Al-Baqarah: 164
"Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day..."
And their succession, for each one follows the other, as in His saying: "He has made the night and the day in succession" (Al-Furqan: 62).
"...with that which benefits the people..."
With that which benefits them, whether it is what is carried within them [the ships] or what benefits the people.
If you ask: Is the phrase "and dispersed therein..." conjoined to anzala (sent down) or ahya (gave life)?
I say: The apparent meaning is that it is conjoined to anzala, falling under the governance of the relative clause (ma). This is because the phrase "and gave life thereby to the earth" is conjoined to anzala, becoming connected to it so that they both become like a single entity. It is as if it were said: "And what He sent down from the sky of rain, and dispersed therein of every [kind of] creature."
It is also permissible to conjoin it to ahya (gave life), meaning: He gave life to the earth with the rain, and dispersed therein every creature, because they grow through fertility and live through the rain.
"...and the directing of the winds..."
In their blowing—from the east, west, south, and north—and in their states: hot and cold, stormy and gentle, barren and fertilizing. It is also said: sometimes as a mercy, and sometimes as a punishment.
"...and the clouds controlled..."
Controlled by the winds, which move them through the atmosphere by the will of Allah, raining where He wills.
"...are signs for a people who use reason."
They look with the eyes of their intellects and take heed, for these are proofs of immense power and dazzling wisdom.
It is narrated from the Prophet (may Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace): "Woe to the one who reads this verse and ignores it [lit: 'spits it out']," meaning: he does not reflect upon it nor take heed from it.
Note: It has been recited as "al-fulk" (the ships) with two dammahs, and "tasrif al-rih" (the wind) in the singular.
"And among the people are those who take other than Allah as equals [to Him]. They love them as they [should] love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah. And if only those who have wronged would consider [that] when they see the punishment, [they would realize] that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment. [And they should consider] when those who were followed disown those who followed [them], and they see the punishment, and the ties between them are severed. And those who followed will say, 'If only we had another turn [at worldly life] so we could disown them as they disowned us.' Thus will Allah show them their deeds as regrets upon them. And they are never to emerge from the Fire." (165-167)
