Surah an-Nahl (The Bee ) 16 : 72

Overview (Verses 70 - 72)

The Life Cycle
 
The sūrah moves on to touch on something much closer to human beings, because it relates to their very being, their life on earth, provisions, spouses, children and grandchildren. They are more likely to feel an affinity with this and to respond positively to the message it provides: It is God who has created you; and in time will cause you to die. Some of you are left to the most feeble stage of life, so that they no longer know what they had previously known. God is indeed All- Knowing, infinite in His power. To some of you God has given more than He has given to others. Those who are so favoured are unwilling to share their provisions with those whom their right hands possess, so that they are all equal in this respect. Will they, then, deny God’s favours? And God has given you spouses of your own kind and has given you, through your spouses, children and grandchildren, and provided you with wholesome sustenance. Will they, then, believe in falsehood and deny God’s grace and blessings? Instead of God, they worship something that can provide them with no sustenance from the heavens or the earth. Never can they have such power. (Verses 70-73) The first aspect points to life and death which affect every human being. It is a simple fact that people love life, and when they reflect on this it may well bring about an appreciation of God’s power and grace. Similarly, fear for one’s life may engender a sense of caution and reliance on God who gives life. Furthermore, the image of the elderly, being feeble, forgetting what they have learned and languishing in a naïve state similar to that of a helpless child may make people reflect on the various stages of life and adopt a more humble attitude. They will begin to look at man’s strength, knowledge and ability in a different light. The final comment of the verse is, “God is indeed All-Knowing, infinite in His power.” (Verse 70) This portrays the fact that true, absolute and eternal knowledge belongs to God alone, as does the irresistible power which is never weakened by time. All knowledge and power people possess are imperfect, partial and Limited by time.
 
The second aspect demonstrates what God has provided for people. In this respect people clearly differ with some having more than others. Such differences have their reason in accordance with God’s law. Nothing takes place haphazardly. A man may have intelligence, knowledge and common sense, but his talent in earning a living remains limited. This does not detract from the fact that he may be talented in other areas. Another person may appear dull, lacking in knowledge or naïve, but he has an eye for what brings profit and how to make the best of any financial investment. At a casual glance, it seems that affluence has nothing to do with ability, but the fact is that it is the fruit of a special type of ability. Moreover, it may be that God gives someone in abundance to test that person, and He may test another by giving him limited provisions. Whichever test a person has to go through is determined by God’s wisdom.
 
That people have different means is a well-known phenomenon. This is more pronounced in communities where there is much inequity. The sūrah refers to this phenomenon which was clearly apparent in Arabian society, and makes use of it in order to dispel those myths that had their roots in the pagan beliefs of the Arabs. These have been referred to in an earlier sūrah. One such myth was their practice of allocating to false gods a share of the provisions of agricultural produce God gave them. Here the sūrah identifies that they do not give such provisions to their slaves to establish equity. How come, then, they give a portion of what God has granted them to false gods? “Will they, then, deny God’s favours?” (Verse 71) Instead of expressing their thanks and gratitude to God who has given them these provisions, they associate partners with Him.
 
The third aspect looks at people, their spouses, children and grandchildren. It begins with a statement of the relationship between the two sexes: “God has given you spouses of your own kind.” (Verse 72) All belong to the same human race, and the female is not an inferior species to be ashamed of when a daughter is born. He also “has given you, through your spouses, children and grandchildren.” (Verse 72) Humans are mortal, and so they feel that their lives continue through their children and grandchildren. Touching upon this aspect is very significant. To this blessing is added the provision of sustenance, because of the similarity between the two types of blessing: “And [He] provided you with wholesome sustenance.” (Verse 72) The comment at the end of the verse takes the form of a rhetorical question: “Will they, then, believe in falsehood and deny God’s grace and blessings?” (Verse 72) Do they associate false partners with Him, in flagrant disobedience of His orders, when He has given them all these blessings? He is the Lord of all the world and His Lordship has practical manifestations in their lives at all times.
 
“Will they, then, believe in falsehood?” (Verse 72) Everything other than God in respect -Co beliefs is false. Thus, all their deities and myths are false, having no truth in them. They “deny God’s grace and blessings,” when these are true, having practical effects in their own lives.