And when its removal was gradual after a period, it was indeed of great significance. He said, drawing attention to the virtue of the word 'then' and its ascending arrangement in the degrees of virtue. What is here is better than what came before it, and what came before it is greater than what preceded it. This is likened to the distance between the three ranks in virtue by the distance between the events in time: 'Then We took it' meaning the shadow, and taking is gathering what is spread out 'to Us' meaning to the direction that We desire, no one other than Us can turn it to another direction. Al-Razi, may Allah have mercy on him, said in Al-Lawa'ih: And this addition is because the limit of the shortness of the shadow is at the limit of the sun's elevation, and elevation is the place of the angels and the direction of the heavens where the provisions of the servants are, and from it comes the descent of rain and assistance, and to it the hands of the seekers are raised, and the eyes of the fearful are directed - this has ended.

'A slight taking' means it - while it is in its scarcity to the extent that it is difficult to perceive it truly - is easy for us. We have continued to diminish it gradually until it has completely faded, or except for a slight amount. Then We extended it also with the movement of the sun and its covering with the expanse of the earth little by little, first with the mountains, buildings, and trees, then with the hills, mounds, and lesser than that, until it was completed as it was. In its estimation, there are countless benefits, and if it were taken away, most of the benefits of people would be disrupted by both shadow and sun altogether. The result is that it makes their inner selves darkened by being deprived of the lights of knowledge, and they become like one walking in darkness, and their influence in worldly matters is like one walking at night on paths he has known and practiced through repetition. The narration of Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, regarding the spirit that passed at 'And the good things are for the good ones' [An-Nur: 26] in the light is a tangible witness to this immaterial matter - and Allah is the Grantor of success.