Creator of the Natural World

He is the One who created night and day, the sun and the moon, each floating in its orbit.

Out of His mercy, He made for you the night and the day, so you may rest and seek His bounty, and so you may be grateful.

In the alternation of night and day, and in all that Allah has created in the heavens and the earth, are signs for those who are mindful.

And among His signs is your sleep by night and day, and your pursuit of His bounty. Surely in this are signs for those who listen.

To Him belongs everything that rests in the night and the day.

He made the sun and moon follow their courses, and He subjected night and day to you.

He causes the dawn to break and made the night for rest, and the sun and moon for calculation. This is the design of the Almighty.

He is the One who made the night a covering, sleep for rest, and the day for rising.

And the day a time to seek livelihood.

Indeed, the alternation of night and day are signs for those who reflect.

Another sign for them is the night, we strip daylight from it, and they are left in darkness.

You cause the night to merge into the day and the day into the night.

He veils the day with night, chasing it swiftly.

And He is the One who made the night and day alternate, for those who seek reflection or gratitude.

The alternation of night and day is by His command. Will you not understand?

Among His signs are the sun and the moon.

Blessed is He who placed constellations in the sky, and set within it a radiant lamp and a glowing moon.

He made the sun radiant and the moon a light, determining its phases so you may count the years and measure time. Allah did not create this except with truth. He explains His signs for those who understand.

He wraps the night around the day and the day around the night. He has subjected the sun and the moon, each running its course for an appointed time.

And the sun runs its course to a fixed destination. That is the design of the Almighty.

And the moon, We’ve set for it phases, until it returns like an old, curved date stalk.

He is the One who created night and day, the sun and the moon, each floating in its orbit.

He causes the dawn to break and made the night for rest, and the sun and moon for calculation. This is the design of the Almighty.

Have you not seen how your Lord extends the shadow? If He willed, He could make it still. Then We make the sun its guide.

Then We gradually withdraw it.

He is the One who made the stars for you, so that you may navigate by them in the darkness of land and sea, and landmarks.

We have placed constellations in the sky and adorned them for those who look.

Blessed is He who placed constellations in the sky

The stars are bound to His command.

And the stars and the trees bow in submission.

And what will make you understand the night visitor?

It is the piercing star.

By the sky woven with precision.

He raised the sky and set the balance

And at the sky, how it is raised?

And We made the sky a protected canopy and perfected them.

He holds back the sky from falling upon the earth, except by His permission.

Have they not looked at the sky above them, how We built it and adorned it, with no cracks?

Have they not seen what lies before them and behind them of the sky? If We will, We could cause the sky to fall upon them. Surely in this is a sign for every servant who turns back to Allah.

They say “We will not believe unless you make the sky fall upon us in pieces, as you claim.

Even if they saw pieces of the sky falling, they would say, “Clouds heaped up!”

Allah is the One who sends the winds, stirring up clouds, then spreads them across the sky as He wills, then forms them into layers, and you see rain emerge from within them. When He causes it to fall upon whom He wills, they rejoice.

Do you not see how Allah sends down rain from the sky, and the earth turns green?

Among His signs is that you see the earth barren, then when We send down rain, it stirs and grows.

He sends down water from the sky, and valleys flow according to their measure. The torrent carries foam like the scum upon molten metal when heated for crafting ornaments or tools.

We send the winds to fertilize, and We send down water from the sky for you to drink, you are not its keepers.

He sends down water from the sky, from which you drink and which nourishes vegetation for grazing.

We have distributed it among them so they may reflect, but most people persist in denial.

He made rivers flow for your benefit.

and We are fully able to take it away.

Say, “Have you considered, if your water were to sink deep into the earth, who could bring you flowing water?

Brought forth its water and pasture

He is the One who sends down rain after they have lost hope, spreading His mercy.

Though before it was sent down, they were in despair.

If He wills, He can still the wind, leaving them motionless upon its surface.

He sends down hail from the sky, striking whom He wills and turning it away from whom He wills.

Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky and lets it flow into the earth, forming springs?

And We cause springs to gush forth within it

Let man reflect on his food.

causing all kinds of plants to grow.

So they may eat its fruits, though their hands did not make it. Will they not be grateful?

Allah has granted them the best provision.

How We pour down abundant water.

Then split the earth open.

And from the fruits of date palms and grapes, you extract intoxicants and wholesome sustenance. Surely in this is a sign for those who understand.

And a tree that springs from Mount Sinai, producing oil and seasoning for those who eat.

We bring forth the pasture, and every kind of fruit.

As a provision for you and your livestock.

Eat of their fruit when they ripen and give their due on the day of harvest.

On earth are neighbouring lands, vineyards, crops, and date palms, some growing from a single root, others distinct, nourished by the same water, yet differing in taste.

But if We send a wind, and they see their crops wither, they remain ungrateful.

Then turned it into dry stubble.

A sign for them is the dead land, we revive it and bring forth grain from it, which they eat.

Good land produces abundantly by its Lord’s permission, while barren land yields little.

He is the One who shows you lightning, inspiring fear and hope, and He forms the heavy clouds.

The thunder glorifies Him, as do the angels in awe of Him. He sends thunderbolts, striking whom He wills, yet they dispute about Allah.

Or like a storm from the sky, filled with darkness, thunder, and lightning. They thrust their fingers into their ears against the thunderclaps, fearing death.

The lightning nearly snatches away their sight; whenever it flashes, they walk in its glow, but when darkness falls, they stand still. If Allah willed, He could take away their hearing and sight.

Have they not seen how We created for them, among what Our hands have made, livestock they own?

We made them tame for them, some they ride, and some they eat.

And on them you are carried.

They have other benefits and drinks from them. Will they not give thanks?

And in livestock, too, is a lesson for you. We give you pure milk to drink, drawn from what is within their bodies, wholesome and pleasing to those who consume it, and from them you eat.

He sent down livestock for you, eight kinds in pairs.

There is beauty in them when you bring them home and when you lead them to pasture.

And among people, animals, and livestock are also diverse colours.

And whatever He created for you on earth comes in diverse colours.

And He created horses, mules, and donkeys for you to ride and as adornment.

Do they not look at the camels, how they are created?

They carry your burdens to lands you could not reach without great hardship.

That you may mount their backs, and remember your Lord’s favour as you sit firmly upon them, saying, “Glory be to Him who placed these at our service.

Do they not see the birds soaring in the sky? None holds them up except Allah.

Do they not see the birds above them, spreading and folding their wings? None holds them up except the Most Merciful.

every bird that flies with its wings are communities like yours.

Do you not see that everything in the heavens and earth glorifies Allah, even the birds in flight?

And your Lord inspired the bee: “Build your homes in the mountains, in trees, and in what people construct.”

“Then feed on the nectar of all fruits and follow the paths your Lord has made easy.” From within them comes a drink of varying colours, bringing healing to people.

He who created all pairs, and provided you with ships and animals to ride.

He laid out the earth for all creatures.

the creatures scattered across it

Every creature that moves on the earth and every bird that flies with its wings are communities like yours. We have left nothing out of the Record. Then to their Lord, they will be gathered.

Allah created every living creature from water. Some crawl on their bellies, some walk on two legs, and some on four.

Do they not see that everything Allah created casts its shadow, inclining to the right and left, bowing to Allah in humility?

How many creatures do not carry their own provision? Allah provides for them and for you.