The Qur’ān (25:45-47) says: “Do you not see how your Lord causes the shadow to lengthen when, had He so willed, He could have indeed made it stand still? But then We have made the sun its guide. And then, little by little, We draw it in towards Ourselves. He it is who makes the night a garment for you, and sleep a repose. He makes every day a resurrection.”
Sunlight and shade are such blessings of Allah that without them it would not have been possible for mankind to survive and carry on its day-to-day functions. If there is sunlight all the time, it will create problems not only for humans but for all living things. Also, if there is shade all the time, then neither man nor other living creatures can survive. Allah has created these two blessings by His limitless power and made them beneficial for mankind.
At the same time Allah, through His infinite wisdom, has tied up all created things with specific causes in the sense that these things come into existence only when such causes are available, and if they are absent, these things do not exist. Similarly, if the causes are strong and available in abundance, the existence of their effects is also strong and abundant, and vice versa.
Creation of crops and grass is dependent upon availability of land, water and air. Similarly, light is dependent on availability of the sun and the moon. Rain is dependent on clouds and air. Then there is such a strong bond between these causes and effects that it binds them together in such a way that there has not been the slightest deviation in the working of things even after the passage of centuries.
For instance, look at the solar system. This system has been working for centuries, yet there has not been the minutest change or deviation in its working, nor has there been a split of a second’s difference in the movements of the entire system. Neither there is any change in the movements of the sun and the moon nor do they require any overhauling or repair work. They are moving along their orbits since the origin of the universe at a defined speed. One can calculate their movements with precision and predict their positions in advance for centuries.
This marvellous system of causes and effects was, in fact, a masterpiece of Allah’s creation and a solid proof of His boundless power and infinite wisdom, but it was this firmness of the system which ultimately made people neglectful of Allah’s power. When they perceived that all the ‘effects’ in this universe are linked with some visible causes, they confined their eyes to these visible causes only and started believing them to be the original creator of all these events. The real power of the Creator which was the original cause of all causes remained hidden behind the covers of visible causes. Prophets were sent and divine books revealed to remind us that we must rise above this short-sightedness, and see behind the cover of these apparent causes and the omnipotence of their creator who is in fact running and controlling the whole system. This is the only way to discover the real truth about this universe.
Here we are reminded of the perfect solar system and the benefits we draw from it. It is a common experience to see the sun rising from the east when the shades are long. Then with the passage of time they are shortened and at noon become shortest. Then again as the sun moves towards west the shades start lengthening and before the sunsets become the longest. Sometime later, the shadow is a faint darkness made by the sun’s rebounding rays. It moves along with the movement of the earth in relation to the sun, changing its position, length and shape. The sun points it with its light and heat, determining its area and length. When we follow how the shadow changes shape and extent, we experience a feeling of comfort and are gently alerted to the fact that it is an aspect of Allah’s work.
When the sun starts its decline, we see the shadows lengthen and further lengthen. Suddenly all shadows disappear as the sun sets. Where have all the shadows gone? Allah’s unseen hand has collected them all as the deep darkness of the night gathers and spreads over our world. This is all the work of Allah’s able hand which we fail to see, but which continues without fail.
The way the visible universe and solar system are made makes the shadow move in the gentle way it does. Had the system been even slightly different, this would have had a different effect on the shadow. Had the earth been motionless, the shadow cast over it would have stood still, neither extending nor shrinking. And, if the earth’s movement had been faster or slower, the extension and shrinking of the shadow would have been proportionately slower or faster. It is the way the universe is made, with its operative laws, that gives the shadow its specific features.
The highlighting of this phenomenon, which we see every day without paying much attention to it, is part of the Qur’ānic method of making our consciousness interact with the universe so as to respond to aspects that we tend to ignore because of their familiarity. We only need to contemplate the countless marvels around us for our thoughts to move in the right direction.
Moving on, the surah highlights an image of the night, its stillness and peaceful slumber, contrasted with the day and its bustling movement. The night spreads its cover over animate and inanimate objects so as to make the world appear as though it wears the blackness of the night. Hence, the night is described as a garment. At night, movement stops and footsteps cease to allow people and most animals, birds and insects to sleep. Sleep is a cessation of sensation, consciousness and feeling, which is why it is described as ‘repose’. Then the dawn starts to breathe and movement begins. Life is thus resumed. Hence, the day is a new ‘resurrection’ after a short mini-death. The two alternates with every daily cycle of the earth. Again, this phenomenon is ignored by human beings, but it is indicative of the great design of the universe made by Allah, who never sleeps or overlooks anything.
We all know that sleep is a blessing and a source of relaxation. It is human nature to sleep in darkness. It is very difficult to sleep in daylight, and even if one goes off to sleep, he is awakened quickly. Conforming to our need and nature, Allah has made nights dark and cool, so that we can sleep and relax. Hence, night by itself is a blessing and sleep is another blessing.