Volume 10 Surah 12 - 15 - Enjoy Islam

Al-Ĥijr | GREAT UNIVERSAL EXPANSE
moving along in a romantic air, with the rest of the universe holding its breath so
that it does not disturb a happy dreamer. One glance like that is sufficient to indicate
the depth of the beauty in the creation of the universe. It will tell us more about the
Qur’ānic expression here: “We have indeed set up in the heavens constellations, and
endowed them with beauty for all to behold.” (Verse 16)
With the beauty comes preservation, pure and intact: “We have guarded them from
every cursed devil.” (Verse 17) None, then, can spoil this purity by trying to spread evil
in it. Satan is allowed to do his evil work only on earth, to tempt human beings to
follow his wicked designs. The sky, which is a symbol for what is exalted and
sublime, is beyond his reach. He may attempt to do so, but every attempt he makes is
foiled: “Anyone who tries to eavesdrop is pursued by a flame clear to see.” (Verse 18)
Who is the devil, and what is his nature; and how does he eavesdrop, and on
whom; and what does he try to hear? All these are matters that belong to a world
beyond our reach. We have only the texts available to us. It is useless to try to go
further into this, because it adds nothing to anyone’s faith. Investigating it does not
produce anything other than preoccupying man’s mind with something that is not
among its concerns.
Let us then be satisfied with knowing that there is no room in the heavens for the
devil and his work. Its breathtaking beauty is preserved. The sublimity it symbolizes
is kept free from anything impure. And if the devil so much as attempts to climb up,
a fast moving flame pursues him.
The second line in this great and awesome scene draws the earth stretched as far
as our sight can reach, and made easy to traverse. It shows the mountains giving it
firmness and stability, and its plants and vegetation that are necessary sustenance for
man and animal: “We have spread out the earth, and placed on it firm mountains, and
caused [life] of every kind to grow on it in a balanced manner. We have placed various means
of livelihood on it for you, as well as for those whom you do not have to provide for.” (Verses
19-20)
The sense of an immense creation is clear here. The reference first to the massive
constellations whose large size is implied by their very name, and in the shooting
flame which is described as being clear for all to behold, and then the mountains
whose weight is alluded to by the adjective, ‘firm,’ all add a sense of grandeur to the
scene described. Even plants are described here as ‘balanced’ which, in its Arabic
original, mawzūn, suggests considerable weight. The precise meaning of this phrase,
however, is that every plant on earth is created with fine measure and precision. The
grand impression of the scene is further enhanced by the term, ma`āyish, or ‘means of
livelihood’, used here in the plural and left indefinite. Still more is added by the
phrase, ‘those whom you do not have to provide for.’ This refers to every living thing on
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