Today's Reflection - [Ayah 26, Surah Al-Baqarah]

  إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَسْتَحْيِي أَنْ يَضْرِبَ مَثَلًا مَا بَعُوضَةً فَمَا فَوْقَهَا ۚ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا فَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّهُ الْحَقُّ مِنْ رَبِّهِمْ ۖ وَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَيَقُولُونَ مَاذَا أَرَادَ اللَّهُ بِهَٰذَا مَثَلًا ۘ يُضِلُّ بِهِ كَثِيرًا وَيَهْدِي بِهِ كَثِيرًا ۚ وَمَا يُضِلُّ بِهِ إِلَّا الْفَاسِقِينَ

(Quran 2:26)

God does not shy away from making an example of a gnat, or something above it. As for those who believe, they know that it is the Truth from their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, “What did God intend by this example?” He leads astray many thereby, and He guides many thereby; but He misleads thereby only the evildoers.

Have you ever thought about the magnificence of the little creatures of our Rabb. A shrimp that is called the shrimp mantis has the capability of delivering a punch that is equal to the force and intensity of a 0.22 caliber bullet. A tiny bug such as the dragon Millipedes produce the most intense chemical- cyanide, that could kill a human. Similarly fish like Salmon that we include in our diet ever so often for healthier meals , is known to have a marvelous geomagnetic compass that can help it to travel back to its base (the river) after having left the area in its youth to go to the wild sea. Imagine navigating yourself in the vast and wide ocean with no google maps or a sailor. Likewise the strength of an ant may seem trivial but it can carry 10 to 50 times their own body weight. Think about the flight of the bee. It needs to defy gravity with its body weight and also fly with a belly full of honey. It can still do that with its delicate mechanism for 65 kms. SubhanAllah.

These are the examples of Allah (SWT). This ayah talks exactly about how those who believe will not just understand these examples superficially. Even way before the scientific revolution came into being, the Sahabahs believed in these miraculous beings created by Allah. Allah mentions here in the ayah that he can show any example he wills. Only those who have Imaan will truly understand it. What does this mean? This is because people without belief in a Supreme Creator, the one and only Khaaliq , will never understand the depth of the Allah's creations. Even scientists might not be able to understand the complexity and divinity behind Allah's creations even if it is as small as a mosquito, because he does not have Imaan. He could have all the scientific explanations as to why certain things happen but wouldn't know how to explain its creation. 

The people of the book used to question the Rasool SAWS regarding why Allah would include such tiny creatures in his Book when it is not worth mentioning. But thanks to development in the modern era , we can at least relate to the complexity of these examples and understand why it is worth mentioning. Many at times top chemists and physicists have marveled at the findings of their own experiments and research and led them to believe in the existence of God, while some others have agnostic and allegorical views regarding religion. While it is common sense that science nor scientific revelations will help a man in developing moral character and the essence to living a fulfilling life. It is astounding as to how many people have been led astray through the same science /parables as mentioned in this ayah. 

But Allah confirms that he only misleads those who have evil intentions or do evil. Many at times , man can be lost in his plethora of knowledge and entertainment in the dunya. But it is apparent and Allah's word that Allah guides many with his examples if they have a clean heart. Being lost is one and deliberately focusing on small details or trying to find excuses to not have belief like the Ahl-Ul-Kitaab despite recognizing the Rasool SAW and his signs from their own holy books and misguiding even the rest of their community is evil and Allah does not guide such people. 

Such people could see miracles over miracles and still end up in disbelief because their disbelief arises from jealousy and arrogance. If we compare it to today's times, knowledge and scientific enhancements has lead man to being arrogant. This arrogance can mislead us, and leaves us being losers in the hereafter.