أَفَرَأَيتُم ما تَحرُثونَ
أَأَنتُم تَزرَعونَهُ أَم نَحنُ الزّارِعونَ
Have you considered what you sow?
Is it you who make it grow, or are We the grower?
EXEGESIS
Taḥruthūna: sow, from the root ḥaratha. It is the act of placing seeds in or on the ground to grow. Tazraʿūna: grow, from the root zaraʿa. It is used when a seed germinates, grows into a plant, and becomes green and mature. This distinction between ḥaratha and zaraʿa may not hold when only one of them is used. That would explain why the Quran has ascribed zaraʿa to people (12:47, 48:29) despite what is said in verse 63. Another possible explanation is that those ascriptions are not meant literally, but are only according to the apparent role of the farmers or the common language among the audience.
EXPOSITION
The second argument presented here concerns cultivation and agriculture, which is the source of our food. Not only is our creation entirely by God alone, but also our sustenance is in His merciful hands. Mankind only sows the seed, and it is God who grows it into a full-grown plant; just like the case of creation, where mankind only fertilises the ovum and it is God who grows it into an embryo. Our creation and resurrection have been compared to the growth of plants elsewhere in the Quran: Allah made you grow from the earth, with a [vegetable] growth. Then He makes you return to it, and He will bring you forth [without fail] (71:17-18).
The growth of the seed into a plant shows two things: 1. God’s bounty and mercy upon you, for which you should be grateful; 2. God’s ability to bring you back to life after your death.
INSIGHTS FROM HADITH
- The Prophet said: ‘Do not say: “I grow (zaraʿtu),” but say: “I sow (ḥarathtu).”’
Note: This noble narration inspires the spirit of tawḥīd (God’s unity), as one should not attribute any existential element to himself, for Allah is the creator of all things, and He is the one, the all-paramount (13:16). Thus, sowing here means to prepare the grounds for receiving God’s effusion. The narration could also be about the manners and courtesy that a monotheist should have, whereby he should not use any expression that involves any of God’s exclusive attributes to describe anyone other than God. In another narration, the Prophet said: ‘Do not refer to your slaves as “my bondman” or “my bondmaid” but call them “my son” and “my daughter”.’
- Imam al-Ṣādiq (a) said: ‘Whenever you want to sow something, grab a handful of the seeds, face the qibla, and recite these verses thrice: Have you considered what you sow? Is it you who make it grow, or are We the grower? Then say: “Rather Allah is the grower,” three times. Then supplicate: “O Allah, make this seed bountiful and a source of well-being for us,” and then place the seeds in the earth.’
Note: There are other narrations similar to this, all of which instruct us to remember these verses and supplicate to God at the time of sowing and plantation. This, of course, is not limited to farming. One should indeed remember God in every act and endeavour, and should remind himself that Lo! All creation and command belong to Him. Blessed is Allah, the Lord of all the worlds (7:54). Such a mentality and attitude prevents one from becoming heedless, caught up and carried away by the affairs of this world and everyday life.
INSIGHTS FROM OTHER TRADITIONS
- I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.
[1] Raghib, under ḥ-r-th.
[2] Raghib; Tahqiq, under z-r-ʿ.
[3] Furqan, 28/94.
[4] Suyuti, 6/161.
[5] Qurtubi, 18/218.
[6] Kafi, 5/262-263, h. 1.
[7] Makarim, p. 353; Qurtubi, 18/218.
[8] 1 Corinthians 3:6-7.