Pg 4: Ayah 22

SURAH AL-BAQARAH

Ayah 22.

الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الأَرْضَ فِرَاشاً وَالسَّمَاء بِنَاء وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاء مَاء فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقاً لَّكُمْ فَلاَ تَجْعَلُواْ لِلّهِ أَندَاداً وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

Who has made the earth a resting place for you, and the sky as a canopy, and sent down water (rain) from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision for you. Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped).
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"Who has made the earth .."

After the “unseen” world has been told and if you still do not believe in the existence of the Creator as the Master, now Allah shows you the things that you can see, the physical “seen” world.

“.. a resting place FOR YOU” 

  فِرَاشًا = literally is means a Mattress or Bedding. You can lie on it to rest without difficulty. It means you enjoy it. 

The context here is something that is laid down on your feet so that you can walk easily on it. What if the earth has lower gravity than the moon and you will be floating and not able to walk properly?

What if the earth was created like and asteroid with every inch consisting of jagged rocks with no flat surface that you can easily walk?

Here Allah is describing that He created earth having flat surfaces that you can walk on it and to enjoy what it offers.

"the sky as a canopy"

The earth and the sky were created to be of benefit for humans. You live on earth protected from the external harm that rain down on earth. A sky canopy (atmosphere) to protect you from the sun’s radiation, meteors, etc.

"and sent down water (rain) from the sky and brought forth therewith fruits as a provision FOR YOU"

From the sky (clouds) you get water that is a source for crops to grow for your food and drink. Even the earth is equipped to protect you from harm, where at the same time give you benefits.

Previous ayaat showed the danger coming from the earth (darkness, etc) and skies (thunder, lightning, etc) while in this ayah shows that the same sky is actually for your protection and benefits. In the previous ayah, storming rain falling from the skies which terrifies you. While in this ayah, rain coming from the same skies that benefits your crops, etc.

The “Deen” that terrifies some people is the same “Deen” that give comfort to people.

People need protection from harm of the seen and unseen world. The physical earth is protected while the protection of your spiritual being is via Taqwa. If you have Taqwa, the world is made as a tool/ a way to be safe in the hereafter.

لَّكُمْ = FOR YOU , is mentioned twice in this ayah.

Meaning everything in existence around you is created FOR YOU (ie. the humans). 

“Do not set up rivals..” 

Since everything is created FOR and BECAUSE of you, hence do not set other things to be a rival to your true Master. Do not be a slave to money, desires, women, idols, career, etc. These are tools for you to achieve goodness in this world and the hereafter but they are not your Masters that you are to enslave to. Do not make Duá (Prayer) except to Him alone. No middle person to be your Postman to send your Duá to Allah. Duá is a form of Worship. Worship is directed  only to Him since only Allah can grant your Duá. 

Narrated by 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud (RA) that he asked the Prophet s.a.w:

"O Messenger of Allah, which is the greatest sin in the sight of Allah?" He said: "That you set up a rival unto Allah though He Alone created you." I said: "That is indeed a great sin." ...   — [Sahih al-Bukhari 5976, Sahih Muslim 86]

This is a prohibition from Allah and you know the reason why.

“while you know” 

Deep in your heart you know that worshiping idols, etc. is wrong. It’s not something that you don’t know in your heart. You know that the idols are not the one who protect you physically in this world nor in the hereafter. You know that a human cannot be a God. You know that this great world was not created by an idol or a humanoid god.

This ayah is for you to have a sense of gratitude towards your real Creator and Master. So stop all external factors (temptations, peer pressure, etc.) from ruining your belief, but let your initial root of belief to surface and take charge of your life.

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