God’s Signs

God’s Signs

1985 8 August 17 God’s Signs (300) “Surely in the heavens and the earth there are signs for the faithful; in your own creation, and in the beasts that are scattered far and near, are signs for true believers; in the alternation of night and day, in the sustenance God sends down from heaven with which He revives the earth after its death, and in the marshalling of the winds, are signs for men of understanding.”

(Qur’an, 45:3-5)

There are multiple verses in the Quran which point out that there are signs in the universe for men of understanding. God requires man to believe in certain hidden realities. To make this easier he has set up material symbols of these realities in the outside world. What man has to do is see the reflection of invisible realities in the mirror of visible signs.

The sun and the moon give us a glimpse of God – the source of all light. The birds and the animals provide us with a picture of innocence; as such they are God’s representatives on our planet. The sky in its vastness gives us an idea of the might and greatness of God. Wind and water show us the mercy of the One who created them. The trees and the mountains provide a pointer to His exquisite beauty.

If a person opens his mind to the wonders of the world, taking in all that he sees in the universe, then he will find the light of God shining in all that he beholds. He will see the divine wisdom that lies behind every object of creation. The cosmos in all its vastness will serve as a constant reminder of the infinity of God. The earth and the heavens will become manifestations of His splendour; by observing them he will come to know the Lord.

Words can be false friends

1985 8 August 17 Words can be false friends (89) Words because of their easy accessibility can be a great source of misconception in this world. Equipped with fine words and carried away by slogans, one can be deluded into thinking that one is on the right path. But words alone can not prove whether or not one’s stand is a right one. Success in the next world will be for those who having made a critical appraisal of words hold on to the truth and reality behind them, rather than placing their trust uncritically in hollow, meaningless words.