Soil is the greatest source of divine contemplation for man. Thousands of fruits and vegetables grow from there. So how does the same soil produce so many different products? This leads man to a creator.
Pious servants are steeped in contemplation. They become acquainted with the language of blooming flowers, chirping birds and trees that yield fruit. They mirror onto their spiritual lives the elegance and beauty they see. They gain an elegance of spirit like flowers and generosity like trees abounding in fruits. These are the lucky people Allah, glory unto Him, praises in the Holy Quran.
The Almighty has decked out the Earth’s surface in the best manner imaginable and has made it hospitable to human existence. Placing paths and passages thereon, He has mad the ground suitable and mild to travel on.
The Holy Quran states:
“Who made the earth a resting place for you and the sky a canopy and (Who) sends down rain from the cloud then brings forth with it subsistence for you of the fruits; therefore do not set up rivals to Allah while you know.” (al-Baqara, 22)
“Have We not made the earth as a wide expanse, And the mountains as pegs?” (an-Naba, 6-7)
“He it is Who made the earth smooth for you, therefore go about in the spacious sides thereof, and eat of His sustenance, and to Him is the return after death.” (al-Mulk, 15)
Allah, glory unto Him, has spoken of the ground in His Sacred Book so that humans could delicately reflect on the wisdom underlying it.
Above ground is for the living, while below ground is for the dead. The Almighty says:
“Have We not made the earth to draw together to itself, the living and the dead…” (al-Mursalat, 25-26)
Now, look carefully at the ground when parched; it looks all but dead! Yet, once met with water from the skies, it vibrantly comes to life and regains its green. It grows multicolored plants. From the depths of its bosom emerge various forms of life. Then take note of how the Almighty has reinforced the ground with colossal mountains! Just look at how He has stored reserves of water underneath them? How does He then burst out springs from these and form vast rivers on Earth? Just how does He raise sweet and pure water forth from dry rock and murky mud? How is it that this water gives life to all things? Through water, how has Allah, glory unto Him, raised from the ground wheat, grapes, clovers, olives, dates, pomegranates and countless others? Each has a different shape, color, taste and aroma; to each a distinct beauty, a distinct pleasure…Some are superior to others in terms of nutrition. But all are watered by the very same water and emerge from the very same soil.[1]
[1] See, Imam Ghazzali, Ihyâ, VI, 63.
Source: Osman Nuri Topbaş, Contemplation in Islam, Erkam Public.
Contemplating the Skies
Contemplation Of The Universe
