Tafsir of Ar-Rum 30:22

When the signs pertaining to the self (human beings) were mentioned, the signs pertaining to the horizons (the cosmos) were then brought forth, the greatest of which is the creation of the heavens and the earth. Some disbelievers claim that the creation of humans and other composite things is due to the qualities inherent in the elements, the movements of the heavens, and their interactions. If one asks them about the heavens and the earth—that they did not come about merely through the mixing of elements or the conjunctions of the stars—they are forced to admit that this must be by the power and will of God. After pointing to the signs within the self and the horizons, He mentioned what pertains to the characteristics of the self, such as the diversity in human complexions. Despite the vast number of people and the similarity in the size of their faces and forms, no one resembles another. In contrast, the heavens, despite their immense size, have few variations in their outward appearance. Secondly, the diversity of their speech. Even two Arabic-speaking brothers, when speaking in the same language, can be distinguished from one another. Even someone who cannot see them can distinguish their voices, saying, "This is the voice of so-and-so, and this is the voice of the other." In this lies a profound wisdom: Humanity needs to distinguish between individuals to know the rightful claimant from others, and the friend from the enemy. This allows one to guard against the enemy before he arrives and to welcome the friend before the opportunity to greet him passes. This distinction is achieved either through sight, hence the creation of diverse forms, or through hearing, hence the creation of diverse sounds. As for touch, smell, and taste, they do not serve the purpose of distinguishing friend from foe, so no such differentiation occurs through them. Some scholars suggest that the intended meaning is the difference in languages (like Arabic, Persian, and Roman languages), but the first interpretation (difference in individual voices) is sounder. Then the Almighty said: **{for the people who know}** (or *for all who understand*). Since the creation of the heavens and the earth does not admit of the far-fetched possibilities suggested by proponents of naturalism—such as the variation in colors or the variation in voices—He said: **{for the people who know}** (*li-l-ʿālamīn*), signifying the universality of this knowledge and the need for understanding.