Epigraph

إِنَّ اللَّهَ فَالِقُ الْحَبِّ وَالنَّوَىٰ ۖ يُخْرِجُ الْحَيَّ مِنَ الْمَيِّتِ وَمُخْرِجُ الْمَيِّتِ مِنَ الْحَيِّ ۚ ذَٰلِكُمُ اللَّهُ ۖ فَأَنَّىٰ تُؤْفَكُونَ

It is God who splits open the seed and the fruit stone: He brings out the living from the dead and the dead from the living — that is your God — So how can you turn away from the truth? (Al Quran 6:95)

Written and collected by Zia H Shah MD

Abstract

Life on Earth owes an immense debt to the humble world of plants – from the tiniest seed to the tallest tree. Yet human beings often suffer from an “anesthesia of familiarity,” becoming numb to the everyday miracles in front of us themuslimtimes.info. This commentary examines several Quranic verses that highlight the fertility of the earth, the greenery of plant life, and the abundance of fruits and crops as signs of divine wisdom. We explore these verses through scientific, philosophical, and theological lenses. Scientifically, plants exhibit astonishing processes (such as seeds lying dormant for centuries and then springing to life) that validate the Quran’s vivid imagery. Philosophically, the cycle of growth and decay in greenery invites reflection on life’s transient beauty and our tendency to take the commonplace for granted. Theologically, the Quran uses the miracle of plant life as evidence of a purposeful Creator providing sustenance and resurrecting life from dead earth. Throughout, insights from naturalists like Sir David Attenborough and others will help rekindle our appreciation for the “green inheritance” that sustains us. In sum, by reexamining the Quran’s portrayal of verdant life on Earth, we hope to shake off our complacency and rediscover a sense of wonder – and responsibility – toward the living world that feeds both body and soul.

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