The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 3) — Page 445
PT. 14 AN-NAHL CH. 16 service the things He has وَمَا ذَرَا لَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُخْتَلِفًا And He has pressed into. 14 أَلْوَانُهُ إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكَ لَآيَةً لِقَوْمٍ ,created for you in the earth يَذَّكَّرُونَ "varying in colours. Surely, in that is a Sign for a people who take heed. 1815 "13:5; 39:22. (reason) signifies mental cogitation relating to things both near and far. As the influence of inorganic matter upon the life and development of man is a thing which requires deep study and close observation to understand, the expression, has been used in this verse. But as the phenomena of the animal and vegetable worlds are matters of common observation and can be studied and understood even by men of ordinary intelligence, the expression has been used in the preceding verse. رون 1815. Commentary: One of the most wonderful features of God's creation is that no two things or persons are exactly alike. But for this diversity there would have been indescribable confusion and chaos in the world. It would have been difficult to distinguish one thing from another or one person from another person. Similarly, there is such diversity in the dispositions and temperaments of men that it is beyond human power to devise a teaching that may equally suit all natures. No man has full knowledge of the diversity that exists in nature. God alone knows these differences and therefore He alone can give a teaching which can suit and benefit all men. After animals, vegetables and the inorganic creation have been mentioned separately in the preceding two verses, the verse under comment proceeds to mention something common to all creation. A new topic about the difference in various colours is introduced in this verse. Colours, too, cast their influence upon man and work for his benefit. The effect of colour upon the human body and mind is only a recent discovery of science. It is a marvel of the Quran that it made clear reference to this effect more than thirteen centuries before its discovery by scientists. The verse points out that not only different objects in nature but also their distinctive hues and colours serve man's physical needs. It is no wonder then that God should have made similar or even greater and better provision for his spiritual needs. 1653 The verse also suggests that just as the colours and properties of things are too many and too diverse to be enumerated, so are men's natures, dispositions and temperaments. It is beyond human understanding to comprehend this diversity of dispositions and natures which knows no limit or bound, much less to provide for the peculiar needs and requirements of each and every man.