…..going back to nature We tend to complain too much, a lot of times over nothing! Even if it is over some "real" things, there is no reason to complain. Look at what you have--so much--would you want those to go away? If not, then why are you complaining?

Living in this concrete world, where everything is artificial, leave some harmful scars in our hearts and our way of thinking. It is keeping us busy with the hard stuff. It is keeping us away from contemplating in the creation Allah. When we don't contemplate in the creation of Allah, we can't be close to Allah because we cannot feel His presence. If we don't feel His presence, it is no wonder we complain because we don't see Him--we don't see His hands in all that we see. If something didn't go our way, if we didn't get what we want, we have to lash out, angry, and upset. No patience, no compassion, no mercy! We become hard!

We were created from this earth. We are part of the nature but we don't look at nature anymore. This concrete world is against the natural disposition of our creation. Look at how many references in Qur'an to the creation of Allah--sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, ocean, plants. All these are mentioned in the Qur'an. Why is Allah talking about these things? He wants to draw our attention to His creation because His creation is a mirror of His abilities--His attributes. If you want to learn about the greatness of Allah, you look at His creation. If you want to learn about Allah's compassion and mercy, you look at His creation. If you want to learn about the wisdom of Allah, you look at His creation. If you want to learn about the knowledge of Allah, look at His creation. Basically if you want to learn about all of the names/attributes of Allah, you'll find many reflections of them in His creation.

There are 99 attributes of Allah that were told to us. It behooves all of us to learn and under-stand them. Through His attributes, you will learn how to behave good towards His creation. Knowing Allah humbles us. The effect of this humility will manifest in your dealings with people including your own family. If you live in this concrete world, where you cannot even hear the rooster crowing in the morning, the donkey braying, the cow mooing, how are you going to be close to nature that would give you the chance to contemplate naturally? Well, you have to make a conscious ef-fort to do this--look up to the skies, the clouds, look at the silk plants in that beautiful oriental vase, at your children fighting or crying or praying, even at the chair that you are sitting on, the greens in your pockets, the fingers that are typing away, the sweet aroma of that Tazo Calm tea. Don't complain, don't get upset, don't get angry, but be thankful. It is only for your own good for Allah will give you more if you are thankful.

May Allah make us among the grateful and the patient. Ameen. http://journey2allah.blogspot.com

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate