by Asma bint Shameem
The other night I had
some old stale bread left over. Although we dont get very many birds in our
backyard this time of the year, I didnt want to waste any food so I crumbled it
up into tiny pieces and threw it in the back yard for the birds without paying
much attention to it. And I would have forgotten all about it if I hadnt heard
the loud cawing of a crow the next morning, right after sunrise.
Caw! Caw!
It was so loud and
persistent that I simply had to look out the window, wondering what all the
commotion was about, having forgotten all about the bread crumbs from the night
before.
And there it was.... a crow so excited, so delighted, quickly pecking at the
bread crumbs while also eagerly calling his friends to join him in his recently
discovered, grand breadcrumb feast!
And sure enough, within seconds, at least 10, 15 more crows had joined him and
were swiftly pecking at the crumbs with their tiny beaks.
I watched in amazement, entranced, at this fascinating sight and within
minutes, all the breadcrumbs were gone, wiped clean as if they never existed.
Subhaan Allaah !
These crows had absolutely no idea that these crumbs were in my backyard the
night before. Yet only a few hours later they were there, pecking at them until
they had their fill and then they were all gone.
Who fed them ?
Who told them where to go for their rizq ?
Who told them that my backyard had food waiting for them?
It's only Allaah Subhaanahu wa Taala, Ar-Razzaq, the One Who provides for the
crows and for me and you.
The Prophet (pbuh) said:
"If only you relied on
Allah a true reliance, He would provide sustenance for you just as He does the
birds: They fly out in the morning empty and return in the afternoon with full
stomachs."
(Ahmad, Tirmidhi, others)
And have you ever seen how birds fly? I mean, really seen them fly with the
eyes of your heart?
How these incredible flying machines soar through the sky, spreading their
wings so gracefully gliding from one tree to another?
Who holds them up in space like that without them falling to earth?
Who taught them to fly and flap their wings like that?
Who told them to fly south in winters and migrate to unknown places?
Have you ever wondered about that?
"Do they not see the
birds held (flying) in the midst of the sky? None holds them up but Allaah.
Verily, in this are clear proofs and signs for people who believe." (Surah an-Nahl: 79)
And have you
seen how they gather every morning and every evening on poles and wires, all
lined up neatly right next to each other. So close to one another, bird after
bird, literally hundreds of them, all chirping in unison, joining each other in
this wonderful air orchestra extravaganza?!!
Why do they gather like that every day, day in
and day out?
What do they say? "The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, glorify
Him and there is not a thing but glorifies His Praise. But you understand not
their glorification. Truly, He is Ever Forbearing, Oft-Forgiving." (al-Israa: 44)
Subhaan Allaah.
Singing the praise of
their Lord. What an honor!
Have you ever reflected
on what an amazing creation of Allaah all these birds are ?
These birds are a
sign.....a sign for people who understand and take heed. They are signs among
the signs of the Lord of the heavens and the earth, our Rabb, the Creator,
Controller, Sustainer of everyone and everything.
A bird flies because
Allaah is the One who holds it in up the air. It migrates along mysterious
routes because it follows Allaahs plan.
Its flight is part of its
glorification of its Creator.
It gathers on poles and
wires every day because it is glorifying Allaah. Its glorification is part of
the duty that Allaah has created it for.
It finds food for itself
in places it doesnt even know existed, because it is Allaah that is providing
it.
And this is part of the
trust, the tawakkul, that the bird places in his Lord, his Sustainer.
Now the questions to ask
oneself are
If these little birds can have such tawakkul in Allaah, why cant we ?
If these tiny birds can
fly like that and obey Him like they are supposed to, why dont we ?
If they can sing the
praises of their Lord and worship Him in the manner that they are taught, why
arent we ?
Surely in this is an
ayah for the one who understands.
Our job is to worship Allaah alone. If we can do that job, even a fraction as
well as these birds do, you never know, we might just be fortunate enough to
fly with them to Jannah.
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