The Eternal Echo
The Eternal Echo

Surah Al-An'am • Ayah 96

Para 7 Surah 6 : 96
فَالِقُ ٱلْإِصْبَاحِ وَجَعَلَ ٱلَّيْلَ سَكَنًا وَٱلشَّمْسَ وَٱلْقَمَرَ حُسْبَانًا ۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْعَلِيمِ

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فَالِقُ
ٱلْإِصْبَاحِ
وَجَعَلَ
ٱلَّيْلَ
سَكَنًا
وَٱلشَّمْسَ
وَٱلْقَمَرَ
حُسْبَانًا
ۚ
ذَٰلِكَ
تَقْدِيرُ
ٱلْعَزِيزِ
ٱلْعَلِيمِ

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Classical Tafsir: Ibn Kathir en

Recognizing Allah Through Some of His AyatAllah states that He causes the seed grain and the fruit stone to split and sprout in the ground, producing various types, colors, shapes, and tastes of grains and produce. The Ayah, فَالِقُ الْحَبِّ وَالنَّوَى(Who causes the seed grain and the fruit stone to split and sprout.) is explained by the next statement, يُخْرِجُ الْحَىَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَمُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتِ مِنَ الْحَىِّ(He brings forth the living from the dead, and it is He Who brings forth the deed from the living.) meaning, He brings the living plant from the seed grain and the fruit stone, which is a lifless and inanimate object. Allah said, وَءَايَةٌ لَّهُمُ الاٌّرْضُ الْمَيْتَةُ أَحْيَيْنَـهَا وَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهَا حَبّاً فَمِنْهُ يَأْكُلُونَ (And a sign for them is the dead land. We gave it life, and We brought forth from it grains, so that they eat thereof.) 36:33 until, وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لاَ يَعْلَمُونَ(as well as of their own (human) kind (male and female), and of that which they know not.) 36:36 Allah's statement, وَيُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتَ مِنَ الْحَىِّ(and it is He Who brings forth the dead from the living. ) There are similar expressions in meaning such as, He brings the egg from the chicken, and the opposite. Others said that it means, He brings the wicked offspring from the righteous parent and the opposite, and there are other possible meanings for the Ayah. Allah said, ذَلِكُـمُ اللَّهُ(Such is Allah,) meaning, He Who does all this, is Allah, the One and Only without partners, فَأَنَّى تُؤْفَكُونَ(then how are you deluded away from the truth) meaning, look how you are deluded from Truth to the falsehood of worshipping others besides Allah. Allah's statement, فَالِقُ الإِصْبَاحِ وَجَعَلَ الَّيْلَ سَكَناً((He is the) Cleaver of the daybreak. He has appointed the night for resting,) means, He is the Creator of light and darkness. Allah said in the beginning of the Surah, وَجَعَلَ الظُّلُمَـتِ وَالنُّورَ(And originated the darkness and the light.) Indeed, Allah causes the darkness of the night to disappear and brings forth the day, thus bringing brighteness to the world and light to the horizon, while dissipating darkness and ending the night with its depth of darkness and starting the day with its brightness and light. Allah said, يُغْشِى الَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا(He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly.) 7:54 In this Ayah, Allah reminds of His ability to create diversified things in opposites, testifying to His perfect greatness and supreme power. Allah states that He is the Cleaver of the daybreak and mentioned its opposite, when He said, وَجَعَلَ الَّيْلَ سَكَناً(He has appointed the night for resting,) meaning, created darkness, in order for the creation to become halt and rest during it. Allah said in other Ayat, وَالضُّحَى - وَالَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَى (By the forenoon. And by the night when it is still.) 93:1-2, وَالَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَى - وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّى (By the night as it envelops. And by the day as it appears in brightness.) 92:1,2 and, وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا جَلَّـهَا - وَالَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَـهَا (And by the day as it shows up (the sun's) brightness. And by the night as it conceals it.) 91:3-4 Allah's statement, وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ حُسْبَاناً(...And the sun and the moon for reckoning.) means, the sun and the moon have specific orbits, according to a term appointed with magnificent precision that never changes or alters. Both the sun and the moon have distinct positions that they assume in summer and winter, effecting changes in the length of night and day. Allah said in other Ayat, هُوَ الَّذِى جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَآءً وَالْقَمَرَ نُوراً وَقَدَّرَهُ مَنَازِلَ(It is He Who made the sun a shining thing and the Moon as a light and measured out stages for it.) 10:5, لاَ الشَّمْسُ يَنبَغِى لَهَآ أَن تدْرِكَ القَمَرَ وَلاَ الَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ وَكُلٌّ فِى فَلَكٍ يَسْبَحُونَ (It is not for the sun to overtake the moon, nor does the night outstrip the day. They all float, each in an orbit.) 36:40, And, وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ(The sun and the moon; and the stars are subjected by His command.) 16:12 Allah's statement, ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ(Such is the measuring of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.) means, all of this occurs according to the decree and due measurement of the Almighty Who is never resisted or contradicted. He is the Knower of all things and nothing ever escapes His knowledge, not even the weight of an atom on earth or in heavens. Allah often mentions the creation of the night, the day, the sun and the moon and then ends His Speech by mentioning His attributes of power and knowledge, as in this Ayah above 6:96, and in His statement, وَءَايَةٌ لَّهُمُ الَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النَّهَارَ فَإِذَا هُم مُّظْلِمُونَ - وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِى لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَـا ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ (And a sign for them is the night, We withdraw therefrom the day, and behold, they are in darkness. And the sun runs on its fixed course for a term. That is the decree of the Almighty, the All-Knowing.) 36:37-38 In the beginning of Surat Ha-Mim As-Sajdah, after mentioning the creation of the heavens and earth and all that is in them, Allah said: وَزَيَّنَّا السَّمَآءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَـبِيحَ وَحِفْظاً ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ(And We adorned the nearest (lowest) heaven with lamps (stars) to be an adornment as well as to guard. Such is the decree of Him, the Almighty, the All-Knower.) 41:12 Allah said next, وَهُوَ الَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُمُ النُّجُومَ لِتَهْتَدُواْ بِهَا فِى ظُلُمَـتِ الْبَرِّ وَالْبَحْرِ(It is He Who has set the stars for you, so that you may guide your course with their help through the darkness of the land and the sea.) Some of the Salaf said; Whoever believes in other than three things about these stars, then he has made a mistake, and lied against Allah. Indeed Allah made them as decorations for the heavens, and to shoot at the Shayatin, and for directions in the dark recesses of the land and sea. Then, Allah said, قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا الآيَـتِ(We have explained in detail Our Ayat.) meaning, We made them clear and plain, لِقَوْمٍ يَعْلَمُونَ(for people who know. ) who have sound minds and are able to recognize the truth and avoid falsehood. وَهُوَ الَّذِى أَنشَأَكُم مِّن نَّفْسٍ وَحِدَةٍ فَمُسْتَقَرٌّ وَمُسْتَوْدَعٌ قَدْ فَصَّلْنَا الاٌّيَـتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَفْقَهُونَ

Classical Tafsir: Ibn Kathir Urdu ur

اس کی حیرت ناک قدرت ٭٭دانوں سے کھیتیاں بیج اور گٹھلی سے درخت اللہ ہی اگاتا ہے تم تو انہیں مٹی میں ڈال کر چلے آتے ہو وہاں انہیں اللہ تعالیٰ پھاڑتا ہے۔ کونپل نکالتا ہے پھر وہ بڑھتے ہیں قوی درخت بن جاتے ہیں اور دانے اور پھل پیدا ہوتے ہیں۔ پھر گویا اسی کی تفسیر میں فرمایا کہ زندہ درخت اور زندہ کھیتی کو مردہ بیج اور مردہ دانے سے وہ نکالتا ہے۔ جیسے سورۃ یٰسین میں ارشاد ہے آیت «وَاٰيَةٌ لَّهُمُ الْاَرْضُ الْمَيْتَةُ اَحْيَيْنٰهَا وَاَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهَا حَبًّا فَمِنْهُ يَاْكُلُوْنَ وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا جَنَّاتٍ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَابٍ وَفَجَّرْنَا فِيهَا مِنَ الْعُيُونِ لِيَأْكُلُوا مِن ثَمَرِهِ وَمَا عَمِلَتْهُ أَيْدِيهِمْ ۖ أَفَلَا يَشْكُرُونَ سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْأَزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنبِتُ الْأَرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لَا يَعْلَمُونَ» [36-یس:36-33] ‏ ” اور ایک نشانی ان کے لیے زمین مردہ ہے کہ ہم نے اس کو زندہ کیا اور اس میں سے اناج اُگایا۔ پھر یہ اس میں سے کھاتے ہیں اور اس میں کھجوروں اور انگوروں کے باغ پیدا کیے اور اس میں چشمے جاری کر دیئے تاکہ یہ ان کے پھل کھائیں اور ان کے ہاتھوں نے تو ان کو نہیں بنایا تو پھر یہ شکر کیوں نہیں کرتے؟ وہ خدا پاک ہے جس نے زمین کی نباتات کے اور خود ان کے اور جن چیزوں کی ان کو خبر نہیں سب کے جوڑے بنائے “۔ «مُخْرِجُ» کا عطف «فَالِقُ» پر ہے اور مفسرین نے دوسرے انداز سے ان جملوں میں ربط قائم کیا ہے لیکن مطلب سب کا یہی ہے اور اسی کے قریب قریب ہے، کوئی کہتا ہے مرغی کا انڈے سے نکلنا اور مرغ سے انڈے کا نکلنا مراد ہے۔ بد شخص کے ہاں نیک اولاد ہونا اور نیکوں کی اولاد کا بد ہونا مراد ہے، وغیرہ۔ آیت درحقیقت ان تمام صورتوں کو گھیرے ہوئے ہے۔ پھر فرماتا ہے ” ان تمام کاموں کا کرنے والا اکیلا اللہ ہی ہے پھر کیا وجہ کہ تم حق سے پھر جاتے ہو؟ اور اس لا شریک کے ساتھ دوسروں کو شریک کرنے لگتے ہو؟ “ «وَالضُّحَى وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَى» [93-الضحى:1-2] ‏ ” وہی دن کی روشنی کا لانے والا اور رات کے اندھیرے کا پیدا کرنے والا ہے “۔ جیسے کہ اس سورت کے شروع میں فرمایا تھا کہ «الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ الظُّلُمَاتِ وَالنُّورَ» [6-الأنعام:1] ‏ ” وہی نور و ظلمت کا پیدا کرنے والا ہے۔ رات کے گھٹا ٹوپ اندھیرے کو دن کی نورانیت سے بدل دیتا ہے “۔ «وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَىٰ وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا تَجَلَّىٰ» [92-الليل:1-2] ‏ ” رات اپنے اندھیروں سمیت چھپ جاتی ہے اور دن اپنی تجلیوں سمیت کائنات پر قبضہ جما لیتا ہے “، «وَالنَّهَارِ إِذَا جَلَّاهَا وَاللَّيْلِ إِذَا يَغْشَاهَا» [91-الشمس:3-4] ‏ جیسے فرمان ہے «يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ يَطْلُبُهُ حَثِيثًا» [7-الأعراف:54] ‏ ” وہی دن رات چڑھاتا ہے “۔صفحہ نمبر2700الغرض چیز اور اس کی ضد اس کے زیر اختیار ہے اور یہ اس کی بے انتہا عظمت اور بہت بڑی سلطنت پر دلیل ہے۔ دن کی روشنی اور اس کی چہل پہل کی ظلمت اور اس کا سکون اس کی عظیم الشان قدرت کی نشانیاں ہیں۔ جیسے فرمان ہے آیت «وَالضُّحٰى وَالَّيْلِ اِذَا سَـجٰى» [93-الضحى:1-2] ‏ اور جیسے اس آیت میں فرمایا آیت «وَالَّيْلِ اِذَا يَغْشٰى وَالنَّهَارِ اِذَا تَجَلّٰى» [92۔اللیل:1-2] ‏ اور آیت میں ہے «وَالنَّهَارِ اِذَا جَلّٰىهَا وَاللَّيْلِ اِذَا يَغْشٰـىهَا» [91-والشمس:3-4] ‏ ان تمام آیتوں میں دن رات کا اور نور و ظلمت روشنی اور اندھیرے کا ذکر ہے۔صفحہ نمبر2701حضرت صہیب رومی رحمتہ اللہ علیہ سے ایک بار ان کی بیوی صاحبہ نے کہا کہ رات ہر ایک کے لیے آرام کی ہے لیکن میرے خاوند صہیب کے لیے وہ بھی آرام کی نہیں اس لیے کہ وہ رات کو اکثر حصہ جاگ کر کاٹتے ہیں -جب انہیں جنت یاد آتی ہے تو شوق بڑھ جاتا ہے اور یاد اللہ میں رات گزار دیتے ہیں اور جب جہنم کا خیال آ جاتا ہے تو مارے خوف کے ان کی نیند اڑ جاتی ہے۔ سورج چاند اس کو مقرر کئے ہوئے اندازے پر برابر چل رہے ہیں کوئی تغیر اور اضطراب اس میں نہیں ہوتا ہر ایک کی منزل مقرر ہے جاڑے کی الگ گرمی کی الگ اور اسی اعتبار سے دن رات ظاہر ہوتے ہیں چھوٹے اور بڑے ہوتے ہیں۔ جیسے فرمان ہے آیت «ھُوَ الَّذِيْ جَعَلَ الشَّمْسَ ضِيَاءً وَّالْقَمَرَ نُوْرًا وَّقَدَّرَهٗ مَنَازِلَ لِتَعْلَمُوْا عَدَدَ السِّـنِيْنَ وَالْحِسَابَ» [10۔یونس:5] ‏ ” اسی اللہ نے سورج کو روشن اور چاند کو منور کیا ہے ان کی منزلیں مقرر کر دی ہیں “۔ اور آیت میں ہے «لَا الشَّمْسُ يَنْبَغِيْ لَهَآ اَنْ تُدْرِكَ الْقَمَرَ وَلَا الَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ» [36-یس:40] ‏ ” نہ تو آفتاب ہی سے بن پڑتا ہے کہ چاند کو جا لے اور نہ رات دن پر سبق لے سکتی ہے ہر ایک اپنے فلک میں تیرتا پھرتا ہے “ اور جگہ فرمایا «وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ وَالنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَاتٍ بِأَمْرِهِ» [7-الأعراف:54] ‏، ” سورج چاند ستارے سب اس کے فرمان کے ماتحت ہیں “۔ یہاں فرمایا ” یہ سب اندازے اس اللہ کے مقرر کردہ ہیں جسے کوئی روک نہیں سکتا جس کے خلاف کوئی کچھ نہیں کر سکتا۔ جو ہر چیز کو جانتا ہے جس کے علم سے ایک ذرہ باہر نہیں۔ زمین و آسمان کی کوئی مخلوق اس سے پوشیدہ نہیں “۔ عموماً قرآن کریم جہاں کہیں رات دن سورج چاند کی پیدائش کا ذکر کرتا ہے وہاں کلام کا خاتمہ اللہ جل و علا نے اپنی عزت و علم کی خبر پر کیا ہے، جیسے اس آیت میں اور «وَآيَةٌ لَّهُمُ اللَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النَّهَارَ فَإِذَا هُم مُّظْلِمُونَ وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَّهَا ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ» [36۔یس:37-38] ‏ میں اور سورۃ حم سجدہ کی شروع کی آیت «وَزَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِمَصَابِيْحَ وَحِفْظًا ذٰلِكَ تَقْدِيْرُ الْعَزِيْزِ الْعَلِيْمِ» [41۔فصلت:12] ‏ میں۔ پھر فرمایا ” ستارے تمہیں خشکی اور تری میں راہ دکھانے کے لیے ہیں “۔ بعض سلف کا قول ہے کہ ستاروں میں ان تین فوائد کے علاوہ اگر کوئی اور کچھ مانے تو اس نے خطا کی اور اللہ پر چھوٹ باندھا ایک تو یہ کہ یہ آسمان کی زینت ہیں دوسرے یہ شیاطین پر آگ بن کر برستے ہیں جبکہ وہ آسمانوں کی خبریں لینے کو چڑھیں تیسرے یہ کہ مسافروں اور مقیم لوگوں کو یہ راستہ دکھاتے ہیں۔ پھر فرمایا ” ہم نے عقلمندوں عالموں اور واقف کار لوگوں کیلئے اپنی آیتیں بالتفصیل بیان فرما دی ہیں “۔صفحہ نمبر2702

Classical Tafsir: Bayan-ul-Quran ur

آیت 96 فَالِقُ الْاِصْبَاحِ ج۔یہ فلق کی دوسری قسم ہے کہ اللہ ہی رات کی سیاہی کا پردہ چاک کر کے سپیدۂ سحر کو نمودار کرتا ہے۔ بظاہریہ بھی خود بخود زمین کی گردش کے تحت ہوتا نظر آتا ہے ‘ لیکن یہ نہ سمجھیں کہ اللہ کے تصرف اور اس کی تدبیر کے بغیر ہو رہا ہے۔ یہ سب بھی ان ہی قوانین کے تحت ہو رہا ہے جو اللہ تعالیٰ نے زمین ‘ چاند ‘ سورج اور دوسرے اجرام فلکی کے بارے میں بنا دیے ہیں۔ اس سب کچھ کا فاعل حقیقی بھی وہی ہے۔وَجَعَلَ الَّیْلَ سَکَنًا وَّالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ حُسْبَانًا ط یہ التّذکیر بِآ لَاء اللّٰہ کی مثالیں ہیں ‘ جن کے حوالے سے اللہ کی عظمت ‘ اس کی صفات اور اس کی قدرت کو نمایاں کیا جا رہا ہے۔ یہ ایک لگا بندھا نظام ہے جس کے تحت سورج اور چاند چل رہے ہیں۔ اسی نظام سے دن اور رات بنتے ہیں اور اسی سے مہینے اور سال وجود میں آ رہے ہیں۔

Classical Tafsir: Ma'arif al-Qur'an en

Said in the second verse (96) is: فَالِقُ الْإِصْبَاحِ (He is) the One who causes the dawn to break.' The word: فَالِقُ (Faliq) means one who splits, and the word: الْإِصْبَاحِ (al-Isbah) here means the time of morning. Thus, the expression: فَالِقُ الْإِصْبَاحِ (Faliq al-labah) means one who splits the morning, that is, one who tears the dark layer of darkness apart and brings the morning out. This too is one of those functions of such magnitude that would render the combined powers of all Jinns and human beings and all others to nothing. It does not take much to realize the truth of it. Everyone with a pair of sighted eyes is compelled to concede that the causer and creator of the morning light from the darkness of the night cannot be a human being, or angel, or any other created being, from fact or fiction. Instead of all that, the undeniable truth is that this is the work of that One Being that created the whole universe, a Being beyond human comprehension.Night for Rest is a BlessingAfter that, it was said: وَجَعَلَ اللَّيْلَ سَكَنًا (And He has made the night for rest). The word: سَکَن (sakan) is a derivation from : سُکُون (sukun). Everything - means, time or place - by having or reaching which one feels peaceful and comfortable is called sakan, therefore, the home of a person has been referred to as sakan in the Holy Qur'an: جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّن بُيُوتِكُمْ سَكَنًا (Allah made for you your home a place to rest - 16:80). This is so because the home of a person, even if it be a hut, is a habitual source of peace and comfort. Therefore, this sentence comes to mean that Allah Ta` ala has made the night a time of peace and comfort for every living being. By saying: فَالِقُ الْإِصْبَاحِ (Faliq al-Isbah: the One who causes the dawn to break) mentioned there were blessings which one benefits from during the light of the day, something that would not be equally possible during the darkness of night. Then, by saying: وَجَعَلَ اللَّيْلَ سَكَنًا (made the night for rest) after that, indication was given that, no doubt the light of the day is a great blessing for human beings trans-acting most of their businesses and chores with its help, but not that bad is the darkness of night, for that too is a big blessing when it helps a person, all tired after a hard day's work, get the rest needed to go back to work with recovered energy. Otherwise, human nature cannot withstand respite-less labour.Earmarking the darkness of night for comfort is a regular blessing and, certainly, a special demonstration of the irresistibly subjugating power of Allah Ta` ala. Since this blessing comes handy every day without having to ask for it, one hardly bothers to think how great a favour and reward it is. Imagine if everyone were to fix a time of rest with one's choice, then, someone would be getting ready to sleep at eight in the morning, someone else at twelve noon and there will others sleeping at all sorts of odd hours during the day and night. The result would have been that there would have not come a single hour out of the twenty four hours of the night and day when human beings would have not been busy with their business, job or work and plants and factories would have not been working as usual. The inevitable result of such breathless activity would have been that the peace of the sleeping would have been disturbed and equally disadvantaged would have been those working on their jobs. The high decibel of discordant sounds emitting from traffic, factories and workers themselves would have interfered with the peace of the sleeping, and the absence of the sleeping would have affected those working on their jobs. In addition to that, those sleeping would have missed doing things which can be done only when it is time for them to sleep. In short, Allah Jalla Sha'nuhu has, in His great power to subdue, has set upon, not only human beings but on all living creatures, the weight of sleep in a manner that one is compelled to stop working and go to sleep. With the fall of dusk, birds and beasts and cattle head for their nests, lairs and homes. Man has to stop working as a compulsion and has to start looking towards his place of rest. Silence reigns. Darkness of night becomes an ally of sleep and rest, as light is usually not conducive to sleep.Just imagine what would happen if all governments and peoples of the world joined hands in a global agreement to fix a universal time to sleep. First of all this would have posed too many problems. Then, should all human beings, abiding by a possible agreement, were to sleep at an appointed time, who would have made animals abide by that agreement? If they roamed around scot-free what would have happened to the sleeping human beings and their belongings? Most exalted is the majesty of Allah and great is His power to subdue that He has appointed sleep to descend upon every human being and every living creature at a given time compulsively, and thus, He has saved them from the very need of such international agreements: فَتَبَارَ‌كَ اللَّـهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِي (So, blessed be Allah, the Best of creators) (23:14).Solar and Lunar CalendarIn the next sentence: وَالشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ‌ حُسْبَانًا (and the sun and the moon for measurement), the word: حُسْبَان (Husban) is a verbal noun and is used to mean to count, measure, calculate or compute. The sense of the verse is that Allah Ta` ala has appointed the rising and setting and the movement of the sun and the moon in a particular measure through which human beings can easily calculate years, months, days, hours, even minutes and seconds.Again, this is the manifestation of the same Divine power to subdue and commission into desired action that such huge glowing globes of awesome proportions and their movements have been so formidably programmed to perform according to measure which just does not vary even by a second despite the passage of thousands of years. Whatever machinery has been employed to make them function so flawlessly certainly needs no workshop, nor needed there is our customary repair and replacement of time-barred parts. The spheres of light, their function, their movement, everything in the system is performing perfectly as commanded: لَا الشَّمْسُ يَنبَغِي لَهَا أَن تُدْرِ‌كَ الْقَمَرَ‌ وَلَا اللَّيْلُ سَابِقُ النَّهَارِ‌ "It behooves not the sun to overtake the moon, neither does the night outstrip the day" - 36:40 (as translated by Arberry). Alas, it must have been because of this formidable and changeless Divine system that man was mistaken as he took these manifestation of the system as existing in their own right, even went on to the limits of worshipping them. Had this system been open to flaws, a little malfunction here and there, some time out for repairs, then, one would have discovered that this mechanism is not automatic, somebody has made it and somebody keeps it running. But, such has been the brilliance and permanence of these great heavenly bodies that human beings have been blinded to the reality behind. It was to let them know what it was that came scriptures and prophets and messengers.This statement of the Qur'an also indicates that the calculation of years and months can be solar and it can be lunar as well. Both are rewards from Allah Jalla Sha'nuhu. It is a different matter that the lunar calendar has been used in Islamic injunctions for the sake of providing convenience to the common masses of the world so that they do not have to undergo the trouble of complicated calculations. Since Islamic history and Islamic injunctions are based on lunar calendar, it is an obligation on the Muslim Ummah that it retains and protects this calendar. As for other methods of calculation, such as the Solar or Gregorian calendar, if they are adopted because of some necessity, there is no sin in it. But, ignoring the lunar calendar totally and letting it be forgotten is a grave sin - an unfortunate conduct which may lead to a situation in which a Muslim does not know when the months of Ramadan, Dhil-Hijjah and Muharram will come.At the conclusion of the verse, it was said: ذَٰلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ‌ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ (This is a measure set by [ Allah ] the Mighty, the Knowing). It means that this wondrous system of movement, precise and perpetual, at the scale of such magnitude, something which does not admit the difference of a second, can only be the charismatic feat of the supreme power of the One who is Al-` Aziz, the Mighty, and who is the Subduer of whatever there is, and who if fully capable of articulating His Will as He deems fit and, besides that, He is Knowing, having the knowledge of everything and the mastery of doing what He elects to do.

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