(57–59) “The creation of the heavens and earth is certainly greater than the creation of humankind, but most people do not know. * Nor are the blind and the seeing equal, nor are those who believe and do righteous deeds equal to the evildoer. Little do you take heed.”

Allah Most High informs us of what reason establishes as certain: the creation of the heavens and earth—despite their immensity and vastness—is far greater than the creation of humankind. Compared with the creation of the heavens and earth, human beings are among the smallest of things. Therefore, He who created the immense bodies and perfected them is all the more capable of bringing people back after their death. This is one of the rational proofs of the resurrection, and its indication is decisive. Merely contemplating it enables a person of reason to infer, beyond all doubt and uncertainty, that the resurrection foretold by the messengers will indeed occur.

Yet not everyone directs their thoughts to this and applies themselves to contemplating it. For this reason, He says: “But most people do not know.” Consequently, they neither take a lesson from it nor give it any thought.

Then Allah Most High says: “Nor are the blind and the seeing equal, nor are those who believe and do righteous deeds equal to the evildoer.” That is, just as the blind and the seeing are not equal, neither is one who believes in Allah and performs righteous deeds equal to one who is too arrogant to worship his Lord, boldly commits acts of disobedience to Him, and strives after all that incurs His wrath. “Little do you take heed”; that is, your taking heed is slight (1). Otherwise, if you bore in mind the ranks of things, the degrees of good and evil, and the difference between the righteous and the wicked, and were intent upon doing so, you would prefer what benefits over what harms, guidance over misguidance, and everlasting happiness over this fleeting worldly life.