The earth and its environment are the most valuable assets for all creation. Be it the tiniest insect or a gargantuan creature, all are dependent on the earth’s resources. The Holy Qur’an describes that Allah (SWT) “made from water every living thing” (21:30). Allah is unity, and His unity is reflected in the unit unity of humanity and nature. Because of that, it is the responsibility of humans to strive for harmony in our relations with the natural world. If we don’t, we will be one day held in judgement by Allah for not fulfilling that responsibility, for not being good trustees of creation. Man must think on how he came into being, what the purpose of his life is, why he will die and what awaits him after death. He must question how he, himself, and the whole universe came into existence and how they continue to exist. While doing this, he must relieve himself of all constraints and prejudices. In the Holy Quran, Allah guides us as to what we should reflect on and investigate. Allah (SWT) Has Created everything for purpose (Quran, 3:191). We humans are among Allah’s creation, and we live within Allah’s creation. All creatures, from the weightless sub-nuclear particles to the super galaxies and beyond, from the tiniest micro-organism to the gigantic whales, from the extreme heat inside the cores of the stars to the extreme cold of the deep dark space, from what we can see and observe to what we can not see and feel, all these limitless creatures are signs of the absolute knowledge, power and authority of The Creator, Allah (SWT). All Allah’s creatures complement each other. They all coexist, interact and perform their assigned tasks in true order and harmony. In Holy Quran (part 14, Surat Al Nahl “The Bees”), Allah (SWT) Says that He Has Created the heavens and the earth in true perfection. Indeed, just let’s take a fast look at the earth, the planets in our solar system, the sun, the moon and the galaxies. The earth is formed of inner massive cores and less massive outer layers. Such distribution of mass around its center stabilizes its spinning as well as its translation motions. The motion of the moon around the earth preserves the orientation of the earth’s rotation, thus keeping the seasons’ duration unchanged over the years. The different masses and the different orbits around the sun of the planets in our solar system, form a perfect stable dynamic system. The continuous and sustained nuclear fusion reactions in the sun’s core (as well as in all other stars) are precisely controlled and functioning for billions of years. Our solar system is located in a galaxy (concentration of stars) known as the Milky Way galaxy. It is estimated that this galaxy contains between 100 billion and 250 billion stars (our sun is one of these stars). All these stars and so our sun and our solar system are moving continuously along pre-assigned trajectories within the galaxy. There are billions of other galaxies and celestial objects. All those limitless number of objects are in continuous precise motions. They all interact with each other to form the orderly dynamic universe that was created and is controlled by Allah (SWT). This is really a true perfection that defies the human imagination. Allah (SWT) Gave us humans, mind to think, to discover and to learn. He wants us to study His creation. Knowledge of even just the elementary principles of Allah’s laws of creation benefits mankind in so many ways. All inventions that mankind has been able to conceive are based on some knowledge of Allah’s laws of nature. In Holy Quran (verse 1-2, Surat Al Ankaboot “The Spider”), Allah (SWT) is Telling us to explore every part of the earth. In doing so, we will be able to understand how the creation began. It is an invitation from Allah (SWT) to all mankind to study everything and every phenomenon that we can see and observe. Such study leads to the invention of the right tools and equipment to improve our way of life. Knowing how the creation began, gives us the ability to understand how things evolved. Knowledge of the past evolution gives us crucial information for planning for the future more wisely. Also, in searching for an answer to how the creation began, we come closer to realize the Might of Allah (SWT) and that He is Capable of doing everything. In Quran (verse 1-3, Surat Faater “The Originator of Creation”), Allah (SWT) Says that those who truly fear Him are the people of knowledge (the scientists). In all branches of science, the more knowledge a researcher accumulates, the more he or she becomes convinced that there must be a supreme source of power and authority that is capable of such creation.
Realization of this fact, leads one to believe in Allah (SWT) and fears Him. The above cited verses are convincing and powerful evidence showing that the true believers in Allah (the mo’menoon) bear the responsibility of educating themselves and seeking all kinds of knowledge. The solemn duty of a nation of mo’menoon is to build a highly educated society and to provide the adequate facilities for promoting all kinds of scientific research. In Quran (verse 1-4, Surat Al Baqarah), Allah (SWT) Says that all what is in the heavens and the earth belong to Him. He Knows what we say, what we do and what we conceal. He created us humans and He Knows the capability and the limitations of the human mind. All the scientific advances that mankind can achieve, whether now or in the future, are only those which Allah (SWT) Permits us to know. We humans must be grateful to Him for letting us discover some of the physical laws, which He Created. The modern inventions which made our life a lot easier, yet more complicated, are based on such discoveries. Unfortunately, the power of the human mind can be used in two different ways. It can be utilized in producing great innovations that benefit mankind and it also could be used to cause harm and destruction to humanity. It can lead to the right direction of believing that Allah (SWT) is The Only One that we have to ask for all our needs. It can also lead to the wrong direction of seeking help and guidance from other than Him. In Holy Quran (verse 1-5, Surat Al Hajj), Allah (SWT) Says that all whom you are asking for help and guidance other than Him, do not have the power to do so. If all of them came together and tried to create flies, they can not do so. Even if the flies snatched something from them, they can not retrieve it. So why are you asking them? They are as helpless as you are. Now, we come to the everlasting question, Who is Allah?. In five locations in the Holy Qur’an, Allah (SWT) Describes Himself (Who is He). Those locations are, cited verse 1-4, Surat Al Baqarah, cited verse 1-6, Surat Al Noor, cited verses 1-7, Surat Al Ekhlaas, cited verses 1-8, Surat Al Shu’araa and cited Verse 1-9 Surat Al Shura. Several verses in the Holy Qur’an describe the characteristics of Allah (SWT), which are His Holy 99 Names. Holy Quran verse 1-4, Surat Al Baqarah, gives a partial description of Allah (SWT) and some of His characteristics. The partial description of Allah (SWT) given in this verse is: There is no God but Allah (SWT), (ii)No Slumber can seize him nor sleep, (iii) He knows what we declare and what we conceal (that goes also for all His creatures), (iv) His throne encompasses the heavens and the earth, (v) He feels no fatigue in preserving the heavens and the earth.
In brief, we have been enjoined to be careful in the use of natural resources and to leave behind the world and its resources in a better shape than it was when we came into it. Being the trustees, our ideal spending patterns should be in conformity with Islamic values that reflect simplicity, modesty and forethought. May Allah guide us and guard us from the punishment of the Fire
Holy Quran, verse 1-6 Surat Al Noor, gives the most comprehensive description of Allah (SWT) (Who is He). It is the ONLY verse in the Holy Qur’an that gives such description of Allah (SWT). In order to understand the correct meaning of this verse we have to pay great attention to its wording. In this verse Allah (SWT) Describes His light as if it is a chandelier, which represents BEAUTY. The lamp in the chandelier is put into a glass, as if it is a brilliant PLANET. Notice here the word “PLANET”, NOT “star”. The light emitted from a star (our sun is a star) is due to heat production by means of continuous fusion reactions in its core. That is, the light emitted from a star is due to heat (fire). On the other hand, the light emitted from a planet, is by reflection from other source of light. In the verse, the assumed brilliant planet is lit by oil, which is almost luminous without being touched by fire. This indicates that Allah’s light is not produced from heat source and it is self-generating, that is, it does not come from other source. The description of Allah (SWT) given in Holy Quran, d verse 1-6, Surat Al Noor, is : (i) Allah (SWT) is the light of the heavens and the earth, (ii) Allah’s light is extremely intense (light upon light) (iii) Allah’s light is extremely beautiful (as if it is a chandelier). The description of Allah (SWT) given in verses 1-7, Surat Al Ekhlaas and cited verse 1-9, Surat Al Shura is: (i) Allah is one (ii)Allah is eternal (nothing before Him and nothing after Him) Allah never begot nor begotten (iv) There is no equivalent to Almighty Allah (SWT) (v) Nothing is similar to Allah (SWT). The above description of Allah (SWT) leads to one conclusion. Allah is the absolute energy source that powers and controls the heavens and the earth and everything in them. One of the principle laws of physics [which is created by Allah (SWT)] is the law of conservation of energy. It states that energy is neither created nor destroyed, it just transforms from one form to another. Since Allah (SWT) is The Absolute energy source, therefore He was never created and He is Eternal. As mentioned in the Holy Qur’an, He is the first and He is the last. Nothing before him and nothing after him. In Holy Quran, verse 1-4 Surat Al Baqarah, Allah (SWT) Says that everything in the heavens and the earth belong to Him, and He Knows what any creature reveals or conceals. Now we understand why. The basic element of anything in the heavens and the earth (whether it is solid, liquid or gas) is the atom. Inside the atom there is a nucleus and electrons around it. The electrons as well as the particles inside the nucleus are in continuous motion. Their motions are powered by the energy contained within. Similarly, the cells of a living tissue contain energy within. Therefore, the mere existence of anything requires the presence of energy, which comes ONLY from Allah (SWT). The compelling evidence that led to the above conclusion came from Holy Quran, verse 1- 6 Surat Al Noor. Allah (SWT) Says that He is the light of the heavens and the earth. Light is energy. Since Allah (SWT) is The Ultimate Energy Source, therefore, nothing is similar or equivalent to Him. He is The One in control of everything. He is The Creator, because without His energy nothing exists. His Throne encompasses the heavens and the earth, because the heavens and the earth can not exist and function without the constant supply of energy from Allah (SWT). In our Muslim prayers to Allah (SWT), we repeatedly mention three expressions, Allah is the biggest (Akbar), Praise and glory to my Lord who is the greatest (Al A’alaa), Praise and glory to my Lord who is the greatest (Azeem). In fact, these expressions assert and complement the description of Allah (SWT) given by the above cited verses. Allah’s Throne encompasses the heavens and the earth, therefore, He is Bigger than the heavens and the earth, that is He is The Biggest. Allah’s Throne is above the heavens, therefore there is nothing above Him, that is, He is The Highest. None is equivalent or similar to Almighty Allah (SWT), that is, He is The Greatest. The life of all living creatures is sustained by the energy within their bodies. This energy comes from the Ultimate Energy Source, Allah (SWT). That is, all the activities of the living organs are controlled by Allah (SWT). Since Allah (SWT) Controls everything in the heavens and the earth, therefore He Controls our sustenance as well as our physical conditions. He Controls our existence in this world and He is The One Who Has Pre-assigned the life time of each creature. He is The One Who Brings us back from the dead and He is The one Who Rewards or Punishes on judgment day. In that respect Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham) described Allah (SWT) with the most elegant words and concise phrases in cited verses 1-8 Surat Al Shu’araa of Holy Quran. Allah is the Creator, The One Who Guides to the right path, The Provider, The Healer, Who Takes the life and then Gives it back (on judgment day), and He is the One Who hopefully Forgives our sins on judgment day. From these Holy verses, we learn the following: (i)Allah (SWT) Guides whomever He wills to the right path (ii) Allah (SWT) is The Only Provider. He Causes things to happen to some people to get rich and to others to become poor (iii) Allah (SWT) is The Only One Who Cures the illness. Medicine is just an agent for relieving pains (iv)Allah (SWT) is The Only One Who Forgives our sins, if He Wants to, on judgment day. It is foolish to ask humans for forgiveness. To conclude, Allah (SWT) is The Absolute Energy Source that powers and controls the heavens and the earth. He Has no gender, never begot nor begotten and He is The First and The Last. Nothing before Him and nothing after Him. Allah Has Created us and it is He Who Guides whomever He wants to His right path. It is Allah Who Gave us life, Takes it away and it is He Who Resurrects us on judgment day. He is The Only One Who can Forgive (if He Wants) our sins on judgment day. In brief, we have been enjoined to be careful in the use of natural resources and to leave behind the world and its resources in a better shape than it was when we came into it. Being the trustees, our ideal spending patterns should be in conformity with Islamic values that reflect simplicity, modesty and forethought. May Allah guide us and guard us from the punishment of the Fire…. (Ameen!)
(The authors write regularly on Islamic topics for Kashmir Horizon exclusively. Views are their own)