1. The word "protector" here signifies God Himself Who is looking after and protecting all the creatures of the earth and the heavens, be they large or small. The thrust of the verse is that the countless stars and planets that glisten in the sky at night bear wit- ness that certainly there is a Being Who created them, illuminated them, suspended them in space, and Who protects them in such a manner that they neither fall from their orbits nor collide with the other countless stars in the course of their movement, nor do any other stars and planets collide with them. In like manner, God looks after and protects each and every object in the Universe.

2. Man is asked here to reflect on the process of his own crea- tion. It is Allah Who enables one of numerous sperms ejaculated by a father to fertilize the mother's egg, which leads to conception. Again it is Allah Who oversees various stages of conception, help- ing the foetus to grow and to be born as a baby. Inside the womb, He fashions the baby's form and caters for all his needs from birth until death. Out of His immense mercy, He protects man against diseases, calamities and accidents of all sorts. He provides man with innumerable opportunities and facilities. Man cannot even count these blessings, and what to say of creating them. It is worth reflecting whether all this can happen without the help of the All- Powerful and All-Watchful Allah.

3. The words used here are sulb and tara'ib. The former stands for the spinal cord and the latter for ribs. The life-generating fluid of both men and women issues from that part of their body that lies between the back and the breast. It is being said, therefore, that man was created of a "gushing fluid emanating from between the loins and the ribs". This fluid is produced even if one's limbs are cut off. It is, therefore, not correct to say that the whole body is involved in its production; only the vital organs are involved. The brain is not specified in this scheme of things as it is constantly connected with the spinal cord and the brain controls every part of the body. (See also the Appendix at the end of the Sürah.)

4. Allah's creation of man and His protecting him from conception until his last breath proves beyond any shadow of doubt that He also has the power to bring him back to life. As He is man's creator and lets man live in the world, there is no ground whatsoever for calling into question His ability to resurrect man. Those who deny resurrection, reject Allah's creative power. Such silly, insane people may contend that all the books in the world came into existence suddenly by chance or that all the towns in the world emerged one fine morning by chance or that all factories started manufacturing goods of all kinds by accident. It goes without saying that man's creation, his amazing body, his varied and numerous faculties and abilities and his survival for long as a living being are much more bewildering phenomena than what man himself accomplishes. Only an insane person denies Allah's existence and ascribes the complex working of the universe, with its remarkable coordination, balance and sense of purpose, to a chance happening.

5. "Man's deepest secrets" signify those actions that are unknown to others. They also signify those matters about which some people might know something about, but whose underlying intent and motive are hidden from others. On the Day of Judgement, all this will be laid bare. One's deeds and their underlying motives will be examined. One, thus, does not realize the long term impact of one's deeds. This truth will come out only on the Day of Judgement, as the impact of one's actions will also be evaluated as part of divine recompense.

6. The heaven is mentioned with its recurring cycle of rain. Raja' literally means to return. It is metaphorically used here of rain, which strikes the earth both in and out of season. Since water vapours rising from the seas return to the earth as rain drops, the metaphor of return is aptly employed here.

7. Just as the downpour from the heavens and the vegetation that pierces through the earth's crust is a serious reality rather than a jest, so is the Qur'an's teaching that man is bound to return to his Lord. What is said is not some flippant jest. Rather, it is an eternal, categorical truth that is bound to materialize.

8. The unbelievers have been resorting to guile in order to discredit the Qur'an. They seek to sow doubts into people's hearts about the Qur'an and level all sorts of false, baseless allegations against the Prophet (peace be upon him) with a view to arresting his call to the truth. They are keen to continue living in the darkness of unbelief, which is what he seeks to drive away.

9. Allah will put an end to the unbelievers' guile. They will be frustrated in their impious designs. The divine light, which they have been trying to extinguish, is destined to illuminate the whole universe.

10. The unbelievers have been granted respite. Soon, however, they will realize that their guile could not and did not work against the divine plan.