Verse 15
The Beneficent • madinah
View Aspects
6:3; 15:27, 29.
Important Words:
صلصال (ringing clay) is derived from صلصل which means, it sounded or made a clashing, ringing, tinkling or repeated sound. صلصال means, clay not made into pottery, so called because of its making a sound; or clay mixed with sand which, when it becomes dry, makes a sound and when baked is فخار or dry clay that makes a sound by reason of its dryness (Lane & Aqrab). See also 15:29.
الفخار (baked pottery) is derived from فخر i.e. he boasted or recounted his glorious deeds or qualities, or he arrogated to himself greatness and nobility; he magnified himself by boasting. فخر (fakhira) means, he disdained or scorned. فخار means, baked pottery or baked vessels of clay, applied specially to empty vessels (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
After having mentioned the creation of the celestial firmament and of the placing in it of the sun and the moon and of their regular and punctual movements, followed by a mention of the vegetables spreading of the earth and of all the that grow on it, the Surah, in the present verse proceeds to refer to the coming into existence of man, the climax, of all creation.
The creation of man from dry, ringing (صلصال) may signify that he has been created from matter in which the faculty and attribute of speech lay latent. As صلصال emits a sound only when struck with something extraneous, its use here is intended to hint that man’s power to respond is subject to his being able to receive the Divine Call.
Three words have been used in the Quran to express the different stages of the creation, and of the spiritual development of man. The first stage is expressed by the words خلقه من تراب i.e. God created him out of dust (3:60). The second stage is described by the expression خلقکم من طین i.e. He created you from clay (6:3), which means that after having received a sprinkling of Divine Word man attained the power of discrimination by which he could distinguish between right and wrong. At the third stage which is called the stage of فخار (baked pottery) man is tested and tried and is made to pass through the fire of trials and tribulations. So it is after he has successfully passed the tests and has attained spiritual maturity that he is received into Divine Presence.
15:27, 29.
After having mentioned the creation of the celestial firmament and the placing in it of the sun and the moon, followed by a mention of the spreading of the earth and of the vegetables that grow on it, the Surah, in this verse, refers to the coming into existence of man. Man’s creation from dry ringing clay may signify that man has been created from matter in which the faculty and attribute of speech lies latent. As Salsal emits a sound only when struck with something extraneous, the word is used here to hint that man’s power to respond is subject to his being able to receive the Divine Call. Three words have been used in the Qur’an to express the different stages of the creation and spiritual development of man. The first stage is expressed by the words, 'God created him out of dust' (3:60). The second stage is described by the expression, 'He created you from clay' (6:3), which means that after having received a sprinklings of Divine Word man attained the power of discrimination by whi