The coachman stopped his chariot in the yard of a homely house, then said, "We rest here, young man! This is my brother's house, a farmer. After performing salat and have our meals, we'll take a rest for a while. You can see a vast garden in the backyard of this house. " Having said so, the coachman took the young wayfarer into the house, and introduced him to the farmer, owner of the house.
After performing salat and had their meals, they rested in the farmer's backyard. It was vast and variety of plants were there. The farmer said to the wayfarer, "You can also see the signs of Allah from the various plants on this earth, young man." The young wayfarer said, "How, tell me!" The farmer said, "Allah commands us to watch plants at the time of the appearance and ripeness of fruits, to the overwhelming marvel and extraordinary feat of bringing out fruits from among wood and leaves; and then the transformation of fruit from acridity, bitterness and sourness to the bright appealing colour and the sweet delicious taste; in this is a sign indeed for believers. Indeed, it is beyond us, beyond all past and all future generations, to try to exhaust the significance of Allah's glaring signs in the universe that point to Allah, the only true God, who has no partner, and no one like Him, no one as great, perfect, appreciating, or gentle like Him; it is beyond us to just give justice to the tiniest fraction of all that. It does not follow, however, if such target is unattainable, that we should desist from pointing out some samples that alert man to what lies beyond."
The farmer paused, and said, "O young man, reflect on the Divine mercy as revealed in the growing of provisions, vegetables, grains and fruit, gradually emerging in a slow succession! It is a blessing that they do not grow all at the same time, for if they were to grow like this on land, or if they did not grow on branches and stalks, much harm would take place, and many benefits that accrue from their emerging gradually would be missed. For each season and period requires fruits and plants that are not required in other seasons and periods; some period are hot, some cold, and some moderate; each season is so for the benefits of plants that are precisely adapted to it.
Besides the above benefits, Allah also invested crops with extra benefits, as noted in grains' husks, timber and wood, leaves, blossoms, palm leaves, palm branches, and other parts of crops; to say nothing of fodder and forage, supplies for building, ship building, saddles, utensils and so forth.
Observe the benefits of blossoms and the picturesque sight that is ecstatic to watch; regard the spectacular form of trees, their magnificent shapes that are a strong reminder of the their Originator and Maker Whose handiwork reveals His utmost compassion and wisdom! The blossoms are a wonderful thing when you think of their budding on wood, and when you observe on the same wood the green leaves! They are followed by many fruits of all colours, types, forms, sizes, tastes, scents and benefits and functions! Reflect on all these being stored in that wood, the trunk and the twigs and branches before their emergence! The tree is like a mother to them, but who could bring forth the amazing forms, the perfect symmetry, the marvelous colours, the luscious tastes, the fragrant scents and the spectacular sight?
Consider the calculation ol the Gentle, the All -knowing! Like people and animals, trees are in constant need of nourishment; unlike animals, however, they have no will and mouths, nor can they move to seek food. Therefore, their roots have been inserted in the earth, so that they absorb nutrients from the soil, and then pass them to their branches and boughs, which distribute the nutrients in their turn to leaves and fruit, each absorbing its allotted amount, never exceeding it. Nutritious matter and water are delivered to the various parts along paths and ways that are most precisely made, picking that matter from below, and transmitting it to branches, which take it in the way an animal takes its food with its mouth; then they distribute to each part what it needs; no part is denied anything of its due, nor does it exceed it.
Reflect on the deep wisdom of creating tree leaves. You see in the single leaf veins that criss-cross on the whole of its surface in a way that bewilders an observer! Some veins are thick and line the leaf longwise and sidewise; and some are fine, weaving in between the thick ones, in a very intricate pattern. If humans were to emulate the network of even a single leaf, they would not complete the veins in a whole year; they would also need tools, skills and treatment that beat their means. Observe, then, how Allah grows leaves, in a few days, that cover the trees and bushes all over the earth, on both planes and mountains, without the need for support or assistance, without tools or treatment. It is evidently His power, operative on everything in the universe, and His ability that no barrier can obstruct.
Think, also, of the wisdom of the Gentle, the All -knowing when He willed the leaves to be an adornment to trees, a covering and shelter to fruits, and a protection to them from any destruction that may interrupt their ripeness! It is for this reason that if a tree is stripped of its leaves, the fruit will decay and lose its appeal. Regard how the leaves protect a frail budding fruit from drying! After a tree is fruitless, the leaves still protect the weak twigs from heat. When it is cool, and sunlight is no longer harmful to boughs and twigs, the Lord strips the tree of its leaves, and leaves it bare, in preparation for clothing it again with a fresh, nicer apparel. So glory be to the Lord of the worlds, Who knows the falling place and budding place of each and every leaf; no leaf grows, nor does it fall without His notice, If human beings realized, while watching those leaves in their variety and multiplicity, that they glorified the Lord, together with the fruit, twigs, branches and trees, they would discover aspects of their charm that they had not been aware of; they would perceive them with new senses, and would realize that they were created for a noble purpose, not in vain!
Consider the wisdom involved in the stones and kernels placed inside the dates and other fruits! Have you thought of the many benefits and functions of the stones, which play a part similar to that of a skeleton to the animal's body, giving solidity to the body of the fruit; otherwise it would be flabby and tender. Without the stone, a fruit would split and rot, and would be quick to decay. A stone to the fruit is, as we said, like the skeleton to animals, and the fruit itself is like flesh clothed over bones, in animals. Stones are also useful for the preservation and reproduction of the species. In case the tree loses substance or decays, the Lord provided the stone, to be a substitute from which, if sown in the ground, a new tree may grow. Stones and seeds are also used as fodder for animals. Many materials, ointments, drugs, dyes and other things are made from them as people learn more about them; but the potential uses are even more! You ought to reflect long on the wisdom of Allah's creation of the seeds and stones, which serve many functions; and He clothed them with the delicious pulp that man enjoys eating.
Reflect on the fertility and production that Allah endowed crops with, so that from one grain seven hundred grains may grow. If a grain produced only one grain, there would not be produced enough to resow in the ground, to feed people, and for the farmer to save for himself until the next harvest. Instead, what is sown is from the surplus yield, and the farmer finds enough to feed himself, to feed others and to use for farming.
Reflect also on the depth of Divine Wisdom as revealed in the dispensing of fruit and vegetables at the right and appropriate times. They are made available to people when they most relish them! They welcome them as a thirsty person welcomes water; they help themselves to them delightedly and eagerly, as one receives a beloved traveller. If the summer's fruit were to come in the winter, it would arouse not little dislike and lack of appetite on the part of eaters; not to mention its harmful and sickening effect on bodies. In the same way, if the spring fruit were to grow in autumn, or the autumn fruit in spring, it would not have excited the pleasure it naturally excites; people would not find it tasty or luscious as they find timely fruits. You see how fruits that linger beyond their season are found unpalatable and unappetising. You should not think that this is no more than the power of habit; quite the contrary, habit has accepted this because it is the will of Providence that it is basically in accord with what is beneficial; His the mercy of the Wise, the All -knowing!
Then the farmer said, "O young man, all creatures echoing the hymns of praise, they perform 'tasbeeh, praise to Allah at a particular time, at the break of the day, or at twilight. Is it conceivable here that they point to Allah at that time and not at another?
It is incumbent on him who has sense to let his mind envision the blessings and bounties! Should he not review them again and again in hope of discerning the purpose of their existence? Why he has been created? What is expected of him? What is required of him, being endowed with those blessings?
Reviewing Allah's blessings and bounties to His servant leads to the success and happiness- such review cannot but lead the human to increase in his love, thankfulness and praise of the Lord; he will doubtlessly obey Him more, realise his own shortcoming more dearly, and his extreme shortcoming in doing what he should do. Praise be to Allah. And Allah knows best."
Reference :"And it is He who sends down rain from the sky, and We produce thereby the growth of all things. We produce from it greenery from which We produce grains arranged in layers. And from the palm trees - of its emerging fruit are clusters hanging low. And [We produce] gardens of grapevines and olives and pomegranates, similar yet varied. Look at [each of] its fruit when it yields and [at] its ripening. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe." - [QS.6:99]
- Capt. Anas Abdul-Hameed Al-Qoz, Men and The Universe - Reflections of Ibn Al-Qayyem, Darussalam
