IB_Issue6

6-7 / 12

Page 6 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 6 Page 7 The Islamic Bulletin Issue 6
“We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents: In pain
did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth.”
(Qur’an 46:15)
On the authority of Asma’a bint Abu Bakr Al- Siddiq (R.A.), who
said; “My mother came to Medina from Mecca to see me, while
she was still an unbeliever. She had come to demand something
from me. I inquired with the Prophet (S.A.W.): ‘My mother has
come to see me and she is expecting something from me. May I
oblige her?’ He said: ‘Yes, be kind to your mother.’” -(Bukhari
and Muslim)
Note: This Hadith has two main points:
Be kind to your parents, no matter what their religion is.
A Muslim must be kind to other people no matter what their
religion is.
For example: The Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W) used to visit his
Jewish neighbors in Medina. Also the Prophet (S.A.W) used to
give charity to his poor Jewish neighbor.
On the Authority of Abu Hurairah (R.A.),who said: A man asked
the Messenger of God (S.A.W.) who amongst his near ones
had the greatest right over him, the Prophet (S.A.W.) replied:
“Your mother”. He asked, “Then who is next?” The Prophet
(S.A.W.) replied: “Your mother”. He again asked, “Then
who is next?” The Prophet (S.A.W.) replied: “Your mother”.
He asked: “Then who is next?” The Prophet replied: “Your
father.” -(Bukhari and Muslim)
On the authority of Al-Mughirah (R.A.), who said: The Prophet
(S.A.W.) said: “God forbids all of you to disobey your moth-
ers.” -(Bukhari and Muslim)
Note: It is very important to obey and respect one’s mother in
the Islamic religion for the following reasons:
A mother carried her baby for nine months in her womb.
During pregnancy, the mother experiences great hardship.
Then during delivery of the child, the mother suffers extreme
pain.
Many woman die in childbirth.
The mother is the one who feeds and nurtures the baby.
It is an innate instinct for mothers to care more for their children
than fathers do.
A continuation from our previous issue
The Prostration of the Magicians
Each messenger brought to his people a miracle commensurate
with the kind of knowledge they most excelled in. Thus, because
the people to whom Moses was sent excelled in magic, the form
of the miracle which he challenged them with was of a magical
nature. The magicians who observed Moses performing his mir-
acle were among the first to believe in him and in God. Being
in a better position than others to judge that the miracle was
the supernatural work of a divine power and not the result of a
magical skill, they were overwhelmed by what they witnessed.
In recognition of the true faith that Moses was commanded
to convey to them they fell on their knees in prostration. The
Quran says:
“But the sorcerers fell down prostrate, in adoration. Saying,
“We believe in the Lord of the Worlds, the Lord of Moses
and Aaron.” (Qur’an Al-A’raf 7:120-2)
Being better acquainted with the art of magic, the magicians
could distinguish between what was artifice and what was a
divine miracle. And so they were the first to declare their faith
in the God of Aaron and Moses.
Overwhelmed by the new revelation, the magicians forgot the
Pharaoh’s promise of gold and silver, as well as the torture that
awaited them for their failure to defeat Moses. Pharaoh’s might
and oppression paled before the power of this true God and
His faith.
This was the greatness of the divine miracle and its holding
power on people’s minds and souls. Through such miracles,
the vehement antagonists were instantaneously converted into
faithful believers, ready to relinquish all mundane wealth and
power.
Similarly, the challenging miracles of Jesus focused on medical
phenomena because his people were well advanced in medicine.
He restored sight to the blind, cured lepers, revived the dead
and demonstrated powers beyond human knowledge.
Because the Arabs at the time of Muhammad (pbuh) were
masters in elocution, the miracle therefore came in the form to
challenge their understanding from the vantage of their linguistic
skills. The Quran with its literary inimitability was all the more
astonishing because Muhammad (pbuh) himself was illiterate
when the Quran was revealed to him. When the Arabs failed
to match the language of the Quran, they accused Mohammed
(pbuh) of sorcery and even of being insane.
The miraculous features of the Quran are not confined to its
linguistic inimitability. Indeed, it is filled with miraculous signs
that will remain a challenge to mankind for eternity. One of
the miraculous features of the Quran lies in the ever-expand-
ing nature of the meanings contained in its verses and their
inexhaustible capacity to accommodate even the most recent
scientific discoveries.
A miracle can transcend the laws of nature or defy the character-
istics of natural phenomena without posing a specific challenge
to man. In this kind of miracle, God does not seek to challenge
mankind, but to show His domination over the universe and
man’s incapacity to understand such occurrences in terms of
cause and effects. Consequently, a true believer should always
be prepared to attribute those happenings which he cannot find
an accountable cause to the will of God.
Z oology
The science of animal life receives no less attention in the Qur’an
than those of other aspects of life. Again, this aspect of life reveals
the Glory and Majestic of the Creator in new dimensions and draws
man’s attention to the animal kingdom so that he may observe,
study and reflect upon the Wonders of The Almighty, benefiting
from them as well as Glorifying Almighty’s Name for immeasurable
Bounties and Gifts.
There are numerous passages in the Holy Qur’an which sheds
light on the animal life in various contexts. The verse in Surah Al-
Nur,”And God has created every animal from water: of them
there are some that creep on their bellies; some that walk on
two legs: and some that walk on four. God creates what He
wills; for verily God has power over all things.” (Qur’an 24:45)
The Holy Qur’an mentions some of the animals, their uses and
benefits for mankind and describes the animal kingdom, with its
wonderful diversity, beauty and charm. A few passages of the Holy
Qur’an reflect the Grace and the Beneficence of The Creator to
Man. The production process in the animal world is referred to in
these words,”That He did create the pairs,-male and female, from
a sperm-drop when lodged (in its place).” (Qur’an 53:45-46)
In Surah Al-Zukhruf, we read, “And Who has created pairs in all
things, and has made for you ships and cattle on which ye ride.”
(Qur’an 43:12)
In Surah Al-An’am, different kinds of cattle are mentioned in which
are great benefits for mankind. “Of the cattle are some for burden
and some for meat.” (Qur’an 6:142)
In Surah Al-Nahl, we read, “And cattle He has created for you
(men): from them ye derive warmth, and numerous benefits,
and of their (meat) ye eat. And ye have a sense of pride and
beauty in them as ye drive them home in the evening, and as ye
lead them forth to pasture in the morning. And they carry your
heavy loads to lands that ye could not (otherwise) reach except
with souls distressed: for your Lord is indeed Most Kind, Most
Merciful. And (He has created) horses, mules, and donkeys, for
you to ride and as an adornment; and He has created (other)
things of which ye have no knowledge. The Almighty alone can
show the right path but there are ways that turn side; if God
had willed, He could have guided all of you.” (Qur’an 16:5-9)
The Holy Qur’an mentions the existence of animal communities
like those of humans which are well-developed in their organi-
zation and planning. It describes the community of bees in these
words, “And thy Lord taught the Bee to build its cells in hills, on
trees, and in (men’s) habitations; then to eat of all the produce
(of the earth), and follow the ways of Thy Lord made smooth:
there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colors,
wherein is healing for men: verily this is a sign for those who
give thought.” (Qur’an 16:68-69)
The community of spiders and their behavior is mentioned in these
words, “The parable of those who take protectors other than
God is that of the Spider, who builds (to itself) a house; but
truly the flimsiest of houses is the Spider’s house; - if they but
knew.” (Qur’an 29:41)
And the Holy Qur’an mentions yet another most revealing and
inspiring benefit in the cattle in these words, “And verily in cattle
(too) will ye find an instructive Sign. From what is within their
bodies, between excretions and blood, We produce, for drink,
milk, pure agreeable to those who drink it.”
In this verse is a reference “to the most wonderful process of the
formation of the pure milk in the bellies of the she-cattle, for
the fodder they eat turns to blood, filth and pure milk, which
is altogether different from the first in its nature, color and
usefulness.”
The Qur’an devotes considerable attention to the origin of man and
mentions the facts of his creation on several occasions in different
contexts for the benefit of mankind.
“Seeing that it is He that has created you in diverse stages?”
(Qur’an 71:14)
He is also reminded of his humble and lowly origin.
“O Man! What has seduced thee from Thy Lord Most Merciful?
Him Who created thee, fashioned thee in due proportion, and
gave thee a just bias.” (Qur’an 82:6-7)
And in Surah Al-Tar’iq, we read, “He is created from a drop
emitted-preceding from between the backbone and the ribs.”
(Qur’an 86:6-7)
The fertilization process takes place with a very small quantity of
liquid, not visible to the naked human eye.
“Then We place him as (a drop of) sperm in a place of rest,
firmly fixed; then we made the sperm into a clot of congealed
blood; then of that clot We made a (fetus) lump; then We made
out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then
We developed out of it another creature. So blessed be God,
the Best to create!” (Qur’an 23:13-14)
All these references to the process of egg fertilization and its growth
by stages in the womb is a clear indication that Mohammed (S.A.W)
was given this knowledge by the Creator Himself so that man may
realize, and reflect on, his position in relation to God Almighty
and learn a lesson for his right guidance and follow the Right Path.
Deep study of animal life and its process of creation brings man
straight to His Creator because without the existence of The Al-
mighty, The Omnipotent and All-Merciful, such a wonderful animal
kingdom is beyond human comprehension and understanding.
Miracles of the Qur’ an