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Surah 41. Fussilat, Ayah 39

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وَمِنْ ءَايَـٰتِهِۦٓ أَنَّكَ تَرَى ٱلْأَرْضَ خَـٰشِعَةً فَإِذَآ أَنزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا ٱلْمَآءَ ٱهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَحْيَاهَا لَمُحْىِ ٱلْمَوْتَىٰٓ ۚ إِنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Wamin a y a tihi annaka tar a alar d a kh a shiAAatan fai tha anzaln a AAalayh a alm a a ihtazzat warabat inna alla th ee a h y a h a lamu h yee almawt a innahu AAal a kulli shayin qadeer un
For among His signs is this: thou seest the earth lying desolate - and lo! when We send down water upon it, it stirs and swells [with life]! Verily, He who brings it to life can surely give life to the dead [of heart as well]: for, behold, He has the power to will anything.34
  - Mohammad Asad

Although the allusion to the reviving earth often occurs in the Qur'an as a parable of man's ultimate resurrection, in the present context (and in tune with the entire passage comprising verses {33-39}) it appears to be an illustration of God's power to bestow spiritual life upon hearts that have hitherto remained closed to the truth of His existence and omnipotence. Hence, it implies a call to the believer never to abandon the hope that "those who deny the truth" may one day grasp the truth of the Qur'anic message.

And among His other signs is the earth that you see barren; but when We send down rain upon it, it stirs to life and it's yield increases. Surely He Who gives it life, will raise the dead to life. Surely He has power over all things.
  - Muhammad Farooq-i-Azam Malik
And among His signs is that you see the earth devoid of life, but as soon as We send down rain upon it, it begins to stir 'to life' and swell. Indeed, the One Who revives it can easily revive the dead. He is certainly Most Capable of everything.
  - Mustafa Khattab
And of His portents (is this): that thou seest the earth lowly, but when We send down water thereon it thrilleth and groweth. Lo! He who quickeneth it is verily the Quickener of the dead. Lo! He is Able to do all things.
  - Marmaduke Pickthall
And among His Signs is this: thou seest the earth barren and desolate; but when We send down rain to it it is stirred to life and yields increase. Truly He Who gives life to the (dead) earth can surely give life to (men) who are dead. For He has power over all things. 4510 4511
  - Abdullah Yusuf Ali

Evil makes of the souls of men what drought makes of land: it kills life, beauty, and fruitfulness. Allah's Word in the spiritual world has the same wonderful effect as rain has on barren land: it gives life, beauty, and fruitfulness. And the effect of Allah's Word is also seen through the lives of men who repel evil with what is better. They also convert dead souls (which harbour spite and hatred) into living souls, which come into the main current of spiritual life, and help in carrying out Allah's beneficent Purpose.

Why should we wonder then at the potency of Allah's Word, whether in our probationary lives here, or in the eternal life of the Hereafter.

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