Two Ways of Knowing Our Creator

In his book Al-Fawaid, Ibn-Qayyim mentions two ways of knowing Allah. The first is by observing His creation –

Allah says in the Quran –

Verily! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and in the alternation of night and day, and the ships which sail through the sea with that which is of use to mankind, and the water (rain) which Allah sends down from the sky and makes the earth alive therewith after its death, and the moving (living) creatures of all kinds that He has scattered therein, and in the veering of winds and clouds which are held between the sky and the earth, are indeed Ayat (proofs, evidences, signs, etc.) for people of understanding. [Quran – Al-Baqara 2:164]

The Quran also states:

Those who remember Allah (always, and in prayers) standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and think deeply about the creation of the heavens and the earth, (saying): “Our Lord! You have not created (all) this without purpose, glory to You! (Exalted be You above all that they associate with You as partners). Give us salvation from the torment of the Fire. [Quran – Al-Ímran 3:190]

The second way of knowing Allah is to ponder over the verses of the Quran. The Quran states:

(This is) a Book (the Quran) which We have sent down to you, full of blessings that they may ponder over its Verses, and that men of understanding may remember. [Quran – Saad 38:29]

The question then is that how much time do you spend in knowing Allah? When observing his creation, do you recognize the power that created this creation and holds it together? Do you recognize who controls your affairs? Do you spend enough time reading Quran? More than that do you then spend time pondering over the verses of Quran? Or has Quran and pondering over its verses become something that is not very high on your priority list and planned for some general day in the future? When is that day going to come? Do you care?

Generally, the common trap that people fall into is to prioritize wrongly in life and accordingly suffer the appropriate consequences. If Quran does not fit in the right order of your priorities because other life matters related to your families, your pursuits of earning a provision, and other aspects of your life seem more important, think again – Who do you think has more control on the affairs of your life?

It is time to straighten our priorities.