Part 43

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“How many a portent is there in the heavens and the earth which they pass by with face averted!” (12: 105)

This means that they are heedless of the significance of what is around them.

The creation of seeds

Reflect on the fertility and production that Allah endowed crops with, so that from one grain seven hundred grains may grow. If a grain produced only one grain, there would not be produced enough to resow in the ground, to feed people, and for the farmer to save for himself until the next harvest. Instead, what is sown is from the surplus yield, and the farmer finds enough to feed himself, to feed others and to use for farming. This is also true of fruit trees

and date-palm trees. A double plant, that grows from the same root, is an alternative way to let people cut one plant, and let the other replace what they have used for their various purposes. They do not run short of the particular plant. A farm-owner who is concerned for the prosperity of his lands would provide the peasants with what they need for sowing and what they need to live on until the ripeness of crops. It is for this that the Gentle, the All-Knowing grew from a single grain several grains, so that people can save what they can survive on, and sow the rest for the next season.

The creation of grains

Consider now the wisdom manifested in the creation of grains, wheat, barley, and the like. See how a grain is encased in a husk with a spear-sharp tip, thus repelling the flocks of birds from assailing and destroying it! If birds found the grains unsheathed and unprotected they would be sure to do great mischief, ruining the grains, spoiling them, causing havoc and devouring all they could; the farmers would be unable to deter them. This should lead one to realize the great mercy of the Gentle when He arranged that grains should have effective protection to keep them intact. Birds do pick up what they need for their nourishment, but the greater part remains for man, their rightful owner, since it is he who strove and drudged to grow them. Besides, he needs many times as much as birds do.

The right amount of trees’ yield

Regard the great wisdom evident in the trees! See how they keep ‘conceiving’ and ‘delivering’ year in and year out! They are continually either ‘conceiving’ or ‘delivering’! During the former phase the Lord decrees that a tree’s natural heat is trapped inside, so that there should be conception at the destined time. The first phase is similar

in the animal to the period of the formation of eggs and sperm in the human. The necessary processes are taking place inside in preparation for the time of fertilisation. At the time assigned for fertilisation and conception the tree seems to get ready and there is an increase in moisture inside, and this shows in the tenderness of its boughs. When its ‘delivery’ is due, it clothes itself in luxurious apparel, resplendent with blossom and leaves, and it seems to ‘swagger, sway and swing’, showing its pride over the barren tree. Once it has run its course, and its conception is visible to observers, its liberality or meanness is displayed. Its offspring will be nourished by the One Who nourished foetuses in their mothers’ bellies. It is He Who clothes it with leaves, protecting it from cold and heat. Once the stage is completed, and the time for weaning is due, it will reach down with its boughs to the bypasser, as if it is inviting him to help himself to some of its fruit. As you approach it, you are met with the boughs, which seem to meet you attended by their children; they welcome you, and put their offspring forward to express their pleasure. A tree offers you its offspring, so liberally that it seems to hand them to you. This is especially true of the fruit-trees of Paradise, whose clusters are in easy reach. A believer dwelling there need just reach out to pick from his place, standing, sitting, or lying. Observe also the basils as they seem to greet you with their fragrance and breathe sweetly at your approach. In all this there isa display of courtesy and taking special care of you; there is an assertion of your prestigious place among creatures.

Does it become you, then, to be diverted by the blessings from the Blessor? To say nothing of using those blessings to disobey the Lord, and employ them in incurring His anger? To say nothing of denying the Lord, and ascribing His favours to another? This last attitude is described by the Almighty in the following words:

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“And make denial thereof your livelihood?” (56: 82)

It is incumbent on him who has sense to let his mind envision those blessings and bounties! Should he not review them again and again in hope of discerning the purpose of their existence? Why he has been created? What is expected of him? What is required of him, being endowed with those blessings? He should heed such verses of the Qur’an as the following:

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“Remember all the bounties of your Lord, that happily you may be successful.” (7: 69)

Reviewing the Almighty’s blessings and bounties to His servant leads to the latter’s success and happiness; such review cannot but lead the human to increase in his love, thankfulness and praise of the Lord; he will doubtlessly obey Him more, realise his own shortcoming more clearly, and his extreme shortcoming in doing what he should do. It is indeed as was well-expressed in the following couplet:

“You have been prepared for a purpose which, were you but aware of it,

You would not yield to following blindly the ignorant multitude.”

Stages of the growth of bananas

1 . Banana blossom appears, 2 . Extends like an arm, 3 . Branches like fingers Bending on wards under their weight

4 . Hangs down, ending in purple leaves

Think of such plants as the gourd, the watermelon and the carrot: since Divine Wisdom willed that their fruit should be large in size, the plant crawls on the surface of the ground! If it grew erect in the way other plants grow, it would not be strong enough to bear the weight of the heavy fruit. The fruits’ growth in that case would be stunted before they reached their full ripeness. Therefore, it was the wisdom of their Creator and Maker that He caused such plants to crawl on the ground, laying their fruit on the ground, which bears their weight. You see how the frail, thin stem stretches on the ground, with its fruits on both sides of it, resembling a female animal, surrounded by its cubs, sucking at its breasts. As for French beans, aubergines, broad beans and similar other plants which are firm enough to bear their fruits, the Lord willed that their stems stand erect, since they can endure the fruits’ weight, and do not fall under their weight.

Diversity of fruit to fit the diversity of times

Reflect also on the depth of Divine Wisdom as revealed in the dispensing of fruit and vegetables at the right and appropriate times. They are made available to people when they most relish them! They welcome them asa thirsty person welcomes water; they help themselves to them delightedly and eagerly, as one receives a beloved traveller. If the summer’s fruit were to come in the winter, it would arouse not little dislike and lack of appetite on the part of eaters; not to mention its harmful and sickening effect on bodies. In the same way, if the spring fruit were to grow in autumn, or the autumn fruit in spring, it would not have excited the pleasure it naturally excites; people would not find it tasty or luscious as they find timely fruits. You see how fruits that linger beyond their season are found unpalatable and unappetising. You should not think that

this is no more than the power of habit; quite the contrary, habit has accepted this because it is the will of Providence that it is basically in accord with what is beneficial; it is the mercy of the Wise, the All-knowing!

Observe the palm-tree, one of Allah’s many signs, and you see sO many wonders and miracles that you will be bewildered. As Allah willed there are female palm-trees, and _ there are male ones to fertilise them, in the same way as there are male and female animals. It is for this that this tree is the one tree that resembles man_ the most, especially a believer, as the Prophet # described it.* It deserved this affinity for many reasons:

First: The firmness and stability of its root in the ground, in contrast with the tree described as ‘rootless from upon the earth, possessing no stability.’

Second: The lusciousness and sweetness of its fruit, and its general usefulness. In_ this, it is like the believer, who is decent of tongue, decent of behaviour, who does good for himself as well as for others.

Third: The permanence of its clothing and adornment; its green apparel adorns it summer and winter. In this, it is compared to the believer, who never takes off the raiment and adornment of restraint from evil and steadfast until the day he meets his Lord, the Almighty Allah.

Fourth: Its accessibility and ease of picking its fruit; a picker seeking to pick up fruit from short palm-trees is

“Ibn Umar recounts: I was sitting in the presence of the Prophet 4 when he ate some palm-pith; then he said:

“There is a tree, which, among trees, resembles a believer.” I (Ibn Umar) was about to say it was a palm-tree; but when I cast my eye at the people present there, I found that I was the youngest person. Then the Messenger of Allah #* said:

ral . 4 ie “It is the palm-tree.” (Reported by Al-Bukharee and Muslim.)

not in need of a means of climbing; and as for tall ones, they are easy to climb in comparison with other tall trees of a different species. You can notice how a palm-tree has step-like parts that reach up to its top. In a like manner, a believer is simple and accessible to those who seek him, not conceited or arrogant.

Fifth: Its fruit is one of the most beneficial in the world. It is enjoyable to eat it fresh as a sweet fruit; when it is dried, it is stored as provision, food and fruit; vinegar, syrup and sweets are made from it; it is a component of various medicines and drinks. The advantages of dates and grapes are superior in their diversity to that of any other fruits.