The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 4) — Page 171
PT. 17 AL-ANBIYA' CH. 21 وَجَعَلْنَا السَّمَاءَ سَقْفًا مَّحْفُوظًا ۚ وَهُمْ And We have made the. 33 عَنْ أَيْتِهَا مُعْرِضُونَ heaven a roof, well protected; yet they turn away from its Signs. 2373 وَهُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ وَالشَّمْسَ And He it is Who created. 34 وَالْقَمَرَ كُلٌّ فِي فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ the night and the day, and the sun and the moon, "each gliding along smoothly in its orbit. 2374 "36:41. represent righteous ulema (learned men) and divines who receive guidance from the prophets and convey it to common men. Just as rivers and streams become dried up when it does not rain on mountains, similarly pious and righteous men disappear from the world when no fresh revelation descends from heaven for a long time. Indeed revelation is as essential for spiritual life as is water for physical life. 2373. Commentary: The solar system with its sun, moon, planets and stars is a well- ordered and well-regulated system which has existed for millions of years, never having once suffered from the slightest disorder or deviation in the movements of these bodies. These heavenly bodies exercise a very wholesome influence on the terrestrial globe and its inhabitants. Just as a roof is a means of protection from rain, cold and heat for the residents of a house, similarly the heaven serves as a protection for the earth below and heavenly bodies exert their beneficial influence upon mankind. The spiritual universe also has its heaven with its sun, moon, planets and stars. These bodies of the spiritual heaven also exert their influence on the spiritual life of men. They illumine their lives and provide for them guidance in the night of spiritual darkness. Spiritually speaking the implication in the words "a roof well- protected" is that astrologers and diviners have no secrets. access to divine 2374. Important Words: فلک orbit) is derived from) فلک (falaka). They say i. e. the breast of the girl became round. A means, the place of the revolving of the stars i. e. the celestial sphere, the vault of heavens or the firmament (Lane & Aqrab). from سبح (gliding along) is derived They say i. e. the man slept and took rest; he went far off in his walk. ¿means, he talked much. W means, he glided along in the water and took great delight in it. The word is used metaphorically with regard to the floating or gliding of the stars and about the swift and smooth running of the horse (Aqrab). 2085