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wa-llāhu ʾakhrajakum min buṭūni ʾummahātikum lā taʿlamūna shayʾan wa-jaʿala lakumu s-samʿa wa-l-ʾabṣāra wa-l-ʾafʾidata laʿallakum tashkurūna
Allah has brought you forth from the bellies of your mothers while you did not know anything. He made for you hearing, eyesight, and hearts so that you may give thanks.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah An-Nahl – Verse 78
78. “And Allah has brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers (while) you knew nothing, and He appointed for you hearing and sight and hearts; that perhaps you may give thanks.”
The Holy Qur’an, once again, refers to another lesson in monotheism and theology as well as the different bounties of Allah. In this section of the issue of blessings, it devotes its first part to the blessings of science and learning as well as the means leading to knowledge. The Qur’an declares:
“And Allah has brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers (while) you knew nothing…”
Certainly, in such a confined environment which lacked openness, such an ignorance was tolerable. However, in this vast universe, that sort of ignorance was impossible to be continued, therefore, from among the devices for the cognition of the world, that is, eyes, ears, and reason were placed at your disposal, so that you understand the facts of life and these great blessings and your sense of gratitude be motivated as in face of such benevolent Creator in order, perhaps, to give Him His due gratitude.
The verse says:
“…and He appointed for you hearing and sight and hearts; that perhaps you may give thanks.”
One way of expressing one’s thanks for something, is its correct application, for the Qur’an criticizes those who have got eyes, yet they do not see, and they have got ears, yet they do not hear and they are not ready to hearken the truth. The true way of expressing one’s gratitude for having eyes and ears, is the acquisition of knowledge, for the verse, at first, says that you did not know; it was Allah Who gave you eyes and ears to thank; that is, to devote your life to learning.