The Inanimate Animate as Described in Islam
Everything in the heavens and on Earth glorifies Allah. ~ Quran 62:1
As you read this post further you will realize that, according to Islam, every created being – whether it is living or non-living objects – is in a state of submission to Allah and worships Him in a manner appropriate to its form and state. The sun, moon, stars, trees and animals are all in a state of subjugation to Allah and prostrate to Him, and all of them worship Him in an appropriate manner.
Here's a similar verse from the Quran, but it goes on to say that we do not understand the glorification done by inanimate as well as animate beings. That's because we cannot comprehend yet how they glorify their Lord. There are many narrations from the Quran which is scientifically proven till date. Though science has proved plants and trees have life, however science has not yet advanced to prove inanimate objects too live.
The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, glorify Him and there is not a thing but glorifies His Praise. But you understand not their glorification. Truly, He is Ever Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving ~ Quran 17:44
In another chapter in the Quran, Allah is talking about how He fashioned this universe in 6 days — He created the earth in 2 days (Quran 41:9) and that He placed mountains firmly on the earth over its surface and He blessed it and determined therein its sustenance in 4 equal days (Quran 41:10). Allah goes on to says in the Quran 41:11, then He Istawa (rose over) towards the heaven when it was smoke, and said to it and to the earth (when they were not fully formed): "Come both of you willingly or unwillingly." They both said: "We come, willingly." This is a very interesting verse that suggests the heaven and the earth, as a whole, are living objects and they glorify Allah in their own way.
Then He (Allah) directed the heavens when it was smoke and said to it and to the earth: “Come both of you willingly or unwillingly.” They both said: “We come, willingly.” ~ Quran 41:11
The Earth, The Heavens and The Mountains decline Allah's offer
In another post we have mentioned, after Allah created the universe, He offered Al-Amanah (trust / obedience / obligatory duties of His religion) to the heavens, the earth, and the mountains on the grounds that if they fulfilled them, He would reward them; and if they failed, He would punish them. Due to the challenges and due to high risk involved the trio felt they won't be able to fulfill that responsibility. As a result the heavens, the earth and the mountains declined Allah's offer.
Indeed we offered obligatory duties to the heavens, the earth, the mountains, but they declined to bear it and feared (Allah's torment). But man undertook it. Indeed he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results). ~ Quran 33:72
Thus according to Islam the inanimate things like the heavens, the earth, and the mountains have life and live in a way that we do not understand. For better understanding of 33:72 read our post on 'Trials from Allah' where we have described this incident in more detail.
Everyone Prostrates to Allah. The Shadow Metaphor.
Quran 22:18 ~ See you not that whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and other moving creatures, and many of mankind prostrate themselves to Allah? ~
Quran 24:41 ~ See you not that Allah, He it is Whom glorify whosoever is in the heavens and the earth, and the birds with wings out-spread (in their flight). Of each one He (Allah) knows indeed his Salat (prayer) and his glorification, [or everyone knows his Salat (prayer) and his glorification], and Allah is All-Aware of what they do.
Quran 16:48-49 ~ Have they not observed things that Allah has created: (how) their shadows incline to the right and to the left, making prostration unto Allah, and they are lowly? And to Allah prostrate all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, of the moving (living) creatures and the angels, and they are not proud (i.e. they worship their Lord (Allah) with humility).
Imam Ibn Kathir has said that Allah is telling us of His Might, Majesty and Pride, for everything submits to Him and all things and creatures humble themselves before Him, inanimate objects and animals, and those which are accountable among mankind and the jinn, and the angels. Allah tells us that everything that has a shadow that inclines towards the right and towards the left – i.e., morning and evening – prostrates to Allah.
Allah has confirmed that all beings prostrate to Him, and He has explained how some of them prostrate, which is by the inclining of its shadow towards the right and the left. It does not mean that everything prostrates on seven parts of the body; that applies only to the humans. The prostration of all other beings is in accordance with their nature.
The Sun Prostrates & Seeks Permission from Allah to Rise Everyday
A companion of Allah's Messenger said:
The Prophet (pbuh) asked me at sunset, "Do you know where the sun goes (at the time of sunset)?" I replied, "Allah and His Apostle know better." He said, "It goes (i.e. travels) till it prostrates itself underneath the Throne and takes the permission to rise again, and it is permitted and then (a time will come when) it will be about to prostrate itself but its prostration will not be accepted, and it will ask permission to go on its course but it will not be permitted, but it will be ordered to return from where it has come and so it will rise in the west. ~ Bukhari 59/10
One of the major signs before the day of resurrection is the sun rising from the west. Scientifically we are heading towards the pole switch, and this article indicates sun rising from west could be the reality. The Prophet (pbuh) said,
"The hour will not be established till the sun rises from the West; and when it rises (from the West) and the people see it, they all will believe. And that is (the time) when no good will it do to a soul to believe then." ~ Bukhari 65/4636.
A Mountain that Loves People
Mount Uhud is the largest mountain in Madinah. It is located in the north of Madinah and it consists of a group of mountains that extends from the east to the west with a length of seven kilometers. Its width is almost three kilometers, and it is at a distance of five kilometers from the mosque of the Prophet (pbuh).
When the mountain of Uhud came in the sight of Allah's Messenger (pbuh) he said. "This is a mountain that loves us and is loved by us." ~ Bukhari 60/46
The Prophet (pbuh) once climbed the mountain of Uhud with his companions Abu Bakr (ra), Umar (ra) and Uthman (ra). The mountain shook with them. The Prophet (pbuh) said to the mountain, "Be firm, O Uhud! For on you there are no more than a Prophet, a Siddiq (truthful; Abu Bakr) and two martyrs (Umar & Uthman)." ~ Bukhari 62/25 ... The Prophet (pbuh) thus prophecised that Umar and Uthman, the two companions, will be martyred one day, which did happen few years after The Prophet's demise.
Some Parables of Stones
In the book of Hajj chapter in Tirmidhi & Ibn Majah it is mentioned that The Prophet (pbuh) said,
“There is no (pilgrim) who recites the Talbiyah but that which is to his right and left also recites it, rocks and trees and hills, to the farthest ends of the earth in each direction, from here and from there.” ~ Tirmidhi 2/4/828 | Ibn Majah 4/25/2921
The Prophet (pbuh) recalled an instance where a rock greeted him before his journey of Isra and Miraaj. He (pbuh) said, "Indeed in Makkah there is a rock that used to give me Salam during the night of my advent, and I know it even now." ~ Tirmidhi 1/46/3624
A stone that ran away with Prophet Moses (pbuh) clothes
The Prophet (pbuh) said, "The (people of) Bani Israel used to take bath naked (all together) looking at each other. Prophet Moses used to take a bath alone. They said, 'By Allah! Nothing prevents Moses from taking a bath with us except that he has a scrotal hernia.' So once Moses went out to take a bath and put his clothes over a stone and then that stone ran away with his clothes. Moses followed that stone saying, "My clothes, O stone! My clothes, O stone! till the people of Bani Israel saw him and said, 'By Allah, Moses has got no defect in his body. Moses took his clothes and began to beat the stone." Abu Huraira added, "By Allah! There are still six or seven marks present on the stone from that excessive beating." ~ Bukhari 5/30
A bit of a background on this story is: Prophet Moses was a shy person and used to cover his body completely because of his extensive shyness. One of the children of Israel hurt him by saying, 'He covers his body in this way only because of some defect in his skin, either leprosy or scrotal hernia, or he has some other defect'. Allah wished to clear Prophet Moses of what they said about him, so one day while Moses was in seclusion, he took off his clothes and put them on a stone and started taking a bath ... the rest of the narration is above. The people saw Prophet Moses naked and as a result found him the best of what Allah had created. Thus Allah cleared him of what his clan used to accused him of.
Stem of a date-palm tree that cried
The Prophet (pbuh) used to stand by a stem of a date-palm tree (while delivering a sermon). When the pulpit was placed for him we heard that stem crying like a pregnant she-camel till the Prophet (pbuh) got down from the pulpit and placed his hand over it. ~ Bukhari 11/42
An Ansari woman said to Allah's Messenger (pbuh), "O Allah's Messenger (pbuh)! Shall I make something for you to sit on, as I have a slave who is a carpenter?" He replied, "If you wish." So, she got a pulpit made for him. When it was Friday the Prophet (pbuh) sat on that pulpit. The date-palm stem near which the Prophet (pbuh) used to deliver his sermons cried so much so that it was about to burst. The Prophet (pbuh) came down from the pulpit to the stem and embraced it and it started groaning like a child being persuaded to stop crying and then it stopped crying. The Prophet (pbuh) said,"It has cried because of (missing) what it use to hear of the religions knowledge." ~ Bukhari 34/48
Whenever Al-Hasan Al-Basri (ra) discussed this hadith, he said, Fellow Muslims! A piece of wood longed for the Messenger of Allah (pbuh)! You are more obligated than this piece of wood to long for him.” A sign of true love for the Prophet (pbuh) is to follow his guidance without excess or negligence.
Even the Eyes and The Skin will Speak
On the day of resurrection, when the enemies of Allah will be gathered infront of Hell Fire in rows, their eyes and skins will testify against them of what they used to do (on earth).
Quran 41:20-21 ~ "... their eyes and their skins will testify against them of what they used to do. And they will say to their skins, "Why have you testified against us?" They will say, "We were made to speak by Allah , who has made everything speak; and He created you the first time, and to Him you are returned."
The Box-thorn or Gharqad Tree
The Prophet (pbuh) said: "The last hour would not come unless the Muslims will fight against the Jews and the Muslims would kill them until the Jews would hide themselves behind a stone or a tree and a stone or a tree would say: "Muslim" or "The servant of Allah", "there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him"; but the tree Gharqad (box-thorn) would not say, for it is the tree of the Jews." ~ Muslim 54/105
---- xxx ----
Related Posts:
Labels
inanimate
Post A Comment
No comments :