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ADMONITIONS FROM THE QURAN |  |
We should know the answer to this question. Indeed one who contemplates the glorious divine design, to feel the presence of the Supreme Being and mysteries of creation may see his own weaknesses and death. Where have we come from to this world and where are we going? Who has created us and why? What are our functions and duties? Is death the end of man? Is there a hereafter?
We must reflect on the questions such as: How have we come into existence? First, we have been created. Then we live our lives on earth and one day we are going to be taken back without our control over any part of this progression. Have we come to this world by chance or do we have a mission?
WHAT POWER HAS CREATED US
The Quran provides the answer as follows: Then His servants will be returned to God, their true Lord. Unquestionably, He is the judgment... (Anam 6/62). ……Indeed we belong to God and truly to God we will return. ( Baqarah 2/156).
We see through these verses there is no power other than God who has wished to create man, and has endowed him to the highest degree on earth. Man happens to be created to represent the Divine Being and all that has been created in the world has been given to the subservience of man. The Quran states: God brought whatever in the skies and whatever on the earth under your control and at your service, and He abundantly gave you His favour, apparent and hidden… (Luqman 31/20).
GOD STATES HIS LAWS VIA PROPHETS
O mankind, there has to come to you instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breasts and guidance and mercy for the believers! (Yunus 10/57).
Follow, what has been revealed to you from your Lord, and do not follow other than Him. How seldom you take heed. (A'raf 7/3).
The Holy Qur'an states that the prophets have been sent to every community and charged with the mission to communicate to human being their Creator and the divine law in order for them to regulate their lives based on the principals of God's laws.
The Qur'an as revealed to Muhammad describes the glorious divine design. In order that one may perceive the meaning of the verses, one should meditate on them. To try to know his Lord and to resign himself to God's will makes a man adept, one to whom will be opened the mysteries of creation. Islam is the religion which was declared to us and the word 'Islam' means 'resignation and complete surrender to God's will.
The Quran states that the purpose of the universe is divine service to God. Indeed everything has been acting on a preordained system, and Islam is such an expression of the praise and gratitude of the all universe to the Almighty Creator.
ALL CREATURES ARE IN DEVOTION
The seven heavens and the earth, and whoever is therein, glorify Him. There is not a thing that does not glorify Him with praise, but you do not understand their praises. …(Isra 17/44).
Don't you see that to God prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth and the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the moving creatures and many of the people?...(Hajj 22/18)
Say: Everyone acts according to his own disposition…(Isra 17/84).
Contemplation is a natural predisposition of humans which, through the Quran, leads to devotion. These are states of the mind and soul akin to flotation in space proceeding to commemoration of God in prayer and invocation. On the other hand, prostration is compliance, bowing and humbling oneself before God.
The meaning of the verses above has been clarified with the latest modern science. As it is known, the basic structure of an atom includes the nucleus (containing positively charged protons) and electrons (negatively charged) which move around the nucleus. The sun is the atomic nucleus, and the Earth, Mars, Saturn, Venus etc. which are within the Milky Way Galaxy have been revolving around the Sun eternally. Due to their own disposition from micro to macro all the forms move in a fixed relationship glorifying God. All that has been created praises their Creator and prostrates before Him.
The Kaaba in Mecca, which was constructed by Abraham upon God's commandment, is the spiritual magnetic centre for the Islam World (and is known as the house of God). Every year it receives millions of pilgrims coming from the four corners of the earth to circumambulate it. In other words, while praying, they move around it's circumference like the electrons that gyrate around the nucleus of an atom.
At this juncture, mention should be made of an extraordinary Sufistic savant Mawlana Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1207-1273) in whose time neither the structure of the atom nor the solar system were understood. Despite this, he developed the practice of whirling, which intuitively perceived and emulated the rotations of atoms and the planets. Dervishes whirled around a central point, thus praying to God.
THE REASON WHY MANKIND WAS CREATED
I created the jinn and mankind only that they might worship Me. (Dhariyat 51/56)
Say, "Why would my Lord care for you if you do not pray to and invoke Him?..." (Furkan 25/77)
All matter in the universe, including mankind, is made up of atoms, each one composed of a nucleus and one or more electrons bound to the nucleus. The Quran describes this formation as the indispensable essence of worship. All the substances praise to God in a manner under the same rule of the Creator. However God requests humankind to use his willpower and pray consciously. Man has the innate sense of the divine so, once he understands the truth of creation, he starts to pray to God with total acquiescence. The faithful servant attains divine bliss by the God's response. The Quran says about these believers:
Therefore remember Me, I will remember you… (Baqarah 2/152)
And if My servants ask you about Me indeed I am near. I respond to those who call Me... (Baqarah 2/186)
THE MOST WORTHY MAN IN THE SIGHT OF GOD