Reflection on Qur’ān 27:59–27:61
1) Qur’ān 27:59 — Praise and the Chosen Servants
“Say, Praise be to Allah and peace be upon His servants whom He has chosen. Is Allah better, or whatever they associate with Him?”
(27:59)
Praise belongs to Allah.
“Praise be to Allah, Lord of all worlds.”
(1:2)
“Praise be to Allah who created the heavens and the earth and made the darkness and the light.”
(6:1)
“Praise be to Allah who sent down the Book to His servant and made no crookedness in it.”
(18:1)
Peace upon the chosen servants.
“Peace be upon Nūḥ among the worlds.”
(37:79)
“Peace be upon Ibrāhīm.”
(37:109)
“Peace be upon Mūsā and Hārūn.”
(37:120)
“Peace be upon the messengers.”
(37:181)
Then the question:
“Is Allah better, or whatever they associate with Him?”
“Is He who creates like one who does not create?”
(16:17)
“Those whom they invoke besides Allah create nothing, while they themselves are created.”
(16:20)
“They have taken besides Him gods who create nothing while they are themselves created.”
(25:3)
2) Qur’ān 27:60 — Creation and Provision
“Or ˹ask them,˺ Who created the heavens and the earth and sends down rain from the sky for you? With it We cause beautiful gardens to grow—you could never make their trees grow. Is there a god with Allah? Rather, they are a people who set up equals.”
(27:60)
“Allah is the Creator of all things.”
(39:62)
“That is Allah, your Lord; there is no deity except Him, Creator of all things.”
(6:102)
“He created the heavens and the earth in truth.”
(16:3)
Rain sent from the sky.
“It is He who sends down water from the sky; from it is drink and from it are trees in which you pasture.”
(16:10)
“He sends down rain from the sky and thereby brings the earth to life after its death.”
(30:24)
“And We send down from the sky blessed water, causing gardens and grain to grow.”
(50:9)
“And We send the fertilizing winds, then send down water from the sky.”
(15:22)
The earth revives.
“You see the earth lifeless, but when We send down water upon it, it stirs and swells and grows every beautiful kind.”
(22:5)
“Among His signs is that you see the earth barren, but when We send down water upon it, it stirs and grows.”
(41:39)
Human beings cannot make anything grow.
“Have you seen what you plant?
Is it you who make it grow, or are We the Grower?”
(56:63–64)
Again the question:
“Is there a god with Allah?”
“Yet among people are those who take others as equals to Allah.”
(2:165)
3) Qur’ān 27:61 — The Order of the Earth
“Or ˹ask them,˺ Who made the earth a stable place, placed rivers through it, set mountains upon it, and made a barrier between the two seas? Is there a god with Allah? Rather, most of them do not know.”
(27:61)
The earth made stable.
“He placed firm mountains in the earth so it would not shake with you.”
(16:15)
“And We cast into the earth firmly set mountains lest it should shake with them.”
(21:31)
“And We made the earth a resting place.”
(78:6)
Mountains as anchors.
“And the mountains as pegs.”
(78:7)
“And He placed mountains firmly upon it.”
(41:10)
Rivers flowing through the land.
“He spread the earth and placed within it firmly set mountains and rivers.”
(13:3)
“He made rivers and paths so that you may be guided.”
(16:15)
Even the seas follow boundaries.
“He released the two seas meeting together; between them is a barrier they do not transgress.”
(55:19–20)
“And it is He who has released the two bodies of water: one fresh and sweet, the other salty and bitter, and He placed between them a barrier.”
(25:53)
Everything under His command.
“To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and the earth.”
(2:255)
“His is the creation and the command.”
(7:54)
The Repeated Question
After creation.
After rain.
After gardens.
After mountains and seas.
The Qur’ān asks again:
“Is there a god with Allah?”
“Allah — there is no deity except Him.”
(20:8)
“There is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all.”
(2:255)
“Blessed is Allah, Lord of all worlds.”
(27:59)
