Surah Ar-Rahman Part 5

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Dispenser of Grace.

Part 5.

و الارض وضعها  للأنام

فيها فاكهة وَالنَّخْل ذات الأكمام

و الحب ذو العصف والريحان

فباى آلاء ربكما تكذبن

And the Earth, He laid her for all creatures
In her are fruits and palm trees having sheaths

And grains with husks and scented plants.
So which of the favours of your Lord/Sustainer will you deny?

I am always amazed by these few verses, especially after learning Arabic (the little I know).  The One who taught us Al-Bayan paints a beautiful picture and engages our senses with just these few words.  

The use of وضعها always give me the impression of someone spreading something luxurious like an expensive carpet.  In this case, it is the Earth herself that God has laid out like a spread.  And who for but  للأنام.  The word, according to Lane's Lexicon, refers to all that is on the face of the Earth, or to those who have a soul/spirit, i.e. living things.  I had the opportunity to cut the grass in the garden the other day and notice how many different types of grass and plants, even weeds, with flowers and grain-like stalks, sharing the same space. There is a fresh scent in the air and I spotted a ladybug, spiders and a beetle. I am sure there are many other creatures which I didn't spot.  And I was reminded of the above verses that the Earth (and the garden being part of her) was for all creatures. The theme of balance continues here, even though it is not explicitly mentioned, in that everything is well balanced and has a place from the largest and most powerful to the tiniest and microscopic.  The eco-system of the various different places on this Earth works on the principle of balance, where too many of one species or another will upset the whole eco-system.  

Basically that sense of space and spaciousness is then augmented with a feast for the five senses.  For God painted a picture of an Earth full of فاكهة which most translate as fruits.  I have often wondered why this amongst other Arabic words for fruits was chosen.  Nouman Ali Khan clarified it for me - this word meant fruit which taste so heavenly that it brings a smile to one's face.  Checking Lane Lexicon, the word is associated with abundant and sweet fruits and with happiness and cheer.  Not only is the Earth full of فاكهة, She is also full of النَّخْل ذات الأكمام.  The word ذات signifies possession and my Arabic teacher once said, it not only signifies possession but also it is always associated with that characteristic.  In this case, we are talking about palm trees which would immediately bring to mind sheaths of fruits, be they dates or types where we derive palm oils.  These are the trees we always imagine when we think of places we liken to paradise such as Hawaii.  The senses of sight and taste are indulged in this verse.

Then there is my favourite verse - grains possessing/associated with husks and الريحان.  It brings back memories of running in the padi fields in my childhood and seeing my great uncles and aunts crop the padi and beat the rice grains out of the husks.  Have you ever touched the husks of grain?  Really lovely texture, velvety in some places and hard in others.  Then there was always this lovely scent in the air.  That is exactly what الريحان means.  It has the same root word as the wind/breeze and also the mercy of Allah.  Through these imagery are the senses of touch and smell invoked.

God is, in my opinion, saying not only that He has given all these bounties for us and other creatures on Earth, but also subtly reminding as of our senses and how they are a blessing.  After all, only with these senses can we enjoy these bounties.

Which leads to the final verse of this part - the refrain that will be repeated over and over again in Surah Ar-Rahman.  Which of His favours will we deny?  The Qur'an?  Our lives?  Al-Bayan?  Education? Time?  Justice and balance?  The Earth and its various creatures?  Our senses?  Nouman Ali Khan reminded in his lecture that our title is 'Abd' (Slave) and slaves are not entitled to anything.  Therefore everything that our Master, Ar-Rahman, bestows upon us is a gift for which we should be grateful for.  If we think we are entitled, then we are definitely denying His favour...may we be amongst those who are always grateful.