All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
He created everything and made them to an exact measure. (25:2)
O Mankind, here is an illustration, so listen carefully: those you call on besides Allah could not, even if they combined all their forces, create a fly, and if a fly took something away from them, they would not be able to retrieve it. (22:73)
Verily, Allah is not ashamed to set forth a parable even of a mosquito (gnat) or something more insignificant. (2:26)
‘Ya Man Yara’ Oh Who Sees.
Oh! Who sees the mosquito spread its wings
In the darkness of the black night
And sees its vein in its upper chest
And the brain in these thin bones
And sees blood running in its jugular vein
Moving from one joint to another
Forgive me
For what I have previously done
And sees the embryo nurturing inside it
In the darkness of its innards without looking
And sees its footsteps
In its quick and rushing movements
And sees and hears other beings
In the bottom of the dark and huge sea
Forgive me
For what I have previously done
Ahmad Bukhatir
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Allah says: If this world would be equal to the wing of mosquito then I should not give a sip of water to the Kafir.
Narrated Abu Hurairah RadiAllahu anhu: Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, "On the Day of Resurrection, a huge fat man will come who will not weigh the weight of the wing of a mosquito in Allah’s sight." and then the Prophet added, ‘We shall not give them any weight on the Day of Resurrection’
Shaytan perches on the left shoulder ready to inject his poison once we are neglectful of the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala.
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The mosquito flaps its wings about 500 times per second to fly at a speed of approximately three miles per hour. It is only the female that sucks blood which she does in order to feed her eggs, as she obtains her nourishment from floral nectar. The mosquito has 100 eyes in its head, 48 teeth, 3 complete hearts, six cutting implements in its snout, each with a unique function and three wings on either side. An internal digital X ray machine that distinguishes the human skin in the dark as a violet colour. It injects a vaccine that works as a local anesthetic to help insert its snout into the skin without the pain of sucking the blood being felt. It has blood testing abilities as it does not like all types of blood, along with a mechanism to speed the flow of the blood as it sucks so it can be drawn faster. Dengue fever is transmitted to humans by the a particular type of mosquito which only feeds during the day. Several hundred deaths each year in the Kingdom are attributed to this second to malaria disease.
It is said that Namrood the Kafir king of Babylon during the time of Ibrahim Alaihis Salam met his death partially due to a mosquito flying up his nostril. It aggravated him so much that he told his advisors to bash his head in the hope of dislodging the mosquito. So they bashed his head with a shoe resulting in his death. SubhanAllah, how Allah Ta’ala used this tiny insect leading to the death of this ruthless tyrant.
This Enlightened City does have mosquitoes, more so around the areas where there are villas with gardens. Alhumdulillah not many, unlike Jeddah and other places.
ALLAHU AKBAR! SUBHANALLAH! Such is the GREATNESS of Allah Ta’ala, the Creator, the ALL-SEEING, Who sees not only what is on the outside of us, but what is in our minds and what is in our hearts, just as He can see and know the minutest detail of the tiny mosquito.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
(16:14)
…and He is the Best of those who give sustenance. (23:72)
You provide limitlessly for whoever You will. (3:27)
Remember the bounties of your Lord, so that you may be successful. (7:69)
And so it was that our sustenance from the sea was delivered to us in the form of some cute baby CEPHALOPODS!!!! Aka octopuses, or some say octopi…..whatever the name they are slimy creatures and loads of fun to prepare as I discovered for the first time in dealing with them!
I kept staring at them….and they kept staring at me….those huge bulbous eyes…what DO I DO???
Google comes to the rescue in all situations….so I had to turn the head inside out, gouge out those bulbous eyes, the brain and the three hearts!!! along with the “beak” and the weird bit at the top and what I guess is the gut at the other end….leaving the eight legs spiraling out like a dancer performing under water synchronized swimming as they are washed and washed and washed. All the while being squirted with their dense black ink…how amazing is Allah Ta’ala’s creation, SubhanAllah! And these represent only one of the thousands of species inhabiting the oceans, with this rizq originating from the Red Sea, only a few hours to the west of Madinah.
The main fish market here is a fascinating place….small individual “shops” of about ten square meters line a central walkway, all competing for customers with their catch of the day fresh from Yanbu, the major fishing hub, creatively arranged on benches at the front. The smaller fish are in bundles with a natural string of cane weaving through the mouth then tied into a handle. Some of the larger fish, sometimes more than two meters long are truly incredible…the vibrant colours and patterns seem to have a direct impact on one’s Iman! SubhanAllah….such is the artistic magnificence of our Rabb Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala! The traders vie for custom enticing one with all sorts of offers while the bargaining adds to the general fish market symphony, enhanced by the aroma!
Saudis, like most Arabs, love their seafood, and more especially on Friday after Juma’ah. Numerous outlets around the city specialize in frying fish which have been rubbed with various spices, predominantly cumin, making a thick tasty coating. These are then displayed ready for one to choose exactly which fish is wanted, and then they are fried in a huge vat. How they recognize who belongs to what fish must be a secret of the trade! These are then carried home in an open box lined with paper….
The crowds around these places has become a real traffic hazard, with several police in attendance trying to maintain some sort of order and preventing the locals from triple parking while they race in for their Juma’ah lunch! The frying fish smell fills the air for miles, and cats congregate from miles away!
Anyway, back to the amazing octopus …apparently it is not a good housekeeper as it throws all the discarded shells from its banquets of crustaceans just outside its lair. If it octopus damages one of its vital arms, it can grow a new one. Also they are capable of learning. In an experiment, octopi were trained to distinguish between shapes and also to recognize objects by touch, and to undo the lids of jars that contained their favourite food. And the first writing ink was made from the pigment found in the octopus’s sac. And that weird little beak, the only hard feature it has…sort of like a small piece of plastic, is used to locate hiding places, and then grab onto a hard surface with this tiny beak, with the rest of the body being able to slither through….experiments have shown that a huge octopus can fit through such tiny gaps. In their natural habitat they can swiftly escape any predators by first squirting them with ink and then slinking into a tiny crevice! Extraordinarily clever! SubhanAllah!
For those with children, or those who are involved in educating our dear young ones, this link provides some excellent lesson plans.
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"All praise is for Allah Who has made me eat this food and has provided it for me without any effort and labour on my part", is one of the Du’a our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, according to Tirmithi, would recite after meals, and it is said that all past sins are forgiven if this is recited. Some Ulema have explained the two separate issues inherent in this Du’a…..one is the blessing of being provided the food….and the second is the blessing of actually being able to eat it. Many people due to various conditions of illness may be provided with certain foods, but are unable to actually eat thereof.
…and He is the Best of those who give sustenance.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.
The Spider
There are signs in the heavens and the earth for those who believe….in the creatures Allah scattered on earth, there are signs for people of sure faith. (45:4)
Those who take protectors other than Allah can be compared to spiders building themselves houses, the spider’s is the frailest of houses, if only they could understand. (29:41)
"What excellent qualities and noble deeds the cave contained (in it).
While every eye (of the disbelievers) was blind to him.
The truth (sidq) and the true (siddique) in the cave were not seen (by the disbelievers).
And they were saying "There is no one in the cave".
They thought a wild dove and a spider would not
Lay an egg or spin a web for the best of creation."
Qasidah Burdah, Allamah Sharafud-deen Abu Abdullah Muhammad bin Hasan Al-Busairi.
Such an honour from our Rabb and Creator, for the spider, seeking His orders to execute, submitting totally to His Will. Such an honour for that spider to have spun a web to protect our Noble Nabi SallAllahu alaihi wassalam and his faithful companion, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq, RadhiAllahu anhu!
And according to Al-Qurtubi RahmatuLlah alaihi, Allah Ta’ala also inspired the spider to spin a web around Dawud Alaihis Sallam when Jalut was trying to kill him.
SUBHANALLAH! SUBHANALLAH! SUBHANALLAH!
Photograph by Dennis Kunkel from this fascinating explanation as to why spiders are not trapped in their own sticky web.
Excerpts from a Tafseer of the above verse from Surah Ankabut: "The spider has three pairs of prominent moving protrusions in the lower abdomen. These protrusions have tiny holes from which the fluid used to make the threads for its house comes out; therefore, they are known as the spinners. This fluid which comes out from a number of special glands to outside the spider’s body, through the rear spinners, dries as soon as it is subjected to air. When it dries, various threads are produced which differ in types, length, and strength according to the difference in the producing glands."
Continuning…comparing the physical weakness of the actual web to the incredible strength of the spun silk forming the web…."Despite its delicacy, it is the strongest biological substance known to mankind so far. The silk threads which make up the spider’s web are considered stronger than steel, and their strength is surpassed only by the melted quartz. The thin thread stretches to five times its length before it is cut. Therefore, the scientists call it “biological steel” or “bio-steel”. It is twenty times stronger than the ordinary metal steel. Its tolerance measures 300,000 pound for the square inch. Hypothetically speaking, should there be a thick rope of the spider’s threads, in the size of the thumb, it can easily carry a "jumbo" jet."
SUBHANALLAH! SUBHANALLAH! SUBHANALLAH!
A visual feast of "Iman boosting" spider webs!, and more here, look at the Banana Spider!
And a Harun Yahya online book delving deeply into the Miracle in the Spider. The illustrations and explanations detailing the architecture, engineering and methods of prey truly are:
…… signs in the heavens and the earth for those who believe….in the creatures Allah scattered on earth, there are signs for people of sure faith. (45:4)
May we all be of those who believe; people of certainty, of sure faith, pondering on the Greatness of Allah Ta’ala’s creation in its every detail. Ameen.
May we too, seek His Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala orders to excute, totally submitting to His Will, Ameen.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Ameen.
Ants
Sulaiman’s host’s of jinn, men and birds were marshaled in ordered ranks before him, and when they came to the valley of ants, one ant said, "Ants! Go into your homes, in case Sulaiman and his hosts inadvertently crush you." Sulaiman smiled, laughing at its words and said, ‘Lord, inspire me to be thankful for the blessings You have granted me and my parents, and to do good deeds that please You; admit me by Your mercy into the ranks of Your righteous servants.’ (27:17-20)
Persistent, diligent, obedient, industrious, intelligent, social, skillful, organized, mathematical, managerial, meticulous, ingenious, engineers, doctors, nurses, farmers, meteorologists, ecologists, scientific, militaristic, technological, architects; qualities, professions and attributes given to man by Allah Ta’ala, but also to the tiny ant! And this list is hardly definitive!
Allah Ta’ala, the Lord of all the Worlds, displays His Omnipotence with His miraculous creation through these minute marvels. May we be from the ‘men of understanding.’
Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the wonders of creation in the heavens and earth, saying: "O Lord! You have not created this in vain! Glory be to You! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire. (3:190-191)
There are almost nine thousands species of the ant genus, all with varying characteristics, representing the highest and densest population in the world! And the 80 million year old fossilized ants found, reveal that they have not changed at all throughout these millions of years! Time we could never begin to comprehend! SubhanAllah! For these millions of years they have followed the decree as set by Allah Ta’ala. Their total submission to whatever conditions reveals the same calculating, organizing, researching, managing; striving to enact the same perfection and wisdom in maintaining the amazing tasks allotted to each group. Never complaining, never aspiring, never coveting, and never dreaming! They have perfected the ideal social system devoid of competition, individual pursuits, status, greed, power. An achievement man perpetually struggles with.
All creation possesses a sense of intelligence. How else can one explain how the ant knows to break a grain into two so that it does not germinate, and thus is able to store it for the winter? Or how does one ant know that its duty is to "milk" the honey ant, or another to guard the colony, or another to nurse the new born ants, or another to control the air conditioning? And the list goes on.
The tiny ant has the fastest jaw in the entire animal kingdom, literally quicker than the blink of an eye, as recent research has discovered. One species of ant can clamp its mandibles shut at between 78 mph and 145mph. The average time for a strike on its prey was 0.13 milliseconds, some 2,300 times faster than the blink of an eye! Such intricacies from our Rabb all around us in the most unassuming of His creation! SubhanAllah, may we truly be amazed and Glorify Him morning and night, as do these tiny ants!
So much information is readily available on these great miracles of creation. Insha’Allah, you share such learning with your children and others. Especially conveying how they are constantly glorifying their Maker, Jalla Jalaaluhu.
I sit transfixed by the recent appearance of ants in our humble Madinah house. Thinking that more than likely they belong to the same colony from generations ago, who were crawling around engaged in exactly the same routine during the time of our Beloved Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam! How season after season, they intuitively know, without calendars, without mechanical devices, when to begin to look for suitable places for their winter retreats and storage of their food supplies!
Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu anhu reports from Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam that a certain Nabi of Allah Ta’ala once took his people out of town to pray for rain. As they emerged, he noticed an ant praying to Allah Ta’ala with its feet in the air. Seeing this, he told his people, "Let us return. Our prayers have been answered because of this little ant." (Mishkat)
Another Hadith affirms the fact that the ants supplicate to Allah Ta’ala. The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: A learned person is as much above a worshipper as I am above the least of you. He added: Allah, His angels and all those in the Heavens and on the Earth, even the ants in their hills and the fish in the water, call down blessings on those who instruct people in beneficial knowledge.
Three of the four creatures given special status by Allah Ta’ala in His Book, ants, bees and the Hoopoe were also mentioned by the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam as being prohibited to kill. The fourth is the sparrow-hawk.
Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, "Once while a prophet amongst the prophets was taking a rest underneath a tree, when an ant bit him. He ordered that his luggage be taken away from underneath that tree and then ordered that the dwelling place of the ants should be set on fire. Allah sent him a revelation: ‘Wouldn’t it have been sufficient to burn a single ant, the one that bit you?’"
Abu Dawood reports that Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam once noticed that an anthill was burnt. When he asked who had burnt it the Sahabah RadhiAllahu anhum admitted that they had done so. The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam then told them, "It is only befitting for the Rabb of Fire to punish with fire."
‘Ata was asked by a man about the fleas or ants that vexed him while he was in the state of ihram. He replied: "You may throw away what does not belong to you."
The one who respects Allah Ta’ala’s right over him is like Ibn Sirin. He bought forty jars of butter. His servant found a mouse in one of them, so he removed it. Ibn Sirin asked, "Which jar did you take it from?" The man replied, "I don’t know!" So he dumped all of them onto the ground. Or he is like Abu Yazid al-Bistami. He bought a measure of oats in Hamadan, and a little of it was left over. When he returned to Bistam he spied two ants in it so he returned to Hamadan and released the two ants!
Allah is the creator of everything and He is the Guardian over everything. (39:62)
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Ameen.
The Shepherd.
A mere ten minute drive from Haram will bring you to the peripheral nomadic farmers. Their temporary "homes" constructed of all sorts of recycled materials, including packing cases, cardboard, frayed pieces of canvas and discarded fabrics. The shelters for their animals mimic their homes! Such a rugged lifestyle at the foot of rugged rock mountains, a rugged awesome beauty of sorts. The weather beaten, gnarled features of these farmers and their families blend with the harsh terrain. An ambience of transience pervades these clusters of animal husbandry. Perpetual lessons of this mortal life sculpt the essence of their being. SubhanAllah, how I sometimes envy how their lot will be on the Day of Qiyamah when they will be required to render their account; maybe seconds to describe their possessions and the simplicity of their existence. Allahu ‘Alum. Their endurance in the intense summer heat is beyond my comprehension! Water has to be carted in and stored in metal tanks, solar heated! Wood and dung for cooking. A natural sparkling star-studded ceiling in the bathroom! Such conditions reflect how for centuries people survived in and around Madinah, and all over the Kingdom. The presence of the lonely shepherd attending his, and sometimes her, flock is quite common, astride a camel or a donkey amidst hundreds of sheep or goats or camels.
The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said that all of Allah Ta’ala’s prophets shepherded sheep at some stage during their mission. His Companions RadhiAllahu anhu asked him, "Did you do the same?" The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam replied, "Yes, I used to shepherd the sheep of the people of Makkah for some Qirats."
Working as a shepherd allowed the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam to work in peace and quiet, to enjoy the beauty of the desert, and to contemplate the wonders and magnificence of Allah Ta’ala’s creation. The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam through his experience of being a shepherd learnt and developed many wonderful qualities which assisted him in leading the Ummah. A shepherd is busy taking care of his flock from sunrise till sunset. A life of ease, comfort and luxury are unknown to the shepherd. Long days in the intense heat with the most basic of course food, requires maximum patience, an attribute necessary for a good leader. The very nature of herding a flock requires humbleness. Serving, supervising, guarding and sleeping in close proximity to the animals are the daily duties, contributing to ridding oneself of pride and arrogance. The desert harbours an array of natural enemies to the flock, with various wild predatory animals to be aware of and face, so bravery is another characteristic instilled in the shepherd. Mercy and compassion for all the creation of Allah Ta’ala is paramount, along with the honourable satisfaction of earning a lawful income. And thus is the legacy of all prophets seen in these humble settings.
Allah Ta’ala says in one Hadith Qudsi, Your Lord delights at a shepherd who, on the peak of a mountain crag, gives the call to prayer and prays. Then Allah Almighty says: Look at this servant of Mine, he gives the call to prayer and performs the prayers; he is in awe of Me. I have forgiven My servant and have admitted him to Paradise.
SubhanAllahu, such a blessing!
The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: Verily Shaytan is the wolf of a man just as the wolf is the enemy of a flock. He seizes the solitary sheep going astray from the flock or going aside from the flock. So avoid the branching paths; it is essential for you to remain along with the community.
And another narration he SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: If there are three men in a village or in the desert among whom prayer is not offered in congregation, the devil has got the mastery over them. So observe prayer in congregation, for the wolf only eats only the straggling animal.
Profound messages in these few lines, may we all ponder on such wisdom.
Wahab bin Qabus RadhiAllahu anhu was a shepherd who lived in a village near Madinah. To think that maybe some of these places were once home to the Sahabah shepherds jolts the heart! One day he came to Madinah to see the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. He was accompanied by his nephew, and his herd of goats. In Madina, Wahab came to know that the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam had left for Uhud where he was fighting against the Quraysh. He left his nephew and his goats at Madina, and himself proceeded to Uhud. When he reached Uhud, the battle was at its thickest. A group of the Quraysh was at the time advancing to attack the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. It was a critical situation, and turning to his Companions RadhiAllahu anhum the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said: "He who disperses these people will be my companion in the Paradise." Hearing the call, Wahab RadhiAllahu anhu rushed at the advancing Quraysh. Some were killed and the rest scattered. The Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam watched Wahab RadhiAllahu anhu overpower the Quraysh group single handed. When Wahab RadhiAllahu anhu after the flight of the Quraysh came to the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, he was given the tidings of Paradise. Wahab RadhiAllahu anhu was intoxicated with pleasure at these tidings. As soon as he heard this, he took his sword, and rushed to the enemy line. Killing right and left he penetrated deep into the enemy line. He was surrounded by the enemy on all sides. He received many wounds but he went on playing havoc in the ranks of the enemy. The blood flowed profusely from his wounds, and then he fell dead on the battle-field. When the battle was over, and the Muslims collected the dead bodies of all the martyrs, the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam stood by his dead body and said: "O Wahab, you have pleased me. May Allah be pleased with you." Although the Holy Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam was himself wounded, he led the funeral prayer of Wahab RadhiAllahu anhu, and put him in the grave with his own hands. Umar RadhiAllahu anhu who was present said that in the battle of Uhud none surpassed Wahab RadhiAllahu anhu in bravery. Thereafter Umar RadhiAllahu anhu used to say often: "I never envied anybody more than Wahab. I wish I could appear before Allah with a record as good as his."
Narrated Unais bin ‘Amr RadhiAllahu anhu: Ahban bin Aus said, "I was amongst my sheep. Suddenly a wolf caught a sheep and I shouted at it. The wolf sat on its tail and addressed me, saying, ‘Who will look after the sheep when you will be busy and not able to look after it? Do you forbid me the provision which Allah has provided me?’ Ahban added, "I clapped my hands and said, ‘By Allah, I have never seen anything more curious and wonderful than this!’ On that the wolf said, ‘There is something more curious and wonderful than this; that is, Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam is over there amongst palm trees, inviting people to Allah ‘ " Unais bin ‘Amr RadhiAllahu anhu further said, "Then Ahban went to Allah’s Apostle and informed him what happened and embraced Islam."
And finally a slightly related moral.
Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, "There were two women with whom there were their two sons. A wolf came and took away the son of one of them. That lady said to her companion, ‘The wolf has taken your son.’ The other said, ‘But it has taken your son.’ So both of them sought the judgment of the Prophet Daoud alaihis Salam who judged that the boy should be given to the older lady. Then both of them went to the Prophet Sulaiman alaihis Salam, son of Daoud alaihis Salam and informed him of the case. Sulaiman alaihis Salam said, ‘Give me a knife so that I may cut the child into two portions and give one half to each of you.’ The younger lady said, ‘Do not do so; may Allah bless you! He is her child.’ On that, he gave the child to the younger lady." Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu anhu remarked after he heard Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam tell this story, "By Allah! I had never heard the word "Sakkin" as meaning knife, except on that day, for we used to call it ‘Mudya.’ "
"All of you are shepherds, and each one is responsible for his flock. A leader of the people is a shepherd and responsible for them. A man is like a shepherd over his family, and he is responsible for his flock. A woman is like a shepherd over her husband’s house and children, and she is responsible for them. And a slave is a guardian of his master’s property and is responsible for it. So all of you are guardians and are responsible for your charges."
Such a moving Hadith.
O Allah, make us all responsible shepherds. Ameen.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Ameen.
Creatures.
Allah Ta’ala, our Lord the Most Wise and Praiseworthy displays His Omniscience through His creation as a reminder of His Magnificence, as an example of how He sustains all that He has created, to show the innumerable bounties and favours He has created for mankind and to display how the animal kingdom are in direct obedience to His Universal Laws.
Our Qur’an Majeed is replete with abundant references to many varieties of creatures; to enumerate all such verses would produce an extremely long list. SubhanAllah.
Animals belong to different species and communities and are vast in types.
All creatures that crawl on the earth and those that fly with their wings are communities like yourselves; We have not neglected anything in the Book, then to their Lord shall they be gathered. (6:38)
All share the same characteristics of needing to eat, drink and reproduce. Creatures and man share the right to inhabit the earth and travel through it, all enjoying on different levels the blessings of food and water provided by our Almighty Maker.
And how many a living creature that does not carry its sustenance: Allah sustains it and yourselves; and He is the Hearing, the Knowing. (29:60)
There is not a creature that moves on earth whose provision is not His concern. He knows where it lives and its (final) resting place: it is all there in a clear record. (11:6)
They too can be healthy or suffer wounds and illness, all eventually dying. All will be resurrected on Qiyamah, but unlike humans will not be judged for their behaviour.
The entire of creation glorifies Allah Ta’ala. Just as many men and jinn worship Allah Ta’ala, so too do plants, inanimate objects and animals.
The seven heavens declare His glory and the earth (too), and those who are in them; and there is not a single thing but glorifies Him with His praise, but you do not understand their glorification; surely He is Forbearing, Forgiving. (17:44)
Do they not consider every thing that Allah has created? Its (very) shadows return from right and left, making obeisance to Allah while they are in utter abasement. And whatever creature that is in the heavens and that is in the earth makes obeisance to Allah (only), and the angels (too) and they do not show pride. They fear their Lord above them and do what they are commanded. (16:48-50)
Do you not see that Allah is He, Whom obeys whoever is in the heavens and whoever is in the earth, and the sun and the moon and the stars, and the mountains and the trees, and the animals and many of the people. (22:18)
Abu Hurairah RadhiAllah anhu said: Allah’s Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam took hold of my hands and said: "Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, created the clay on Saturday and He created the mountains on Sunday and He created the trees on Monday and He created the things entailing labour on Tuesday and created light on Wednesday and He caused the animals to spread on Thursday and created Adam (peace be upon him) after Asr on Friday; the last creation at the last hour of the hours of Friday, i.e. between afternoon and night. Sahih Muslim
And so it is with great awe and wonder that I need to greet the "visitors" whom Allah Ta’ala has decreed to pay me a "social" visit!
Alhumdulillah compared to many Madanians who live closer to the mountains and open spaces, our "drop ins" are slightly limited, and as yet have not included any of the more not so friendly species of scorpion, or snake or many other desert dwellers!
These creatures could be dismissed as being no more than a nuisance, but reflecting on their unique features does have an amazing effect on ones Iman!
We have residing in an air well space, which, Alhumdulillah is so far sealed from our living area, a family of house lizards! I know of the hadith which instructs us to kill them, which I would do if they were actually in my space. But their "home" is like a display case in a zoo! There is a window looking onto this area, so I can see them and hear them. SubhanAllah they seem to offer their greetings at Maghrib time. My experiences of these creatures in other countries have provided me with Jihadi endeavours! It is reputed that this house lizard would blow on the fire Namrood ordered his men to set to burn Ibrahim Alaihis Salam. Like so many creepy crawly things created by Allah Ta’ala, they must have their purpose. And Allah knows best.
Certainly upon studying the intricate details about His creatures we undoubtedly marvel at the intricacy of His Work.
There are signs in the heavens and the earth for those who believe: in the creation of you, in the creatures Allah has scattered on earth, there are signs for people of sure faith. (45:3-4)
And Allah has created from water every living creature: so of them is that which walks upon its belly, and of them is that which walks upon two feet, and of them is that which walks upon four; Allah creates what He pleases; surely Allah has power over all things. (24:45)
House lizards, or Geckos can scale a polished glass wall at a metre a second, and support their weight on a vertical surface with one digit. The nanotechnology puzzle of how geckos use millions of tiny foot hairs to adhere to even molecularly smooth surfaces such as polished glass answer lies in the fact that gecko feet are covered in hairs called setae. Each hair is 100 millionths of a metre long. It has 1,000 pads at the tip, and these pads, or spatulae, are 200 billionths of a metre wide. The gecko foot hairs split and allow a billion spatulae to increase surface density and come into close contact with the surface. This creates a strong adhesive force. The adhesive is so strong that a single seta can lift the weight of an ant. A million seta could lift the weight of a child. The gecko can release its foot simply by changing the geometry of the hairs, to sprint onwards and upwards. Scientists are experimenting with producing a tape based on the Ingenuity of Allah Ta’ala’s creation which they say will be able to support an elephant hanging from a ceiling!
A bigger desert "cousin" of this house lizard is what the Arabs call Dhub. This is the species referred to in various hadith as being permissible to eat, and which many Bedouins consider a delicacy. They hunt them and bring truckloads back for selling to the "connoisseurs."
Narrated Thabit ibn Wadi’ah RadhiAllahu anhu: We were in an army with the Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. We got some lizards. I roasted one lizard and brought it to the Apostle of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and placed it before him. He took a stick and counted its fingers. He then said: A group from the children of Isra’il was transformed into an animal of the land, and I do not know which animal it was. He did not eat it nor did he forbid (its eating).
Narrated Umar ibn al-Khattab RadhiAllahu anhu; Jabir ibn Abdullah
Abuz Zubayr RadhiAllahu anhu reported: I asked Jabir about the eating of the lizard, whereupon he said: Don’t eat that, as the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam felt disgust. He (the narrator) said that Umar ibn al-Khattab RadhiAllah anhu remarked: Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam did not declare it to be unlawful. Allah, the Exalted and Majestic, has made it a source of benefit for more than one person. It is a common diet of the shepherds. Had it been with me, I would have eaten that.
Malik RadhiAllahu anhu related to me from Ibn Shihab from Abu
Umama ibn Sahl ibn Hunayf from Abdullah ibn Abbas that Khalid ibn al-Walid ibn al-Mughira RadhiAllahu anhu entered the house of Maimuna RadhiAllahu anha, the wife of the Prophet, SallAllahu alaihi wasallam with the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and he was brought a roasted lizard. The Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, stretched his hand toward it. One of the women who was in Maimuna’s house said, "Tell the Messenger of Allah, what he means to eat." Someone said, "It is a lizard, Messenger of Allah." He withdrew his hand. Khalid RadhiAllahu anhu said, "Is it haram, Messenger of Allah?" He said, "No, but there were none in my people’s land, and I find that I dislike them. "Khalid RadhiAllahu anhu added, "I chewed and ate it while the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was looking."
The other recent visitors have been house flies!
Before we acknowledge how repugnant they can be, or ask what significance they have in our lives, let us examine some of the incredible features of this one small creature from the enormous repertoire of The Creator, The Ultimate Designer! The metallic colouring, the intricate details of the head, the mathematical precision of the eye, their amazing life cycle.
Adults usually live 15 to 25 days. The potential reproductive capacity of flies is tremendous, but fortunately can never be realized. It has been stated that a pair of flies beginning operations in April may be progenitors, if all were to live, of 191,010,000,000,000,000,000, flies by August.
O mankind! A parable has been coined, so listen to it carefully: Verily! Those on whom you call besides Allah, cannot create even a fly, even though they combine together for the purpose. And if the fly snatched away a thing from them, they would have no power to release it from the fly. So weak are both the seeker and the sought. (22:73)
On the authority of Abu Hurairah RadhiAllahu anhu: Allah’s Apostle SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, "If a fly falls in the vessel of any of you, let him dip all of it into the vessel and then throw it away, for in one of its wings there is a disease and in the other there is healing, an antidote for the treatment of that disease."
A tyrannical ruler was addressing the people, when a fly settled on his face. He chased the fly away. Back it came and again he chased it. The fly was stubborn. It settled on his face once more. He tried to kill it, failed, got angry. He then asked Dahhak, a scholar who was present: "Why has Allah created this annoying insect? Doesn’t it seem useless?" Dahhak replied: "It was created to show tyrants like you how impotent they really are; that they don’t even have the power to dispose a fly. You may hold sway over human beings, yet a feeble little insect refuses to obey you. It settles on dirt, then comes and alights on the faces of those who imagine they are God. If it could express itself in words, it would say: "You are a nonentity. Do not forget that you are nothing. You may conquer the world, but you cannot conquer me. If Allah wills, He can kill you, as He killed Nimrod, with a miserable little fly.""
Wisdom of a Sufi Master -Sheikh Muzaffer Ozak al-Jerrahi, Irshad
And of everything We have created pairs that you may be mindful. (51:49)
May we all be mindful of all aspects of Creation. Insha’Allah.
All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. Ameen.
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