Discover Quranic Guidance on Contemplating Over Creation

Teachings of the Holy Quran

Quranic Encouragement to Contemplate Over Creation

Mawlana Abu al-Nur Rashid Ali Attari Madani

Encouragement to ponder over the stages of creation

The disbelievers of Makkah rejected the belief of resurrection after death. The noble Quran describes this belief in many ways, in multiple places, in order for us to ponder about it. One of these ways is the mentioning of the stages of human creation. The noble Quran states:

اَوَ لَمْ  یَرَوْا کَیْفَ یُبْدِئُ اللّٰہُ  الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ یُعِیْدُہٗ ؕ اِنَّ ذٰلِکَ عَلَی اللّٰہِ یَسِیْرٌ (۱۹) قُلْ سِیْرُوْا فِی الْاَرْضِ فَانْظُرُوْا کَیْفَ بَدَاَ  الْخَلْقَ ثُمَّ اللّٰہُ یُنْشِیُٔ النَّشْاَۃَ الْاٰخِرَۃَ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰہَ عَلٰی کُلِّ شَیْءٍ  قَدِیْرٌ (ۚ۲۰)

Translation from Kanz al-ꜤIrfān: And did they not see how Allah originated creation then He will create it again; this is very easy for Allah. Say, “Explore the earth, then see how Allah originated the creation, then Allah will create a second time; Allah has power over everything.”^[1]

It is as if Allah Almighty said: Have the disbelievers not seen how Allah Almighty initially creates a being and gradually completes it? Allah Almighty will bring them back to life in the Hereafter.

Allah Almighty commanded us to travel in the earth in order to witness the marvels of His creation. He advised us to reflect over the cities and remains of the previous nations to understand how He creates life and causes death. All of this grants us the ability to gain awareness of the Creator and His ownership through reflecting upon the marvels of His Divine Power and creation. We learn that traveling and reflecting over the manifestations of Allah Almighty’s creative power, such as rivers and mountains, in order to acquire recognition of Him, is also a form of worship.^[2]

Encouragement to reflect on the creation of shadows

The noble Quran advises us to think about the creation of shadows to understand the power of Allah Almighty. He states:

اَوَ لَمْ  یَرَوْا  اِلٰی مَا خَلَقَ اللّٰہُ  مِنْ  شَیْءٍ یَّتَفَیَّؤُا ظِلٰلُہٗ عَنِ الْیَمِیْنِ وَ الشَّمَآئِلِ سُجَّدًا  لِّلّٰہِ  وَ  ھُمْ   دٰخِرُوْنَ (۴۸)

Translation from Kanz al-ꜤIrfān: Did they not see that whatever Allah has created, its shadows incline to the right and the left in prostration to Allah, and they are being submissive?^[3]

The state of everything which Allah Almighty created with a shadow is that it bends to the right when the sun rises and to the left when the sun sets. The movement of the shadow from one side to the other is to prostrate to Allah Almighty and express humility, weakness and obedience to Him. The perfection of Allah Almighty’s power is evident from the subservience of shadows. When the disbelievers observe and reflect, they should take heed and understand that shadows do not possess intellect, understanding and the ability to hear, but they are still obedient and prostrate to Allah Almighty alone. In contrast, humans possess intellect, understanding and the ability to hear, so they must obey Allah Almighty and only prostrate to Him.^[4]

Encouragement to consider the creation of birds

The noble Quran also describes the flight of birds, their ability to stay in the air and the folding and spreading of their wings, in order for us to contemplate about the power of Allah Almighty. He states:

اَلَمْ یَرَوْا اِلَی الطَّیْرِ مُسَخَّرٰتٍ فِیْ جَوِّ السَّمَآءِ ؕ مَا یُمْسِکُہُنَّ  اِلَّا اللّٰہُ ؕ اِنَّ فِیْ  ذٰلِکَ  لَاٰیٰتٍ  لِّقَوْمٍ  یُّؤْمِنُوْنَ (۷۹)

Translation from Kanz al-ꜤIrfān: Did they not see the birds, made compliant in the open sky? None sustains them except Allah. Surely in this, there are certainly signs for the people of faith.^[5]

Allah Almighty also states:

اَوَ لَمْ  یَرَوْا اِلَی الطَّیْرِ فَوْقَہُمْ صٰٓفّٰتٍ وَّ یَقْبِضْنَ ؔ مَا یُمْسِکُہُنَّ  اِلَّا الرَّحْمٰنُ ؕ اِنَّہٗ  بِکُلِّ  شَیْءٍۭ بَصِیْرٌ (۱۹)

Translation from Kanz al-ꜤIrfān: Did they not see birds above them spreading and folding in their wings? None keeps them aloft except the Infinitely Gracious. Indeed, He sees everything.^[6]

A summary of the exegesis of these verses is: Have these people not seen how birds fly in the air? Who prevents them from falling? A piece of straw does not remain in the air, yet birds do not fall to the ground despite their heavier bodies? The power of Allah Almighty is such that despite their weight, they can stay aloft and not fall. The people of faith contemplate about this and acknowledge the omnipotence of Allah Almighty.^[7]

Encouragement to reflect upon the creation of the earth and vegetation

Every creation of Allah Almighty is magnificent and contemplating about any of them will lead to the acknowledgement of Allah Almighty’s power. The noble Quran describes the creation of the earth and vegetation like so:

اَوَ لَمْ یَرَوْا اِلَی الْاَرْضِ کَمْ اَنْۢبَتْنَا فِیْہَا مِنْ  کُلِّ  زَوْجٍ   کَرِیْمٍ (۷) اِنَّ فِیْ ذٰلِکَ لَاٰیَۃً  ؕوَ مَا کَانَ اَکْثَرُھُمْ مُّؤْمِنِیْنَ (۸)

Translation from Kanz al-ꜤIrfān: Did they not look towards the earth, how many excellent pairs We made grow therein? Certainly, in this there is a sign; and most of them are not believers.^[8]

Have the polytheists who turn away, deny and mock the signs of Allah Almighty looked at the wonders of the earth and the variety of plants that grow therein, from which both humans and animals take benefit?^[9]ˈ