this surah His favors upon His servants. It is called the “Surah of Blessings.” At its beginning, He mentions the essential blessings that are indispensable and without which life cannot be sustained; later in the surah, He mentions the blessings that complete them. Protection from cold is among the essential blessings, so He mentions it at the beginning of the surah in His words:

“And He created livestock for you; in them you have warmth and other benefits.”

Warmth is that which keeps one warm and wards off cold. Severe cold causes death, unlike heat. Many people have died from cold, whereas death from heat is uncommon. Hence some Arabs have said, “Cold is misery; heat is discomfort.”

When, later in the surah, He mentions the blessings that complete His favors, He mentions shade and protection from heat, as well as weapons and protection from being killed. He says:

“Allah has provided you with shade from what He has created, and has provided you with shelters in the mountains. He has provided you with garments that protect you from the heat and garments that protect you in battle. Thus He completes His favor upon you, so that you may submit to Him.”

He states that He completes His favor, as He has explained in these verses, saying:

“Thus He completes His favor upon you, so that you may submit to Him.”

There is a distinction between shade and shelters, for shade is provided by trees