Verse 13:3 follows Allah's mention of celestial wonders, shifting focus to terrestrial signs of His power and wisdom. It details how Allah *madda al-ard* (spread the earth), making it vast and habitable. He established *rawāsiya* (firmly set mountains) and *anhār* (rivers), essential for life.
A key theological insight is the concept of *zawjayn ithnayn* (two mates/types) for every fruit, highlighting divine design and diversity within creation, even from the same water source. This is further elaborated with *sinwanun wa ghayru sinwan* (single-stemmed and multi-stemmed plants) and the varied qualities of fruits (sweet, sour, etc.), all watered identically. These distinctions demonstrate Allah's ability to create diverse outcomes from uniform inputs, a profound sign for *qawmin yatafakkarūn* (people who reflect).
Ibn Kathir emphasizes the contrasting *qita'un mutajāwirāt* (neighboring tracts) of land—fertile next to barren—as further evidence of Allah's singular creative power. The alternation of *al-layla an-nahār* (night and day) underscores His control over time, mirroring His control over space and matter.
The verse, therefore, is a call to contemplate the intricate design and purposeful diversity within the natural world, urging believers to recognize these as clear *āyāt* (signs) of Allah's existence, wisdom, and omnipotence, for those who engage in thoughtful reflection.
📚 Sources: Classical tafsir (multi-source)