What is the meaning of the following Hadith:
“Reflect upon the creation and do not reflect upon Allah” (Silsilat as-saheehah, 1788)

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds; and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Abu Naeem reported in Al Hilya that Ibn Abbas (Radiya Allahu Anhu) and with his father, narrated that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam) said: Ponder about the creation of Allah and do not ponder about Allah.

al-AlBani, in Saheeh Al Jami’ and ‘Silsila Dhahabia’ said this Hadith is authentic

As regards the interpretation of the Hadith, Al Manawi says in his book ‘Faid Al Qadir’: Ponder about the creation of Allah it means the creatures of Allah of which the people know the origin as a whole not in particular, for instance the sky and whatever planets and stars it contains – their movement, their orbit, their rising and setting – and the earth and all the mountains, metals, rivers, seas, animals and plants, and whatever is between the sky and the earth: the atmosphere with its clouds, rain, thunder, lightening, thunderbolt, and other creatures of Allah. Not an atom that moves in all this creation, except that Allah has many wisdoms in it, which bear witness to the Oneness of Allah, His Greatness and Might.

Everything that exists is a sign of the existence of Allah, which bear witness that He is One. {And do not ponder about Allah} means that our mind becomes confused about Allah since we cannot see Him.

When thinking about the nature and essence of Allah we become puzzled and astonished, and our mind becomes confused and disturbed.

Therefore, it is more appropriate not to think about Allah and His essence or nature.

Allah knows best.