Section Ya-Seen – Part 26

We will continue investigating the verses from Section Ya-Seen of the Qur’an by analyzing the remaining verses carefully to make them practical in our lives. We last investigated how man argues about Resurrection. We discussed that one must look at their existence first, realize that they are created before talking about Resurrection. Man must refer to his previous existence that he has been experiencing. Think about who has given me life, existence and who is giving existence to my bones assembled in a structure? Whoever is giving them existence shows that He knows what He is doing and that He can do it again.

Let’s continue with the following verses:

ٱلَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ ٱلشَّجَرِ ٱلْأَخْضَرِ نَارًۭا فَإِذَآ أَنتُم مِّنْهُ تُوقِدُونَ

36:80 “He, who produces fire for you from green trees, so that you use them to light your fires.”

Why does the verse suddenly speak about creating “fire from green trees”? The verse follows with fire being there and I use it to light my other fires. How can I relate to this message? Is there some relationship between “fire” and resurrection as the previous verses were mentioning? Let’s think about this. The fire is produced from “green trees” which is contradictory in their existence as “green trees” are living, and the other is fire which burns. This fire is used to light other fires. 

We must see that the Qur’an connects the meanings with previous verses. One cannot take a verse disconnected from its immediate context or from the context of the purpose of the Qur’an, which results in corrupting the message of the Qur’an. If we use the above verse as an example and take it out of context, what would I do by knowing about fire from green trees? I know that the green tree dies, becomes dry wood and I can burn this wood. The Qur’an cannot be telling me something I know from the universe.

There is a very tight relationship between the previous verse, this verse and what will follow as they adhere to the general purpose of the Qur’an. We must be careful on how we study these verses. Classical scholarly sources mention people in the desert who made fire by striking pieces of certain trees that resulted in fire. Let’s build on this and go deeper in our understanding. Fire is created out of wood, coal and fuel. Many things have been created and arranged by the Lord of the universe for different beings, for different purposes. Many of these arrangements are awaiting man to discover them. Out of something, many other creations, events are possible showing the wisdom of this Creator. For example, water and earth get in contact out of which many plants and trees grow. Many insects and animals come into being. The tree is originating from the connection of water and soil which then dries up and is created in the form of some wood. By burning wood, fire is produced. An interesting thing to know is that everything in its essence includes fire in it. Although not directly our subject, the usage of fire also insinuates hell fire in the message of the Qur’an.

The tree is created perfectly and is a sign pointing to its Creator. Fire is included in the tree’s essence which means that it can be a source of fire as well. Some materialist minded folks look at the tree, see how they are being created but interpret that as the tree itself is growing. That is the fire side of the tree they get, i.e. there is hell in that interpretation. They don’t have any evidence to show that life, energy, human and animal senses, feelings share the same nature with matter where physical matter may turn into life. They admit that consciousness and life do not originate from matter. However, they say that they are still searching. 

This materialistic science originated from Europe over a hundred years ago when the Muslims had stopped studying the universe. Historically the Mongolian tribe demolished much of civilization where books were burnt, marks of civilizations were devastated, social life was destroyed, and the Muslim world lost its interest in scientific studies and were more concerned with economic survival. The scientific studies were transferred to Europe where they started studying the universe. The Christian church objected to their study and as a result, much of the Materialism interpretation of the universe started. This resulted in animosity from scientists towards religion, and we still see that happening. Science in the west turned into data for materialistic worldview. The believing people have lost their opportunity in studying the universe and are more concerned in making their lives financially better. Believing people are no longer involved in scientific research where they can come up with evidence as everything is covered up by the materialistic interpretation of the universe. We cannot understand the deep meaning of the verses of the Qur’an as we don’t have the scientific data coming from believing people. Everything is covered up by a materialistic world view. We are no longer studying the Qur’an alongside the universe as the witness to the reality and truth of the Qur’an.

With this background, let’s delve into how the “fire” relates to resurrection. I am alive now like a green tree. The Qur’an emphasizes the “green tree”, a tree that is alive, just like my body that is living now. When the tree dies, it becomes wood. Similarly, when the body dies, the bones become dust just like wood that can burn with fire. In the wood as well as in the bones there is a potential fire in them. I must take this fire and benefit from it. Use the fire to light your fires as indicated by the phrase “فَإِذَآ أَنتُم مِّنْهُ تُوقِدُونَ” translated “so that you use them to light your fires.”. Use this fire as your desire to be resurrected and enjoy your next creation. When the tree dies, it is good for me to utilize it and not just leave it, i.e. out of wood, fire is created. Fire represents some sort of life as the living side of wood. Fire is not matter but energy. Life and human feelings are in the same category of non-material creation. The One who creates fire out of dead trees or wood, why would He not create life out of dead bones? This is how the Qur’an is reasoning about resurrection. 

To believe in resurrection I must accept that the tree is created, wood is created, and fire is created. If one does not believe in God, doesn’t accept that they are created, then we cannot talk about resurrection with this person. We should understand that a believer understands that they are created, and have a Creator. A believer does not automatically believe in resurrection and the hereafter as they are independent belief entities in the articles or pillars of belief. Thus, belief in God is a requirement but not enough for belief in resurrection which must be confirmed separately. That is why the Qur’an deals with belief in resurrection within different contexts rather than in the context of belief in God. 

Do we notice that almost everything has the potential “fire” in them? This was discussed earlier as everything is subject to decay and then to be resurrected. This understanding comes by reflecting on the verses of the Qur’an. We must study the Qur’an to establish our belief, confirming all the pillars of belief. Unfortunately, the Qur’an is no longer being studied in this way. It is hard to find belief material in the current teachings, books and videos.  By looking at the universe, one can conclude that there must definitely be a Creator. Every being such as animals, plants, humans have unique characteristics, perfect within themselves, impossible that they happen to be by themselves. Some may stop here and say that I believe in God and that’s about it and I can go on with my life. Why do we believe in the hereafter? Yes, Qur’an says so. How about angels? Of course, the Qur’an says so. Many people take religion simply and follow it because of prior conviction that there must be a Creator and do not study the Qur’an from belief perspective. We must be patient and reflect on belief matters.

أَوَلَيْسَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ بِقَـٰدِرٍ عَلَىٰٓ أَن يَخْلُقَ مِثْلَهُم ۚ بَلَىٰ وَهُوَ ٱلْخَلَّـٰقُ ٱلْعَلِيمُ

36:81 “Is it not possible for the One who created the heavens and Earth to create the same as their creation? Yes, indeed, for He is the continuously Creating One, the All-knowing.”

We should notice that the same reasoning is being applied here. The verse is asking me to reason: is it not possible for the One who created the heavens and Earth to create the same again? The word used is “بَلَىٰ” which denotes a strong, definite “yes” or “indeed” as translated here. The verse continues that He is the continuously Creating One “ٱلْخَلَّـٰقُ”, the All-knowing. To create something, one must know “ٱلْعَلِيمُ”, and this creation is consciously and continuously being created.

The verse starts from mentioning “ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ”, “He created” which we observe in our daily experience as beings are momentarily being re-created. Although we understand the continuous creation, we practically speak with the language of “already created”. Not everyone is grasping the concept of continuous creation easily. We can also widen our vision universally by reflecting on the One who is creating the whole universe, is He not able to create the same universe again? The previous verse mentioned about the green trees, whoever has created the green tree within the context of the whole universe, can this One not create the same thing again? 

The verse continues to fine tune that not only that He is the One who creates,i.e. He not only creates and leaves it alone, but He is continuously Creating. He knows and is knowingly changing this creation from one state to another. Yesterday was a completely different experience of existence to what we experienced today. We experience different seasons, day, night, events. If we squeeze spacetime, we will see that creation is taking place continuously. The word “خَلَقَ” is used more than 160 times in the Qur’an. The same root word has 61 different forms, where there are 61 different acts of creation that are mentioned. We must take the act of creation, existence seriously to understand the message of the Qur’an. The word “خَلَقَ” is the backbone of the message of the Qur’an. In this verse, the word is used in three different forms “خَلَقَ”, meaning He created once or occasionally, “يَخْلُقَ” meaning He creates continuously, unceasingly and “ٱلْخَلَّـٰقُ” meaning He is the continuously creating One. It is like a profession, one who continuously does something.  For example, if one tailors clothes continuously then the person is known as a tailor “ ﺧَﻴَّﺎﻁ ”. The source of the continuous changing existence is introduced in the Qur’an as “ٱلْخَلَّـٰقُ”.

The evidence for resurrection and the hereafter was referred to what already exists now in front of our eyes? We only need to go back to question our initial existence, how did we come into being and how do we exist currently? The Qur’an brings evidence from creation, not from belief in the news of the Qur’an. We don’t believe in the hereafter or resurrection just because the Qur’an says so. Belief in the Qur’an is an independent article of belief, the hereafter is an independent article of belief, belief in angels is another article of belief. However, they support each other. For example, if one does not believe in God, a conscious Creator, then we cannot talk about belief in resurrection. On  the other hand, belief in resurrection cannot be based on belief in God. After being  convinced about the Conscious Creator only then can we investigate the signs and evidence of belief in resurrection. If someone says that matter exists by itself, I cannot talk to them about angels. One may be a believer and by looking at a tree says that it is created by God. When asked about angels, the usual answer would be, yes, the Qur’an mentions them. After being convinced that the tree needs to be created only then can I look for the evidence in the existence of the tree demonstrating that there must be angels existing. We must work to have a firm belief that is supported by evidence, independently study every article of belief with consolidating evidence.

The Qur’an is teaching me that when it mentions resurrection, it is providing me with evidence to look at, so that I can confirm with evidence in the universe. I must benefit from the guidance of the Qur’an, utilize its method to search for evidence to believe in resurrection. For each article of belief, I must independently look for evidence in the universe which is apart from the news of the Qur’an. For example, I get the news from the Qur’an that there will be resurrection. I must now confirm this news of the Qur’an by looking at creation to confirm that this guidance is the right guidance. The evidence must be used to confirm the message of the Qur’an.