By Ishola Balogun
Bismillahi Rahamani Raheem.  Wasalatu wasalam ala seyidina Muhammad, wa ala alihi, wa ashabihi, wasselim.

Let us take an extra-sensory perception on the first thing that was created by God (Allah) and imagine what existed when actually there was nothing. Common sense provides a fact that before the existence of the entire universe, something was.

Let us ask ourselves, what exactly was before man, the heavens, earth, angels, spirits including all other creatures that are known in creation? Let us probe further into the time before light was created. It may beat our imagination what the situation was before light came to be, but we could at least sensed the absence of the physical light. Time in itself albeit, was an invention of man therefore, has no place in this extra-sensory search into divine creation.

Under the limitation of man, there is obviously an extent to which man can explore the mysteries of nature. His human nature can only endear him beyond the human level of reasoning if guided by divine nature. That is for those who have gone beyound the ordinary level of perception.

But at this point, our attempt may not require an absolute spiritual exercise, just shut your eyes for a moment then what you’ll have is a similitude of an empty sight with blank memory.  You may wish to liken the situation to a time when there was nothing, but God (Allah) who has been existing prior to this empty period, the beginning of which is unknown to any creature.

HE is the origin of every thing that comes into memory. The Holy Qur’an chapter 57 verse 3 describes God (Allah) thus: “He is the First, the Last, the Evident, and the Hidden.” A careful perusal at these words would help in appreciating the majesty of God.

HE is the originator of all things and nothing can be said to have existed before HIM. HE also concludes ever
ything in that when everything ceases to exist by his power and commandment, HE alone will continue to exist. We can also visualize HIS ample providence on His creatures as well as His innumerable mysteries that surround us day and night.

The spreading of the sky as a cover for all and sundry, the unimaginable land mass on the earth, the perfect inter-relationship between the heavens and the earth particularly which results into night and day regularly, yet changing in duration and latitudes of our globe.

The sun, which provides photosynthesis for man and animal to survive, the moon that illuminates our interiors, the stars that beautify the sky, the waters that come from it as a soothing balm on our bodies and provide the fertility the land requires for proper germination of our crops mainly for our sustenance.

Same goes for the air we breath and the wind that causes radiation as well as movements of some earthly things and help in other processes of human invention. We can also see the sustenance of God (Allah) on mankind with the aboundant types of mineral resources that abound in the soil through which countries of the world inter-depend.

All these are clearly indications of Al-zahir of the mighty God. In the case Al-batin as explained by the Holy Qur’an, it is evident that in spite of these innumerable signs in all facets of our lives, lots of people are still blind to the harsh facts of His omnipresence and benevolence.

As figments of their own imaginations, they ignorantly see these characteristics and mysteries as mere nature. That is why it becomes so easy for them to equate any other thing to God (Allah) or ascribe Lordship and Saviour to something else. When God created the world, He provided that the forces of nature should operate according to the pattern that He prescribed.

This will inevitably and perfectly as it were, continue  with the prescription of God (Allah). The world of nature has no choice but to obey His eternal decrees, and in the course of doing so, it at the same time illustrate them, explicitly disclosing these signs for those who have the wisdom to decipher it. For those who could not, God becomes hidden as far as their intellect can grasp and therefore, they cannot see Him in the real perspective.

Contrastively, one would not stop to think that the hidden nature of God (Allah) Al-batin has absolutely nothing hidden from Him. He sees and observes all the multifarious actions of man at all times whether in the open or secret.

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) said, “You are the First, so that there is nothing before You; You are the Last, so that there is nothing after You; You are the Evident so that there is nothing above You; You are the Hidden, the Knower of the hidden things, so that there is nothing hidden from You.”

The existence of everything including man and the creation of the entire universe are not merely by accident or products of a fortuitous nature but a perfect arrangement of the creator.  Accordingly, every single atom in the universe manifests the attributes of God and is subject to His will.

The quintessence of studying these attributes is to grasp a better understanding of God (Allah), who He is and how He works in order to know how best to serve Him. Obviously, His designs, signs as well as His Majesty and Might are quite amazing and therefore instructive to any one who desire to know Him.

Although plants and non-living things, unlike human beings, lack spiritual and mental attributes, but they are subjected to the ordinances of God at all time.  No matter how ripe a leaf is on the tree, it will never fall from the tree unless by the leave of God. Honour, adoration and magnificence be unto HIM.