Tafsir Ibn Kathir -> Surah Al-Hajj -> Another Parable of the Resurrection from Plants

﴿وَتَرَى الاٌّرْضَ هَامِدَةً﴾

(And you see the earth Hamidatan,) This is another sign of the power of Allah to bring the dead back to life, just as He brings the dead, barren earth back to life, the lifeless earth in which nothing grows. Qatadah said, "(This means) the eroded, dusty earth.'' As-Suddi said, "Dead.''

﴿فَإِذَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا الْمَآءَ اهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ وَأَنبَتَتْ مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍ بَهِيجٍ﴾

(but when We send down water on it, it is stirred (to life), and it swells and puts forth every lovely kind (of growth).) When Allah sends the rain upon it, it is stirred to life, that is, vegetation begins to grow and it comes alive after it was dead. Then it rises after the soil had settled, then it puts forth its different kinds of fruit and crops with all their varied colours, tastes, fragrances, shapes and benefits. Allah says:

﴿وَأَنبَتَتْ مِن كُلِّ زَوْجٍ بَهِيجٍ﴾

(and puts forth every lovely kind (of growth).) meaning, beautiful in appearance and with delightful fragrances.

﴿ذلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ﴾

(That is because Allah: He is the Truth,) means, the Creator, the Controller, the One Who does as He wills.

﴿وَأَنَّهُ يُحْىِ الْمَوْتَى﴾

(and it is He Who gives life to the dead,) means, just as He gives life to the dead earth and brings forth from it all these kinds of vegetation.

﴿إِنَّ الَّذِى أَحْيَـهَا لَمُحْىِ الْمَوْتَى إِنَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ﴾

(Verily, He Who gives it life, surely is able to give life to the dead. Indeed He is able to do all things.) ﴿41:39﴾

﴿إِنَّمَآ أَمْرُهُ إِذَآ أَرَادَ شَيْئاً أَن يَقُولَ لَهُ كُن فَيَكُونُ ﴾

(Verily, His command, when He intends a thing, is only that He says to it, "Be!'' -- and it is!) ﴿36:82﴾.

﴿وَأَنَّ السَّاعَةَ ءَاتِيَةٌ لاَّ رَيْبَ فِيهَا﴾

(And surely, the Hour is coming, there is no doubt about it;) meaning, it will inevitably come to pass.

﴿وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ يَبْعَثُ مَن فِى الْقُبُورِ﴾

(and certainly, Allah will resurrect those who are in the graves.) means, He will bring them back to life after they have become dust; He will create them anew after they have become nothing.

﴿وَضَرَبَ لَنَا مَثَلاً وَنَسِىَ خَلْقَهُ قَالَ مَن يُحىِ الْعِظَـمَ وَهِىَ رَمِيمٌ ﴾

﴿قُلْ يُحْيِيهَا الَّذِى أَنشَأَهَآ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَهُوَ بِكُلِّ خَلْقٍ عَلِيمٌ - الَّذِى جَعَلَ لَكُم مِّنَ الشَّجَرِ الاٌّخْضَرِ نَاراً فَإِذَآ أَنتُم مِّنْه تُوقِدُونَ ﴾

(And he puts forth for Us a parable, and forgets his own creation. He says: "Who will give life to these bones after they are rotten and have become dust'' Say: "He will give life to them Who created them for the first time! And He is the All-Knower of every creation!'' He Who produces for you fire out of the green tree, when behold you kindle there- with.) ﴿36:78-80﴾. And there are many similar Ayat.

﴿ومِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يُجَـدِلُ فِى اللَّهِ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ وَلاَ هُدًى وَلاَ كِتَـبٍ مُّنِيرٍ ﴾

ثَانِىَ عِطْفِهِ لِيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ لَهُ فِى الدُّنْيَا خِزْىٌ وَنُذِيقُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَـمَةِ عَذَابَ الْحَرِيقِ- ذلِكَ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ يَدَاكَ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ لَيْسَ بِظَلَّـمٍ لّلعَبِيدِ-﴾

(8. And among men is he who disputes about Allah, without knowledge or guidance, or a Book giving light (from Allah).) (9. Bending his neck in pride, and leading (others) too (far) astray from the path of Allah. For him there is disgrace in this worldly life, and on the Day of Resurrection We shall make him taste the torment of burning.) (10. That is because of what your hands have sent forth, and verily, Allah is not unjust to servants.)