CULTURE OF ISLAM

061 What We See On Earth!

Imtiaz Muhsin 27-Jan-12

The main objective of these talks (and therefore the scripts of these talks), is to stimulate thinking. Sensible, rational and logical thinking. So, my message, think, think & think! Be sensible, be rational and be logical.

061 What We See On Earth!

Please Note
1. I have had the great privilege, (since Aug 2010), of presenting talks on the weekly Radio Program Culture of Islam [Every Friday 8 to 8.30 pm, Radio Sri Lanka - FM 97.4] 2. Since these are Radio Talks, I refer to, or address the audience as listeners 3. I am well aware that the audience to these talks would consist of people belonging to a variety of faiths. So as to make people of all faiths feel included, I very often use words and names that are common to all religions. 4. For these reasons, I use the name GOD, as well as Abraham, Moses, Jesus etc as well as the names Allah, Ibrahim (Alaihis Salaam), Moosa (Alaihis Salaam), Easa (Alaihis Salaam) etc 5. Muslims by habit usually say Sallallahu Alaihiwasallam, when the name of Prophet Muhammad is mentioned, and Alaihis Salaam' when the name of a Prophet is mentioned. However, in these series of talks I have reduced the use of these prayers & sayings to the bare minimum. 6. Muslims, also by habit, use a number of Arabic prayers or sayings, such as Alhamdulillah, Insha Allah and so on. Again, I have reduced the use of these prayers or sayings to the bare minimum. 7. Sometimes I have to write Arabic words in the English script. I have devised my own way of writing Arabic in English, as follows;

th TH

s Ss SW

DHL DHZ

H h

Gh GH

Information on these talks along with all download links can be found on my on my Blog (http://imtiazm.wordpress.com/) The dates or the schedules of these talks can be viewed on the Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/ImtiazMuhsin786) The Scripts of these talks can be downloaded from www.ScribD.com (www.ScribD.com Author Imtiaz Muhsin) The audio files of these talks can be downloaded from YouTube (YouTube Channel Imtiaz Muhsin) The YouTube Link to this talk is at

All Praise and Thanks is due to Allah and Allah alone Alhamdulillah! P.S. The picture on the cover is that of the Maradana Jummah Mosque in Colombo, Sri Lanka

061 What We See On Earth!

061 What We See On Earth!

Dear Friends, I greet you all with Assalamu Alaikum which, I am sure you would recognize as the greeting of a Muslim, and means Peace be upon you! or Peace unto You! This is the 8th Talk or episode in the Series Knowing God Muslims identify God as Allah, and I prefer to refer to God as Allah Taaalah, which means Allah the most exalted, thus the title of this series is Knowing Allah Taaalah The topic Knowing Allah Taaalah is very vast, and recently, for this Series, I attempted to prepare an Episode under the title Is this what we are created for? Well, I found this to be a very interesting topic, but there were many subheadings, each of which was necessary, and in my estimate, each could serve as a separate talk. So, I decided to attempt a sub series, under the title Is this, what we are created for? and decided to attempt a talk on each sub topic. The sub topics are; 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. What do we see, on Earth? Who are we? Where do we fit in? Our special benefits, on Earth What makes us stand out? What makes us special? Who is really in charge? What does God or Allah tell us about Himself? Our special faculties how they should be used, how they should not be used. The two paths.

I hope to talk on each of these subtopics over the next few weeks Insha Allah! Today, my talk would be on the first sub topic What do we see on Earth? So, let us begin. Let us look around. Everything is very beautiful. Let us look at the highest planes. Let us look at the planes of the stars there are so many millions, we are told billions of stars. A collection or a group of stars is called a galaxy. We are in a very large galaxy which we call the Milky Way. Our Sun is a star and it surprises us to know that compared to the other stars, our Sun is a very small star. Around each star we get celestial bodies orbiting we call them Planets. The collection of the star and the planets around it is called a Solar System Our solar System consists of our Sun and 9 well known Planets. Planet Earth is the third one. There is also a beautiful celestial body orbiting our Planet that is the Moon.

061 What We See On Earth!

The journey around the Earth takes approx 28 days and the surprising fact is that right through this orbit, the Moon itself rotates in a manner that one part of it is always facing the Earth. So we would always see only one part of the Moon. So we see, a daily rising and setting of the Sun. A regular rising and setting of the Moon of course at nights! And we also observe that the Moon goes through different phases we call it the waxing and the waning of the moon and this process takes 29 days. We have a phase where we have a full Moon and then we also have a phase where we just cannot see the Moon. The light we see from the Moon is light that is reflected from the Sun. So at Full Moon times we see that the full face of the Moon is reflecting light to Earth and at times when the Moon is not visible, it means that no part of the Moon is reflecting light to the Earth. The movements are so mathematically precise that we can predict the times of Sunrise and sunset for any date in the calendar and for any geographical location on Earth. Similarly the stars! The earth also orbits the sun. The time to do a full orbital is approximately 365 days. So during this journey the Earth passes through many views of the Universe. So the stars we see during any period would be the arrangement of the stars in that part of the Universe. These stars have now become landmarks so for each month we have certain arrangement of stars and we called them the zodiacal signs. All working precisely! Mathematical precision! And the workings providing for us a great celestial show as well as serving as a Universal calendar. By looking at the sky, we should be able to tell where we are the precise geographical location, what time it is, what season well as the Month we are in. Amazing! Now let us observe our atmosphere. It consists of many layers none visible to the eye. The top layer of this atmosphere acts as a protective shield; 1. It reflects a large amount of heat from the Sun, so that only a specific amount falls on the surface of the Earth 2. It filters a large amount of harmful ultraviolet light as well as harmful radiation. 3. In space we find a large number of meteors moving around, and if any crash on to the Earth the impact and effects could be devastating it is calculated that the energy released by even a small meteor crashing on to the Earth would be equal to the effects of many Atom Bombs well a layer in the atmosphere which is called the mesosphere, burns up meteors than enter the atmosphere thus protecting the Earth. 4. The atmosphere is such that though water vaporizes, not a drop of water goes out of our atmosphere. The same water has been circulating on this Earth for the last billions of years.

061 What We See On Earth!

In this atmosphere or the space between the Earth and the Sky we have many energies and forces, all working to laws, mathematically precise laws. We find laws for the Electro Magnetic Spectrum The Radio Waves (used by man to transmit Radio and TV), the Microwaves (used by Man for Mobile Phone Technology, as well as for cooking and Medical purposes), then the Ultra Violet Rays, the visible Spectrum (all obeying the laws of light) then infra red radiation, X-rays and Gamma Rays (used for detection and for Medical purposes) We find laws for heat, for sound, for Magnetism. Gravity, weather patterns and so on. We then get onto the surface of the Earth itself. It is so amazing. We observe plant life, animal life, evidence for evolution, the interaction between all living matter, the different environments or eco systems and many other phenomena. The Earth has been described as a blanket of life 1.5 kms thick! Imagine the entire Earth, is actually a blanket of life We have microbes in the atmosphere maybe up to a height of 1 Km then we have life on land, and even underground. This life flows. Every living organism dies, and out of its material rises other organisms too complicated to track but then we see life generates life, we could also say death generates life! How do I describe what I see? I would like to cite three examples and then describe to you one Aayath of the Holy Quran that describes all this in an amazing manner. Example 1 We all know that this world or this Earth, as we call it, is approx. 25,000 miles in diameter. We also know that the earth rotates, and does one rotation every 24 hours. Which means that the earth rotates 25,000 miles every 24 hours, which again means that this earth on which we are all living rotates at a speed of over 1,000 miles per hour - Amazing isn't it? Similarly we all know that the earth revolves around the sun, and the average distance from the earth to the sun is approx. 93 million miles. When we take this 93 million miles as the radius of the circle which is the path traversed by the earth, and then calculate, using the simple formula 2r, and divide the result by 365 and then again by 24, we obtain the speed in miles per hour at which the earth is revolving or moving around the Sun. Listeners will be astounded to know that the earth is whizzing around the Sun at over 66,000 mph!! So just imagine, all of us are standing on this massive globe, which we call Earth, and it is rotating at a speed of over 1,000 miles per hour and at the same time it is traversing around the sun at a speed of over 66,000 miles per hour. Note that both speeds are in MPH and not in KmPH.

061 What We See On Earth!

There is rumbling sound, or jerking movement, or fuel tank, or any washers or cog wheels, or grease joints or belts or servicing or breakdowns the whole massive system works soundlessly and perfectly. It does not gain or lose a second ever. We can precisely predict the time of sunrise or sunset anywhere in the World, and the earth moves, the Sun Rises or Sun sets at these precise times. Isnt it obvious that someone very very powerful has designed this whole system and keeping it running so precisely and efficiently. There are countless such phenomena that amaze us and create that vacuum in our minds, that vacuum that yearns to identify and learn about this great hidden power. Example 2 Another phenomenon that would like to share with you listeners is the example of the Super Market. At a Supermarket we observe many shelves for the variety of items available. There is the shelf for groceries, for confectionaries, for Milk Food, for Cosmetics, for Dairy Products, for Frozen Foods, for Fruits and vegetables. The Management of the Supermarket create the environment of the shelf to suit the items on those shelves. For Example Frozen foods would be in a Freezer Cabinet, Fruits and Vegetables would be on open shelves etc. All of know that how much of goods are taken out of the shelves by the customers, the shelves are never allowed to become empty. The management has delegated duties to some staff members to monitor sales of items and to continuously refill the shelves. Is this also not the system we observe in this world? The World is like a Supermarket. There are shelves for every item. For almost ever provision there are trees. There are shelves for fruits and vegetable, there are shelves for Rice, for Corn for Wheat. There are shelves for Cattle and Poultry. There are shelves for Dairy produce. There are shelves for sea food, and the miracle of all these shelves is that as we keep on taking the produce from these shelves, they keep on getting refilled. Even water just imagine, how much we pollute water and make it filthy, but then it evaporates into the air, gets purified by some amazing process and then rains down during rainy seasons especially in the areas designated as rainy shelves. Do we not find this whole process simply amazing! There is this great power, this great benevolent power that is providing for us and providing in such an amazing and apparently simplified system.

061 What We See On Earth!

Example 3 Another amazing example is what I call the example of the Polar Bear and the Arctic Fox. The changing environment and its repercussions is generating quite a bit of interest and there are a number of Video Documentaries on this subject. Recently I was watching one on the Arctic, produced by the BBC and the narrator was David Attenborough. Now as we all know, the Arctic has a 4 month harsh winter where it is continuously night. Just before this long night begins the Polar Bear, digs a small Pad in the snow and curls up to sleep. The falling snow covers it and its body heat forms a sort of a blanket around it. The Polar hibernates for 4 months in this harsh winter. Whilst in its pad the Polar Bear also delivers two Cubs. The Cubs survive on the Milk from its Mother. At the end of the Winter with the rising of the sun, the Polar Bear emerges from its Pad along with its two Cubs. Now the Polar Bear needs food. But we just cannot see any food available. An aerial shot shows that there is only snow and ice for miles and miles around the Polar Bear and its Cubs. The narrator also informs us that the closest tree is 1600 kms away. The narrator also informs us that the food of the Polar Bear are seals and seals are found in the ocean and the coast line of the ocean is many miles away because the surface of the sea has frozen. In some places the ice may be 3 to 4 feet thick! So, I think to myself, as anyone else would, how does the Polar Bear find its food? God has to have kept an amazing system to provide for it. Then we are told that the Seals under the frozen surface of the sea too have noticed the light from the rising sun and they too begin to scrape out the ice from under, so that they could make a hole to come out in to the open. The Polar Bear hears the sound of this prodding and he goes to the spot and waits ever so still and silently till the Seal emerges and then he pounces on it to capture its meal. Amazing! Equally amazing is the case of the Arctic Fox shown on the same Video. The Arctic Fox too comes out of hibernation but this time with 8 Fox Cubs and I wonder, where would this large hungry family get it s food? There is an amazing arrangement. Birds migrating from Europe begin to arrive in the Arctic. The Arctic Summer is a true haven for many forms of life. The Arctic Fox helps itself to these birds. Amazing the food of the Arctic Fox arrives from Europe!

061 What We See On Earth!

Example 4 There are these two Aayaths in the Quran that encourage us to look at all these phenomena, but the God does not describe it in the way that we would describe it. God describes it or draws our attention to these phenomena in His own special way. Just read these aayaths, phrase by phrase and contemplate!

God invites us to look at the interplay between 4 factors Factor 1 - The creation of the Heavens / Universe Factor 2 - The creation of the Earth Factor 3 & 4 The phenomena and what results from the phenomena of the alternation of the Night and Day. Could any of us describe this better? Surah No 3 Aayath No 191

(3:190) Surely, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, there are signs for the people of wisdom,

Inn Fee KhalQis Samaawaathi Wal Ardhli Wakhthilaafil Laili WannaHaari La Aayaathil Oolil Albaab Allazeena YazkuroonaLLaHa Qiyaaman Wa Qughoodhan wa ghalaa junoobiHim Wa yatha fakkaroona fee KhalQis Samaawaathi wal Ardhli Rabbanaa Maa KhalaqthaHaaza BaTHilan Subhaanaka Fakinaa Azaabannaar

(3:191) who remember Allah standing and sitting, and (lying) on their sides, and ponder on the creation of the heavens and the earth (and say) Our Lord, You have not created all this in vain. We proclaim Your purity. So, save us from the punishment of Fire.

(003:191) Surely in the creations of the Heavens & Earth and the alternation of night and day, there are signs for the people of wisdom, who remember Allah standing and sitting, and (lying) on their sides, and ponder on the creation of the heavens and the earth (and say) Our Lord, You have not created all this in vain. We proclaim Your purity. So, save us from the punishment of Fire.

061 What We See On Earth!

Surah 2 Aayath No 164

(2:164) Surely, in the creation of heavens and earth, and the alternation of night and day, and the ships that sail in the sea, carrying that which benefits men, and in the water Allah sent down from the sky, then revived with it the earth after it was dead, and in every creature He has scattered on it, and in turning of winds, and in the clouds employed to serve between heaven and earth, there are signs for those who have sense.

Inn Fee KhalQis Samaawaathi Wal Ardhli Wakhthilaafil Laili WannaHaari Walfulkillathee thajree filbahri bimaa yanfaghun Naasa Wamaa AnzalaLLaaHu Minas SamaaI mim Maain Fa Ahyaabihil Ardhla MauwthiHaa Wa BasSsa FeeHaa Minkulli Dhaabathin WathaSWSWree firriyaahi Was Sahaabil Musakhkhari baiynas SamaaI wal Ardhli Wa Aayathin li Qaouwin YaghQiloon

(002:164) Surely in the creations of the Heavens & Earth and the alternation of night and day, and the ships that sail in the sea, carrying that which benefits men and in the water Allah sent down from the sky, then revived with it the earth after it was dead and in every creature He has scattered on it and in turning of winds and in the clouds employed to serve between heaven and earth there are signs for those who have sense. That is what we see on Earth Amazing!!!

Now, Insha Allah I hope to talk on the following sub topics during the next few weeks Insha Allah this is under the series Knowing God or Knowing Allah Taaalah, and these sub topics are under the sub series Is this what we are created for In other words Why are we on Earth? 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. What do we see, on Earth? Who are we? Where do we fit in? Our special benefits, on Earth What makes us stand out? What makes us special? Who is really in charge? What does God or Allah tell us about Himself? Our special faculties how they should be used, how they should not be used. The two paths.

061 What We See On Earth!

Insha Allah, I hope that all of you enjoyed listening to this talk as much as I enjoyed preparing for it as well as presenting it to you. So next week, Insha Allah I hope to talk on the sub topic Who are we? Where do we fit in? May Allah Taaalah guide us all and accept us all. Jazza Kalla Khairan. Assalamu Alaikum

Imtiaz Muhsin Colombo Sri Lanka crescent786@hotmail.com

You Tube Channel - HaneefanMusliman

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061 What We See On Earth!

Series 2 The Talks numbered 054 to 071 is under a series titled Knowing Allah Taaalah or Knowing GOD The details of the scripts of these 16 Episodes (Talks) are as follows;
Talk No Episode 1 Episode 2 Episode 3 Episode 4 Episode 5 Episode 6 Episode 7 Talk Number & Title 054 Ilm Knowing Allah 055 Rationality - The Foundation of Islam 056 Is Man Special? 057 Ar Rahmaan - The Beneficent 058 Nature or GOD? 059 Our Relationship with GOD! Sub Series: 060 Is this what we are created for? (Is this what we are created for? Part 1) Sub Series: 061 What do we see on Earth (Is this what we are created for? Part 2) Sub Series: 062 Who are WE? Where do we fit in? (Is this what we are created for? Part 3) Sub Series: 063 Our benefits on Earth (Is this what we are created for? Part 4) Sub Series: 066 What makes us 'Stand Out'? What makes us 'Special'? (Is this what we are created for? Part 5) Sub Series: 067 Who is in charge? (Is this what we are created for? Part 6) Sub Series: 068 What ALLAH Teaches Us, About Himself (Is this what we are created for? Part 7) Sub Series: 069 Our Special Faculties How they should be used, How they should not be used! (Is this what we are created for? Part 8) Sub Series: 070 The TWO Paths 071 Is this what we are created for? A review of Parts 1 to 8 from the Sub Series Is this what we are created for? Date Broadcast Dec 9th 2011 Dec 16h 2011 Dec 23th 2011 Dec 30th 2011 Jan 6th 2012 Jan 13th 2012 Jan 20th 2012 Jan 27th 2012 Feb 3rd 2012 Feb 10th 2012 Feb 17th 2012 Feb 24th 2012 Mar 2nd 2012 Details of Picture on Cover Wellawatte Jummah Mosque in Colombo, Sri Lanka Parasangaswewa Mosque (a remote village) in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka Mutwal Jummah Mosque in Colombo, Sri Lanka The Akbar Mosque in Slave Island, Colombo, Sri Lanka Mosque in Matara, from the Southern Province of Sri Lanka Beach Mosque at Kalmunaikudi in the Eastern Province, Sri Lanka A Mosque in the Kurnegala District, Sri Lanka Maradana Jummah Mosque in Colombo, Sri Lanka Colpetty Jummah Mosque, in Colombo, Sri Lanka The Jummah Mosque at Natpidimunnai, in the Ampara District, Sri Lanka The Devatagaha Mosque in Colombo, Sri Lanka A Mosque in a rural village in the Ampara District, in Sri Lanka The Jummah Mosque in Oluvil a village in the Ampara District, Sri Lanka The Dhanakawewa Jummah Mosque in a remote village in the Anuradhapura District in Sri Lanka Mosque at Madhavakulam in the Puttlam District, Sri Lanka A Mosque by a river in the Eastern Province, Sri Lanka

Episode 8 Episode 9 Episode 10

Episode 11

Episode 12

Episode 13

Episode 14

Mar 9th 2012 Mar 16th 2012 Mar 23rd 2012

Episode 15 Episode 16

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061 What We See On Earth!