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سورة البقرة (Surah Al-Baqarah)

آية 28

القرآن: كَيْفَ تَكْفُرُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَكُنتُمْ أَمْوَاتًا فَأَحْيَاكُمْ ۖ ثُمَّ يُمِيتُكُمْ ثُمَّ يُحْيِيكُمْ ثُمَّ إِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ
Translation: How can you deny Allah? You were lifeless and He gave you life, then He will cause you to die, then He will give you life again, then to Him you will be returned.

Explanation (Tafheemul Quran):
Maududi explains that this verse presents a fundamental, logical argument against disbelief (Kufr), addressing humanity directly with the powerful interrogative “How can you…?”

The argument is based on the undeniable cycle of creation that every human witnesses:

1. “You were lifeless and He gave you life”: This refers to the initial creation from non-existence. Each person was, prior to conception, nothing. The gift of life is the primary and most evident blessing from God.
2. “Then He will cause you to die”: Death is an inevitable, universally observed reality decreed by God.
3. “Then He will give you life again”: This asserts the reality of the Resurrection (Ba’th), which completes the cycle. Just as He initiated life from nothing, reviving the dead is equally within His power.
4. “Then to Him you will be returned”: The final destination of this cycle is accountability before the Creator.

Maududi emphasizes that this logical progression makes denial irrational. To acknowledge the first act of creation but deny the One who performed it, or to acknowledge death but deny the subsequent resurrection and accountability, is a profound contradiction. The verse strips away all pretenses and calls for reflection on one’s own origin and end.

آية 29

القرآن: هُوَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ لَكُم مَّا فِي الْأَرْضِ جَمِيعًا ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ فَسَوَّاهُنَّ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ ۚ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عَلِيمٌ
Translation: He is the One Who created for you all that is on the earth. Then He turned towards the heaven, and fashioned it into seven heavens. And He has full knowledge of everything.

Explanation (Tafheemul Quran):
Maududi states that this verse expands the argument from the creation of human life to the creation of the entire universe, all of which is a favor and provision for humanity.

· “He is the One Who created for you all that is on the earth”: This encompasses all resources—animals, plants, minerals, water, air—everything that sustains and facilitates human life. The phrase “for you” highlights the divine purpose and benevolence behind creation; it is a tailored provision.
· “Then He turned towards the heaven”: Maududi clarifies that the sequence (“then”) here is not necessarily chronological but emphasizes order and perfection in the creative act. It signifies the completion of one stage of creation and the commencement of another with divine attention and purpose.
· “And fashioned it into seven heavens”: The “seven heavens” denotes the vast, layered cosmos, perfectly fashioned and ordered. Maududi notes that the exact nature of these “heavens” is knowledge belonging to God, but they signify the majesty, complexity, and flawless design of the universe.
· “And He has full knowledge of everything”: The verse concludes by affirming God’s all-encompassing knowledge (‘Ilm). This is a pivotal point. The One who created human life, death, resurrection, the earth, and the heavens with such perfect wisdom and purpose has complete knowledge of His creation. Therefore, His commandments, His promise of resurrection, and His warning of accountability are all based on perfect wisdom and knowledge.

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Summary from Tafheemul Quran Perspective:

Together, these verses build an irrefutable case for Tawhid (Monotheism) and the Hereafter:

1. Personal, Logical Proof (v.28): It appeals to the individual’s own existence, using the cycle of life, death, and promised resurrection to make denial seem absurd.
2. Cosmic, Universal Proof (v.29): It scales the argument to the entire universe, showing that the same Creator who fashioned the cosmos also provided for humanity, demonstrating both power and mercy.
3. Foundation for Accountability: By establishing God as the Creator, Sustainer, and All-Knowing Sovereign, these verses lay the groundwork for the entire concept of returning to Him for judgment, which is the core theme introduced at the beginning of the Surah. They answer the “how” and “why” of the call to worship in verses 21-22.