(1–4) “In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful. Blessed is He in Whose Hand is all dominion, and He has power over all things. * He Who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deed—and He is the Almighty, the All-Forgiving. * He Who created seven heavens, one above another. You see no inconsistency in the creation of the Most Compassionate. Look again: do you see any flaw? * Then look again and yet again; your sight will return to you humbled and weary.”

“Blessed is He in Whose Hand is all dominion” means that He is supremely great and exalted, His goodness is abundant, and His beneficence embraces all. Among the manifestations of His greatness is that the dominion of the upper and lower realms is in His Hand. He alone created them and disposes of them as He wills through decrees governing creation and religious rulings, all proceeding from His wisdom. Another manifestation of His greatness is the perfection of His power, whereby He is able to do all things and has brought such immense creations as the heavens and the earth into being.

“He created death and life” means that He ordained for His servants that He would give them life and then cause them to die. “To test you as to which of you is best in deed” means: whose deeds are most sincere and correct. For(1) Allah created His servants, brought them into this abode, and informed them that they would be moved on from it. He gave them commands and prohibitions and tested them with desires that conflict with His command. Whoever submits to Allah’s command and acts well, Allah will grant him a fine reward in both abodes; but whoever follows the desires of his soul and casts aside Allah’s command will receive the worst recompense.

“And He is the Almighty”: He possesses all might, by which He has subdued all things and made creation submit to Him.

“The All-Forgiving” toward those who do wrong, fall short, and sin—especially when they repent and turn back to Him. He forgives their sins even if they reach the clouds of heaven, and conceals their faults even if they fill the entire world.

“He Who created seven heavens, one above another” means that each is above another; they do not form a single layer. He created them with the utmost beauty and perfection. “You see no inconsistency in the creation of the Most Compassionate,” meaning no flaw or deficiency.

When every manner of deficiency is absent, they are beautiful and perfect, harmonious in every respect: in their color, form, and elevation, and in what they contain of the sun, the moon, and luminous celestial bodies—both fixed stars and moving planets.

Since their perfection is evident, [Allah], Most High, commanded that they be observed repeatedly and their vast reaches contemplated. He said:

“Look again,” meaning: direct your gaze back toward them, looking and taking heed. “Do you see any flaw?” meaning any deficiency or disorder.

“Then look again and yet again”: This means repeating the gaze many times. “Your sight will return to you humbled and weary,” meaning unable to perceive any defect or flaw, however earnestly one searches.

Then He explicitly mentioned their beauty, saying: