Saturday, February 7, 2009

The Comfortable Bed and The Protective Roof

Who has made the earth your couch, and the heavens your canopy; and send down rain from the heavens; and brought forth therewith Fruits for your sustenance; then set not up rivals unto Allah when ye know (the truth).

Chapter No. 2, Verse No. 22

In Arabic Language the word of "earth" is used in extensive meanings. Basically the word "earth" means every that thing which is below the feet of humans or anything which is below something.

Similarly the word "heavens" is itself a very extensive word. However its basic meaning is of something which is above the head of or anything above something. Earth and Heavens are the two opposites in each other. Another meaning of earth can be taken as "downfall" while that of heavens as "rise".

The word "heavens" is used in different meanings. For example , the atmosphere above our heads, clouds, horizon, that blue roof, that seems to be present above our heads, cosmic space and heavenly bodies etc.

In Quran, this word is also used in the meanings of Universe. It is also used in the meanings of Spiritual or Metaphysical world. But besides all these meanings, its basic meaning remains the same that is the peak, the rise, the height.

From the context of this verse, we can easily determine that here the word heavens is used for what meanings.

Couch is a word that means something which is lied down so that one can feel comfort over it. This means that the earth is created in such a manner that Humans and other living beings can survive on it. For example, there is a balance between the hardness and softness of the earth's surface. It is neither very hard, nor very rocky, nor very sharp and neither it is very soft nor very sandy.

Earth is rotating and revolving with a very high speed in the universe but we don't get even a single feeling of such a fast speed.

The structure of earth, its distance from the the Sun, its climate, everything is very suitable for life to survive comfortably.

The earth's crust which basically serves as a couch (floor). The inside layers of the earth is very hot and is made of extremely hot and molten matter called Magma in which convectional currents keep flowing.

Due to Geological Process, the upper layer of earth becomes solid and it takes the form of a floor and gradually it becomes so suitable that living beings can exist now on it.

This floor like surface of earth doesn't mean that the earth is flat in shape. This is in the same way that there are huge high mountains present upon earth but they don't negate the curvilinear shape of earth.

"Canopy" means something which is built. This word is used for building, roof, ceiling and camp etc. Here this word is used in contrast with "Couch". Couch is used for something which is lying below our feet and Canopy means something which is present above our heads.

Here the word "heavens" is used for Atmosphere which is present as a protective layer around the earth, just like a roof or ceiling. It saves earth from exterior anomalies, meteorites, harmful rays e.g ultraviolet rays, cosmic rays and the magnetic effects of the Sun.

The soft and comfortable couch and a protective and safe roof are the beautiful metaphors used in this verse. Without these two, it was not possible for humans to live life on earth comfortably. These are the gifts of our Creator to us, so we should be thankful to Him for such great gifts. This is what Quran wants, to propagate the feeling of thankfulness in humans to their Creator,
Allah- the Almighty.

The second word of "heavens" here means the place above us where clouds are present. Rainfall comes from the clouds.

This is certainly a miracle of our Creator, that He has constructed such a great system of providing Fresh Water to all the living beings on this earth.

When sun rays fall on the water surface of water resources, then water evaporates and gets collected in the atmosphere in the form of vapors. This makes the clouds. The wind blows the clouds from one place to another and then due to precipitation, these vapors fall on earth in the form of rain or snow. These all are the great signs of God's existence.

Water is the basic need of life. This helps the growth of crops, fruits, minerals, vegetables etc. These are then consumed by the Humans and Animals and Plants as their feed. Plants also fulfil many other needs of Humans.

So what do you think my dear friends? Aren't these concepts, these statements true for all of us? Are they not created by Someone extremely powerful and extremely unique? For everyone who possess a little bit of thinking power even, would be able to understand that there is Someone behind all these system and that Someone is no one but Allah, the Almighty, our Creator, our God. If you don't understand it yet, take some time and read it again with your minds open to accept the invitation to ponder and you will get the feeling of the God, the One and the Only One Who created you this whole universe.

For further discussion on this verse, please comment below preferably in English.

May God Bless You!





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