If an artist were to draw a very close image of a human, people would be amazed to his ability to imitate, while in reality, all he did was to reflect the human’s image with his hand using some paint; again, is it not appropriate and correct to ponder over how man was created by Allah from this drop and then given the very best form and shape?
Another amazing thing is that the foetus, just before delivery, turns upside down when it gets larger and when the womb becomes too small for it, in preparation for emerging into this world; it does this as if it is a sound-minded person who thinks and plans ahead; then Allah guided it to cling to its mother’s nipple for food; look how Allah shaped the breast and nipple in such a way that it is perfectly suitable for the baby to feed from; look how small the hole in the nipple is, so that the milk will not emerge without suckling.
Allah Says what means: “Has there [not] come upon man a period of time when he was not a thing [even] mentioned? Indeed, We created man from a sperm-drop mixture that We may try him; and We made him hearing and seeing. Indeed, We guide him to the way, be he grateful or ungrateful.” [Quran 76: 1-3]
Note the greatness of Allah in just one of His creations - man; and then there are many wonders in the creation and structure of man which have not yet been discovered! How then is the case regarding all the hidden and unknown matters that Allah Has instilled in the earth, rivers, seas and mountains?
If we take a look at some insects, we find amazing creations, such as the spider who builds his web with a wonderfully engineered design. It goes to riverbanks and looks for two close locations with a gap in between that is not more than two to three feet apart, and then begins constructing its web from one end by spiting its saliva, which is in the form of a thread, then goes to the other end and then goes back and forth, constructing very accurate parallel lines in a beautiful symmetric manner; then it constructs lines that are at right-angles to form the shape of a net.
After it finishes, it sits at one end of the net awaiting for a fly or other flying insects that it eats to fall into the trap (i.e., its net) and then it attacks it and eats it. If it fails to catch anything, it goes to the corner of the web and drops a thread from it, then it hangs itself from it upside down, and if a fly flies by, it throws itself on it, binds it with the thread, and eats it.
Regardless of how small or big a creature is, one will find many amazing things regarding it which cannot be enumerated … did such creatures teach themselves all these amazing things? Did other humans teach them?
Anyone with vision will definitely realise the greatness of Allah in these small creatures and realise the perfect ability and wisdom of Allah. Man is far more complicated and amazing in his creation than animals, and yet when man sees a strange worm or animal, he becomes astonished by its creation more than he does by his own amazing structure!
Allah Has commanded us to contemplate over His creation and encouraged us to contemplate over the creation of man, the seas, the heavens and the earth, but why is this so? Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan As-Sa’di said: “Allah Has commanded this in order for man to discover the reason behind his creation, which entails that contemplation is an act of worship that is performed only by those whom Allah chooses, and when they do so, they realise that they were not created haphazardly.”
Some people are only attracted to the final shape of the creation but never stop to think about the reason for its creation and the great objective behind it, which is to contemplate, and thus worship Allah.
Contemplating over matters related to the Hereafter is a very important matter. We do not have any of the fruits of Paradise, nor do we have any of the chains with which people are punished in Hell, but we do have texts from the Quran and the Sunnah describing to us in detail how things will be on the Day of Resurrection, with all their descriptions; this is from the mercy of Allah, in order for us to have something to contemplate over, because the more one knows about the Hereafter, the more his heart will react.
Why does Allah mention to us the preconditions of the Hour? He does so in order for them to be something that we contemplate upon. We must always be concerned about these matters. The problem is in man, who does not ponder or contemplate about any of these matters; people have busied themselves nowadays thinking about prohibited matters, or about worldly pleasures. Pleasure has overwhelmed people’s lives, and thus contemplating over important matters, which would result in true pleasure and happiness, has become rare.
Once, Sufyaan was in a gathering, when suddenly, the lamp that was lighting the congregation ran out of oil, and so its flame went out. After someone had added oil and re-ignited the lamp, they found that Sufyaan had cried, so they asked him why he did so, and he replied: “This darkness reminded me of the grave.” Due to the hearts of such people being alive, anything around them caused them to contemplate and connect that to the important matters which one ought to contemplate over.
One of the Salaf was waiting for bread in a bakery, when he began staring at the fire and crying like a baby. A man asked him why, and he replied: “I remembered the Hellfire."
‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul-‘Azeez said: “Contemplation is one of the favours of Allah and one of the best acts of worship that one can perform.”
‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Utbah asked Umm Tharr, may Allah be pleased with her, about the best act of worship that Abu Tharr, may Allah be pleased with him, would perform, she answered: “Contemplation.”
Al-Hasan wrote to ‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul-‘Azeez saying: “Know that contemplation encourages one to do good and encourages one to shun evil and regret it.”
Muhammad ibn Ka’b said: “To recite only chapter Az-Zalzalah and Al-Qaari’ah all night long with contemplation is dearer to me than reciting the entire Quran without contemplation.”
One must always contemplate, because this will lead him to performing things which please Allah and which instil tranquillity in his heart, which would make him fearful of Allah, give him wisdom, and revive his heart.