Are you not aware that God has made subservient to you all that is in the heavens and the earth, and has lavished upon you His blessings, outward and inward? Yet some people argue about God without having any knowledge, without guidance, and without any light-giving revelations.
When it is said to them, “Follow what God has revealed”, they say, “No; but we will follow only what we found our forefathers believing in.” Why, even if Satan is beckoning them to the suffering of the blazing fire.(Luqman: 31: 20-21)
This surah makes four presentations of the central issue of faith. These verses begin the third presentation, which uses a different style, showing at first the universal proof as related to human life, interests and livelihood. It speaks of God’s blessings, visible and subtle, which all people enjoy. Nevertheless, they engage in arguments about God, who gives them all these blessings. It then follows the same pattern in presenting the central theme which it already discussed in the first two presentations: “Are you not aware that God has made subservient to you all that is in the heavens and the earth, and has lavished upon you His blessings, outward and inward?”
This remark that occurs repeatedly in the Qur’an, in different styles, appears new every time, because the universe appears new whenever we contemplate it trying to look at its secrets and reflect on its unending wonders. Indeed, it takes far longer than man’s lifetime to review these wonders. Yet every time he looks at them, they appear to have a different color and a different tone. The surah portrays these from the viewpoint of harmony between man’s needs in his life on earth and the construction in the universe. This leaves no possibility that such harmony is achieved by sheer coincidence. It is inevitable, therefore, that we should acknowledge the single will that makes such harmony a reality.
The planet earth is no more than a little particle when compared to the universe. Compared to the size of the earth, man is a tiny, little and weak creature. Moreover, the earth contains forces as well as animate and inanimate creatures in comparison with which man appears no more than a tiny creature in size, weight or strength. By His grace, however, and by breathing into him of His own spirit and honoring him above many of His creatures, God has given man a special position in the universal system. Indeed, He has given him the ability to use many of the forces and resources of this universe. This is what the surah describes as “making things subservient” to man within the context of granting him countless blessings that are subtle and apparent, inward and outward. These blessings go beyond making things in the heavens and earth subservient to man. The mere human existence is a blessing, as is giving him powers, abilities, talents and skills. Sending human messengers with divine messages is an even bigger and greater blessing. Breathing of God’s spirit into man at the time of his creation is an aspect of blessing. Indeed, every breath man draws, every heartbeat, every sigh, sound, feeling and thought is a blessing which he could not have had without God’s grace.
God has made what is in the skies available and subservient to man. Thus, he is able to benefit by sun rays, moon light, the guidance provided by the stars, rain, air and the flying birds. He also enabled him to benefit and use what is on earth and in it. This is even easier to note and reflect upon. Man is placed in charge of this vast kingdom, and given the ability to use all the resources of the earth, some of which are clear and apparent while others are subtle and hidden; some are known fully to man, some he knows only by their effects, and some he benefits from without even knowing what they are. In every moment of night and day man is given great abundance of God’s blessings, the extent and form of which he does not fully know. Yet in spite of all this, some people are ingrate, do not reflect on the world around them and do not appreciate the blessings they enjoy: “Yet some people argue about God without having any knowledge, without guidance, and without any light-giving revelations.”
This argument sounds singular in the light of this universal proof. Considering that God’s grace is so great and abundant, man’s denial looks both absurd and ugly. Both human nature and conscience find it repugnant. This type of person who argues about the truth of God, and what this truth means in as far as His creatures are concerned, appears to have a nature that is deviant, unresponsive to the inspiration of the universe around them, denying God’s grace, and unashamedly arguing about the One who has granted all these blessings. What is worse is that in their argument, such people do not rely on any true knowledge, have no proper guidance, and refer to no revelation that guides them in their attitude.
“When it is said to them, ‘Follow what God has revealed’, they say, ‘No; but we will follow only what we found our forefathers believing in.’” This is their only basis and amazing evidence! It is nothing other than blindly following traditions, which are based on no sound knowledge or intelligent thinking. Islam wants to free them from such blind imitation, so as to set their minds free, able to think, reflect and benefit by the light, but they adamantly hold on to the chains of their deviant past.
Islam means freedom of conscience, active feelings, aspiration to enlightenment and a new way of life that is free of blind tradition. Yet this type of people turn their backs on it, keeping its light and guidance away from its spirits. They argue about God without knowledge or guidance. Hence, the surah looks at them with ridicule, making a subtle reference to the end such an attitude leads to: “Why, even if Satan is beckoning them to the suffering of the blazing fire.” (Verse 21) Indeed their attitude is nothing less than an invitation by Satan leading them to God’s punishment. Will they persist with it despite the end, which they will be certain to have? This fearfully effective remark should alert them to the difficulty of their position.
