وَهُوَ الَّذِيَ أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاء مَاء
...
It is He Who sends down water (rain) from the sky,
in due measure, as a blessing and provision for the servants, relief and means of survival for the creatures and mercy from Allah for His creation.
Allah's statement,
...
فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ نَبَاتَ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ
...
And with it We bring forth vegetation of all kinds,
is similar to,
وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ الْمَأءِ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ حَىٍّ
And We have made from water every living thing. (21:30)
...
فَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهُ خَضِرًا
...
and out of it We bring forth green stalks,
green produce and trees, on which We grow seeds and fruits.
...
نُّخْرِجُ مِنْهُ حَبًّا مُّتَرَاكِبًا
...
from which We bring forth thick clustered grain.
lined on top of each other in clusters, like an ear or spike of grain.
...
وَمِنَ النَّخْلِ مِن طَلْعِهَا قِنْوَانٌ
...
And out of the date-palm and its sprouts come forth clusters,
of dates,
...
دَانِيَةٌ
...
hanging low.
Within reach and easy to pick.
Ali bin Abi Talhah Al-Walibi said that Ibn Abbas said that,
قِنْوَانٌ دَانِيَةٌ
(clusters hanging low) refers to short date trees whose branches hang low, close to the ground.
This was recorded by Ibn Jarir.
Allah's statement
...
وَجَنَّاتٍ مِّنْ أَعْنَابٍ
...
and gardens of grapes,
means, We bring forth gardens of grapes.
Grapes and dates are the most precious fruits to the people of Al-Hijaz (Western Arabia), and perhaps both are the best fruits in this world. Allah has reminded His servants of His favor in making these two fruits for them, when He said,
وَمِن ثَمَرَتِ النَّخِيلِ وَالاٌّعْنَـبِ تَتَّخِذُونَ مِنْهُ سَكَرًا وَرِزْقًا حَسَنًا
And from the fruits of date-palms and grapes, you derive strong drink and a goodly provision. (16:67),
before intoxicating drinks were prohibited, and;
وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا جَنَّـتٍ مِّن نَّخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَـبٍ
And We have made therein gardens of date-palms and grapes. (36:34)
Allah said,
...
وَالزَّيْتُونَ وَالرُّمَّانَ مُشْتَبِهًا وَغَيْرَ مُتَشَابِهٍ
...
olives and pomegranates, each similar yet different.
According to the explanation of Qatadah and several others,
The leaves are similar in shape and appearance, yet different in the shape, and taste. And the kind of fruit each plant produces is different.
Allah's statement,
...
انظُرُواْ إِلِى ثَمَرِهِ إِذَا أَثْمَرَ وَيَنْعِهِ
...
Look at their fruits when they begin to bear, and Yan`ih.
According to Al-Bara bin Azib, Ibn Abbas, Ad-Dahhak, Ata Al-Khurasani, As-Suddi, Qatadah and others,
means, when the fruits become ripe.
This Ayah means, contemplate the ability of the Creator of these fruits, Who brought them into existence after they were dry wood, and they later became grapes and dates; and similar is the case with the various colors, shapes, tastes and fragrance of whatever Allah created. Allah said,
وَفِى الاٌّرْضِ قِطَعٌ مُّتَجَـوِرَتٌ وَجَنَّـتٌ مِّنْ أَعْنَـبٍ وَزَرْعٌ وَنَخِيلٌ صِنْوَنٌ وَغَيْرُ صِنْوَنٍ يُسْقَى بِمَأءٍ وَحِدٍ وَنُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَهَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ فِى الاٍّكُلِ
And in the earth are neighboring tracts, and gardens of vines, and green crops, and date-palms, growing out, two or three from a single stem root, or otherwise, watered with the same water, yet some of them We make better than others to eat. (13:4)
This is why Allah said here,
...
إِنَّ فِي ذَلِكُمْ
...
In these things there are... (O people),
...
لاايَاتٍ
...
signs...
and proofs that testify to the perfect ability, wisdom and mercy of He Who created these things,
...
لِّقَوْمٍ يُوْمِنُونَ
for people who believe.
in Allah and obey His Messengers.
