From: irfan@apollo.ece.wisc.edu (Irfan Alan)
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam
Subject: DROPLET VOL 1, NO 1, PART 2
Date: 22 Jul 92 16:50:00 GMT
Organization: California Institute of Technology
News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.41
Originator: Mughal@Romeo.Caltech.Edu (Asim Mughal -Moderator)


[Postmarked: Fri, 17 Jul 92 15:03:12 -0500 ]

BIISMIHI SUBHANEHU 
VEINMIN $EYIN ILLA YUSEBBIHU BIHAMDIHI
ESSELAMU ALEYKUM VERAHMETULLAH-I VE BERKATU

D R O P L E T
From The Vast Ocean Of The Miraculous Qur'an

Translations from the Arabic and Turkish Writings of Bediuzzaman
Said Nursi, 

The Risale-i Noor

DROPLET VOL 1, No 1, Part 2
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We said at the beginning that all beings recite 'Bismillah'
through their very mode of existence. How is this?

Consider, for example, a man who, arriving alone, compels the
entire population of a city to gather in a certain place and
labor on certain tasks.  You may be certain that he is not
acting on his account or with his own strength. Rather he is a
soldier, acting in the name of  the state, and relying on the
strength of a sultan.  

So too, all things are acting in the name of Almighty Allah. 
Seeds and grains, no bigger than atoms, bear huge trees on their
heads, raise weights as heavy as mountains.  Each tree says
'Bismillah,' and filling its hands  with fruits from the
treasure of mercy,  offers them to us on a tray.  Each garden
also says 'Bismillah.'  It is a cauldron from the kitchen of
Eternal Power, in which countless different varieties of
delicious foods are cooked.  All blessed animals such as cows,
camels, sheep, and goats also say 'Bismillah.'  They are like a
spring from which gushes forth the milk of the effusion of
Allah's Mercy.  They offer to us -in the Name of Allah the
Provider- the most delicate, pure and life-giving sustenance. 
Every plant and every grass with its roots  and tendrils -soft
as silk- also says 'Bismillah.'  It penetrates and passes
through hard stones and earth; saying 'In the Name of Allah, in
the Name of the Compassionate One,' it subjugates all things to
itself.  The spreading of a tree's branches in the sky, the
unhindered diffusion of its roots in the midst of the hard
stones and earths, its spontaneous generation beneath the earth,
its delicate green leaves remaining moist for months despite
intense heat -all this is like a heavy blow struck against the
materialist. It jabs a finger into his blinded eye and says:

"That hardness and heat in whose power you place so much trust
is also obliged to act in accordance with the commands of Allah;
the silken tendrils of plants, each like the staff of Moses,
upon whom be peace, obey the command of:  [O Moses, strike the
rock with thy staff.] (Qur'an 2:60), and cleave through the
rock.  Its paper-thin, delicate leaves, each like one of the
limbs of Abraham, upon whom be peace, recite the verse:  [O
fire, be coolness and peace.] (Qur'an 21:69) in defiance of the
flame-splitting heat. 

Since, then, all things are inwardly saying Bismillah, and
delivering Allah's bounties to us in Allah's name, we too should
say 'Bismillah,' and give and take all things in Allah's Name. 
We should accept nothing from those heedless man who do not give
in Allah's Name.

	(Question:) "We pay a certain price to men for what they bring
us, even though they are only the tray-bearers.  What price does
Allah, the True Owner of this property, demand?"

(Answer:)  The True Bestower of bounty requires from us  the
following three things in payment for His precious bounties and
goods: remembrance, thanksgiving, and reflection.  To say
'Bismillah' at the beginning of all things is a form of
remembrance.  To say, "Praise and thanks be to Allah" at their
end is a form of thanksgiving. As for reflection, this is to
perceive and  think of the  precious and  ingenious bounties  we
 receive as miracles of the Power of the One Eternally Besought
and as gifts received from His Mercy, at all times between the
beginning and end.  If you were to kiss the foot of some wretch
who brought you a precious gift from a sultan, without
recognizing the true sender of the gift, what stupidity it would
be! To praise and love the apparent bestower of bounty, while
forgetting the True Bestower of Bounty is stupidity ten thousand
times worse.

Oh soul! If you wish to avoid such stupidity, give in the Name
of Allah,  take in the Name of Allah, begin in the Name of
Allah, and act in the Name of Allah.  That shall suffice
you.

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To be continued In$a Allah.
Your Br. Irfan in Islam.
Newsgroups: soc.religion.islam