Translation
Your Sustainer God is the One Who created the universe and this planet Earth in six stages [periods, days] (see also: 41:9–12) and took control of their affairs; He lets the night overtake the day in constant pursuits; the sun, the moon, and the stars follow His commands. His is the creation, and His is the command and control (of it)—this is how Blessed and Hallowed is the Cherisher of the Universe (God)! 366
Resort to your Sustainer God in humility and in your private moments. He certainly disdains transgressions of any kind. Do not make mischief and corruption on earth after it is made to conform (to human and natural orders) and refer to God with consciousness and ardent aspirations. God’s mercy and blessings are ever present to those who do good. 367
He (God) is the One that sends the wind bearing news of His impending mercy—clouds laden (with moisture and water) and driven (by wind) to a land devoid of life and pouring down abundant water, which causes all kinds of fruits (and vegetation) to come forth. This is how We (God) extract the dead (and the living) so that you can be thoughtful and mindful. Good soil gives vegetation in abundance by the grace of its Cherisher, and the soil less fertile produces but in smaller quantity. This is how We repeat messages and change signs (in nature) that you may appreciate and become thankful.
Interpretation
366 The Qur’an as a revealed book from God inspires people and educates us through two key sources: (1) the Qur’an itself as a book that contains knowledge and guidance about our creation; our purpose; the rules of mutual conduct; the rules of spiritual, moral, ethical, financial, social, and political standards; universal norms around human equality and social justice; and so on, and (2) the universe itself, which contains our planet, the solar system, millions of sunlike stars, and the physical laws that govern such a universe, with particular attention given to the Earth itself, which is the source of our sustenance in the forms of air, water, protective atmosphere, the fertile soil with minerals and chemicals, the natural resources underground and in the oceans, and the way life and living beings evolved with extraordinary variations governed by the rhythms of life played by the constant exchange of life and death, day and night, good and evil, past and future, young and old, and so on. The instructions and wisdom contained in the Qur’an are considered signs from God for one to understand, comprehend, and act upon. In a similar manner, the universe and the natural world as we experience it from this earth are also considered signs of God and another Open Book to take lessons from and to reflect on. Our natural inclinations to love, mercy, truth, human equality, and social justice conform to the signs in the Qur’an, and our science and technological progress are nothing more than what already exists in the natural world; God is only enabling us to uncover the natural laws and nature of matter and spirits to benefit from.
367 Lessons and action should be governed by deep reflection on our lives and on the Creator Himself with a sense of humility, wonder, and genuine appreciation in our own private moments about our life and our creation and the world we live in. Preserving peace and social justice and the social and natural order of things is not only a spiritual calling but also a human responsibility. Preventing corruption from spreading; resisting any temptation to transgress against the natural order of things, be it our environment, our social order and justice, inherent human dignity and peaceful coexistence; sustaining good over evil, love over hate, and forgiveness over revenge; and so on are the real challenges and real signs of our human condition that can come from God consciousness and an ardent aspiration to be a good human being.
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REFLECTION
Reflecting on and learning from what we read of revelations and our ever-expanding human knowledge, as well as our seeing and being constantly exposed to this planet Earth, with its magnificent beauty, abundance of life-giving capacity and resources, awesome variety of life and living are a true gift from God that every sensible and thoughtful human being should pay attention to and become responsible about.
ACTION
All knowledge, awareness, and deeper consciousness has to translate into meaningful action that makes our lives, our experiences, and our human existence better for all of us—this is the ultimate test of our humanity and a test that God is ever taking account of to see how we behave on this planet before we go back and meet our Creator!
Key Arabic Terms
115: sittati iyyamin (six days, periods, stages)
116. astawa alal a’rsh (took possession, power, or control of its affairs)