The birds gathered again. There was something interesting in these birds of Kampong Bayan, like the colors of their feathers, sometimes, there were differences of opinions among them. But the disagreement was ousted by the brotherhood in faith. They realize that the differences could be faded by space and time, but not the brotherhood in faith. The brotherhood of faith, accompanied by knowledge, wisdom and greatness of heart, could resolve differences of opinion among them. And as usual, Parrot began their meeting by saying, "Assalamualaikum, O my brothers and sisters!" "Wa'alaikumussalam!" the birds responded. Parrot then said, "Praise be to Allah, the Compassionate, Who created man, and taught him utterance; may peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet (ﷺ), his family, his companion, and those who follow him untill the Day of Judgement. O my brothers and sisters, last time, our sister, Swan, told the story of the young wayfarer. So, are there any of you willing to share a story?" Sparrow said, "I'd like to hear about the young wayfarer!"
Parrot turned to Swan. Swan nodded, stepped forward and said, "And so, the young wayfarer continued his journey. Every story has an ending; in this life, every ending is just a beginning of another story. One day, the young wayfarer was sitting on the deck of a ship, and enjoyed the vast expanse of the horizon. "Assalamualaikum!" someone greeted. "Wa'alaikumussalam!" he replied. He turned back, an old man with a fedora hat on his head and a nice suite, was standing, smiling at him. The fedora man said, "May I sit beside you, O young man?" The young wayfarer smiled and said, "Of course, please!" After sitting, the fedora man said, "O young man, know that Allah has urged His servants to reflect upon Him, one will indeed be led to learn about Allah, about His Oneness and attributes of perfection; to learn about aspects of His might as attested by the absoluteness of His power, the infinite nature of His wisdom; by His mercy, generosity, clemency, kindness, justice, grace, anger, reward and punishment - it is through reflection on these facts that He willed His servants to know Him, and it is for this reason that He exhorted them to reflect upon His signs."
The young wayfarer was stunned. He said, "I was reflecting on the creation of this world, the composition of its parts. I found that this world is having organized by the best system; all that inevitably points to the perfect ability of Allah, His omniscience and the infinity of His wisdom and kindness! Please tell me more about this, O man of knowledge!" The fedora man said, "In the Quran, there are many verse mention about a number of the sign of our Creator, so that they may be a reminder of further signs. One set of such signs are related to the creation of man. If you reflect on the creation of this world, the composition of its parts, its organization having the best system; all that inevitably points to the perfect ability of Allah, His omniscience and the infinity of His wisdom and kindness! If you looked at the world, you would find it like a constructed house, well-equipped with all its appliances, provisions and supplies.
The sky is its roof, raised above the world; the ground is its floor, mattresses and carpets; well-adapted for the convenience of the dwellers; the sun and the moon are glowing lights above it; the stars are sparkling over it like decorative lamps, signals for the traveller around this world. The minerals and gems stored beneath it are like treasures and hoards, or like well-stuffed storages prepared for any who needs them; the plants in their variety and abundance fulfill man's requirements, the animals in their diversity offer him so many services; some are riding-animals, some milk-giving animals, some meat-providing animals; some animals provide clothing, furniture and tools, some guard man as they are ordained to do, guarding him while asleep, set against what may cause him harm or danger. Were it not for the control of man over certain fierce creatures that repulse other creatures, there would be no hope of survival for the human being.
Man is given a royal status in the world; he is authorized to dominate those creatures, to employ them in carrying out his orders and directions. In all this we can witness the most evident indication that the world is the creation of a Wise, Omnipotent and Omniscient Lord, Who designed it to the best design, ordered it to the most perfect discipline; we can perceive that the Creator is impossible to be more than one, that He is the One God, with no god but He. It is manifest that if there were another god in the heavens or the earth their system would be ruined, and their system would be thrown out of order, and their habitability would come to a stop. If the body is impossible to admit two equal and coordinate souls, how is it conceivable that the great universe could have two sovereign Lords.
One of the most striking signs and capturing miracles of Allah, Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala, is the seas which surround dry land, in the form of inlets and bays from the great ocean which engulfs the entire land. The rest of the land is submerged under water. It is only the Power and Will of the Almighty Allah that holds water from submerging land and rising over it to rise like this is in fact in the nature of water. There are no explanation of this but to attribute it to divine wisdom and the eternal mercy of Allah Who willed that circumstances should be smoothed for the land animals to exist. This is a truth, but it should lead one to submit to the Ability of Allah; to His Will and Destiny; to His Knowledge, Wisdom and all His Attributes of perfection.
The sea and all the wondrous creatures in it, displaying a very wide diversity of species, shapes, sizes, functions, benefits and harm, and colours. There are in the sea animals that seem like mountains, so huge that nothing on earth compares with them. There are, besides, so many species that have no counterparts at all on land. In addition to that are its precious stones, pearls and corals. You see how a pearl is encased in a casket, the shell, that serves as a nest for it, providing it with protection and safety. Some pearls are hidden, never touched by hands.
Observe how the coral has grown at the bottom of the sea out of solid rock below water, similar to a tree. The sea also contains other things like amber and valuable things that are thrown out by the sea, or are fished out. Observe also the miracle of the ships which sail the sea, cutting their way through it without the need for leader or driver - their leading force being only the wind that Allah directs to run them. If that leading force were held back, then the ships would stay idle on the surface of water.
If you regard the earth and its creation, you will see that it is one of the most striking of Allah's miracles and wonders. He made il a resting place, spread out for mankind, constrained it to serve His servants, supplied it with their provisions, food and means of survival. He provided it with ways that allow them to move around seeking their needs and manipulations; stabilized it with mountains, which act like pegs that hold it, so that the earth does not sway with its inhabitants. He stretched it, paved it, levelled and flattened it and spread it out, extended it in all directions, made of it a receptacle for living creatures that will last as long as they last; made it a shroud for the dead that envelopes them in its belly once they are buried - its surface is for the living and its interior is for the dead. Its vital importance may be attested by the frequency of its mention by Allah in His Scripture. He urged His servants to contemplate it and reflect on its creation.
Observe, then, the land when it is barren, neglected and dead; and see then how, once Allah lets down rain, it will quiver, sprout, rise, and become resplendent with growth, growing all kinds of marvellous crops. It brings out plants wondrous in appearance and quality, plants that please observers. It produces provisions diverse in quality, amount, shape, colour, and benefits; fruit, vegetables, medical plants, grazing plants for animals and food for birds. You see how He causes the same rain to fall on various tracts of land, but each grows plants that are diverse in colour, shape, ordour, taste and benefit, despite the identical supply and locale.
Regard, too, how Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala stabilized the earth with the high-rising, solid, established, and hard mountains. He established them well, elevated them, and destined them to be the most solid part of the earth; so that they do not erode over the ages and by the work of successive rains and winds. He crafted them well, placed them carefully, and provided them with diverse and ample benefits, minerals and springs; then he guided men to discover those minerals, inspired them to extract them, taught them how to make from them coins, jewelry, decoration pieces, clothes, arms and the various other useful tools. Without guidance from the Almighty, men would never have had the knowledge of that or the ability to manipulate it.
One of Allah's wondrous signs is the air, suspended between the sky and the earth, perceived by contact when it moves, its physical existence sensed but not seen. It exists between the sky and the earth, with birds soaring in it, flapping their wings in it, in the same way as sea animals swim in water. Its waves sometimes roll violently the same way as a sea's waves do.
When Allah wills, the air moves mercifully, a harbinger of favour, plenty, and auspicious portent for humans, an impregnating factor for clouds, causing them to bear water, in the same way as a male impregantes a female to bear a child. Such mercy- bearing winds are called: heralds, winnowers and emissary winds. Winds of torture, on the other hand, are called tempestuous, hurricane, in the sea, fatal and fierce, in land. When Allah wills, He causes the winds of torture to blow, bringing devastation and suffering, a scourge against whomever He wills of His servants. It may bring destruction, bad omen and havoc wherever it passes.
Regard, too, how Allah lodged water in the earth, and then by its action caused to grow a myriad of plants. Some plants nourish, some season the food; some are digestive, some enfeeble, some are lethal poison, some are sickening; some heal diseases, some cause a chill, some cause heat; a certain plant, as it reaches the stomach, suppresses bile at its source; another as it settles in the stomach turns to bile; another repels phlegm and blackbile; another transforms to one of these; one stimulates blood to flow, another represses it; one causes sleep, another dismisses it; one causes elation, one causes its reverse, and so on and on. There is no end to the wonders of plants; there is not a leaf, a branch or a fruit but contains a miracle that beats the understanding of men to encompass or comprehend it in full.
Reflect also on the earth, how it is held stable, from the day Allah created it, so that it forms a habitation and settling place for animals, plants and objects. It is by this that animals and men are enabled to move about on it, pursuing whatever they like of their interests and needs; taking rest when they like, and going to sleep on it, getting refreshment enough to resume their endeavours.
If it were unstable or swaying they would not be able to find peace or comfort upon its surface; no building would stand on it, and no industry or commerce could be performed; agriculture or craft would not be possible. How could humans lead a happy life with the ground swaying beneath their feet? You may take an inkling of what such a state can cause by observing the devastation caused by earthquakes, despite the brevity of time they last. You see how, when this happens, humans are forced to desert their homes and flee from them.
Think also of the great wisdom embodied in the earth's being soft and solid at the same time. If it were too soft, sloppy like mud, no structure could be built, and no animal could walk on its surface; it would cease to be habitable. If it were too hard, like a stone, it would not be suitable for cultivation or planting; it would not be possible to plow it and sow it; it would not be possible to bore wells in it or to erect structures on its surface. It is neither hard like stones, nor sloppy like mud. By the wisdom of its Creator, it is perfectly balanced, a convenient place for animals, in a moderate state between softness and hardness, in a way that realizes all interests.
Think now of the mountains, an amazing marvel, indeed they have so many benefits that no one but their Creator and Raiser can reckon. Snow falls on them, and stays at their peaks, supplying men with drinking water until it expires. It melts slowly, forming gushing streams, rivers and brooks. From this, a variety of plants, fruits and medical crops grow in hills and lawns that are different from the plants of planes and deserts. If there were no mountains, snow would fall on level ground, melting there in a short time, serving no benefit. Besides, it would cause torrential floods which would destroy everything in their way. This would cause great hardships for people, and a lot of bad consequences that could not be averted.
Caves, depressions and supports in their peaks and crests serve as castles and strongholds. They also are used as shelters for humans and animals. Stones are hewn from mountains and chiseled for various buildings and structures, and for grinding. Minerals and precious stones are hidden beneath them, varying from gold, silver, copper, iron and lead to aquamarine, emerald and many other minerals which no human can count in full. Some minerals are so precious that a handful of them is more valuable than many times their equivalent in gold. They are of such great benefits that no one but the Creator, glorified be His name, can reckon.
Mountains break the rage of violent winds, soften their sharpness, and prevent them from lashing on the areas beyond them with their full force. Therefore, you find the dwellers in their shade sheltered from violent, harmful winds. They divert floods descending in their beds, directing them to the right or to the left. Otherwise, floods would have destroyed all in their way. Mountains, in this case, are functioning like ramparts and safeguards.
They work as landmarks that indicate ways. They do the functions of man-made signs that direct travellers. A mountain is called a landmark or a banner since it sticks out like a sign. Medical plants and herbs grow on them; what grows on mountains does not grow on planes and deserts, while what grows in planes and deserts does not grow in mountains. In each, there are benefits and uses that no one but the Omniscient Creator can count. Mountains can be used as a fortress to take refuge in against enemies."
The fedora man paused, looked at the horizon and said, "O young man, one benefit is the one mentioned by Allah in His Book, that He had made them as pegs of the earth, stabilizing it, and anchors, like the ships. This is an extremely valuable benefit and they serve a precious function in that connection. If you regard them and reflect on their amazing creation from that aspect, you find that they perfectly serve the purpose they were created for. If they had been higher and more perpendicular like a wall, they would have been hard to climb and much of their benefit would have been missed. It is clear that the most useful and beneficial shape of mountains, the most adapted to serve the needs of humans, is the shape willed by Allah.
So glory be to Him Who privileged whatever He choose from among men as from among mountains. Some mountains have been designated to be like magnets to hearts, as if hearts have a relation to them. Those hearts are moved whenever the particular mountain is mentioned, and long to visit it; in the same way, certain men are privileged with Allah's grace, and favoured with His blessing, honoured with His love, in a way that He loves them, and so do His angels and His believing servants, and they are generally gladly received wherever they go."
(Part 2)
