“The Originator of the heavens and earth. He has made for you spouses from among yourselves, and pairs of livestock. Thereby He multiplies you. There is nothing whatsoever like Him, and He is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing. * To Him belong the keys of the heavens and earth. He grants abundant provision to whomever He wills and restricts it. Indeed, He has full knowledge of all things.”
“The Originator of the heavens and earth” means that He created them by His power, will, and wisdom. “He has made for you spouses from among yourselves” so that you may find tranquility in them, offspring may spread from you, and you may obtain the benefits that result from marriage.
“And pairs of livestock” means that He made every kind of livestock in two sexes, male and female, so that they may survive and multiply for your many benefits. This is why the wording uses the preposition “for,” which indicates purpose: He made this for your sake and as a blessing to you. Thus He says, “Thereby He multiplies you.” That is, He spreads and multiplies you, and multiplies your livestock, by granting you spouses from among yourselves and pairs of livestock.
“There is nothing whatsoever like Him.” That is, none of His creation resembles or is comparable to Him—neither in His essence, His names, His attributes, nor His actions. All His names are most beautiful; His attributes are attributes (1) of perfection and majesty; and through His actions, Exalted is He, He brought the magnificent creation into existence without any partner. Thus there is nothing whatsoever like Him, for He alone possesses perfection in every respect. “And He is the All-Hearing”: He hears every voice, despite the diversity of languages and the many different needs expressed. “The All-Seeing”: He sees a black ant crawling on a solid rock on a dark night. He sees nourishment coursing through the organs of the tiniest creatures and water flowing through slender branches.
This verse and others like it provide evidence for the doctrine of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamā‘ah: affirming the divine attributes while denying that Allah resembles His creation. The words “There is nothing whatsoever like Him” refute those who liken Him to His creation, while “And He is the All-Hearing, All-Seeing” refutes those who negate His attributes.
His words, “To Him belong the keys of the heavens and earth,” mean that sovereignty over the heavens and earth belongs to Him, and in His hand are the keys to mercy and provision and to all outward and inward blessings. Every created being is utterly dependent upon Allah to obtain what benefits it and repel what harms it under all circumstances. No one else has the slightest control over any matter.
Allah Most High is the Giver and Withholder, the One who causes harm and brings benefit. Whatever blessing His servants possess comes from Him alone, and none but He can repel evil. “Whatever mercy Allah opens for people, none can withhold; and whatever He withholds, none can release thereafter.”
Thus He says here, “He grants abundant provision to whomever He wills,” meaning that He expands it and grants him whatever kinds of provision He wills; “and restricts it,” meaning that He limits provision for whomever He wills, so that it does not exceed what he needs. All of this accords with His knowledge and wisdom. Thus He says, “Indeed, He has full knowledge of all things.” He knows the circumstances of His servants and gives each of them what befits His wisdom and is required by His will.