Overview (Verses 63 - 64)

The Only Saviour
 
They are then called upon to listen to the voice of their very nature. Indeed, human nature recognizes the truth of Godhead and turns to God alone when it faces dangers and difficulties. The sūrah paints for them their nature when they are in distress, and describes how they go against its appeals when they go through a period of ease and comfort.
 
This is all portrayed in a short, fast, clear scene, producing a profound effect. They are reminded that great distress is not limited to the Day of Resurrection when they have to face their reckoning. They, indeed, go through periods of great distress in the deep darkness of land and sea. At such moments, they turn only to God, recognizing that only He can save them. Still they revert to their erring ways in periods of ease: “Say: ‘Who is it that saves you from the dark dangers of the land and sea, when you call out to Him humbly and in secret: If He will but save us from this peril, we will most certainly be grateful? Say: God alone saves you from these and from every distress; and still you associate partners with Him.” (Verses 63-64) At times, it is sufficient to visualize danger and remember distress to soften people’s hearts and help them restrain their wild desires. People can then remember their feelings of weakness as they remember God’s grace when He alleviates their distress.
 
“Say: Who is it that saves you from the dark dangers of land and sea, when you call out to Him humbly and in secret: ‘If He will but save us from this peril, we will most certainly be grateful?’“ (Verse 63) Such an experience is well known to everyone who has gone through a period of distress or witnessed and observed what people in distress feel. There are indeed many types of darkness involving perils of different types on land and at sea. It is not necessary that the night should spread its mantle for darkness to prevail: losing one’s way and danger are two types of darkness and what awaits people on land and at sea is screened from them by darkness. Wherever people find themselves in the midst of darkness they realize that they must turn only to God, praying to Him in earnest or appealing to Him in private. At such a moment, human nature sheds its burden and comes face to face with the truth implanted deep inside it, that is the truth of God’s oneness. Therefore, it turns to God alone, addressing Him without any partners, because it recognizes then the absurdity of idolatry and polytheism and the non-existence of any partners with God. At such a moment, those who are in distress are quick to make solemn pledges: “If He will but save us from this peril, we will most certainly be grateful.” (Verse 63)
 
God commands His Messenger to remind them of the truth: “Say: God alone saves you from these and from every distress.” (Verse 64) There is no one to respond to them other than He, and no one else to remove their distress. But the Prophet is also commanded to remind them of their singularly queer attitude: “Still, you associate partners with Him.” (Verse 64)