The benefits of the saying of Allah the Exalted: “He created the heavens and the earth in truth. He wraps the night over the day and wraps the day over the night. And He subjected the sun and the moon, each running for a specified term. Indeed, He is the Exalted, the Forgiving.”
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In this noble verse, the creation of the heavens and the earth is affirmed. This benefit leads to the refutation of the naturalists and philosophers who claim the eternity of the universe, that the world is eternal, and that these heavens have no beginning, existing from eternity. This verse refutes them, for He says: meaning He brought them into existence after non-existence.
One of the benefits of the verse is that the heavens are plural in number. The plural form indicates number, and other texts have clarified that they are seven.
Another benefit of this noble verse is that the creation of the heavens and the earth was in truth, and its opposite is falsehood. So they were not created in falsehood or as a play.
One of its benefits is also that the Creator of the heavens and the earth is Allah, as He says: in one of the two meanings we referred to.
One of the benefits of this noble verse is the affirmation of the spherical shape of the earth, from His saying:[Az-Zumar 39:5] It is known that night and day succeed one another on the earth. If their movement is a wrapping, it indicates that the earth is spherical.
One of its benefits is the affirmation of the power of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in wrapping the night over the day. Allah pointed to this in His saying: If all of creation were to gather to bring the night to the place of the day, or the day to the place of the night, they would not be able to do so. In this is the explanation of the perfection of the power of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), where He wraps the night over the day and wraps the day over the night.
One of the benefits of this noble verse is the explanation of the favor of Allah upon us by subjecting the sun and the moon, as He says:[Ar-Ra'd 13:2].
One of its benefits is that the sun and the moon run in their orbits. In this is the refutation of those who claim that the succession of night and day occurs by the rotation of the earth. The verse is explicit that the sun runs and the moon runs. At the very least, we say: it is apparent in that. And if we have an apparent meaning from the Book and the Sunnah, it is not permissible for us to go beyond this.
He created the heavens
خلَقَ السماواتOne of the benefits of the verse is that the heavens are plural in number. The plural form indicates number, and other texts have clarified that they are seven.
Another benefit of this noble verse is that the creation of the heavens and the earth was in truth, and its opposite is falsehood. So they were not created in falsehood or as a play.
One of its benefits is also that the Creator of the heavens and the earth is Allah, as He says:
with the truth
بالحقOne of the benefits of this noble verse is the affirmation of the spherical shape of the earth, from His saying:
He wraps the night over the day
يكَوِّرُ الليلَ على النهارOne of its benefits is the affirmation of the power of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in wrapping the night over the day. Allah pointed to this in His saying:
Say, “Have you considered if Allah made your night continuous until the Day of Resurrection? Who is the deity other than Allah who would bring you light? Will you not hear? Say, “Have you considered if Allah made your day continuous until the Day of Resurrection? Who is the deity other than Allah who would bring you a night in which you rest? Will you not see?”
قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ اللَّيْلَ سَرْمَدًا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ إِلَهٌ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُمْ بِضِيَاءٍ أَفَلَا تَسْمَعُونَ * قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ النَّهَارَ سَرْمَدًا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ إِلَهٌ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُمْ بِلَيْلٍ تَسْكُنُونَ فِيهِ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَOne of the benefits of this noble verse is the explanation of the favor of Allah upon us by subjecting the sun and the moon, as He says:
made subject the sun and the moon
وسَخَّرَ الشَّمْس والقَمَرOne of its benefits is that the sun and the moon run in their orbits. In this is the refutation of those who claim that the succession of night and day occurs by the rotation of the earth. The verse is explicit that the sun runs and the moon runs. At the very least, we say: it is apparent in that. And if we have an apparent meaning from the Book and the Sunnah, it is not permissible for us to go beyond this.