Surah 13:16

By

Dr. Zohurul Hoque & Husain Nuri

 

13:16 Say: "Who is the Rabb of the heavens and the earth?" Tell: "It is Allâh." Say: "Have you then taken besides Him protectors who have no capability for themselves of any good nor harm?" Say: "Are the blind and the seeing equal? Or are the darkness and the Light equal? Or have they made partners with Allâh who have created like His creation, so that the creation appear similar to them?" Tell: "Allâh is the Creator of all things, and He is the One, the most Supreme."

13:16 The verse educates contemporary Makkan audience, and through them other audiences at all period of time, since many of them do not have a clear concept about almighty God. Most tribal and provincial religions recognize a supreme God created the universe, but these religions also harbor concept of multiple gods, each believed to oversee a specialized domain. In reality none of these objects of veneration has power to do anything and none can cause any good or harm (5:76; 7:194; 19:42; 21:43; 26:93; 37:25; 46:5). The allegory of a blind and a person with sight is used to contrast the fundamental difference between them - in their ability to see. A physically blind person cannot see, no matter how much he tries, similarly a spiritually blind person cannot see the truth no matter how much he tries, since he is accustomed to blindly following powerless deities. In contrast, a person who has sight can find his ways, particularly by following the Light of the heavens and the earth (24:35).

It is important to note the attributes of Allâh, the 'Creator' (khalq meaning act of creation) bear a wider significance when weighed against the ordinary creation of human being. When human being creates something, he rearranges already existing elements, even if it would mean combining genes and dictating patterns, yet it is Allâh Who has the power to let those rearrangements and genetic combinations to come to fruition. Allâh, the Creator, has the power to bring into existence something that did not exist, either in its entirety or in its basic components.

 

Source: http://www.qurancommentary.com/comm13_16.html

 

 

 

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