ﱓ ﱔ ﱕ ﱖ ﱗ ﱘ ﱙ ﱚ ﱛ ﱜ ﱝ ﱞ ﱟ ﱠ ﱡ ﱢ ﱣ ﱤ ﱥ ﱦ ﱧ ﱨ ﱩ ﱪ ﱫ ﱬ ﱭ ﱮ ﱯ ﱰ ﱱ
Then, do they not look at what is before them and what is behind them of the heaven and earth? If We should will, We could cause the earth to swallow them or [could] let fall upon them fragments from the sky. Indeed in that is a sign for every servant turning back [to Allah].
Tafsir
Verse range: 34:9
{ أفلم يروا إلى ما بين أيديهم وما خلفهم من السماء والأرض إن نشأ نخسف بهم الأرض أو نسقط عليهم كسفا من السماء إن في ذلك لآية لكل عبد منيب }
Translation and Exegesis:
After mentioning the evidence of His being the Knower of the Unseen and the Requiter of good and bad deeds, the Almighty mentioned another proof, which includes a warning.
The Proof: This is found in His statement: {من السماء والأرض} (from the heaven and the earth). These two [heavens and earth] indicate His Oneness, as we have explained repeatedly. As He Almighty said: {ولئن سألتهم من خلق السماوات والأرض ليقولن الله} (And if you ask them, "Who created the heavens and the earth?" they will surely say, "Allah") (Luqman: 25).
They also indicate the Resurrection, because they point to the perfection of His Power, which includes bringing things back to life (re-creation). We have mentioned this repeatedly. He Almighty also said: {أَوَلَيْسَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَىٰ أَن يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُم} (Is not He Who created the heavens and the earth capable of creating their like?) (Ya-Sin: 81).
The Warning: This is in His statement: {إن نشأ نخسف بهم الأرض} (If We will, We can cause the earth to swallow them up). This means We can turn what is beneficial to them (the earth) into something harmful by causing it to sink or collapse.
{ إن في ذلك لآية لكل عبد منيب }
This means: Indeed, in that [the creation and the threat] is a sign for every servant who turns back to Allah and abandons obstinacy.
Since the Almighty mentioned those of His servants who turn back (munīb), He then mentioned one who did turn back and succeeded. Among them is David, as He Almighty said concerning him: {فاستغفر ربه وخر راكعا وأناب} (So he asked forgiveness of his Lord, fell down in prostration, and turned back [to Allah in repentance]) (Sad: 24).
He then clarified what Allah granted him due to his repentance:
{ ولقد آتينا داود منا فضلاً يا جبال أوبي معه والطير وألنا له الحديد }
Translation: And We certainly gave David grace from Us. O mountains, repeat [His praises] with him, and the birds. And We made the iron pliable for him.
