From beautiful small pearls and gems
Attention is first drawn to what lies at the bottom of the seas: beautiful small pearls and gems.
Focus moves across the sea
To great vessels that sail upon the seas
From something very small to something very large: great vessels used for trade and empire building.
Civilisational implications
The movement from the seabed’s small treasures to vast vessels highlights consequences at a civilisational level through trade and empire building.
A mirrored pattern on the earth
Fruits (not necessities)
The earth was spoken about by first mentioning fruits which are not necessities.
Grains and crops
Then came the grains and crops which civilisations depend upon.
Pattern summary
In this way Allah moved from something very small to something very large with civilisational implications.
This resembles the pattern when the earth was spoken about which started with the mention of fruits which are not necessities and then mentioned the grains and crops which civilisations depend upon.
The refrain’s challenge
A question directed to both
The refrain poses the question: which of these wondrous acts of the Lord of both of you will you both deny, declare to be false, dismiss, or undermine?