Continuing with our look into the meanings of Surah Ya Seen and the message in it for us in our lives. Surely the most compelling things we can read are the descriptions of the ayat allah that are mentioned in the Quran. Allah (SWT) tells us most directly in many places in the Quran what his signs are for those who have eyes to see.
وَآيَةٌ لَهُمُ الأرْضُ الْمَيْتَةُ أَحْيَيْنَاهَا وَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهَا حَبًّا فَمِنْهُ يَأْكُلُونَ 36:33
waayatun lahumu al-ardu almaytatu ahyaynaha waakhrajna minha habban faminhu ya/kuloon(a)
A Sign for them is the earth that is dead: We do give it life, and produce grain from it, which you eat.
Not only do we think of winter here but also of the process of making of the soil from bare rock. All this is under the hand of Allah (SWT)
وَجَعَلْنَا فِيهَا جَنَّاتٍ مِنْ نَخِيلٍ وَأَعْنَابٍ وَفَجَّرْنَا فِيهَا مِنَ الْعُيُونِ 36:34
waja’alna feeha jannatin min nakheelin wa’anabin wafajjarna feeha mina alaauyoon(i)
And We produce orchards with date-palms and vines, and We cause springs to gush forth therein:
لِيَأْكُلُوا مِنْ ثَمَرِهِ وَمَا عَمِلَتْهُ أَيْدِيهِمْ أَفَلا يَشْكُرُونَ 36:35
liya/kuloo min thamarihi wama ‘amilat-hu aydeehim afala yashkuroon(a)
That they may enjoy the fruits of this (artistry): It was not their hands that made this: will they not then give thanks?
All manner of fruits and grains Allah (SWT) provides for us through this creation for us to eat and to enjoy. And can we see our rabb in this? Our lord that provides for us? And cares for us and nurtures us through the plan through his actions. Is this not cause for thanks? And what thanks is there for Allah (SWT). He does not need our thanks. Why then does it mention this here? Our thanks is for us to remember allah (SWT) and to go on remembering and glorifying Him so we can see these signs around us.
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الأزْوَاجَ كُلَّهَا مِمَّا تُنْبِتُ الأرْضُ وَمِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ وَمِمَّا لا يَعْلَمُونَ 36:36
subhana allathee khalaqa al-azwaja kullaha mimma tunbitu al-ardu wamin anfusihim wamimma la ya’alamun(a)
Glory to Allah, Who created in pairs all things that the earth produces, as well as their own (human) kind and (other) things of which they have no knowledge.
What does that mean “other things of which they have no knowledge?” Atoms, electric particles, magnetism, all exist in pairs as well, positive and negative. And what of light and dark? Of veils and of revelation?
وَآيَةٌ لَهُمُ اللَّيْلُ نَسْلَخُ مِنْهُ النَّهَارَ فَإِذَا هُمْ مُظْلِمُونَ 36:37
waayatun lahumu allaylu naslakhu minhu a(l)nnahara fa-itha hum mu{th}limoon(a)
And a Sign for them is the Night: We withdraw the Day, and behold they are plunged in darkness;
وَالشَّمْسُ تَجْرِي لِمُسْتَقَرٍّ لَهَا ذَلِكَ تَقْدِيرُ الْعَزِيزِ الْعَلِيمِ 36:38
wa(al)shshamsu tajree limustaqarrin laha thalika taqdeeru alaaazeezi alaaaleem(i)
And the sun runs his course for a period determined for him: that is the decree of (Him), the Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing.
Part 2
Wherever we look around us we can see the Ayat’allah if we have eyes to see. These eyes that we have in our head are only a part of seeing. To see these signs we also have to look in our heart, we also have to look around us with the intention of seeing how Allah bestows his grace and mercy upon us.
When we look at the world with that intention we see everywhere the signs of Allah.
And when we see with those eyes, it increases our Taqwa and our knowledge of the Tawheed of Allah (SWT). For we see a world interconnected and people everywhere needing and wanting the same thing. We see deeply into the meanings of the world around us. There is purpose and sign to everything and our task is to learn as much as we can, to keep that intention in our hearts of seeing Allah’s guidance in all around us.
If we go about the world, not noticing the miraculous nature of every atom every second every breath then we are like the living dead. How much more glorious to see Allah’s will, to see the power and majesty – Jelal wal ikram – embodied in all around us. And to see it as guidance, guidance to the straight path – we can see this in our lives right here, no waiting!
Let us go from here willing to soften our hearts, willing to look at the world with the intention of seeing Allah’s signs all around us, willing to put aside our rush and hurry and willing not to miss being awake at every momemt!
Wa allahu alim.
Ihsan Center - Islam From The Heart 