Tafsir of Surah An-Nur - Verse 45

Allah's Power in His creation of the Animals

Allah mentions His complete and almighty power to create all the different kinds of animals with their various forms, colors and ways of moving and stopping, from one kind of water.

فَمِنْهُمْ مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَى بَطْنِهِ

(Of them there are some that creep on their bellies,) like snakes and so on;

وَمِنهُمْ مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَى رِجْلَيْنِ

(and some that walk on two legs,) like humans and birds;

وَمِنْهُمْ مَّن يَمْشِى عَلَى أَرْبَعٍ

(and some that walk on four,) like cattle and all kinds of animals. Allah says:

يَخْلُقُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ

(Allah creates what He wills.) meaning by His power, because what He wills happens and what He does not will does not happen. So he says:

إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

(Verily, Allah is able to do all things.)

مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مِن جِبَالٍ فِيهَا

From the sky mountains (of clouds) having hail in them - 43.

Here the word سَمَاء is purported for clouds, and Jibal جِبَالٍ (mountains) for big masses of clouds, while hails are called Barad.

To all appearances, this is a world of multiplicity. Basing their belief on this view, the people of ancient times assumed the creators of all the numerous things of this world to be numerous themselves. But one who deeply observes nature finds that a certain uniformity is hidden in all its apparent multiplicity and diversity; this observation gives an entirely different hue to previous assumptions. There are many different kinds of animals. But, an in-depth study shows that the underlying biological system of all animals is uniform. Given these facts, the multiplicity and diversity of life around us must be regarded as a miracle of nature’s creation. Things which, seen from one angle, appear to manifest the multiplicity of creation, observed from another angle, demonstrate the proof of the unity of creation. The present world is the one in which one has to discover reality amidst falsity. Here, one has to set oneself above things that are deceptive in order to perceive the Truth. Man has been given wisdom solely for this purpose. Only one who properly uses this divine torch of wisdom shall find the right path, while one who does not, shall descend into a state of moral chaos.