Lost in Thoughts — Contemplating on Creation
By: Samet Faruque
Tags: Creation, Quran, Thoughts, Muslim, Islam

🌃 Stare at the sky and gaze at the countless stars. “So look again: can you see any cracks?” Traverse the oceans and walk the plains “so walk in its paths and eat of His provision — and to Him is the resurrection.” Contemplate on the magnificent clash of night and day, the alternation of the heavenly bodies and the changing of time and age.

This article will be about contemplation on creation, and about rekindling the passion for discovery and exploration.

The earth is tempting and beautiful; with some experiences to give but…Paradise is where adventures live.

In the name of the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful Allah

Praise be to Allah, we praise Him, seek His aid, seek His forgiveness, believe in Him and rely upon Him.

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ الظُّلُمَاتِ وَالنُّورَ ۖ ثُمَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِرَبِّهِمْ يَعْدِلُونَ

Praise be to Allah , who created the heavens and the earth and made the darknesses and the light. Then those who disbelieve equate [meaning others] with their Lord. [6:1]

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ جَاعِلِ الْمَلَائِكَةِ رُسُلًا أُولِي أَجْنِحَةٍ مَّثْنَىٰ وَثُلَاثَ وَرُبَاعَ ۚ

Praise be to Allah , Creator of the heavens and the earth, [who] made the angels messengers having wings, in twos and in threes, and in fours [35:1]

الَّذِي جَعَلَ فِي السَّمَاءِ بُرُوجًا وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا سِرَاجًا وَقَمَرًا مُّنِيرًا

[Praise be to Allah] who has placed in the sky constellations and placed therein a lamp and luminous moon.[25:61]

الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ مَهْدًا وَسَلَكَ لَكُمْ فِيهَا سُبُلًا وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجًا مِّن نَّبَاتٍ شَتَّىٰ * كُلُوا وَارْعَوْا أَنْعَامَكُمْ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي النُّهَىٰ

[Praise be to Allah] who has made for you the earth as a bed and inserted therein for you roadways and sent down from the sky, water so (Allah ta’Ala) brought out thereby categories of various plants. Eat and pasture your livestock. Indeed, in that are signs for those of intelligence. [20:53–54]

I remind myself and you to have taqwa (caution) of Allah, and to hasten to Him.

Allah says:

فَفِرُّوا إِلَى اللَّهِ

So flee to Allah . [51:50]

فَاسْعَوْا إِلَىٰ ذِكْرِ اللَّهِ

So rush to the remembrance of Allah [62:9]

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ وَاسْمَعُوا وَأَطِيعُوا وَأَنفِقُوا خَيْرًا لِّأَنفُسِكُمْ

So be cautious of Allah as much as you are able and listen and obey and spend; it is better for your selves. [64:16]

Dear brothers and sisters,

Indeed the earth has been made sweet, and green, its plains are vast, and its ravines deep, and it provides ample space for exploration and discovery, for contemplation and realization, for thinking about Allah’s greatness, and His power and might and His beautiful names and high attributes.

اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ لَهُ الْأَسْمَاءُ الْحُسْنَىٰ

Allah -there is no god except He. To Him belong The Most Beautiful Names. [20:8]

وَفِي الْأَرْضِ آيَاتٌ لِّلْمُوقِنِينَ * وَفِي أَنفُسِكُمْ ۚ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ

And in the earth are signs for the certain. And in yourselves. Then will you not see? [51:20–21]

Discovering the earth is a beautiful, lawful and pure entertainment. In the process you get to have adventures that last, memories that remain and abiding bonds between family and friends. It is a way of getting closer to your Lord, having fun, enjoying life, and experiencing a blessed joy and amazement.

It is time we rekindled the spirit of adventure within us, travel, discover and experience the earth, and walk its paths.

هُوَ الَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ ذَلُولًا فَامْشُوا فِي مَنَاكِبِهَا وَكُلُوا مِن رِّزْقِهِ ۖ وَإِلَيْهِ النُّشُورُ

“It is He who made the earth tame for you — so walk in its paths and eat of His provision — and to Him is the resurrection.” (Surah Mulk, 67:15)

The word translated “paths” has different interpretations, including borders, paths, shoulders, etc.

Discover new things and untrodden lands.

وَأَوْرَثَكُمْ أَرْضَهُمْ وَدِيَارَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ وَأَرْضًا لَّمْ تَطَئُوهَا ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرًا

And He caused you to inherit their land and their homes and their properties and a land which you have not trodden. And ever is Allah , over all things, competent. (Al Ahzab, 33:27)

وَاللَّهُ جَعَلَ لَكُمُ الْأَرْضَ بِسَاطًا * لِّتَسْلُكُوا مِنْهَا سُبُلًا فِجَاجًا

And Allah has made the earth for you as an expanse (a rug),

That you may travel along thereof by ways, passes. (Nuh, 71:19–20)

Look at the sky decked with a countless stars, and be lost in its wonders and signs.

إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا السَّمَاءَ الدُّنْيَا بِزِينَةٍ الْكَوَاكِبِ

Indeed, We have adorned the nearest sky with an adornment of stars. (As-Saffat, 37:6)

Experience the sweet breeze, the lush greenery, the refreshing aroma of flowers and spring, and the varying colors.

وَمَا ذَرَأَ لَكُمْ فِي الْأَرْضِ مُخْتَلِفًا أَلْوَانُهُ ۗ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَةً لِّقَوْمٍ يَذَّكَّرُونَ

And whatever He created for you on the earth of varying colors. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who remember. (An Nahl, 16:13)

The poet said:

I gazed — and gazed — but little thought

What wealth the show (meaning of Daffodils) to me had brought

[William Woodsworth, poem on Daffodils]

Explore the rivers and seas, feel the cool breeze, and enjoy the ride in ferries and ships.

وَتَرَى الْفُلْكَ مَوَاخِرَ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا مِن فَضْلِهِ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ

And you see the ships plowing through it, and that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.(An Nahl, 16:14)

وَأَنْهَارًا وَسُبُلًا لَّعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُونَ

And rivers and roads, that you may be guided. (Al Nahl, 16:15)

The poet said:

If you could spend your night at Versailles

And I were to be your travel guide If you could roam the earth on private flights

To see California days and New York nights Drag your finger lazily across the water on a venetian boat

Or spend a Jordanian summer shepherding with a staff and goat, If Australia is where you play your water sports

And the safari [memories in your mind abodes] And you stand on the mountain of light every single year

And let Mecca’s dozens of athans ring your ears And the goose-bumps never fail nor hardly stop

When it seems like God’s praise is coming from the very mountain tops If you were someone considered well-travelled

And all of the earth’s mysteries unraveled And you had your lion’s share of pleasure, fun and bliss

Know that a single square foot of jannah is better than all of this The earth is tempting and beautiful

with some experiences to give but…

Jannah is where adventures live.

May Allah bless you and me with the Honored Qur’an. And benefit us from its verses and the wise reminder. This much I say and I seek Allah’s forgiveness for me and you and the rest of the Muslims. Seek Allah’s forgiveness. Truly He is the Extremely Forgiving, the Always Merciful.