At first...

At first, it says: “He created the skies and the earth with the truth…” The rightfulness of creation of the skies and the earth is evident both when one considers the amazing system of well-regulated creation, and the goal and the various interests which exist in it. Are those idols whom they associate with Him able to bring about such a creation process, or can they create a small mosquito or create a particle of dust?

The verse says: “…Exalted is He above everything with which they associate Him.” Surah An-Nahl – Verse 4 خَلَقَ الإِنسَانَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٌ مُّبِينٌ 4. “He created man out of semen, yet behold! He is an open adversary.” After allusions made to the issue of the creation of the skies and the earth and their endless mysteries, He enters into the discussion of man himself; the man who is closer to Him than any other one.

The Qur’an in regard to man implies that: And eventually when he was a worthless sperm with no soul, he was made into a rational being as well as defendant, expressive of his own interior, and engaging in disputations with foes. (This meaning refers to the different stages of man’s development process!) The other meaning attributed to this verse is that man eventually turned into Allah’s enemy, rejecting his own Creator.

(This alludes to the retrogression and meanness of the sinful ones.) The verse says: “He created man out of semen, yet behold! He is an open adversary.” Surah An-Nahl – Verse 5 وَالاَنْعَامَ خَلَقَهَا لَكُمْ فِيهَا دِفْءٌ وَمَنَافِعُ وَمِنْهَا تَأْكُلُونَ 5. “And He created the cattle for you, therein is warmth and (other) advantages, and of them you eat.” There are many advantages in animals for man.

Their meat and milk serve for his food; their skin and wool serve for making shoes and clothing; their back serves for loading, their feet are utilized for cultivation, and even their feces are used for fertilization. In spite of all the above advantages, they cause the least trouble for man. The verse says: “And He created the cattle for you, therein is warmth and (other) advantages, and of them you eat.” In Islamic quotations, next to agriculture, the best job proposed is breeding live-stock.

This has been mentioned on condition that the job is coupled with the payment of one’s religious dues of Zakat and with an eye on the deprived people. Incidentally, focusing one’s attention on the divine blessings enlivens the love unto the Creator as well as the spirit of His servitude in man.

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