سُبحانَ الَّذي خَلَقَ الأَزواجَ كُلَّها مِمّا تُنبِتُ الأَرضُ وَمِن أَنفُسِهِم وَمِمّا لا يَعلَمونَ
Immaculate is He who has created all the kinds of what the earth grows, and of themselves, and of what they do not know.
EXEGESIS
Subḥāna (immaculate) is an expression for glorifying God and declaring Him far from every imperfection, impurity, or from what those who reject his attributes say about Him. It is commonly followed by the name Allah or any of His beautiful names.
Azwāj (kinds or pairs) is the plural of zawj which primarily means one of a pair or a couple; zawjān is the dual form, which signifies a pair or a couple together. Azwāj, as plural, may also mean kinds, types, or varieties. In its dual form, zawjayn may also mean a pair of opposite things, such as the wet and the dry, the male and the female, the night and the day, and the bitter and the sweet, In all things We have created pairs (zawjayn) so that you may take admonition (51:49).
EXPOSITION
This verse is like a conclusion for the previous three verses which talked about provisions made available for humans on planet earth.
Immaculate is He is the translation of subḥān alladhī. The expression subḥān allāh is a very common expression for expressing wonder and amazement, and apparently that is the sense in which the phrase is used here. So, the verse is conveying a sense of amazement when we think about the power and wisdom of Allah in His creation, and how wondrous and amazing is He who is capable of such a creation.
In addition to that, it implies that the one who created all pairs and species is beyond and above them. He is immaculate in the sense that He does not have the features and limitations of His creation and His glory must be praised.
He who has created all the kinds; the term translated as kinds in the verse is azwāj. It can be used in two meanings both of which have been used in the Quran. The first meaning is kinds as is used here. Based on that, the verse is drawing our attention to the diversity of species on the earth. Allah is the creator of all species of plants, animals, human beings, and other kinds of creatures of which we are yet unaware. The second meaning is pairs, as in, In all things We have created pairs (zawjayn) so that you may take admonition (51:41). The latter meaning is also a matter of wonder and amazement.
And of what they do not know. It is obvious that our knowledge regarding the diversity of earth’s species is expanding day by day and that there are still many creatures at the bottom of the oceans or in the depths of the earth that are yet unknown to us. Hence, and of what they do not know may refer to these creatures. It may also refer to physical creatures that may live on other planets in the universe, which is also alluded to in Among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and whatever creatures He has scattered in them, and He is able to gather them whenever He wishes (42:29). It may also include non-physical or semi-physical beings which are hidden from us, such as the angels and some types of jinn.
REVIEW OF TAFSĪR LITERATURE
All the kinds (or pairs) is a general statement that has been specified by the three types mentioned after it. The first of those three types are what the earth grows, including plants and fruits. The second is of themselves, including their offspring. The third type, however, is very general, what they do not know includes everything in the farthest of the heavens and in the depths of the earth. Therefore, mentioning the three things does not narrow down the indication of the verse; on the contrary, it emphasises the generalisation and the broader inclusive meaning. God mentions that everything besides Him is created; therefore, they can never be suitable to be partners of God.
INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS
- Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out? Who spread out the earth, and what comes from it? Who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it? For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, a God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them; they would outnumber the grains of sand – when I awake, I am still with you.
[1] Lane, p. 1290.
[2] Lane, p. 1267.
[3] Mizan, 17/87.
[4] Razi, 26/69.
[5] Psalms 139:13-18.