The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 440
CH. 16 opposition to the enemy. AN-NAHL In this and the preceding three verses, the Quran speaks of two kinds of things created for the good of man: (1) those that are of use to him in his private life; (2) those that serve his political ends. These things have been created to serve the following six purposes; (a) to protect man from the inclemency of weather; (b) to provide him with food; (c) to bring him honour and glory; (d) to carry his burdens; (e) to be used as a means of personal conveyance; and (f) to serve as a source of strength and power for him. The verse purports to say that when God has taken so much care to provide for the above six physical and material needs of man, the idea cannot be entertained for a single moment that He should have neglected to make a similar provision for his spiritual needs. The verse also hints that although man exacts work from other creatures in spite of the fact that he is not their creator, he denies God (Who does not derive any benefit from him) the right to reform and guide him to a stage where he should constitute an evidence of His Holiness and Sanctity and a means of His glorification. PT. 14 new means of conveyance are yet to be discovered by man. As against the six physical objects enumerated above, the six spiritual characteristics that the word of God must possess are the following: (1) It should protect man from the evil effects of heat and cold, i. e. it should guard him against extremes in everything. Absence of the love of God may be called cold in religious terminology and abusing persecuting in the name of religion or those who differ from us in their views and compelling them to subscribe to our views against their will may represent heat. The word of God inspires man with His love on the one hand and on the other enjoins its followers to be tolerant towards those who hold views different from theirs. (2) It should serve the purpose of spiritual food, i. e. it should contain all those elements which develop and strengthen the spiritual faculties of which tend to suppress and subdue man. It should inculcate teachings his evil inclinations and propensities and inspire him with spiritual strength and vigour. (3) It should be a source of beauty The expression, And He will create and glory i. e. those who act upon it what you do not yet know, embodies a should appear beautiful and dignified the eyes of others. Their prophecy that God will bring into in existence new means of conveyance compatriots should feel and admit which were yet unknown to man. that the word of God has worked a This prophecy has been wonderfully fulfilled by the discovery of comfortable and ever-increasing means of conveyance such as railway trains, steamships, motor cars, aeroplanes, etc. God only knows what 1648 great revolution in their lives. (4) It should bear man's burdens, i. e. it should make him realize his duties and responsibilities and, by freeing him from the shackles of superstitious customs and usages,