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12:4 - Behold Joseph said to his father: "O my father! I did see eleven stars and the sun and the
moon: I saw them prostrate themselves to me!" 16321633
1632 For the Parable all that is necessary to know about Joseph is that he was one of the Chosen Ones of Allah. For the
story it is necessary to set down a few more details. His father was Jacob, also called Israel the son of Isaac, the
younger son of Abraham, (the elder son having been Isma'il, whose story is told in ii. 124-129. Abraham may be
called the Father of the line of Semitic prophecy. Jacob had four wives. From three of them he had ten sons. In his old
age he had from Rachel (Arabic Rahil), a very beautiful woman, two sons Joseph and Benjamin (the youngest). The
place where Jacob and his family and his flocks were located was in Canaan, and is shown by tradition near modern
Nablus (ancient Shechem), some thirty miles north of Jerusalem. The traditional site of the well into which Joseph was
thrown by his brothers is still shown in the neighbourhood. (12.4)
1633 Joseph was a mere lad. But he was true and frank and righteous; he was a type of manly beauty and rectitude. His
father loved him dearly. His half-brothers were jealous of him and hated him. His destiny was prefigured in the vision.
He was to be exalted in rank above his eleven brothers (stars) and his father and mother (sun and moon), but as the
subsequent story shows, he never lost his head, but always honoured his parents and repaid his brothers' craft and
hatred with forgiveness and kindness. (12.4)
16:12 - He has made subject to you the Night and the Day; the Sun and the Moon; and the Stars
are in subjection by His Command: verily in this are Signs for men who are wise. 2031
2031 The Night and the Day are caused by astronomical rotations. What is important for man to note is how Allah has given
intelligence to man to make use of this alternation for work and rest; how man can, as soon as he rises from the
primitive stage, get over their inequalities by artificial illuminants, such as vegetable or mineral oils, coal, gas, or
electricity, which ultimately are derived from the stored-up energy of the sun; how the sun's heat can be tempered by
various artificial means and can be stored up for use by man as required, how man can be independent of the tides
caused by the moon and the sun, which formerly controlled navigation, but which no longer stand in man's way, with
his artificial harbours and great sea-going ships, how navigation was formerly subject to direct observation of the Polar
Star and other stars, but how the magnetic needle and charts have now completely altered the position, and man can
calculate and to a certain extent control magnetic variations, etc. In such ways the sun, the moon, and the stars
themselves become useful servants to him, all by Allah's gift and His Command, without which there would have been
no laws governing them and no intelligence to make use of them. (16.12)
16:16 - And marks and signposts; and by the stars (men) guide themselves. 2040
2040 See last note. Let us exmaine the completed allegory. As there are beacons, landmarks and signs to show the way to
men on the earth, so in the spiritual world. And it is ultimately Allah Who provides them, and this is His crowning
Mercy. Like the mountains there are spiritual Landmarks in the missions of the Great Prophets: they should guide us,
or teach us, to guide ourselves, and not shake hither and thither like a ship without a rudder or people without Faith.
As rivers and streams mark out their channels, smoothing out levels so we have wholesome Laws and Customs
established, to help us in our lives. Then we have the examples of Great Men as further sign-posts: "Lives of great
men all remind us, We can make our lives sublime." In long-distance travel, the pole-star and the magnetic needle are
our guides; so in our long-distance journey to the other world, we have ultimately to look to heavenly guidance or its
reflection in Allah's Revelation. (16.16)
22:18 - Seest thou not that to Allah bow down in worship all things that are in the heavens and on
earth the sun the moon the stars; the hills the trees the animals; and a great number among
mankind? But a great number are (also) such as are fit for Punishment: and such as Allah
shall disgrace none can rise to honor: for Allah carries out all that He wills. 27902791
2790 Cf. xxi. 79, and n. 2733. All created things, animate and inanimate, depend on Allah for their existence, and this
dependence can be construed as their Sajda or bowing down in worship. Their very existence proclaims their
dependence. How can they be objects of worship? For haqqa in this verse. Cf. xv. 64, n. 1990. (22.18)
2791 Cf. xxii, 16. There the argument was that those who work in harmony with Allah's Law and Will will get their reward, for
Allah always carries out His Plan. Here is the Parallel argument: those who defy Allah's Will must suffer pain and
disgrace, for Allah is well able to carry out His Will. (22.18)
37:6 - We have indeed decked the lower heaven with beauty (in) the stars 40354036
4035 Cf. lxvii. 5, lxxii. 8-9. (37.6)
4036 'Stars' may be taken here in the popular sense, as referring to fixed stars, planets, comets, shooting stars, etc. On a
clear night the beauty of the starry heavens is proverbial. Here they are meant to illustrate two points: (1) their
marvellous beauty and their groupings and motions (apparent or real) manifest and typify the Design and Harmony of
the One true Creator: and (2) the power and glory behind them typify that there is a guard against the assaults of Evil
(see verse 7 below). (37.6)
37:7 - (For beauty) and for guard against all obstinate rebellious evil spirits. 4037
4037 Verses 7-11 seem to refer to shooting stars, Cf. xv, 17-18, and notes 1951-53. The 'heavens
typify not only beauty but power. The Good in Allah's world is guarded and protected against
every assault of Evil. The Evil is not part of the heavenly system: it is a thing in outlawry,
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