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ʾa-lam tara ʾanna llāha khalaqa s-samāwāti wa-l-ʾarḍa bi-l-ḥaqqi ʾin yashaʾ yudhhibkum wa-yaʾti bi-khalqin jadīdin
Have you not regarded that Allah created the heavens and the earth with justice? If He wishes, He will take you away, and bring about a new creation,
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah ‘Ibrahim – Verses 19 - 20
19. “Did you not see that Allah created the heavens and the earth with truth? If He wills He will take you away and bring (in your place) a new creation.”
20. “And this is not difficult for Allah.”
The Qur’an has repeated on several occasions that Allah has not created the heavens and the earth for vain and for the sake of fun of it. The Qur’an says:
Elsewhere He remarks:
“And We did not create the heaven and the earth and what is between them in vain, that is the opinion of those who disbelieve…” 11
Of course, it is the disbelievers who presume that the creation of existence is aimless and out of question. Now Allah declares that He has made man for the purpose of worshipping and of having faith and not for the sake of disbelieving and disobedience. Hence, He says:
“Did you not see that Allah created the heavens and the earth with truth?…”
The Qur’anic term /ru’yat/ has been also employed in the sense of knowledge as well as its employment in the sense of ‘perception’ and ‘seeing’. The meaning implied in the first sense is in mind in this context. This statement is addressed to the Prophet (S), but the main aim is his ’Ummat. Do you not know that Allah created the skies and the earth as His Own wisdom required, which was in the name of the truth or for the aim of the truth? The purpose of the aim of the truth is the religion and worshipping. That is, He created the world so as the people worship Him (s.w.t.) and they merit His rewards.
The commentators of the Qur’an have held the view that the truth signifies ‘being identical and harmonious’. The structural system of the world of creation in here, as well as the skies and the earth, all show that there has been a great deal of wisdom, order, and aim involved in their creation. Neither Allah has been in need of their creation, nor would He feel any shortcomings brought about without them, for He is in no need of any thing. Then, the Qur’an implies that the reason as to Him having no need to you and your believing is that when He determines He will take you, replacing you with a new generation of people.
The verse says:
“…If He wills He will take you away and bring (in your place) a new creation.”
A new generation of people who are all believers and who do not commit any of the indecent acts committed by you, for whoever is to be the author and the architect of some thing is also able to destroy it. It is not impossible for Allah to annihilate you and create a new generation of people. The verse says:
“And this is not difficult for Allah.”
Footnotes