inspiration in the universe and in man’s conscience becomes proof confirming this belief. The universe is transformed into an exhibition of God’s signs where the magnificence of His hand excels so as to leave its distinct mark in every image, feature and shadow. The basic question of Godhead and servitude is not presented as a logical debate or an abstract theological argument, or an issue of metaphysical philosophy. Such methods do not appeal to, influence or inspire the human heart. The Qur’ān presents this central issue within a framework of a multitude of inspiring scenes and facts from the great universe, creation, human nature and basic thoughts and impressions, adding an element of breathtaking beauty and superb harmony.
 
The great scene of God’s blessings that is presented here is painted with fascinating skill, drawing its lines in the same directions the different blessings take in relation to man. This is noticeable in the line of the heavens and the earth, followed by that of water pouring down from the skies and plants and fruits shooting up from the earth. We then have a line depicting the oceans with ships sailing on their surface and rivers flowing with much bounty. A new line takes us back to the skies to show us the sun and the moon, coupled with the line of the night and day, which is closely connected to the sun and moon but remains firm on earth. The final line is comprehensive, throwing its colour and shade over the whole panoramic scene: “And He gives you of everything you ask of Him. Should you try to count God’s blessings, you will never be able to compute them.” (Verse 34) Here we see a harmony that incorporates every touch, line, colour and shade in a universal scene of God’s blessings.
 
Is all this placed at man’s service? Is this whole world, with its heavens, earth, seas, rivers, sun and moon, day and night, made subservient to the small creature known as man? Is it so, and still man does not give thanks or even remember God’s favours? Hence, it is indeed true that “man is persistent in wrongdoing, stubbornly ungrateful.” (Verse 34)
 
“It is God who has created the heavens and the earth.” (Verse 32) Yet people set up deities and regard them as equal to Him. What more injustice could there be?
 
“And who sends down water from the sky with which He brings forth fruits for your sustenance.” (Verse 32) Plants are the first means of sustenance and the most visible source of God’s blessings. Rain and the growth of plants run in accordance with the nature God has given this world and the natural laws that allow rain to fall, plants to shoot and fruits to ripen, making all this compatible with man and his nature. For a single seed to grow requires that the Power that controls the whole universe utilizes universal phenomena to give that seed the ability to produce a plant and then provide it with the necessary means of life, such as a fertile place, water, sunlight and air. When people hear the word rizq, which we often translate as sustenance or a means of sustenance, they think only of their livelihood, earning money. But the Arabic term has much wider connotations. It includes everything that God provides for man. Even the smallest of such provisions requires operating celestial bodies in accordance with a law that ensures that several hundred thousands of matching conditions fall together in a coherent and complementary way, without which man could not have come into existence and, once existing, his life could not be sustained. It is sufficient to mention the celestial bodies and phenomena referred to in these verses to understand how we can only function when we are under God’s care.
 
“He has placed under your service ships which by His leave sail through the sea.” (Verse 32) It is He who has placed in the sea all that is necessary for these ships to float, and it is He who has given man the ability to understand natural phenomena and rules so as to use them for his benefit.
 
“And He has made the rivers subservient to [His law] for your benefit.” (Verse 32) The rivers flow and life flourishes, and they overflow and man gets an increase of goodness. Rivers also carry fish, weeds and many other things that are useful to man and to other creatures man uses such as birds and cattle.
 
“And for your benefit He has made the sun and the moon, both diligently pursuing their courses, subservient to [His law].” (Verse 33) Man does not use the sun and the moon directly as he uses water, the fruit, the seas, ships and rivers. Yet he benefits by them and derives from them substances and energies that are required to sustain life. Thus they are made subject to God’s law which controls the universe, so that they produce what is of benefit to man in his life on earth, and indeed in the make-up and renewal of the cells of his own body.
 
“And has made the night and the day subservient to [His law].” (Verse 33) Again both night and day are made subservient so as to fit with the needs and constitution of man and with his time of activity and that of rest. Had there been permanent day or permanent night, man’s whole functioning would have been destroyed, as would the whole world around him. His life would have been impossible, inactive and unproductive.
 
Yet all that the sūrah portrays consists of general lines that gather glimpses of God’s blessings. In each line there are countless points. Therefore, a general aspect is added here without any detail so that it fits with the overall scene: “And He gives you of everything you ask of Him.” (Verse 34) That includes whatever people ask of wealth, offspring, health, luxuries and refinements. “Should you try to count God’s blessings, you will never be able to compute them.” (Verse 34) Indeed they are too many to be computed by any one person, or by all human beings, for humans are restricted to a period of time with definite beginning and end. They are also restricted to certain limits of knowledge within time and space. God’s favours and blessings, however, are not only numerous, but also unlimited. Hence, they are beyond human reckoning.
 
Yet despite all this, human beings adopt false deities and consider them equal to God. And instead of thanking God for His blessings, they exchange them for unbelief. Certainly “man is persistent in wrongdoing, totally ungrateful.” (Verse 34)