Muhammad bin Ibrahim At-Tuwejri in his book titled Fiqh Ul-Quloob (Understanding of the Hearts) beautifully presents Allah’s (swt) numerous and wonderful creations. The objective is to draw attention from this world’s concrete realities and lead to the spiritual and abstract reality and, hence, for man to find his role and purpose of life.
A Means of Gratitude
“It is Allah Who made for you the night that you may rest therein and the day giving sight. Indeed, Allah is full of bounty to the people, but most of the people are not grateful.” (Al-Ghafir 40:61)
Allah (swt) created the night as dark to enable us to rest. Conversely the day is created as bright and active to facilitate us to go about our business, mainly toiling for food and livelihood.
Nobody has to remind Allah (swt) to alter the days and nights. This happens effortlessly every day to serve us. Allah (swt) has repeatedly mentioned the alternation of night and day in the Quran as an evidence of His Ruboobiyat (status as our Creator), Hikmat (His divine wisdom) and Qudrat (His absolute power over all creation).
Ask yourself: have you thanked Allah (swt) for this bounty? If the night was to stretch forever, we would have died without solar energy. If the day would have remained forever, we would suffer without appropriate and abundant sleep. In today’s world, people who do not follow a proper sleep pattern from Isha to Fajr experience health, emotional and psychological disturbances.
The Assigned Roles
“He created the heavens and earth in truth. He wraps the night over the day and wraps the day over the night and has subjected the sun and the moon, each running [its course] for a specified term. Unquestionably, He is the Exalted in Might, the Perpetual Forgiver.” (Az-Zumar 39:5)
One of the greatest lessons people can extract from the night and day are their absolute submission to Allah (swt) in dispensing their specific roles. During some months of the year, the nights are longer, while at other times of the year, the days are longer.
They do not fight over each other’s rights. They are unique in their roles and responsibilities. They neither demean the other nor have any conflict with each other. They are true to their assigned roles and perform them diligently.
The Time for Rest and Work
“Say, ‘Have you considered: if Allah should make for you the night continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allah could bring you light? Then will you not hear?’ Say, ‘Have you considered: if Allah should make for you the day continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allah could bring you a night in which you may rest? Then will you not see?’” (Al-Qasas 28:71-72)
Allah (swt) benefits the entire planet by dividing the day and the night into halves. The night is not pitch dark. It is illuminated mildly with a beaming moon and glowing stars for travellers to find their way and nocturnal animals to hunt for prey. In the yester years, scholars like Imam Bukhari used to write books in the moonlight.
Evidence of the Day of Judgement
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding.” (Al-Imran 3:190)
The day returns every day followed by the night in succession. Allah (swt) highlights this as an evidence that we shall be raised likewise after our death on the Day of Resurrection and give an account of our deeds.
Care for His Creation
“Allah created the heavens and the earth in truth. Indeed in that is a sign for the believers.” (Al-Ankaboot 29:44)
Allah (swt) is extremely caring and sensitive to the needs of His creation. He prevents us from shocks, and hence we witness gradual changes when the sun sets and rises, indicating the alternation of nights and days. The changes in the times of Salah are also gradual. So are the fasts, as sometimes we have long days, while at other times we experience short fasts.
Allah’s (swt) Worship
“That is Allah, your Lord; there is no deity except Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him. And He is Disposer of all things.” (Al-Anaam 6:102)
Worship requires Ikhlas (sincerity), Itaat (obedience), Tawakkul (reliance upon Allah [swt] after seeking the necessary means), Dua (invocation), humility, and Mohabbat (love).
This checklist of our worship needs to be nurtured and then maintained. What benefits does it reap? We remain beneficial for ourselves and others. Allah (swt), the Supreme, is the centre of our life choices. When we want to improve ourselves, we take criticism constructively. We do not invite praise from others, and we become genuine in pursuing genuine deeds.
يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِي عَلَى دِينِكَ
O Changer of the Hearts! Strengthen my heart upon Your religion. (Tirmidhi)
Ameen
Adapted from “Fiqh-ul-Quloob”
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