Subhanallah, Alhamdulillah, the insects worked for me!...

In the name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate; blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad s.a.w.

Reflection
"Anyone who obeys the Messenger has obeyed God..." (Nisaa 4:80)

ABOUT 10 years ago I planted about 10 young rambutan trees in my 'kebun' (garden) which was some six kilometers away from my home. Only two trees 'survived' in the 'dry' and 'robust' land full of grass and as the distance was far, only once in a blue moon I watered them.

After about five years, the two trees which were 'beautiful and 'healthy' started producing 'quality' fruits several times in a year. On several occasions I had brought the fruits to Harakah's office to 'cheer up' my former colleagues who were strained in their work with its great taste and juicy flesh.

A few days ago, I drove to my 'kebun' in an old Proton Iswara owned by my son. I purposely parked the car under one of the rambutan tree, made myself comfortable in the driver's seat, switched on the radio to listen to Radio IKIM. The program features an 'ustaz' (religious teacher) who talked about life on how to 'syukur' (say Alhamdulillah, thanks Allah for His blessing).

At first my eyes went wild, screening around the whole 'kebun' but suddenly stopped in an amazement looking at a 'fiesta like atmosphere' just above my head. Scores of insects were seen busily flying and settling on the pollen and stigmas (young buds or flowers) on the branches of the rambutan tree.

I focused my eyes on the 'great event', my head started thinking - Subhanallah, many among us only managed to acknowledge the sweetness of a rambutan, but only a few realized whats more to appreciate and thanks 'those involved' in 'the process' of 'making' the fruit.

Yes, dear readers, I only planted the rambutan tree, who made the tree grew strong and healthy, bore stigmas (flowers) and who ordered the insects to do the process of pollination...subhanallah the insects were 'busily working for me' so that in the 'future' I may have the opportunity to reap the delicious good looking fruits which some of them I passed to my friends in Harakah?

The same could be said about human beings, a husband and his wife only make love (pardon me), the question is who 'completed the process' until a baby is born to them.

In the Qur'an, Allah SWT says, “Verily We created man from a product of wet earth; then placed him as a drop (of seed) in a safe lodging; then We fashioned the drop into a clot, then We fashioned the clot into a little lump, then We fashioned the little lump into bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators!” [23:12-14]

“It is He Who has created you from dust then from a sperm-drop, then from a leech-like clot; then does he get you out (into the light) as a child: then lets you (grow and) reach your age of full strength; then lets you become old,- though of you there are some who die before;- and lets you reach a term appointed; in order that you may learn wisdom.” [40:67]

So, Alhamdulillah, Praise be to Allah SWT, after acknowledging that we are created by Him, we as Muslims have a clear purpose in our lives: to earn the pleasure of our Creator. Regarding this Allah SWT says in the Qur'an:

1. Did you then think that We created you in vain, and that you would not be returned to us? (23:115)

2. And I created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone). (51:56)

3. …Who has created life and death so that He may try you which of you are best in deeds…(67:2)

4. And We have not created the heaven and earth and what is between them in vain. That is the opinion of those who disbelieve. And woe to such disbelievers, because of the Fire. Shall we treat those who believe and do good deeds as those who spread corruption on the earth? Or shall we treat the pious as sinners? (38:27-8)

5. And among the people there is he who sells himself for the pleasure of Allah, and Allah is kind to His worshippers. (2:207)

6. There has come to you from God a light and a luminous Book, through which God, by His grace, guides all who seek His good pleasure on the path of peace, and brings them out of the depths of darkness into light and guides them unto a Straight Path. (5:15-16)

Looking at the insects working hard on the pollen and stigmas of the rambutan, made me feel how naive I was in the sea of knowledge. Acknowledging that we have and were 'nothing' and not perfect was a good sign in bringing ourselves closer to Allah the Greatest for Allah SWT is the Only Perfect and the Creator of everything; His creatures including human beings are with defects. In fact we are short of everything, thus we need Allah SWT to hold on!

Let us admitted that at home and in the office, there are many problems you could not solve. For example your children or your subordinates are not willing to receive orders from you. At times, they make a deaf year or making a mock of you, and for sure you are bound to lose your cool. Perhaps your blood pressure would rise to a danger level, you are nearing to be admitted to a hospital or worse still you are on your road to be admitted six feet underground (your grave-lah).

This is a real testimony that you are actually weak, poor and hapless but based on what I had experienced, we are ignorant; we failed to read the message from Allah SWT. Human beings cannot solve problems, only He who created all creatures had the answer to all problems. 

Scholars said the best thing for us to do, including solving our problems, is to seek help and surrender ourselves totally to our Creator, Allah SWT who is the Most Merciful and Most Compassionate. Allah SWT, the ever living God is willing at any time to hear our wishes and cries of our inner hearts.

Allah SWT is full of love, mercy and compassion but why must we turn our backs or shy away from Him? Why are we too proud to ask for His help to resolve our problems? Why are we too proud to ruku’ and sujud (prostrate) to Him? Remember an ayah of the FatiHah which we read in every rakaat of our prayers, iy-yaa-ka na’-bu-du wa iy-yaa-ka nas-ta-‘iin which means; “To you do we worship and to You do we beg for assistance.”

Allah SWT is willing to hear from us but why must we be ignorant to Him? Allah SWT’s kindness towards His creatures is more than a mother’s towards her baby. If you put your whole trust in Allah SWT, as you ought, He most certainly will give you sustenance, as He does the birds; they come out hungry in the morning but return full to their nests in the evening. Allah SWT says, “Verily My compassion overcomes My wrath.”

Man enjoys the mercy of God Who is kind and good. God’s mercy is to anyone, believer or no believer, obedient or disobedient, Muslim or non-Muslim, black or white. God’s mercy for His creation is immeasurable. We cannot imagine or count His favours to mankind. He gives man food, drink, the means of movement, and all the necessities of life. He provides for him irrespective of his behaviour. 

God has promised to extend His love to those who obey His will. His mercy is extended to all mankind; His love is extended to those who submit to His will. The Qur’an says: “Say, (O Muhammad, to mankind): If ye love Allah, follow me; Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Forgiving, Merciful (Qur’an 3:31)

After admitting our weakness, our inability to solve problems because no creatures (including human beings) created by Him is perfect, then it is timely for us to ask, to beg for Allah SWT’s help because He is the possessor of all power. Only Allah SWT can provide for man’s needs or give and take away life. The Holy Qur’an proclaims: “Knowest thou not that is Allah unto Whom belongeth the sovereignty of the heavens and earth; and ye have not, beside Allah any friend or helper.” (Qur’an 2:107)

If we have the trust in Him, insya-Allah (God willing), all of our problems, whether at home, in the office or at national or international level would be resolved! 

Remember how strong and powerful we are in terms of physical, power, status and wealth; we could not win over evil forces including Satan and his followers. Only Allah SWT could show us the light and help us, so to all please start pleading, crying and pouring our hearts to the Lord, only to You Allah SWT do we submit! 

Oh, Subhanallah, what a lesson under a rambutan tree in my 'kebun'!