Botany and Surat Abasa (3/4)
Dr. Zagloul Al Najjar
References to “Nature” in Surat Abasa:
1) The reference to the creation of man from a sperm-drop that contains all his characteristics and destiny.
2) Directing people’s attention to aspects of the scientific miracle in providing all the needed factors for the creation of food for man and his cattle, and for every living creature on earth.
3) Reference to the water cycle around the earth that results in rain.
4) Reference to the fact that rain helps split the earth and irrigates it as a preparation for planting; or the earth splitting through the initial sprouting of plants. And both references are correct.
5)Creating different plant varieties and giving the basic models that represent fully all the plant’ groups which comprise the main food for man and his cattle (such as grains, grapes, nutritious plants, olives, dates, gardens dense with lofty trees, fruits and fodder).
6)Stating that the extraction of plants from the dead earth is a simile for the resurrection of bodies that became dust.
7) Reference to the reality of life, death and then resurrection and judgment.
Each of these issues needs a special analysis. Because of this I will limit myself to the second issue only which was mentioned in the ayahs 24 to 32. But before that I would like to quote Ibn-Kathir's notes about these ayahs.
Interpretations of this ayah by some scholars:
Mentioning Ibn-Kathir as an example here is the summary of his explanation of the ayahs 24-32 written above: “Then let man look at his food,”here Allah is raising the feeling of indebtedness within man, He is also giving evidence for the resurrection of the body after it became old bones and dust through the creation of plants in a lifeless earth.“We pour forth water in abundance,”means, we sent it down from sky to earth. “And We split the earth in clefts,”means, thanks to water which penetrated the earth, plants grew up and emerged from its surface. “And We cause therein the grain to grow, and grapes and clover plants (i.e. green fodder for the cattle),”corn means all the cereals, grapes are known to all, and nutritious plants refers to the fresh alfalfa given to animals.“And olives”they are a condiment and their extracted oil is also a condiment used as a grease. “And dates,”it is eaten unripe (balah), freshly ripened (rutab) and very ripe (tamr); it is used either cooked or uncooked, and we can make thickened syrup or vinegar from it. “And gardens dense with many trees,” means, gardens full of tall palm-trees … or dense trees gathered in one place under which one can seek the shade. “And fruits and herbage,” the first are all the soft and sweet fruits and the latter are all the plants eaten by animals but not eaten by man (herbage and grazing).“(To be) a provision and benefit for you and your cattle.”This means, as a living for you and your cattle in this worldly life, and until the last day.
Other commentators said almost the same thing, and I see no need for repeating all this here, though they are all prominent scholars.
Scientific implications in this ayah:
1. “Let man look at his food”(Surat Abasa (He Frowned):24)
Man has primarily relied on plants for his food. That is why the ayahs that follow talk about pouring water from the sky and splitting the earth, then about many plant varieties and their fruits that cover all man’s and his cattle’s needs for vegetable food. The latter refers to animal food, for animals that man eats are nourished with plants and their fruits. Also, such food is a source of energy that enables him to do physical activities. It preserves, as well, his body temperature and builds up cells and tissues that are necessary in different growing stages, or replaces the lost ones.
Man’s body has a vital need for air, water and food. If he is prevented from air for some minutes only, he’ll die of asphyxia; and if he lacks water, he will survive for only a few days. He can live without food for weeks but will lose a lot of weight and will experience serious health problems if he does not compensate for it.
(Continued)