Overview (Verses 54 - 56)

An Argument Too Powerful
 
The whole earth is a cradle for mankind at all places and in all times. It is indeed the same as a child’s cradle; for human beings are the children of the earth in whose lap they grow up and on whose produce they feed. At the same time, it has been levelled for them so that they can walk on it, pursue their life affairs, cultivate it and benefit by its treasures. God made it so on the day He gave nature and forms to all His creatures. Thus, He gave the earth its structure which enables it to sustain the type of life He assigned to prosper on it. Similarly, He gave human beings their nature and form which make them able to live on the earth He made a cradle for them. The two senses imparted by the verse are closely interlinked.
 
Both the cradle image and the quality of being level are most clearly seen in Egypt, with its highly fertile valley which requires only the minimum effort from its people to yield its rich produce. The whole valley of Egypt is like a warm cradle nurturing a small child.
 
The wise Creator who has levelled the earth has also opened up on it paths for people to travel and has sent down waters from the sky. It is from the rain pouring from the sky that rivers form and run to provide irrigation. One of these is, of course, the Nile running close to where Pharaoh had his palace. With such plentiful water, plants are brought forth in a great variety of pairs.
 
God in His wisdom has willed that, like all living things, plants should grow in pairs. Indeed this duality is a consistent phenomenon that applies to all living creatures. In most cases, plants carry the male and female cells in the same shoot, but there are types where one shoot has only male cells and another female, in the same way as in most animal species. This provides perfect harmony that applies to all living things. Hence, the statement: “In all this there are signs for those who are endowed with reason.” (Verse 54) Indeed, no sound mind could reflect on such phenomena without concluding that it is the work of the wise Creator who has given every living thing its nature and form, and guided them all.
 
The sūrah continues the reporting of what Moses said, but uses the form of a direct address by God Himself: “Out of this [earth] have We created you, and into it shall We return you, and out of it shall We bring you forth once again. And, indeed, We showed Pharaoh all Our signs, but he denied them and refused [to take heed].” (Verses 55-56) It is from this earth, made as a cradle for mankind, and which supports the diverse cultivation of plants for food and grazing, that mankind are created, and to it they shall return and then from it again they are resurrected after death.
 
Man is certainly created from the same substance as this earth. All the components of his body are largely the same as the components of the earth. Furthermore, he eats of its produce, drinks its waters, breathes its air, and benefits from it as his cradle. Then, he goes back to it a dead corpse, when his remains become part of its soil and atmosphere. From the earth he is resurrected for a second life, just as he was created for the life of this world.
 
This reminder of the relationship between man and the earth fits well with the exchange between Moses and Pharaoh, the tyrant who arrogantly claims a godly position when he too originated from the earth and to it he will certainly return. He is no more than any object God has created on earth and guided to fulfil its assigned role. “We showed Pharaoh all Our signs, but he denied them and refused to take heed.” (Verse 56) God showed him all sorts of signs in the great universe, and Moses pointed these out to him. The two signs of Moses’ staff and hand are not specified here since they are included among the general category of God’s signs. The signs in the universe are far greater and more permanent. It is implied however that Pharaoh has already been shown Moses’ own special signs. His reply to all God’s signs is mentioned in detail, and we realize that he is actually referring to these two signs: “Have you, Moses, come to drive us out of our land with your magic? In that case, we shall most certainly produce for you magic to match it. Set, then, fir us an appointment which neither we nor you shall fail to keep, at a suitable, open place.” (Verses 57-58)
 
Ready to take up the challenge, Moses delivered a straight answer: “Your appointment shall be the day of the Festival; and let the people assemble when the sun is risen high.” (Verse 59)