Spirit of Islam, May-June 2026

O ne of the greatest blessings granted by God to human beings is the subjection of nature to them. The Quran draws attention to this profound reality in the following words: “It is God who has subjected the sea to you so that you may sail thereon by His command, and so that you may seek His bounty, and so that you may be grateful. He has subjected whatever is in the heavens and on the earth to you; it is all from Him. In that are signs for those who ponder.” (45: 12–13) The term ‘subjected’ here carries deep significance. It means that the forces of nature have been placed in such an ordered and predictable system that human beings can understand them, harness them, and benefit from them. The universe is not chaotic or arbitrary. Rather, it operates according to fixed laws established by the Creator. It is precisely this law-governed nature of the world that has made it possible for human beings to explore, utilize, and advance. If natural phenomena were not bound by consistent principles, no meaningful progress would have been possible. The discovery of these laws is what we call science. In reality, science is nothing but the systematic study of how God has organized the universe. By uncovering these patterns, human beings are able to tap into the immense potential placed within creation. Take, for example, the seas. Water covers approximately seventy-one per cent of the earth’s surface. At first glance, it may seem a simple fact, but it is sustained by a delicate balance of forces. The earth’s gravity pulls the water towards itself, while the atmospheric pressure—created by a thick envelope of air surrounding the planet—helps to stabilize it. Without this balance, the water would either disperse into space or behave in a manner unsuitable for life. NATURE AT MAN’S SERVICE A Trust from God Not everything in nature has been subjected for physical use. Some aspects have been subjected for intellectual and spiritual purposes. The starry universe, for instance, invites contemplation. It leads the human mind to reflect upon the grandeur, precision, and vastness of creation.