In the name of God, the Lord of Grace, the Ever Merciful
The unbelievers say: ‘Never shall the Last Hour come upon us!’ Say: ‘Yes, by my Lord, it shall most certainly come to you. It is He who knows all that lies beyond the reach of human perception. Not an atom’s weight in the heavens or the earth escapes Him; nor is there anything smaller or larger but is recorded in a clear book, so that He may reward those who believe and do righteous deeds. It is they who shall have forgiveness and generous provisions.’ As for those who strive against Our revelations, seeking to defeat their purpose, these shall have a most painful suffering. Those who are endowed with knowledge are well aware that what has been revealed to you by your Lord is indeed the truth, and that it guides to the way that leads to the Almighty, to whom all praise is due. (Sheba; Saba’: 34: 3-6)
We mentioned the twin axis of the main theme of the surah, which is God’s perfect knowledge that encompasses all in the universe, and the resurrection of all creatures on the Day of Judgment. Now once more God’s knowledge is portrayed against a similarly universal background testifying once more to the Originator of the Qur’an. Such thoughts simply do not occur to human minds: “Not an atom’s weight in the heavens or the earth escapes Him; nor is there anything smaller or larger but is recorded in a clear book.” Such images do not occur in ordinary prose or poetry. When people describe knowledge as complete, comprehensive and accurate, they do not paint such a captivating universal image, ‘Not an atom’s weight in the heavens or the earth escapes Him; nor is there anything smaller or larger...’ I have never seen in human language any attempt to draw such a picture. This is a description by God of His own knowledge, using human language in a way humans do not use it. Thus the Muslims’ own concept of God is set on a nobler level. The nearest meaning of the phrase, ‘recorded in a clear book,’ is that God’s knowledge takes note of everything, including the tiniest of atoms and what is even smaller.
It is useful to reflect a little on the point raised by use of the wording: “Not an atom’s weight... nor is there anything smaller.” Until recently, it was universally accepted that the atom is the smallest thing. Now that it has been possible to cause atomic diffusion, man has learned that the atom consists of a number of other elements. All glory to God who teaches His human servants, at a time of His choosing, what He wishes them to learn of His inner attributes and the secrets of His creation.
The inevitable arrival of the Last Hour and God’s knowledge that does not exclude anything small or large have a definite purpose: “so that He may reward those who believe and do righteous deeds. It is they who shall have forgiveness and generous provisions. As for those who strive against Our revelations, seeking to defeat their purpose, these shall have a most painful suffering.” Everything is based on God’s wisdom, Who has created everything according to a set measure so as to administer the right reward or punishment for the believers or those who exert all efforts to turn people away from the truth. Those who give credence to their faith by good action earn God’s forgiveness of any errors they make or sins they commit. They also have ‘generous provisions.’ We note that the surah frequently mentions the provisions and sustenance God grants. Hence, it is fitting that the happiness they are assured to have in the life to come is described here as ‘provisions,’ which in fact it is. The others, who strive hard to turn people away from God and His message will receive some of the worst type of punishment which fits their wicked efforts. Thus is God’s purpose fulfilled.
Within the overall context of God’s knowledge and His purpose the next statement makes clear that those endowed with knowledge realize that what Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) receives from God is the truth, providing sound guidance: “Those who are endowed with knowledge are well aware that what has been revealed to you by your Lord is indeed the truth, and that it guides to the way that leads to the Almighty, to whom all praise is due.”
Some reports suggest that the phrase, ‘those who are endowed with knowledge,’ refers to the people of earlier revelations who are told in their scriptures about the Qur’an and its provision of true guidance. However, the Qur’anic verse has a wider scope. All those endowed with proper knowledge, at all times and wherever they happen to be, will realize this on the basis of their knowledge, if it is truly sound. The Qur’an is open to all people throughout all generations. It includes enough truth to reveal itself to everyone who has sound knowledge. It also states the truth inherent in the very existence of the universe.
Moreover, the Qur’an “guides to the way that leads to the Almighty, to whom all praise is due.” The way leading to the Almighty is the system He has placed in the universe and chosen for mankind so that their lives may be in harmony with the universe they live in. It is the law that applies to absolutely everything that takes place in the universe.
The Qur’an provides such guidance through the concept it gives believers of the universe: its values, relations, man’s place and role in it, the cooperation of all its parts in the fulfilment of God’s will and purpose and the harmony common to them. It also provides a sound basis for human thinking so as to make it consistent with the interaction between human nature and the universe. This enables man to understand the nature of the universe and its laws so as to use these in a positive way. The Qur’an also lays down a system of education for humanity, empowering the individual to interact harmoniously with the rest of mankind, and empowering mankind to do the same with the rest of God’s creation in the universe, comfortably benefiting by its nature. The legislation it lays down is consistent with man’s circumstances as well as with the universal laws that apply to all creation. Thus, man does not become the odd one out among the countless communities of creatures in the universe. It is the Qur’an that leads to that way: it is the guide provided by the Creator of man and the system that suits him. Consider the traveller who is guided on his journey by the engineer who built the road he is traveling on: how fortunate he would feel for having such expertise! How, then, about a guide provided by the One who originated the way and the person traveling on it?