Quranic Passage 12

Surah 6.75–79 (Surah Al-An’am)

وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُرِىٓ إِبْرَٰهِيمَ مَلَكُوتَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضِ وَلِيَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْمُوقِنِينَ O فَلَمَّا جَنَّ عَلَيْهِ ٱلَّيْلُ رَءَا كَوْكَبًا ۖ قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَبِّى ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَ قَالَ لَآ أُحِبُّ ٱلْـَٔافِلِينَ O فَلَمَّا رَءَا ٱلْقَمَرَ بَازِغًا قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَبِّى ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَ قَالَ لَئِن لَّمْ يَهْدِنِى رَبِّى لَأَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْمِ ٱلضَّآلِّينَ O فَلَمَّا رَءَا ٱلشَّمْسَ بَازِغَةً قَالَ هَـٰذَا رَبِّى هَـٰذَآ أَكْبَرُ ۖ فَلَمَّآ أَفَلَتْ قَالَ يَـٰقَوْمِ إِنِّى بَرِىٓءٌ مِّمَّا تُشْرِكُونَ O إِنِّى وَجَّهْتُ وَجْهِىَ لِلَّذِى فَطَرَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ حَنِيفًا ۖ وَمَآ أَنَا۠ مِنَ ٱلْمُشْرِكِينَ

Translation

75. So also did We show Abraham the power and the laws of the heavens and the earth, so that he might have certainty. 76. When the night covered him over, he saw a star: He said: ‘This is my Lord.’ But when it set, he said: ‘I do not love things that set.’ 77. When he saw the moon rising in splendour, he said: ‘This is my Lord.’ But when the moon set, he said: ‘Unless my Lord guides me, I will surely be among those who go astray.’ 78. When he saw the sun rising in splendour, he said: ‘This is my Lord; this is the greatest.’ But when the sun set, he said: ‘O my people! I am indeed free from your giving partners to Allah.’ 79. ‘For me, I have set my face firmly and truly towards Him who created the heavens and the earth, and never shall I give partners to Allah.’

Main Theme(s)

The main themes are: God’s messengers, His signs in creation; guidance given to prophets and His relationship with them.

This passage is from the theme of God’s Messengers. God’s  power is shown through His ability to control the sun and the moon, and that the sign of His power is that He does not fade or die away, whilst things in creation do. He invites humanity to ponder over them, as did His prophets. The Holy Qur’an refers:“He has made subject to you the Night and the Day; the sun and the moon; and the stars are in subjection by His Command…” (16:12, An-Nahl)

The passage also shows His relationship with His prophets, as Ibrahim was searching for God, and that He uses these signs to guide them. God provides guidance to His prophets and through the prophets to Muslims. Therefore, these verses tell Muslims to worship God alone. God’s prophets always believed in and professed Tawhid.

Importance of these Themes in a Muslim’s life today

The importance is that it creates a strong link with God and strengthens belief in His Oneness, so Muslims should not look up to anything or anyone else, famous people, money, etc., to help them in their lives and solve their problems. They worship Him only and it stops them from committing shirk. It shows Muslims how God guided His messengers, in this case Ibrahim, and they also seek God’s guidance in their lives. The Holy Qur’an relates: “And Allah doth advance in guidance those who seek guidance…” (19:76, Maryam)

Humans should use their minds to ponder upon God. God’s signs invite Muslims to observe their environment. It creates awe and wonder to help get closer to Him. It reminds humankind that He is the creator of all things, and this realisation helps them turn to Him only in times of need.