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Time, condition, question 8 / 12
"Is it you who … or are We …?": the same root on both sides
In sura 56, four questions confront the human being with what he believes he does himself: « أَأَنتُمْ تَـX أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلـX-ونَ ». The verb attributed to man and the agent noun given to God come from the same root; the translation keeps that shared root on both sides.
The four pairs, in 56:58-72:
- the seed: « ءَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْخَٰلِقُونَ », "Is it you who create it, or are We the Creator?";
- the field: « ءَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلزَّٰرِعُونَ », "Is it you who sow it, or are We the Sower?";
- the water: « أَنزَلْتُمُوهُ … أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنزِلُونَ », "Is it you who sent it down from the clouds, or are We the Sender?";
- the fire: « أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنشِـُٔونَ », "Is it you who brought its tree into being, or are We the One who brings it into being?".
The question's force comes from the same verb returning in the answer: man sows, but who is the Sower? If the translation used two different words ("make sprout" / "the Sower"), the opposition would blur. That is why زرع and نشأ each keep their own word, in every language.
In the text
ءَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلزَّٰرِعُونَ“Is it you who sow it, or are We the Sower?”
Here, زرع on both sides: "sow" / "the Sower".
ءَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُۥٓ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْخَٰلِقُونَ“Is it you who create it, or are We the Creator?”
Here, خلق: "create" / "the Creator".
ءَأَنتُمْ أَنشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَآ أَمْ نَحْنُ ٱلْمُنشِـُٔونَ“Is it you who brought its tree into being, or are We the One who brings it into being?”
Here, نشأ: "bring into being", distinct from زرع.