The Khalifa On Earth

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The Blogger was on read-only mode for a few days so I couldn't post anything for a few days. Actually the day it went down I was in the middle of writing a post and of course I lost the post. Alhamdulillah, I got to spend some time with my son instead chatting about human relationship with other creation of Allah--specifically the animals and the trees.

Our relationship with the animals and trees should be one of love. We love the animals and trees, and the entire universe for that matter, in view of their glorification of Allah.

Allah’s Messenger, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: An ant had bitten a Prophet (one amongst the earlier Prophets) and he ordered that the colony of the ants should be burnt. And Allah revealed to him:” Because of an ant bit you that you have ordered a nation of the nations that glorify (Me) to be destroyed?” (Muslim)

تُسَبِّحُ لَهُ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَ‌ٰتُ ٱلسَّبْعُ وَٱلْأَرْضُ وَمَن فِيهِنَّ ۚ وَإِن مِّن شَىْءٍ إِلَّا يُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِهِۦ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَفْقَهُونَ تَسْبِيحَهُمْ ۗ إِنَّهُۥ كَانَ حَلِيمًا غَفُورًا

The seven heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, declare His glory: there is not a thing but celebrates His praise; And yet ye understand not how they declare His glory! Verily He is Oft-Forbear, Most Forgiving!

(Qur'an Al-Isra' 17:44)

وَمَا مِن دَآبَّةٍ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ وَلَا طَـٰٓئِرٍ يَطِيرُ بِجَنَاحَيْهِ إِلَّآ أُمَمٌ أَمْثَالُكُم ۚ مَّا فَرَّطْنَا فِى ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ مِن شَىْءٍ ۚ ثُمَّ إِلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يُحْشَرُونَ

There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.

(Qur'an 6:38)

So we don't throw rocks at dogs (how would you like rocks to be thrown at you?), we don't break a twig from a branch for no good purpose (how would you like your fingers be broken?), we don't kick a bush (how would you like to be done the same?), we don't let a tree to die, we cannot shoot birds or kill animals for sport (just imagine if the animal kingdom rule us and make us their sport!). We have no right to do any of these to Allah's creation, our fellow creatures, because we want to or because we are angry.

A Muslim who knows that he is Allah's khalifa (viceregent) on earth, walks with humility before the creation of Allah, feels responsible for the world around him, and does his utmost to serve his fellow creatures through the abilities endowed to him, for the sake of pleasing Allah and slavehood to Him.

And I added to the conversation: Don't curse a dog because they can hold a grudge and come after you the next day with the whole family. And don't get too close to the owner of a horse because you might make his horse jealous and it might kick you. Don't equate a lazy human to a donkey--the donkey will take offense--donkeys here are pretty hardworking, sometimes you see them working harder than the owner. Don't equate a stupid human to a mule because the mule's father (a horse) and the mule's mother (a donkey) will take offense, "Wait a minute! You human are talking about our kid!"

And my son started laughing because he remembered the day when he got upset at a barking dog, and a family of dogs waited for him in front of the masjid the next morning after fajr! ...and I couldn't stop laughing for a while myself thinking about our stupid and arrogant human behaviors which got us into trouble ourselves!

May Allah guide us. Ameen. Please don't forget us in your night prayers. JazakAllahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam