Desiring God blog
The Sole Creator, Fashioner, Sustainer & Nourisher of His beloved creation. God reveals to mortals Who He is.
[And] who created seven heavens in layers. You do not see in the creation of the Most Merciful any inconsistency. So return [your] vision [to the sky]; do you see any breaks? Then return [your] vision twice again. [Your] vision will return to you humbled while it is fatigued. A myriad of divine blessings evidenced in a single verse!
An illuminative invitation for man to repeatedly acknowledge and appreciate the flawlessness of the heavens above is coupled with the incentive to recognize another verifiable truth. This is to bear in mind, that whilst creation was designed to serve man's every need, the sole purpose of man's own existence, is to worship God alone. It is also a subtle call to admit that this drill requires the God-gifted blessing of sight, which is only one component of the five senses that help us lead our lives in the most meaningful of ways. The sight alone nonetheless, would not bring about the desired effect, for even animals can see. Thus should, the unparalleled endowment of intellect bestowed upon each individual that expedites the unraveling of mystifying realities, also shine through.
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Is God like His Creation?To put it quite bluntly, no! How deeply flawed would our estimation of God be, should we dare liken Him to His creation? A glimpse into the endless expanse of space and billions of mammoth galaxies, each of which is a potpourri of billions of stars, refutes any possibilty of His likeness to anyone or anything.
The bright and splendid sun, the subtler moon, towering mountains, swelling oceans, flowing rivers, and palatial plains, all befittingly demonstrate the futility of such an abominable assersion. What is even more overwhelming, is knowing that all creation glorifies and worships its Adoring Lord. God revealed: "Do you not see that to Allah 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?" (The Glorious Quran ~ 22:18). Solemn reflection upon human physiology further illustrates how the All-Wise God, singles out that one particular cell from amongst 5 to 6 million sperm cells, to fertilize the egg and thereby evolve into a thinking and feeling human. "Did We not create you from a liquid disdained?"(The Glorious Quran ~ 77:20). Born CuriousOne of man's most exceptional qualities is his inquisitive nature. During infancy, it is a childish curiosity that takes us from strength to strength. A purposeful will to investigate facts contributes to the building blocks of our knowledge base. The requirement of compulsory education for one and all is also derived from an obligation to learn and grow. Has the hustle and bustle of life ever prevented man from learning about even the most mundane things? Nay and It would not be an exaggeration to allege that man learns from his cradle to the grave. This indispensable trait likewise, often becomes the driving force behind man's hankering for more information about God.
How Can Man Know God?To know God is a fundamental human right and need. God Who created all that ever existed in the past, all that exists in the present, and all that will ever exist in the future, up to the end of this fleeting worldly existence. We thus remain in perpetual awe of He Who is the Sole Creator, Fashioner, Sustainer, Nourisher, Cherisher, and Provider of creation.
Witnessing yet another day without knowing God irks us. We haven't a clue whether or not, the rest of mankind yearns to know about Him as ardently as we do. Yet, what we can safely presume, is that at least some would be savoring a curiosity. How then, is it humanly possible for a man to know his Adoring Lord? Has anyone in human history been granted access to knowledge of His Essence or Attributes ever? Common sense dictates that we can only come to know about God from either God Himself, or through someone whom He has authorized to convey these finer points. A judicious review of God's last and final revelation, the Glorious and Miraculous Quran nonetheless, brings to light an abiding confirmation on God having chosen Prophets in every day and age, as vehicles for conveying information about Him to their respective nations. Lest ingrate man uses his ignorance of God (Unseen) to serve as a justification for disbelief and disobedience. |
Mellow greetings of peace from Ayesha!
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