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 away attention from the concrete realities of this world towards the spiritual and abstract reality, and, hence, for man to find his role and purpose of life.
Certainty and conviction about meeting Allah (swt)
“Allah is He Who raised the heavens without any pillars that you can see. Then, He Istawa (rose above) the Throne (really in a manner that suits His Majesty). He has subjected the sun and the moon (to continue going round)! Each running (its course) for a term appointed. He regulates all affairs, explaining the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) in detail, that you may believe with certainty in the meeting with your Lord.” (Ar-Rad 13:2)
The supreme creation of Allah (swt) is His Kursi, followed by His Arsh and then the seven skies. Each sky is set apart by a distance of 500 years, if we were to travel. Realize the insignificance of man’s creation in comparison – small and weak. Yet Allah (swt) designed, proportioned and staged the seven skies only for us. A sky with no cracks, no pillars, nothing clinging to it, vast, high, huge, stable, simply magnificent since ages. This was not created only to elicit compliments from people but it was created to instill Yaqueen (certainty) in the hearts of believers that they shall meet one day the All Mighty Allah (swt), the Khaaliq (Creator) of all that exits.
Observing the creation and drawing closer to the Creator
“Verily, Allah grasps the heavens and the earth lest they should move away from their places and if they were to move away from their places, there is not one that could grasp them after Him. Truly, He is ever Most Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving.” (Fatir 35:41)
Abu Hurairah (rtam) narrated: I heard Allah’s Messenger (sa) saying: “(On the Day of Resurrection) Allah will grasp the whole planet of earth (by His Hand) and roll all the heavens up with His Right Hand, and then He will say: ‘I am the King; where are the kings of the earth?’” (Bukhari)
The Universe surrounding us is changing every split second. If both the skies and the land move out of their space, no technology or scientist can return it to its former position, nor replace it with another worldly invention. Man’s heart ought to fill with awe, fear, humility, love and respect for the Ever Living Allah (swt). Just observing how these beautiful and firm skies have been topped one on the other with perfection and proportion carrying the right colour, height and weight.
The skies – original, beautiful and beneficial
“And indeed We have adorned the nearest heaven with lamps and We have made such lamps (as) missiles to drive away the Shayatin (devils) and have prepared for them the torment of the blazing Fire.” (Al-Mulk 67:5)
Now this is a rare combination to find. When man invents his inventions, they are definitely not original, as they are inspired by one of Allah’s (swt) created beings. He cannot invent, design or build without the raw material and resources granted to him by Allah (swt). Also, man’s inventions are not always beneficial. After some passage of time, man starts to challenge his own invented equipment and presented theories due to the surfacing flaws. And even if the inventions stay beneficial, they cannot guarantee a standardized level of beauty.
Conversely, if we consider the skies, one of the creations of Allah (swt), it is an innovative idea. They are breath taking with twinkling stars of different brightness, colours, sizes and at varied distances. Allah (swt) could have just draped the sky with a frightfully black and ugly covering above our heads, but He specifically took care of man’s aesthetic sense. Even the shades of blue He chose are soothing to the eyes.
The stars serve a very important purpose of guiding travelers in the seas, deserts, vast plains and mountains to their destination. The same stars work as missiles to chase the Shayateen in the heavens, who wish to eavesdrop on conversations between angels and bring it back to earth to help their other Shayateen partners in misguiding the mankind. Hence Allah’s (swt) creations are functional and strong to protect people.
The greatness of heavens and earth vs. mankind
“The creation of the heavens and the earth is indeed greater than the creation of mankind, yet most of mankind know not.” (Ghafir 40:57)
Allah’s (swt) skies have numerous wonders, as compared to our human body. The sun and the moon, the galaxies, their numbers, volume, shapes, sizes and colours are among the vast treasures of the Creator’s big signs. Nothing on earth can be compared to the magnificence of the created heavens. And not an inch of it is void of Hikmah (wisdom). The earth is like a drop in the ocean or a particle in the mountains in the world of galaxies that Allah (swt) has created. Just a glance at the sky should humble mankind and enable our hearts to attach themselves to our Perfect and Powerful Creator.
The angels’ worship
“They (i.e. the angels) glorify His Praises night and day, (and) they never slacken (to do so).” (Al-Anbiya 21:20)
The Prophet (sa) cautioned the mankind by stating that he saw what we didn’t, he heard what we didn’t, there were cracking sounds of the skies out of fear of Allah (swt), there is not even a space of four fingers in the skies where angels are not found prostrating to Allah (swt). By Allah (swt), if we knew what the Prophet (sa) knew, we would have laughed less and cried more, we would not sleep with women, we would have headed to the jungle to worship Allah (swt).” (Tirmidhi)
Allah (swt) made Jinn and man for the land and angels for the skies mainly. Just because Allah (swt) has kept much behind a veil, mankind becomes heedless and ignorant.
Journey of the heart
“He placed therein (i.e. the earth) firm mountains from above it and He blessed it and measured therein its sustenance (for its dwellers) in four Days equal for all those who ask (about its creation). Then He rose over (Istawa) towards the heaven when it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth: ‘Come both of you willingly or unwillingly.’ They both said: ‘We come willingly.’ Then He completed and finished from their creation (as) seven heavens in two Days and He made in each heaven its affair…” (Fussilat 41:10-12)
Today the building block of discoveries and inventions is a conscious mind. This world was intelligently set up, yet disbelievers grant credit of the creation’s magnificence to others by ascribing partners to the Creator.
The land was created before the skies. Allah (swt) gave Wahi to the land and the skies in two days about their roles. Firstly, Allah (swt) destined the earth’s potential in four days. Next, He attended to the skies that were smoke. He ordered to come and obey Him willingly or unwillingly. They both agreed to obey their Lord willingly.
Allah (swt) is not uni-tasking or making errors; His countless treasures neither decrease in size nor quality. All of His orders encompass four elements in them: justice, blessing, wisdom and mercy. It is for the heart to take this journey and consciously recognize its Lord. The heart should be standing before its Creator, beating with Khashiyah (fear and awe) humbled in a prostration. This heart will rise from its Sajdah on the Day of Yaum al Mazeed and will be granted its reward by Allah (swt) in the form of Jannah, Insha’Allah.
For a humbled heart, this Duniya is a need, not the final destination or obsession. Whenever it will look towards the sky, it will remember its meeting with its Lord, the Creator of all.
Ya Muqallibal Quloobi, Thabbit Qalbi Ala Deenik. Ameen
Adapted from “Fiqh-ul-Quloob”.
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