Fussilat · Makki · ayah 53 of 54

Fussilat 41:53

سَنُرِيهِمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فِى ٱلْـَٔافَاقِ وَفِىٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُ ٱلْحَقُّ ۗ أَوَلَمْ يَكْفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ شَهِيدٌ

“We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth.[1402] But is it not sufficient concerning your Lord that He is, over all things, a Witness?[1403]”

Saheeh International

Essence

At the horizons and within themselves, people will be shown signs until the truth stands clear; the Witness of all things is enough.

A reflection

Looking for the sun with a torch

The ayah makes two promises and then asks a question. We will show them Our signs, out at the horizons and within themselves, until it is clear that this is the truth. Then: is it not enough, concerning your Lord, that He is Witness over all things?

A classical spiritual writer sees three kinds of proof in this one ayah. There is proof from His words: the recited Book. There is proof from His works: the signs in the horizons and the self. And there is a higher proof than both: from His names and attributes. He is al-Shahīd, the Witness, from whom not an atom is absent. The One with that knowledge and power would never let a liar speak in His name. He would not then give him victory, answer his prayers and support him with signs.

The same writer then quotes a saying of the people of inner knowledge. How can I seek a proof for the One who is the proof of everything? Whatever proof I look for, His existence is clearer than it. He recalls the messengers' question to their peoples: is there any doubt about Allah (14:10)?

Here the ego meets its strangest habit. We often treat Allah as if He were on trial before us. We sit as judge, demanding evidence on our terms, and grant or withhold belief as if the verdict were ours to give.

Picture a man standing on a beach at noon in midsummer. He switches on his phone torch and sweeps it across the sand, looking for the sun. Every grain he lights up is already lit. The thing he is searching for is what makes his searching possible.

The ayah's final question is gentle and devastating. Is it not enough that your Lord is Witness over all things? Humility begins when we stop holding the torch up to the sun.

The full entry has 5 more reflections, questions to sit with, and "Live it today" - with the words, the roots and the tafsir alongside. Free, no account, works offline.