Exegesis of the saying of Allah the Exalted: "Say: Who provides for you from the heavens and the earth? Say: Allah. And either we or you are upon guidance or in clear error."
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Then Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said, beginning today's lesson: [Yunus 10:31] "Who" is an interrogative noun, and its intended meaning here is a challenge. It is a challenge to these polytheists who worship others alongside Allah. Do these idols provide for you from the heavens and the earth? No, but the One who provides is Allah. So He challenges them with the question: And His saying: "from the heavens" — the "from" indicates the starting point, meaning that provision comes from the heavens. And "provision" means giving. So what is the provision from the heavens? The author said: "by the rain". For the rain is provision that descends to the earth so that it grows. As for the provision from the earth, its matter is apparent. [al-Baqarah:29] Then we may say that the provision from the heavens is more comprehensive than the rain, for from the heavens comes rain, and from the heavens comes manna and salwa. Perhaps we may say that the birds in the sky are part of the provision of the heavens. So whatever comes from above, it is true to say of it that it is provision from the heavens. The address is to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), and the one addressed in His saying:
The student : ......
The Shaykh : No, the one addressed is not Allah. How so? The polytheist disbelievers. With what do they answer? Sometimes they answer correctly, as in His saying in Surat Yunus: [Yunus:31] This is a correct answer. Sometimes they do not answer; they stammer or refuse to speak out of stubbornness and fear of being compelled, for if they say "Allah," they are compelled to worship none but Allah. How can you worship one who does not provide? So sometimes they answer correctly and say "Allah," then they deny and be stubborn and say: "We only worship them as intercessors for us with Allah, to bring us closer to Allah." We do not worship them for their own sake. And sometimes they refuse to answer and stammer, for the truth is heavy for them. If they say nothing, then say "Allah." And for this reason He said: "It is He who provides for you from the heavens and the earth." If they refuse and say "No, it is other than Him," but they cannot say "It is other than Him," so say "Who?" Repeat the question to them a second time. Allah the Exalted said: The author said: "If they do not say", meaning if they do not say "Allah."
What... is the interrogative here? Talaal.
Say, "Who provides for you from the heaven and the earth?
قُلْ مَنْ يَرْزُقُكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِWho
منWho provides for you from the heavens and the earth?
مَنْ يَرْزُقُكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِFrom the heavens
من السماواتWho
منIt is He who created for you all of that which is on the earth
هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مَا فِي الأَرْضِ جَمِيعًاWho provides for you from the heavens and the earth?
مَنْ يَرْزُقُكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالأَرْضِProvides for you
يرزقكمThe student : ......
The Shaykh : No, the one addressed is not Allah. How so?
Who provides for you
من يرزقكمSay, "Who provides for you from the heaven and the earth? Or who controls hearing and sight and who brings the living out of the dead and brings the dead out of the living and who arranges [every] matter?" They will say, "Allah," so say, "Then will you not fear Him?"
قُلْ مَنْ يَرْزُقُكُمْ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالأَرْضِ أَمَّنْ يَمْلِكُ السَّمْعَ وَالأَبْصَارَ وَمَنْ يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَيِّ وَمَنْ يُدَبِّرُ الأَمْرَ فَسَيَقُولُونَ اللَّهُSay: Allah.
قُلِ اللَّهُSay, "Allah"
قل اللهWhat... is the interrogative here? Talaal.