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wa-mā dharaʾa lakum fī l-ʾarḍi mukhtalifan ʾalwānuhū ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʾāyatan li-qawmin yadhdhakkarūna
And [He disposed for your benefit] whatever He has created for you in the earth of diverse hues—there is indeed a sign in that for a people who take admonition.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah An-Nahl – Verse 13
13. “And (also) whatever He has produced for you on the earth of different colours; verily there is a sign in this for a people who take advice.”
The varieties of hues in existence are nothing but signs of the Power and Wisdom of Allah. Of course, He has created them for humankind. Hence, Allah declares in this noble verse, implying that the creatures which He has created for you on the earth have also been made subservient to you as well, various creatures and of different coloring. The verse says:
“And (also) whatever He has produced for you on the earth of different colours…”
They are from different coverings, foods, clean spouses, and well-fare means to different mines and underground useful sources as well as other over-ground ones plus other blessings. In these, there are also signs which are evident for those who are reminded in these matters as well. The verse says:
“…verily there is a sign in this for a people who take advice.”
Reflection, Reasoning, Reminding
In the above verses, after calling people to three parts of the Divine blessings, He invites people to the act of reflection. However, in one case He points out that ‘There are signs in these for those who reflect’. In another case He reiterates that there are signs for those who reason, while in the third case He declares that there are signs for those who remember. Such a wide range of differences in senses does not certainly reflect some technical maneuvering in expression. Conversely, out of what we grasp from the methodology of the Qur’an, each has got a different point of reference.
Maybe, the note on such difference points out to the case of varieties of the existing blessings in the world are so obvious that the mere fact of mentioning may be sufficient. However, in case of agriculture, olives, palm trees, grapes and the fruits in general, they require reflection so that one gets more acquainted with their nutritional and therapeutic qualities. Therefore, He makes allusion to reflection and points it out. As for the conquest of the sun and the moon as well as stars along with the secrets of the day and night, there is need for further thinking. Thus, He refers to ‘reasoning’ which ranks higher in the hierarchy of the ladder of contemplation.
In any case, the Qur’an always addresses the enlightened, meditating, think tank individuals who have got highly sophisticated brains and reasoning despite the fact that the Qur’an has been appeared in an environment where ruled naught but ignorance. One thus concludes the magnanimity of such meanings. In particular when facing those who negate the truly authentic religions altogether. Crossing them out who, because of some superstitious religions, claim that religions, in general, put one’s meditation channels out of work. They claim that having faith in Allah is the product of ignorance.
Such Qur’anic verses are almost found throughout all of the suras. The Qur’an explicitly states that the truly authentic religion is the product of meditation, reflection, and reasoning, and Islam addresses the intellectuals, the reflecting people and the men of knowledge everywhere, and not those who are ignorant, superstitious or the seemingly enlightened ones who have got no solid logical framework.