“The seven heavens and the Earth and whatever is in them exalt Him. And there is not a thing except that it exalts (Allah) by His praise, but you do not understand their (way of) exalting. Indeed, He is ever Forbearing and Forgiving.” (Surah Al-Isra, Ayat 44)
Nature encompasses everything from flowers, trees, rocks, and skies to fish, mountains, rivers, and seasons. Nature is the art of Almighty Allah. He provides food to the smallest of living organisms; He provides sustenance to live present in the driest places. He can be seen in the systematic rotation of planets, and He is visible in the smallest of insects. To mention just one small bounty of Allah; He has given an animal present in the deep oceans, the oyster, power to turn a grain of sand, hardly visible to the naked eye, into a pearl, a magnificent jewel.
‘And say “All praise is for Allah! He will show you His signs, and you will recognize them. And your Lord is never unaware of what you do.” (Surah An-Naml, Verse 93)
All the things present in nature are proof of Allah’s power, wisdom, and Oneness. The timely changing of seasons, the flight of birds high in the sky, and eruption of a volcano, and rain. Rain can bring destruction for a man or it can bring lush greenery. The earthquakes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, all of these are small portrayals of the tremendous power of our Lord. These are the signs which a true believer recognizes and all the signs are the wonders of Allah. These signals bring us closer to Him as they make us praise Him.
“The sun and the moon [travel] with precision. The stars and the trees bow down [in submission]. He merges the two bodies of [fresh and salt] water, yet between them is a barrier they never cross. Out of both [waters] come forth pearls and coral.” (Surah Rehman)
In these verses of Surah Rehman, we can see how Allah (S.W.T) has told us about his plentiful bounties present in this world. A famous Muslim scholar, Al-Jahiz, mentions in his renowned classic, Book of Animals, that “I would have you known that a pebble proves the existence of Allah just as much as a mountain and the human body is evidence as strong as the universe that contains our world: for this purpose, the small and slight carries as much weight as the great and vast.”
One of the words used to describe the universe in Arabic is ‘Alam’ and it means the world or universe. Now, this word is derived from the words ‘Ma’lam’ and ‘Alamah’ and the meaning of these words is a symbol, sign, or indication.
We search for signs present in the universe for proof of the existence of Allah when the universe itself is the biggest proof. The world as a whole is a symbol itself indicating the existence of its Creator.
Every believer must work on forming a constant and special bond with his natural environment. The riches and bounties found in nature should be read, sought, and sustained from. The connection between nature and true believers is a two-way bond. Nature will reward us if we take care of it.
It is mentioned in Surah An-Nahl (The Bee) that:
“It is He who sends down water from the sky. From it you drink and from it come the shrubs among which you graze your herds. And by it He makes crops grow for you and olives and dates and grapes and fruit of every kind. Therein is certainly a sign in that for people who reflect. He has made the night and the day subservient to you, and the sun, the moon, and the stars, all subject to His command. Therein are certainly signs in that for people who use their intellect.”
Keeping in mind these verses, if we look at ourselves, we can see why humankind is called “Ashraf ul Makhlooqat” (noblest of creations). We have abilities that no other creation of Allah has. The ability to think, to judge, to love, to feel emotions, and the ability to express ourselves. Our bodies are one of the best creations of Allah. With a heart that beats and a brain that understands, our bodies are so much more than just vessels for our soul.
May Allah (S.W.T) give us the potential to improve ourselves and the capacity to comprehend the signs of Him which are all around us. Ameen
Written By: Miss Ramsha
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