Opinion

In a Place Allah Has Made -Ruth Nasrullah

Published

August 27, 2007

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I spent the last week on vacation, hiking in and around Mammoth Lakes, California. I haven’t had an actual vacation in a while, so it was welcome, although I discovered that my lungs don’t adjust very well to higher altitudes; I spent a fair amount of time surprisingly short of breath as I clambered up hills!

One hike was particularly memorable. My family and I visited the Lower Falls on Mammoth mountain. We settled ourselves on some rocks and broke out lunch. We were the only hikers there and we sat for a while just enjoying the sound of the rushing water and the peacefulness. I looked around and said to my husband, “How can anyone look at this and not believe in a creator?” The persistence of the waterfall, the ants in their determined march, the moss waving in the still parts of the stream, the asymmetry of the rocks and their sturdiness, the blue of the sky, and all the hidden things I can’t see. They all have a purpose and a nature, and all complement each other. I cannot create them – nor you, nor science, nor the greatest engineering minds. They cannot be created and without them we have nothing. People who miss the idea of a divine creator miss the whole purpose.

In Surah Ta-Ha, Allah recounts the story of Moses. Pharaoh asks Moses and his brother Aaron to tell him who their lord is. Moses answers:

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“Our Lord is He Who gave to each (created) thing its form and nature, and further, gave (it) guidance.”
(Pharaoh) said: “What then is the condition of previous generations?”
He replied: “The knowledge of that is with my Lord, duly recorded: my Lord never errs, nor forgets,-
He Who has, made for you the earth like a carpet spread out; has enabled you to go about therein by roads (and channels); and has sent down water from the sky.”

And Allah reminds us:

With it have We produced diverse pairs of plants each separate from the others.
Eat (for yourselves) and pasture your cattle: verily, in this are Signs for men endued with understanding.
From the (earth) did We create you, and into it shall We return you, and from it shall We bring you out once again.

Dhuhr time came and my husband found a big flat rock for us to pray on. After contemplating where I was and how it affected me spiritually, it was an amazing experience to pray in that place amidst the buzz and hum and splash of His creation. Bowing to Allah with my face against the rock He made, my prayer that afternoon was intense and complete.

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7 Comments

aarij

August 27, 2007 at 10:18 AM

Excellent read sr. Ruth.

Truly in the creation are signs for people of understanding. May Allah make us of those who ponder over the creation in order to please Allah, ameen.

I’m going to Banff National Park in Alberta (Canada obviously) this Sunday, in sha Allah. Can’t wait.

Reply
ibnabeeomar

August 27, 2007 at 11:30 AM

i got a copy of national geographic this weekend because of the cover story about pakistan and islam, but as i flipped through the rest of it (i havent looked at this magazine otherwise since elementary school) i was simply shocked and amazed at the real wonders of some of the creations of Allah(swt). i also find it simply unfathomable that someone can see any of these signs and then deny the existence of Allah or not submit to Him

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ruth nasrullah

August 27, 2007 at 1:25 PM

After I wrote it I remembered the nasheed that was linked to in an earlier post on this blog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6c2JiaF_gU.

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sister

August 27, 2007 at 3:25 PM

Takber Allahu Akbar

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AnonyMouse

August 27, 2007 at 3:37 PM

Subhan’Allah, yesterday we had a community picnic/ BBQ that involved canoeing… and being out on the water, straining my muscles and tasting the water against my face, gave quite a similar feeling!

Subhan’Allah, al-Hamdulillaah, Allahu akbar!

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Umm Reem

August 27, 2007 at 7:02 PM

Nice, very nice post mashaAllah Ruth. I will be going to Vermont tomorrow inshaAllah…can’t wait to see the beauty of Allah’s creation!

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Ibn al Huda

August 29, 2007 at 1:21 PM

You are absolutely right sis Ruth and we should feel really blessed for being granted the jewel of Imaan and recognizing Allah SWTs signs. May Allah SWT guide us all,Ameen!tc

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