If you look at this image (Kaaba full of Muslims and the sign indicating it is live), you will realize this is an older photo, as it cannot be live today. Even with partial restrictions due to the pandemic, any Muslims allowed to enter will have to pray while maintaining the safe distance. So, what is the purpose of sharing this image now?
It is a call to reflect.
Not necessarily to reflect on the changes that are happening in our every day lives due to the pandemic. Rather, we must reflect on everything that we have. Everything that we see and witness everyday. There is much more to reflect upon than one might assume. We don’t need to wait for something unusual to happen in order to start reflecting.
Let’s look at a brief tafseer (explanation of the meaning) of the following verses of Quran.
Allah ﷻ says in the Quran, in surat Al-Ra’d, verses 1 to 4:
المر ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْكِتَابِ ۗ وَالَّذِي أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكَ مِن رَّبِّكَ الْحَقُّ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكْثَرَ النَّاسِ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Alif, Lam, Meem, Ra. These are the verses of the Book; and what has been revealed to you from your Lord is the truth, but most of the people do not believe.
اللَّهُ الَّذِي رَفَعَ السَّمَاوَاتِ بِغَيْرِ عَمَدٍ تَرَوْنَهَا ۖ ثُمَّ اسْتَوَىٰ عَلَى الْعَرْشِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ ۖ كُلٌّ يَجْرِي لِأَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ يُدَبِّرُ الْأَمْرَ يُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لَعَلَّكُم بِلِقَاءِ رَبِّكُمْ تُوقِنُونَ
It is Allah who erected the heavens without pillars that you [can] see; then He established Himself above the Throne and made subject the sun and the moon, each running [its course] for a specified term. He arranges [each] matter; He details the signs that you may, of the meeting with your Lord, be certain.
وَهُوَ الَّذِي مَدَّ الْأَرْضَ وَجَعَلَ فِيهَا رَوَاسِيَ وَأَنْهَارًا ۖ وَمِن كُلِّ الثَّمَرَاتِ جَعَلَ فِيهَا زَوْجَيْنِ اثْنَيْنِ ۖ يُغْشِي اللَّيْلَ النَّهَارَ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
And it is He who spread the earth and placed therein firmly set mountains and rivers; and from all of the fruits He made therein two mates; He causes the night to cover the day. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.
وَفِي الْأَرْضِ قِطَعٌ مُّتَجَاوِرَاتٌ وَجَنَّاتٌ مِّنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَزَرْعٌ وَنَخِيلٌ صِنْوَانٌ وَغَيْرُ صِنْوَانٍ يُسْقَىٰ بِمَاءٍ وَاحِدٍ وَنُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَهَا عَلَىٰ بَعْضٍ فِي الْأُكُلِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
And within the land are neighboring plots and gardens of grapevines and crops and palm trees, [growing] several from a root or otherwise, watered with one water; but We make some of them exceed others in [quality of] fruit. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason.
Allah ﷻ testifies that the message sent to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the Truth. The words in the Quran are the Truth. But many people don’t believe in it. They don’t acknowledge it.
This Truth was revealed from Allah ﷻ our Lord. He is the one who created and raised the heavens with no pillars that we can see. And such is the Power and the Might of our Lord.
When you look at the sun, feeling its warmth. When you seek the new moon, showing us the beginning of the month. When you look at the sky that envelops the earth everywhere. Remember that Allah ﷻ, the one who we will meet one day, created them to make life possible for us on this earth. The levels of oxygen that are perfect for us to breath. The heat from the sun that is needed for the plants to grow and for the water to evaporate and fall as rain when Allah ﷻ wills it. He created these so that life can be sustained on earth. And also, so that we may believe in a day that we will meet Him, when all of creation will cease and the Day of Judgement will begin.
These are great signs of the Power of Allah ﷻ.
Just look at the earth, it is round, yet flat for us to walk on and explore it. It is so vast that we don’t feel its curve. The crust that is floating on top of the magma is so thin, but it is anchored and stabilized with the mountains. And we have rivers and springs and endless variations of fruits. Even apples that grow from the same dirt, watered using the same water, can look, taste and smell distinct. And if you have a passion for cooking, you would know that certain apples are good for a pie, while others are best used for an apple jam. Everything that Allah ﷻ made can cause us to reflect and link what amazes us from the creation to the Perfection and the Might of the Creator.
They are many verses in the Quran reminding us and calling us to reflect. And we don’t have to wait for a once in a thousand-year event, or a catastrophe, or a miracle to do so. We can reflect everyday and night.
This is a call to reflect, and to make reflection a habit. Through this, we will become mindful and begin to appreciate the countless proofs, evidences, and signs of the Oneness of Allah ﷻ. May our faith increase and may we become stronger and more prepared to face calamities and learn from them, rather than allow our faith to become shaken and destroyed by them.
