Surah 1-2 - YasSarNal QuR'aN

Al-Baqarah (The Cow) | SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHTvessels that sail through the sea with what is useful for mankind; in the water Godsends down from the sky giving life to the earth after it had been lifeless, causing allmanner of living creatures to multiply on it; in the movement of the winds, and theclouds that run their courses between sky and earth: in all this there are signs forpeople who use their reason. (Verse 164)This unique Qur’ānic approach in addressing the human mind and heart tends toheighten man’s feelings and emotions and make him behold and contemplate thewonders of the Universe. Familiarity may have blunted man’s appreciation of thesemarvels, but the verses invite him to reflect on the world around, as if for the firsttime, with open eyes and eager senses and a conscious heart. The physical world isfull of beautiful mysteries and awe-inspiring events that have captivated many aneye and fascinated many a heart.The world is a boundless festival of mystery, splendour and beauty. The Heavens,the Earth, the planets, the stars, the galaxies, are all floating along their decreed orbitswith incredible harmony, in a vast expanse of limitless space of dizzying dimensions.Man has been fascinated by this vast gallery of wonders long before he was able toget a glimpse, through study and science, of how it works and what lies behind it.The cycle of day and night and the alternation of light and darkness, dawn anddusk, have sent a million shivers through the hearts and souls of men everywhere.For the believing heart, it is a daily marvel to behold, despite its familiarity; aconstant reminder of God’s magnificence and glory.As for “in the vessels that sail through the sea with what is useful for mankind,” I admitthat I had not fully appreciated the import of this statement until the day I travelledon board a large ship, which seemed like a dot in the ocean. Waves were hitting usfrom all sides while we were engulfed in an almost surreal world of endless blue.Those who have experienced sea travel know that in the middle of the ocean one isentirely at God’s mercy and that it is only with God’s will and command that one isbrought to the safety of the shore.The sūrah highlights other natural phenomena: “the water Godsends down from thesky giving life to the earth after it had been lifeless, causing all manner of living creatures tomultiply on it; in the movement of the winds, and the clouds that run their courses betweensky and earth.” (Verse 164) All these phenomena deserve our attention, reflection andintelligent study. They are all manifestations of God’s awesome power and infinitemercy. Life is the greatest mystery of all. How does it spring out of the earth whenwater makes it fertile? How does it come about, starting gently at first beforemanifesting itself with full vigour? By what incredible process is it carried in a seed,an egg or a gene?It is a question that has to be asked. It is no good brushing it aside or ignoring it, as179