Tafseer No.27
Tafseer No.27
(Sura Yaseen, Verse 80 – 81)
Sura Yaseen states in verse 80:
الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمْ مِنَ الشَّجَرِ الْأَخْضَرِ نَارًا فَإِذَا أَنْتُمْ مِنْهُ تُوقِدُونَ
- He Who produces for you fire out of the green tree, when behold! You kindle therewith.
This verse speaks of the great power and ability of Allah. The verse explains that nothing is difficult for Allah. He is the One, who, through His power and ability, creates fire from green trees. These are trees that are normally filled with moisture, and hence, fire cannot be produced from them. However, Allah, the All Powerful and Able, produces fire from them, and does whatever He wishes. No task is difficult for Him. As such, restoring life to dead and decomposed bones, and resurrecting man after death, is not difficult for Him.
While explaining this verse, Hafiz Ibn Katheer (A.R) writes, ‘Allah is He who has created these trees from water. Then, they become green and fresh and produce fruits and vegetation. Allah then causes them to become dry sticks from which fire is kindled. Thus, Allah does whatever He wishes. He is All Able to do what He wants and nothing can prevent Him. (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, Vol.5, Pg.297, Dar Al Kitab Al Arabi Beirut 2013)
This explanation shows that the verse alludes to every green tree. Allah, the All Powerful One, causes the green tree to become dry, and then makes it the source of fuel and fire.
Some commentators have explained that the verse, ‘He who produces for you fire out of the green tree’ refers to two trees which were well known in Arabia. These were the Markh tree and the Afar tree. Both of these grew in the land of Hijaz. When a person wanted to kindle a fire and did not have a flint, he used to take two green twigs (branches), one from the Markh tree and the other from the Afar tree, and rub one on the other. On account of this, fire used to be produced from these twigs. Thus, they (the Arabs) used to produce fire from rubbing the branches of these green trees on one another. This in itself was a clear sign, which demonstrated that Allah is All Able to do whatever He wishes. (Tafseer Al Baghwi, Vol.4, Pg.21, Idara Taleefat Ashrafiya, Multan Pakistan; Tafseer Ibn Katheer, Vol.5, Pg.297, 298 Dar Al Kitab Al Arabi)
Imam Qurtubi has given another explanation of this verse (v.80) and stated, ‘In this verse, Allah notifies the unbelievers of His Oneness, and indicates to His perfect and complete ability to restore life to the dead, based on what they witness from the emergence of fire from a green branch. The unbelievers thought (to themselves) that the semen (from which a man is created) is hot (in its temperament) and moist. Both of these attributes have the ability to produce life, and so, life emanates from it (the semen). The bone however, is cold (in its temperament) and dry. Both of these have the characteristics of being dead and lifeless. Therefore, it is impossible for life to evolve from this (the bone).
In order to refute this stray notion, Allah revealed the verse saying, ‘He who produces for you fire out of the green tree.’ Here, Allah explained to the unbelievers that the green tree which they use as a flint to kindle a fire, is moist and contains water. The characteristic of water is that it is cold and moist, and is directly opposite to fire. Therefore, both being opposites, cannot mix with each other and come together. Hence, in accordance to this trend of thought, it will be totally impossible for fire to originate from a green tree which has moisture and water. Yet, Allah has done this, and has caused fire to emit from green trees. Hence, He is All Powerful and able to create and bring about a thing from its opposite. The green tree mentioned in the verse, refers to the Markh and Afar trees, which were the firestones for the Arabs. (Tafseer Al Qurtubi ,Vol.15, Pg.55, Maktaba Rasheediya, Queta Pakistan)
Sura Yaseen states in verse 81:
أَوَلَيْسَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ بِقَادِرٍ عَلَىٰ أَنْ يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُمْ ۚ بَلَىٰ وَهُوَ الْخَلَّاقُ الْعَلِيمُ
- Is not He, Who created the heavens and the earth Able to create the like of them? Yes, indeed! He is the All-Knowing Supreme Creator.
In this verse, Allah draws man’s attention to His great power and ability. He makes it known to them that it is He who has created the massive structure of the seven heavens and the seven earths with all the various creations that exist in them. As such, He is fully capable to create the like of them after death and Has complete power and ability to restore life to their dead bodies after they have become decayed and decomposed. For certainly, a Being who has the ability to create such large and mighty structures, can surely re-create human beings after they are dead, since the creation of humans from their rotten bones is not bigger and greater than the creation of the heavens and earth. As such, One who is not unable to create a creation much greater/bigger than human beings, cannot be unable to produce life in the bones (of humans) after these have become rotten and disintegrated. (Tafseer Ibn Jareer, Vol.23, Pg.40, Dar Ihya At Turath Al Arabi, Beirut 2013)
In the verse, Allah Himself answers the above question and says, ‘Yes, indeed! He is the All Knowing, Supreme Creator.’ It means that Allah is certainly All Able to create the like of them (human beings), for He creates whatever He wishes. He is the Innovator and Inventor of every creation and creature, and He has full knowledge of every single thing which He has created in the past and will create in the future. Nothing is hidden from His knowledge.
Sura Yaseen states in verse 82:
إِنَّمَا أَمْرُهُ إِذَا أَرَادَ شَيْئًا أَنْ يَقُولَ لَهُ كُنْ فَيَكُونُ
- Verily, His Command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, “Be!” and it is!
This verse is connected to the previous verse, and explains how easy it is for Allah to create anything. The verse explains that whenever Allah wishes to create anything, He simply says ‘Kun’ (‘Be’) and it comes into existence. Therefore, nothing is difficult for Allah. Whenever He wants something to come into being, it comes into existence without any difficulty, effort, trouble or submissiveness to anyone.
Sura Yaseen states in verse 83:
فَسُبْحَانَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ مَلَكُوتُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
- So Glorified is He and Exalted above all that they associate with Him, and in Whose Hands is the dominion of all things, and to Him you shall be returned.
This is the last verse of Sura Yaseen and it speaks of the purity of Allah. The verse explains that Allah is pure and free from all imperfections and deficiencies. He is the Great and Mighty One, in whose hands is the dominion of the heavens and the earth. He has complete control, power and ability over all things. Man is reminded here, that his return will be to Allah. He will be presented before Allah for reckoning and requital. Hence, he must be conscious of his acts and deeds, and prepare for his return to Allah.