Commentary
And when He, glorified and exalted is He, arranged these evidences in this manner, progressing from the most general to the most specific, and from the earth to the heavens, He concluded them with what encompasses both it and other than it. This was guidance towards the analogy of what is unseen to what is witnessed. Therefore, it necessarily follows that the ability to recreate is established. He presented it in the context of what is observed and accepted. He counted those who denied it among those who are not to be heeded. He said: "Or who begins creation?" That is, all of it: what you know of it and what you do not know. Then, by His hand, because everything is perishing except His face, this description is renewed forever in its attachment, according to your acknowledgment. And when it was necessary and clear for them to acknowledge the resurrection due to their acknowledgment that everyone who brings forth something is capable of recreating it, since recreation is easier, He said: "Then He will recreate it," meaning: after He destroys it.
And when rain and vegetation are among the clearest evidences of resurrection, He, blessings and peace be upon him, indicated to them in a general manner regarding all that has passed: "And who provides for you from the heavens?" That is: with rain, heat, cold, and other than them, which has a cause in creation or transformation. "And the earth," meaning: with vegetation, minerals, animals, and other than them, which only Allah knows. He expressed both of them with the term provision because it completes the blessing. "Is there a god with Allah?" That is: the one who has the attributes of majesty and honor, existing, or does He do anything of that.
And when all of these are bright proofs, decisive signs, shining lights, clear arguments, and overwhelming authorities for the oneness that necessitates the ability to resurrect and other than it from every possible thing, he was commanded, blessings and peace be upon him, to turn away from them, signaling anger at the end of it, with His command to bring forth a single proof for the correctness of their belief. He said: "Say," meaning: these claimants of reason, "Bring forth your proof," meaning: regarding the negation of anything of that from Allah, the Exalted, or regarding the affirmation of anything of it for others, so that the claim of partnership in creation may be heard, and let your coming with that be immediate without delay. For indeed, whoever claims reason cannot do anything except with an immediate proof. "If you are truthful," meaning: in that you are upon truth in that there is with Allah other than Him. He added the proof to them in a manner that is as if it is undeniable, there is no doubt in its existence and realization. Rather, the intent is to bring it forth all of that mockingly at them and to alert them that they have strayed far into error and have deeply immersed themselves in impossibility, as they have accepted for themselves a religion that no rational person would adopt except after establishing certainty in its correctness. And there is no doubt that they have no doubt about anything of it.
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