Manifestations of Wisdom in Creation
Selections from the Book The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him …
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (23)
Allah Almighty has linked creation with wisdom and purpose. He did not create the creation in vain or for play. Instead, He created all things with profound wisdom and for significant reasons that humans can understand through their own creation and the myriad creatures around them—such as animals, insects, trees, plants, seas, rivers, mountains, plains, winds, and rains. These manifestations of wisdom are numerous and interrelated, each confirming and complementing the others in forms of majesty, creativity, and perfection. The ultimate goal and truth of all this is to establish worship of Allah alone. Allah says: {And We did not create the heavens and earth and that between them in play. (38) We did not create them except in truth, but most of them do not know. (39)} [Ad-Dukhan: 38-39].
Allah Almighty informs us about His perfect power and complete wisdom. He did not create the heavens and the earth for amusement or in vain, but rather created them with purpose and truth. Their creation encompasses justice and truth, and He established them so that He alone would be worshipped, with no partner. He created them to command and forbid His servants, reward them, and punish them.
And wisdom is one of the greatest aspects of the Quranic and prophetic narrations about the story of creation. Creation is an attribute of Allah, as the effect of this attribute is an action of Allah, free from vain and play. If it is established that everything in the universe is created by Allah, including creatures and their actions—which will be further explained in the course of this book, with Allah’s permission—then one who firmly believes in this and deeply engrains it in their heart will open up to immense horizons in understanding the secrets of the great creation, and what happens within it: movement and stillness, happiness and misery, prosperity and hardship, honor and humiliation, good and evil, war and peace, life and death, victory and defeat.
And Allah Almighty said in one of the most painful and distressing stories, which is the story of the slander against the pure and protected Mother of the Believers, Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her and her father). Allah Almighty said: {Indeed, those who came with falsehood are a group among you. Do not think it bad for you; rather, it is good for you.} [An-Nur: 11].
What appeared to be evil was, in reality, good for the family of Abu Bakr and for the Muslims who came after them. It was a testimony from Allah about the status of this pure family, which faced much harm and false accusations. Allah Almighty took it upon Himself to defend and protect them, and to attest to their goodness, repelling the evil against them with a defense that the ummah could not have provided as effectively as the Holy Quran did, not only at the time of the Holy Quran’s revelation and the occurrence of this sinful incident but until Allah inherits the earth and those upon it.
Reflecting on the wisdom of creation is not limited to examining the visible creations such as the body, the sky, the earth, the stars, plants, and animals. It extends to include everything that occurs in this universe, such as events and actions of the servants; life and death, health and illness, the oppression of enemies and harm to righteous servants, or the victory of the believers and the defeat of the disbelievers and sinners. Everything in the universe, including actions and behaviors, is created by Allah, the Exalted, and nothing happens in His dominion except what He has permitted. Behind all of this are purposes, goals, lessons, and admonitions for those who reflect and contemplate. Allah Almighty said: {No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being - indeed that, for Allah, is easy – (22) In order that you not despair over what has eluded you and not exult [in pride] over what He has given you. And Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful – (23)} [Al-Hadid: 22-23].
That is: Know that what has befallen you was not meant to miss you, and what has missed you was not meant to befall you. Therefore, do not grieve over what has passed you by, for if something were destined to happen, it would have. And do not exult over what you have been given, meaning do not boast to people about the blessings Allah has bestowed upon you, for it is not by your own efforts or toil, but by Allah’s decree and provision. Do not use Allah’s blessings for arrogance and pride over others. Ikrimah said: “Everyone experiences joy and sorrow, but make joy an occasion for gratitude and sorrow an opportunity for patience’’.
Discussing the wisdom of creation is an endless ocean and cannot be fully encompassed. Glory be to Him, exalted in His majesty and the greatness of His sovereignty, and honored in His dominion.
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him, pp. 164-170.
- Tayseer Al-Kareem Al-Rahman in the interpretation of the words of Al-Mannan, Al-Saadi, p. 719.
- The Story of Creation, Al-Kharaan, p. 43-46.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
