Tags
Allah, belief, contemplation, conviction, Infitar, Raising children, school, science, secularism
Recently I have found myself reflecting upon a few verses from surah Infitar.
My eldest has been preparing for and sitting GCSE Biology, Chemistry and Physics. Having studied sciences myself, my ears pricked up when I heard in the background words like photosynthesis, mitochondria, chromosomes etc, to such an extent that I picked up the odd textbooks that were lying around to have a quick read.
I studied the 3 Sciences at A’level and to be honest it was a bit of a chore; a means to an end. I didn’t connect with the subjects, I just needed to pass with grades sufficient to go to university. It was simply about passing the exams, in no way did studying science affect my mentality, personality or disposition.
Fast forward 30 odd years, reading about the environment, the human body, the plant life cycle stimulated my intellect and agitated my emotions in a way that never happened all those years ago. The functionality of the human body, reproductive system, ecosystem were now more than just chapters in a book that needed to be memorised and regurgitated for a 2-hour exam, but they were now signs of the existence of an all-Powerful, Wise, Creator.
In the Qur’an, Allah (swt) encourages us to study our reality, and through this study we will see signs that point to the existence of a Creator.
“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding” [TMQ 3:190]
Science is the study of our surroundings. The earth, plants, animals, humans and so much more. Everything which surrounds us should inspire deep thinking and appreciation and awe of the creator in us.
Sadly, this is often not the case.
I remember studying photosynthesis. Plants produce their own food through absorbing carbon dioxide and water and producing glucose and oxygen. In converse animals produce energy through cellular respiration in which oxygen breaks down glucose to release energy, carbon dioxide and water. We need the by-products of plant photosynthesis and plants need the by-product of cellular respiration. This is a unique and perfect relationship. In biology this is called the carbon cycle. We would memorise the equations, but never appreciated the impact of this cycle for our very existence.
In chemistry we studied the composition of a simple compound made up of two gases, hydrogen, and oxygen. These essential gases combine in a miraculous way to form the most fundamental compound for life H2O, or water. Water is required for life; without it plants and animals die. In addition to vast rivers and oceans, water brings life to the barren desert, whilst making up over 60% of the human body. The uniqueness of water means it exists in 3 states, liquid, gas and solid and these states come together in another cycle we studied in biology, the water cycle. Who put these qualities in water? Who organised the perfect composition of water?
Again, whilst in school, the focus was on learning equations and regurgitating information rather than stopping to think and answer these pertinent questions.
In biology lessons I came to know; how our brains receive and integrate vast quantities of information, controlling and regulating human functionality, faster than any supercomputer. Our heart, an organ the size of a clenched fist, pumps blood through a network of 60,000 miles of veins and arteries. Our eyes, with pupils, dilating and constricting to let in the perfect amount of light, casting images on our retina, that travel to be comprehended by our brains. I remember sitting in class giggling and being slightly embarrassed studying the reproductive system. Totally oblivious of the fact that these are all great miracles bestowed upon us.
Allah (swt) asks mankind a question in surah Infitar
“O man! What has deceived you about your Lord, the Most Generous. Who created you, fashioned you perfectly and gave you due proportion. In whatever form He will, He put you together” [TMQ 82: 6-8]
After asking us why we have turned away from Allah (swt), He (swt) reminds and pushes us to think about the reality of ourselves and our own perfect bodies. The same perfect human body we all studied in science lessons at school.
If viewed correctly, with contemplation and deep thought, it instigates within us powerful feelings and emotions.
These feelings and emotions push us to realise that there exists a creator and that we are created.
It induces within us awe, helplessness, gratitude, and spirituality.
Those scientists who have spent their entire existence studying but still deny this spirituality have truly been deceived regarding their Lord, the Most generous.
The question that Allah (swt) asks us all in surah Infitar remains: “O man! What has deceived you about your Lord, the Most Generous.” [TMQ 82:6]
When I ask myself that question, I can attribute it to the deception of the dunya and the deception of secular society.
As for the deception of the dunya;
Mus’ab ibn Sa’d reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Beware of the worldly life, for It is green and sweet.” [Ahmad]
The world has been made appealing and attractive to the eye.
Growing up, I had no concept of the hereafter, accountability, and life after death. Life in this world was everything. GCSE’s and A’levels were a means to an end, which was to live life to its maximum and gain the most from the greenness and sweetness of this world.
Without reflection or contemplation, we just travel in this world, seeking highs and trying to avoid the lows, often with little success. Making the dunya your goal and neglecting signs of the existence of Allah (swt) is the deception of the dunya. We cling to life in this world, like it will never end, but end it will for all of us, whether we live for 60, 70 or even 100 years. The pleasures are fleeting, compared to the everlasting bliss of the hereafter.
We need to make the hereafter and the pleasure of Allah (swt) our goal. The signs of the world, should lead us to recognise the existence and ultimately the need to sanctify Allah (swt)
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him said, “By Allah, this world (i.e., its pleasures and duration) in comparison with the Hereafter is (similar to the amount of water) one gets when he puts his finger in the sea. Let him then see what it returns with”. [Muslim]
As for the deception of secularism;
Secular education draws a barrier between education and religion. God, Islam, and religion are divorced from core subjects. In science I learned about the origins of the universe and Darwinism, like they were scientific facts and not mere theories to be debated and discussed. No mention was made, nor any credence given to theology or religion.
As a result, neither me nor my classmates were encouraged to think and reflect about these signs. Instead, we were individuals stripped of the spirituality that would inevitably result from linking these subjects with the existence of Allah (swt).
Islam was taught as a standalone topic in 4 or 5 lessons as part of religious education. In reality, Islam is not a subject to be compartmentalised or given fleeting mention in comparative religion studies. Islam is a complete way of life whose spice flavours all subjects. Islam has an economic theory, political system, social rules, ethics, and morals. Much has been written about Islam’s historical contribution to physics, mathematics, medicine, and geography. There was no contradiction in these discoveries and the belief and conviction in One God, Allah (swt).
As parents we need to ask ourselves; What deceived us from our Lord the most Generous?
Maybe the bright lights of the dunya distracted us?
Maybe it was the failure to think and the lack of encouragement to reflect?
Maybe we were just sheep on the conveyor belt of the secular education system?
Whatever the reason, we need to stop, think and then act.
We need to take heed from the warning of Allah (swt) in surah Infitar. The signs of the existence of Allah (swt) are many. We just need to remove the blinkers from our eyes, heart and mind that stop us from seeing and reflecting upon them.
As parents we need to appreciate that the secular education system will not build spirituality in our children. Only the Islamic education system will teach scientific facts whilst not contradicting the existence of the creator. So as parents we need to flavour this secular education our children receive with the spice of Islam.
Study should open our children’s minds to the beauty of Islam and Allah (swt). Study should also be a means to strengthen our children’s conviction and Iman in Allah (swt). Study should humble them and remove traces of arrogance and pride.
We need to take 5 or 10 minutes out of our busy lives to sit with them, ask them about what they studied and, if possible, link what they have learned to Islam. Perhaps we can sow a seed into these young minds that will enable them to taste the sweetness of Iman whenever they pick up and independently read a standard textbook.
My daughter has a couple of exams left to sit. I pray that she and all those sitting exams pass them with the best of results. I also pray that they are a means for goodness for them, both in this life and the next.
رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would say, “Our Lord, grant us good in this world and good in the Hereafter and save us from the punishment of the Hellfire.” [Bukhari / Muslim]