Surah Fatir
(Creator/Originator) 35, V – 27 & 28
Have you not seen that God caused water to fall from the sky, and produced
therewith fruits of diverse hues; and among the hills are streaks white and red,
of diverse hues, and others of raven black.(27) And men, beasts, cattle, in like
manner, of diverse hues? The Erudite among his bondsmen fear God alone. He is
mighty and forgiving. (28)
In the first verse the colors of in-animated things have been mentioned and in
the second those of the animated ones. There however, is a subtle grammatical
difference in two places of the first verse. In the case of fruits the
difference of color is mentioned with an “adverbial” phrase. In the case of
mountains, however it is expressed by “adjectival” phrase. According to Arabic
grammar adverb denotes something changeable---as does the color of fruits
according to its stages or progression. The adjective denotes something of
permanence like that in the case of Human, mountains etc--- which are generally
fast and abiding and do not change. Color white is mentioned first and black
last. (Both being the base colors of the spectrum) White loses its permanence
faster whereas the black lasts longer. These colors, in nut-shell are the
embellishment of His creation each with its own importance and characteristics.
However there is yet another verse # 37 from Surah Ya Sin 36 which gives this
view point more credence by its interpretation. Which is -----God has, in this
similitude, pointed out that real element in the universe is “Darkness” and that
“Light” is transitory. Once the cover of light is removed what remains is the
“Darkness”. From purely scientific perspective also we barely know a small
fraction of the Universe which it visible due to light, rest is covered by
darkness.
Another angle to look at is with regards to the placement of word “ALSO” in
verse 28. Should it be linked with the later part (per some scholars of Qura’an)
it would mean that as there are different colors of the fruits & mountains so
are the degrees of fear and awe of God in the hearts of the people. Their
position, in the sight of God, depends on that degree of fear and awe. Awe of
God is an incumbent attribute of men of God since their degree of knowledge
corresponds with it; which however, may not necessarily impact others who have
no such fear and awe in them. (Fear and awe could loosely be taken as piety and
reverence for easy understanding).
Station of Men of God can well be understood by this Hadith of the Prophet (SAW)
God will assemble His men and say to them;
“I had placed My knowledge in you since I knew you, and I had not placed My
knowledge in you so that I punish you. Go, I have forgiven you”