Ghafir (The Forgiver): (68) It is He Who gives life...

Know that when the Almighty mentioned the transition of man from being dust, then to a drop of semen, then to a clinging clot, then to a child, then to reaching maturity, and then to old age, and used these changes as evidence for the existence of the Capable God, He followed it with: {It is He Who...} meaning, just as the transition from one attribute to another of the previously mentioned attributes indicates the Capable God, so too does the transition from life to death and vice versa indicate the Capable God.

And His saying: {And when He decrees a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is.} (7:68) has several interpretations:

1. The First Meaning: It means that when He transferred these bodies from some of these states to another state, He did not tire in that action, nor did He need any instrument or tool. Thus, the execution of His power over created things and novelties, without opposition or resistance, is expressed by His saying: "Be, and it is."

2. The Second Meaning: He expressed giving life and causing death by the phrase "Be, and it is." It is as if He is saying: the transition from being dust to semen, then to a clinging clot, are gradual transitions that occur little by little. However, the attainment of life happens due to the attachment of the essence of the rational soul, and that occurs instantaneously. For this reason, the expression used is "Be, and it is."

3. The Third Meaning: Some people say that the formation of a human being only originates from semen and blood in the womb over a specific period, according to its transitions from one state to another. It is as if He is saying that every human being originates from another human being, because an infinite regress (chain) is impossible, and the occurrence of an event in eternity is impossible. Therefore, one must acknowledge a first human being. The creation of that human being, then, was not through semen and blood, but by God's creation ab initio (initially). God Almighty expressed this meaning by His saying: "Be, and it is."

< 71 > {Have you not seen those who dispute concerning the signs of Allah? How are they turned away? Those who denied the Book and what We sent by Our Messengers; but they will know, when the yokes shall be upon their necks and the chains, dragged into the scalding water, and then into the Fire, they will be burned. Then it will be said to them: "Where are those whom you used to associate (with Allah) besides Allah?" They will say: "They have gone astray from us." Nay, we did not call upon anything before." Thus does Allah leave the disbelievers astray. That is because you used to rejoice in the earth wrongfully, and because you used to exult (in pride). Enter the gates of Hell, to abide therein forever. So wretched is the abode of the arrogant!} (40:68-76)