The disbelievers are warned of the dreadful consequences of rejecting faith: “Can you can be a guardian for someone who makes a god of his whims?” (43). Turning to the natural world it points out the amazing creative power of Allah: the shadow, the nightfall, the rain, seawater, blood and marriage relatives, the constellations, the sun and the moon:
“These are signs for him who wishes to be reminded of the reality” (62). A two-pronged approach is adopted to answering the disbelievers’ criticism. Firstly, an argumentative approach which warns the disbelievers by telling them stories of past communities. Secondly, the use of reason and science. They are told to observe the signs in nature because they point to their creator. So, won’t you believe?
On Judgement Day people will regret making the wrong types of friends. What use is regretting now! The Quran laments, had they read, believed and followed Islam they wouldn’t be regretting.
Past generations who denied Allah were wiped out. They made their whims, their gods and did not listen to their Prophets. Their attention is drawn to nature, take the shadow. “Don’t you see how Your Lord makes it get longer and longer, if He wanted, He could have fixed its size. We made the sun a pointer to His existence, then we gradually shorten the shadow”
.(45-6) That life on earth, depends wholly on water is highlighted in the next passage. This is followed by a beautiful description of the constellations in the sky, the stars, the sun and the moon. And finally “He made the night and day to follow each other, a sign for anyone who wants to be reminded of Allah’s power or wants to be thankful” (48-62).
The final passage catalogues the qualities of the pious. They are humble, peace-loving, prayerful, moderate, and repentant. They don’t squander wealth, murder, worship idols, commit adultery, give false testimony, engage in useless activities nor follow blindly.
The surah concludes with the prayer of the pious: ‘‘Our Lord, give us happiness in our spouses and children and make us leaders of the pious people” (74). Effectively, recapping the opening statement that Allah is in control of the universe and His servant submits and prays for divine intervention.
