[Surah al-Furqān (25): verse 45]
“Have you not considered your Lord—how He extends the shade? Had He willed, He could have made it stationary. Then We made the sun its guide.” (45)

Allah Most High tells us that He spreads and extends the shade, making it move with the movement of the sun. Had He willed, He could have made it stationary and motionless, either by bringing to rest that which reveals it and serves as its guide, or by some other means.

[Surah al-Furqān (25): verse 46]
“Then We draw it back to Us, little by little.” (46)

He then tells us that, after extending it, He draws it back gradually, little by little, rather than withdrawing it all at once.

This is among His greatest signs, pointing to His immense power and perfect wisdom.

He thus encourages us to behold His workmanship, power, and wisdom in this single instance of His creation. Had our Lord willed, He could have kept the shade confined to the base of whatever casts it—a mountain, building, tree, or anything else—so that those who need it would derive no benefit from it. For its full benefit depends upon its extension, its spreading out, and its movement from place to place.

Its extension and spreading out, followed by its gradual withdrawal, bring advantages and benefits that are evident and beyond counting. Were it permanently stationary, or withdrawn all at once, the benefits and useful purposes that the world derives from it and from the sun would be disrupted. Thus, the extension of the shade and its gradual withdrawal necessarily accompany the sun’s movement, as ordained for the welfare of the world.

The sun’s indication of the shadows enables people to know the times of prayer, how much of the day has passed, and how much remains.

As the shade moves from place to place, it cools whatever the sun’s heat has reached and benefits animals, trees, and plants. It is therefore among the signs that point to Him.

There is another interpretation of the verse: He, glorified be He, extended the shade when He built the heaven like a raised dome and spread out the earth beneath it, so that the dome cast its shade upon the earth. Had He willed,