Verse 28
The Beneficent • madinah
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Commentary:
For وجه (person) see 2:113. Among other things the word means, "that which is under the care of God" or "to which God directs His attention." In 28:89, we have کل شیء ھالک الا وجھه i.e. everything will perish except that which is under the care and protection of God or that by which His pleasure is sought. The word also means, the thing itself; object and motive; favour or countenance as جعل ذالک لوجه اللّٰه i.e. he did it in order to obtain the favour of God (Lane & Aqrab).
Commentary:
The verse embodies a very sound and solid argument to prove and support God’s existence. It purports to say that since the earth is to be reduced to nothing and heavenly bodies all brought to nought and the whole material universe made non-existent, still human reason demands that there should be a being who should remain and who should never die nor be subject to change or decay. Such a Being is God Who created the whole universe and Who is the First and Final Cause of all things. The present and the previous verse point to two immutable laws of nature working simultaneously, viz. (1) everything is subject to decline, decadence and death, and (2) compliance with divine laws ensures continuity of life.
Wajh, among other things, means, that which is under one’s care, or, 'to which one directs one’s attention' (28:89); the thing itself; favour; countenance (Aqrab). Since the earth will be reduced to nothing and heavenly bodies all brought to naught and the whole material universe made non- existent, still human reason demands that there should be a Being Who should never die nor be subject to change or decay. Such a Being is God Who created the whole universe and Who is the First and Final Cause of all things. The present and the previous verses point to two immutable laws of nature which work simultaneously, viz. (1) everything is subject to decline, decadence and death; and (2) compliance with Divine laws ensures continuity of life.