(4–9) “Allah is the One who created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six days, then rose over the Throne. Apart from Him, you have neither protector nor intercessor. Will you not then take heed? He directs all affairs from heaven to earth; then they ascend to Him in a day whose measure is a thousand years by your reckoning. That is the Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Almighty, the Most Merciful, who perfected everything He created and began the creation of man from clay. Then He made his descendants from an extract of a humble fluid. Then He fashioned him and breathed into him of His spirit, and gave you hearing, sight, and hearts. Yet little thanks you give.”
The Exalted tells of His perfect power, demonstrated by His creation of “the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in six days.” The first of these days was Sunday and the last was Friday. Although He was able to create them in a single instant, He—the Exalted—is gentle and wise.
“Then He rose over the Throne,” which is the roof over all created things, in a manner befitting His majesty.
“Apart from Him, you have no protector” to take charge of your affairs and benefit you, “nor intercessor” to intercede for you if punishment becomes due upon you. ⦗654⦘
“Will you not then take heed,” and thereby realize that the Creator of the earth and the heavens, who rose over the mighty Throne, who alone directs your affairs and takes care of you, and to whom all intercession belongs, is the One who deserves every form of worship?
“He directs all affairs”—both His creational decree and His religious command. He alone governs all of them. These decrees descend from the Sovereign, the All-Powerful, “from heaven to earth.” Through them, He makes some blessed and others wretched; He enriches and impoverishes, exalts and abases, honors and humiliates, raises some people and lowers others, and sends down provisions.
“Then they ascend to Him”; that is, the command descends from Him and ascends to Him “in a day whose measure is a thousand years by your reckoning.” Yet it ascends to Him and reaches Him in a single instant.
“That”—the One who created those mighty created beings, rose over the mighty Throne, and alone governs the entire dominion—is “the Knower of the unseen and the seen, the Almighty, the Most Merciful.” By the vastness of His knowledge, the perfection of His might, and His all-embracing mercy, He brought them into being and placed within them all the benefits He placed therein; nor is governing them difficult for Him.
“Who perfected everything He created”; that is, every creature Allah created was created by Him in the finest manner and fashioned in a form befitting and suited to it. This statement is general.
He then singled out the human being because of his honor and distinction, saying: “and began the creation of man from clay.” This was through the creation of Adam, peace be upon him, the father of humankind.
“Then He made his descendants”—that is, Adam’s progeny—to arise “from a humble fluid,” namely, the repulsive and feeble sperm-drop.
“Then He fashioned him” with his flesh, organs, nerves, and veins; perfected his form; and placed each organ in the position to which it alone was suited. “And breathed into him of His spirit,” by sending the angel to him to breathe the soul into him, whereupon, by Allah’s permission, he becomes a living being after having been lifeless matter.
“And gave you hearing and sight”; that is, He continued to bestow benefits upon you gradually until He gave you hearing and sight, “and hearts. Yet little thanks you give” to the One who created and fashioned you.