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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Lessons About Islam Part 2 : 5: God Is Unlike Anything Else Part 3 : 12: Man and Universe (recognise Yourself!) Islamic teachings say: "Oh man! O you, who from time to time forgets his noble station bowing down in fear to sun, moon, stars, mountain and wind, and in whose sight they appear so great and powerful!

O You, whose mind and soul have been conquered by the majesty and grandeur of the rich and mighty gaping at them in awe, taking them to be divine Gods, worshipping them in humility and enslaving yourself to them! Wake up from your deep sleep! No earthly or heavenly thing has ascendancy over you! You have not recognised your worth and have cast yourself for no price at their feet! Arise! Learn of your strength with which God has endowed you and employ your faculties rightly!

If you attend to God's bidding, you will see that you are neither as little nor those as great as you fancy." 13: Dominating Nature Islam has openly proclaimed that man's true worth lies in the measure he has conquered nature and tamed it.

The 20th verse of the 31st Sura reads as follows: "Have you not seen that Allah has subjected to your (use) everything, all things in the heavens and on the earth and has made His bounties flow to you in exceeding measure, (both) seen and unseen ?….." Moreover verses 32-34 of the 14th Sura have the following wording: "It is Allah who has created the heavens and the earth, sent down water from the sky, brought out fruits therewith to feed you; rendered ships to your service that they may sail through the sea according to His will and He subjected streams and rivers to you." "And He has subjected sun and moon to you, both diligently pursuing their courses.

And the day and the night has He subjected to you and He has given you all that you ask for. And if you count the favours of Allah, you won't be able to number them. Verily, man is unjust and ungrateful." These verses and many others point to the possibility of man to dominate nature. Fourteen centuries ago man had progressed only so far as to control sheep and cattle, camel and elephant. He had learnt to use their milk and meat and hide, ride them or bear his cargo on their backs.

He had learnt to conquer somehow the restless sea, ride its billows in small or large vessels and cross the seas with his merchandise.