If you were to ask them: ‘Who is it that has created the heavens and the earth?’ they will be sure to answer: ‘God.’ Say: ‘All praise is due to God alone!’ Yet most of them do not understand. To God belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. Indeed, God is the One who is self-sufficient, worthy of all praise.
Were all the trees on earth to be made into pens, and the sea ink, with seven more seas yet added to it, the words of God would not be exhausted. God is indeed Almighty, Wise.
The creation of you all and your resurrection is but like (the creation and resurrection of) a single soul. God hears all and sees all. (Luqman: 31: 25-28)
In its third presentation of the central issue of faith, the surah invites all people to look at the heavens and the earth before putting to the unbelievers the question about their Creator. The inevitable answer is that it is God. No one comes up with any other answer.
Those who opposed the monotheistic faith by associating partners with God, and argued very strongly against the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his message, could not falsify the argument of their own nature when they were confronted with the universal proof of the creation of the heavens and the earth. Hence, they did not hesitate in their reply to the question: ‘Who has created the heavens and the earth?’ Their answer was clear: ‘God.’ Therefore, God directs His Messenger to comment on their answer by praising God: “Say: All praise is due to God alone.” Praise is due to God for keeping the truth clear in human nature, for this acknowledgement in the face of the universal proof and in all situations. The argument is discontinued so as to give a new comment: “Yet most of them do not understand.” It is because they do not understand that they continue to argue, ignoring the logic of human nature and the fact that the whole universe points to its supreme Creator.
The surah adds a statement of God’s ownership of all that is in the heavens and the earth, whether it is made available to man or not. Yet He is in no need of anything in the heavens or the earth. He is praised even though people may not praise Him: “To God belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth. Indeed, God is the One who is self-sufficient, worthy of all praise.”
This presentation is concluded with a scene of the universe which symbolizes God’s inexhaustible riches, unlimited knowledge, supreme and ever-renewing ability of endless creation and unrestricted will: “Were all the trees on earth to be made into pens, and the sea ink, with seven more seas yet added to it, the words of God would not be exhausted. God is indeed Almighty, Wise. The creation of you all and your resurrection is but like (the creation and resurrection of) a single soul. God hears all and sees all.”
This scene is taken straight from people’s limited knowledge and observations, but aims to put before them the meaning of God’s ever-renewing will which is neither limited nor restrained. Their minds cannot visualize this concept without such comparison. People record their knowledge and speeches, and sign their orders, using pens, which used to be made of reed, and ink, which hardly filled an inkpot or a bottle. The comparison drawn here shows them that all trees on earth were made into pens, and all the seas were made ink. Furthermore, this sea of ink is given supplies with seven more seas, while scribes sit to record God’s words that speak of His knowledge and will. What happens then? All the pens, ink, trees and seas will be used up and exhausted, while God’s words will not end. It is a case where what is finite is faced with the infinite. No matter how huge the finite is, it will come to an end, while the infinite remains undiminished. God’s words will not finish because His knowledge is unlimited and His will unrestricted.
Trees, seas, living creatures, objects, and situations all come to an end. The human heart stands in awe before God’s majesty, which is endless, unchanging: “God is indeed Almighty, Wise.” (Verse 27)
Then comes the final note in this presentation, using the previous image as evidence confirming the ease with which God creates and the simplicity with which He brings the dead back to life: “The creation of you all and your resurrection is but like (the creation and resurrection of) a single soul. God hears all and sees all.” The will that creates simply by willing the creation to take place does not see any difference between creating one or many. This will does not exert any measurable effort in creating an individual, and such an effort is not repeated with the creation of every individual. Hence, creating one and creating millions are exactly the same. Likewise is their resurrection. It is only the word, or the will: “When He wills a thing to be, He but says to it, ‘Be’, and it is.” (36: 82) With the knowledge that accompanies creation and resurrection come the reckoning and fair reward: “God hears all and sees all.”
