The Quran

Preface

اللَّهُ الَّذي خَلَقَ السَّماواتِ وَالأَرضَ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً فَأَخرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَراتِ رِزقًا لَكُم ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الفُلكَ لِتَجرِيَ فِي البَحرِ بِأَمرِهِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الأَنهارَ

Yusuf Ali

It is God Who hath created the heavens and the earth and sendeth down rain from the skies, and with it bringeth out fruits wherewith to feed you; it is He Who hath made the ships subject to you, that they may sail through the sea by His command; and the rivers (also) hath He made subject to you.¹

We must realise that behind all of our strength, skill, and intelligence there is the power and goodness of God, Who gave us all these things. Man can understand and control the forces of nature so as to bring them to his own service: he can only do so, because (1) he has got these gifts from God, and (2) God has fixed definite laws in nature, of which he can take advantage by God’s command and permission. He has been made Vicegerent on earth (2:30): God commanded the highest creatures to bow down to Adam (2:34). Man, by God’s command, can use rain to produce food for himself: make ships to sail the seas: use rivers as highways, and cut canals for traffic and irrigation. Not only this, but even the heavenly bodies can (by God’s command) contribute to his needs (see next verse).