Islamic Education for Youths - Level Two by Mohammad Amin Sheikho - HTML preview

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Lesson Five

Interpretation of Fortress 100 (The Blowing Wind)

(Al-Adiyat Fortress)

I seek refuge in God from the cursed Satan

In the Name of God, the All-Compassionate, the All-Merciful

1. (((Consider) Those that run, snorting,))

2. ((Then those that bring out sparks by knocking,))

3. ((Then those that pour with plain relief.))

4. ((Through it, We transferred and maintained immersion;))

5. ((Then We made it in a medium location for all living creatures.))

6. ((Truly, humanity is ungrateful for its Provider,))

7. ((Though they themselves are a witness of all this!))

8. ((Indeed, towards the good wished for them, they are close.))

9. ((Will they not be aware (of the day) when those in the graves are thrown out,))

10. ((And those hidden in chests are laid open?))

11. ((Indeed, their Provider is Cognizant of them on that day.))

§§§§§

In this noble Fortress, the Almighty God wants to draw our attention to some of the universal signs which show humanity the Might of its Creator and acquaint us with His great Favor and Care for us, so that we may turn from our inattention and recover our consciousness, and then desist from shunning God and adopt the right path. Therefore God says: ((Consider those that run snorting, then those that bring out sparks by knocking, then those that pour with plain relief. Through it, We transferred and maintained immersion; then We made it in a medium location for all living creatures.))

These five Verse s draw our attention to the magnificent discipline through which rain falls and thus we are provided with water in springs and wells. The Almighty mentioned these cosmic signs successively in the same order in which they take place and in which humanity see them.

In the first Verse, God says:

Verse no. 1

1. ((Consider those that run snorting,))

This Verse indicates the wind which blows continuously, moving through the layers of air in one direction and then another, and from one place to another, all according to where it is driven by the Hand of the Godly Potency.

The term snorting is from the Arabic word Dabh, which is the sound made by the blowing winds. Dabh is also used to denote the sounds produced by horses, rabbits and foxes, in reality expressing the sound of the air which runs through their mouths. Hence the sound of the wind includes all of these types of sounds and is called Dabh.

Thus, this Verse is saying: you, human! Contemplate these winds as they run, and notice the sound which emanates from them; behind this, seek to recognize the Grand Provider Who sends them and moves them. Think of them carefully and you will realize the Greatness of their Creator and the Power of their Driver.

The Almighty God then reveals another of His Miracles, saying:

Verse no. 2

2. ((Then those that bring out sparks by knocking,))

This Verse indicates the clouds and the moment when they come into contact with each other and knock against one other, producing electric sparks and flashing lightning.

Oh human! Should you not ask yourself: who drives these clouds for you?!

Who creates this electricity in them?

Who brings them into contact with one another, and makes them knock into one another, producing this flash and this light?

Clarifying a third miracle of His, God says:

Verse no. 3

3. ((Then those that pour with plain relief.))

This Verse refers to the rain, because it pours from the sky and onto the land, and because it relieves people by making the plants grow and by filling the udder with milk.

For this reason, God says: ((Oh, My obedient followers! Contemplate the rain and how it pours over the land and obviously relieves you.))

The Almighty then mentions a fourth indication of His Compassion, Generosity and Favor for you. He says:

Verse no. 4

4. ((Through it, We transferred and maintained immersion.))

In Arabic, the word atharna means ((transferred and maintained)). In Arabic, the last letter of this word is n and is coupled with the vowel sound a, giving the final syllable na. This denotes the supreme Merits of Almighty Allah. This specifically refers to His Supreme Names, containing Mercy, Charity, Kindness, and Compassion, in addition to other Perfect Merits.

((Through it)) refers to the discipline which leads to rainfall.

The word ((immersion)) refers to gathering water.

We can interpret this Verse as follows: God says: ((Oh, My obedient followers! Out of My Mercy, Kindness, Love and Affection, I carry rainwater for you using this amazing system, and keep it for you in these huge reservoirs.))

Verse no. 5

5. ((Then We made it in a medium location for all living creatures.))

The statement, ((We made it in a medium location)) is wasatna in Arabic.

Again, the final syllable of this word in Arabic, na, denotes the Supreme Merits of Almighty Allah.

The word ((it)) here refers to the accumulating water.

God continues His Speech by saying: ((And out of My Compassion and Tenderness and other Supreme Names, I carry this collected water through certain passages running below ground in appropriate proportions, creating springs and rivers for your advantage.))

Having mentioned some of the miracles that indicate His Favor and great Potency, the Almighty God gave us the following Verse. It is a means to reproach and admonish those who are ungrateful for His Boons, despite the fact that they are infinite. He says:

Verse no. 6

6. ((Truly, humanity is ungrateful for its Provider,))

This means that despite His Favour and Donation, and despite your Creators Care for you and His Subjection of this entire uniVerse for your sake, you remain ungrateful!! You pay no heed to your Providers Favour and do not appreciate His Mercy, His Grace, or His Charity towards you!!

Verse no. 7

7. ((Though they themselves are a witness of all this!))

Your ingratitude is real, even though you can see this uniVerse and how all aspects of it work for your benefit. You see how the blowing wind gathers the atoms of vapour from the seas and drives the clouds for you, and how the clouds condense and knock against one another to make the rains fall, and how these rains fall, containing substances which are essential for the growth of plant life, and how the land and the springs store this water and then flow at a level proportional to your needs and the needs of your crops.

Although you sense this Donation and this Care, and witness this disposition, and see how He employs the uniVerse for our sake, you turn away from your Creator without remembering even a morsel of the boons and benefits He has for you!!

Verse no. 8

8. ((Indeed, towards the good wished for them, they are close.)) You are begrudging your own spirit when you deprive it from receiving the goodness which your Provider wishes for you. You turn away from entering into His Presence, although your life and happiness are dependent on such an entrance.

Verse no. 9

9. ((Will they not be aware [of the day] when those in the graves are thrown out,))

The statement ((Will they not be aware)) is intended to urge and exhort humanity; ((hen those in the graves are thrown out)) refers to when people will emerge from their graves.

Therefore this Verse denotes: is it not true that this person should know and think seriously of their ending, when they will emerge from their grave on Doomsday? How can they forget this Day on which their happiness depends?

God continues by saying:

Verse no. 10

10. ((And those hidden in chests are laid open.))

That is, is not it necessary and obligatory for all humanity to be aware of the day when that which is hidden in the chests will be laid open? This refers to the disclosure of the secrets of the spirits, when their negative desires and evils will appear.

Indeed, you shall witness this day, upon which your reality shall appear obviously before you, when you will view the goodness or evil and the health or illness that your spirit is hiding. At that time, your Merciful Provider will give you what is agreeable to you, because He is Omniscient of your state. He knows everything about you and therefore He drives to you what is appropriate for your state. God says:

Verse no. 11

11. ((Indeed, their Provider is cognizant of them on that day.))

This Merciful Provider is Omniscient and Wise. He drives to each what is proper and favorable for their spirit.

Thus, if you consider this uniVerse and learn lessons from what it contains, and if you perceive the Graces of your Provider and then correct your course and approach Him, the Almighty, you shall achieve a positive outcome and become happy.

However, if you insist on shunning Him and keep on in your error, you will be subject to treatment and curing. What great distress and intense pain are entailed by treatment and curing!