The Quran

Preface

إِنَّما مَثَلُ الحَياةِ الدُّنيا كَماءٍ أَنزَلناهُ مِنَ السَّماءِ فَاختَلَطَ بِهِ نَباتُ الأَرضِ مِمّا يَأكُلُ النّاسُ وَالأَنعامُ حَتّىٰ إِذا أَخَذَتِ الأَرضُ زُخرُفَها وَازَّيَّنَت وَظَنَّ أَهلُها أَنَّهُم قادِرونَ عَلَيها أَتاها أَمرُنا لَيلًا أَو نَهارًا فَجَعَلناها حَصيدًا كَأَن لَم تَغنَ بِالأَمسِ ۚ كَذٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الآياتِ لِقَومٍ يَتَفَكَّرونَ

Yusuf Ali

The likeness of the life of the present is as the rain which We send down from the skies:¹ by its mingling arises the produce of the earth- which provides food for men and animals: (It grows) till the earth is clad with its golden ornaments and is decked out (in beauty): the people to whom it belongs think they have all powers of disposal over it: There reaches it Our command by night or by day, and We make it like a harvest clean-mown, as if it had not flourished only the day before! thus do We explain the Signs in detail for those who reflect.

Another beautiful Parable, explaining the nature of our present life. The rain comes down in drops and mingles with the earth. Through it, by God’s matchless artistry, the womb of the earth is made fruitful. All kinds of good, useful, and beautiful grains, vegetables, and fruits are produced for men and animals. The earth is covered in its bravery of green and gold and all kinds of colours. Perhaps the “owner” takes all the credit to himself, and thinks that this will last eternally. A hailstorm or blast, a frost or a volcanic eruption, comes and destroys it, or it may be even normally, that the time of harvest comes, and the fields and orchards are stripped bare by some blight or disease. Where is the beauty and bravery of yesterday? All that is left is dust and ashes! What more can we get from this physical material life?