Tafsir of Fatir 35:28

Surah Fatir (35): Verse 28

And among the people and the beasts and the grazing livestock are various kinds, likewise.

1. Further Proof of Power and Will: Allah (SWT) follows this with the statement: {And among the people and the beasts and the grazing livestock are various kinds, likewise} as another proof of His power and will.

2. Categorization of Creation: It is as if Allah (SWT) divided the signs of creation in our composite world into two categories:
   • Non-living: This is further divided into minerals and plants. Plants are superior, alluded to by His saying: {And We brought forth thereby fruits...}.
   • Living (Animals): He then mentioned minerals with {And among the mountains...}. Then He mentioned animals, beginning with the noblest among them: Man ({And among the people}), followed by beasts of burden (Dawab), because their benefit lies in their utility during their lifetime.
   • Grazing Livestock (An'am): Their benefit is derived from being eaten. Alternatively, the term Dabba (beast of burden) is often used specifically for the horse, which, after humans, is considered nobler than other animals.

3. "Various Kinds" (Mukhtalifun Alwanuhu): This phrase refers to the diversity found among all these categories, including humans. The mention of humans first and using the masculine plural form (for the general category) is considered superior and primary.

• Fear based on Knowledge: Fear (Khashyah) is proportional to the extent of knowledge of the One who is feared. The scholar (Alim) knows Allah, so he fears Him and hopes in Him.
• The Rank of the Scholar: This indicates that the rank of the scholar is higher than that of the mere worshipper, because Allah (SWT) said: {Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you} (Al-Ahzab: 30). He clarified that nobility is according to piety (Taqwa), and piety is according to knowledge (Ilm).
• Nobility is by Knowledge, not just Action: Therefore, nobility is by knowledge, not merely by action. However, if a scholar abandons action, it casts doubt upon his knowledge, as observers would say: "If he truly knew, he would have acted."

• Combining Fear and Hope: Then Allah (SWT) said: {Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving}.
  • Mentioning His being Exalted in Might (Aziz), possessing vengeance, necessitates complete fear (Khawf).
  • Mentioning His being Forgiving (Ghafur) for lesser matters necessitates profound hope (Raja').

• Variant Reading: The reading of those who recited it with the accusative case for "scholars" (Al-'Ulama') and the nominative case for "Allah" (Allah) means: "Indeed, only the scholars glorify and revere Allah."

{Indeed, those who recite the Book of Allah and establish prayer and spend, out of what We have provided for them, secretly and publicly, [they] are hoping for a trade that will never perish.}