How Can I See Allah’s Signs in Creation?
Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Question
I grew up westernized and secular. How do I shed ingrained prejudices and come to love the Arabs and the good culture of this religion?
How do I connect with the scholars without knowing Arabic? And how do I see snow as Allah’s beautiful creation rather than mere ice crystals?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate.
Your longing to love what Allah loves is itself a gift from Him — the journey you are asking about has already begun.
Begin with a distinction that will free you. What you are reaching for is not a preference for one ethnicity.
It is love of the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), his family, his Companions, and the carriers of his inheritance in every land.
Islam blames tribal partisanship (asabiyya) in every direction, and Allah Most High says: “We created you of a single male and female, and but made you peoples and major tribes to know and appreciate your own kindred ties with each other.” [Quran 49:13; Keller, The Quran Beheld]
You are not asked to become Arab, nor to discard what is sound in your own culture. You are asked to love the Beloved of Allah and whatever carries his light.
How Love Grows?
Love grows from knowing. Begin with the Prophet’s life (Allah bless him and give him peace): a reliable English biography, read slowly, a few pages each day.
The scholars are open to you in translation — Imam Haddad’s Book of Assistance (Allah sanctify his secret) is a short, practical place to start.
Better still, take a free SeekersGuidance course with a living teacher; knowledge taken in companionship turns into love far faster than knowledge taken alone.
Shaykh Nuh Keller records that for the seeker from a secular background, the sheer love of the religion and its people one comes to feel is an astonishing new dimension in life [Keller, Sea Without Shore] — that door is open to you.
Looking in Things, Not at Them — the Adab of Reflection (Tafakkur)
As for the snow: seeing ice crystals and seeing Allah’s creation are not rivals. Science describes how; faith names Who.
Imam Ibn Ata’illah (Allah have mercy upon him) teaches the exact manner:
“أباح لك أن تنظر في المكونات، وما أذن لك أن تقف مع ذوات المكونات”
“Allah has allowed you to look in created things, but not to stop at the things themselves.” [Ibn Ata’illah, al-Hikam]
Ibn Abbad explains in his commentary: one looks in creation to grasp the signs it carries of its Maker, so that the look passes through it to Him, not to halt at the objects [Ibn Abbad al-Rundi, Ghayth al-Mawahib].
The crystal structure of snow that you mentioned is part of the sign, not its rival; the meaning of things lies beyond them, in the One they signify. [Keller, Sea Without Shore]
The Quran Trains Us To See With Wonder
The Quran trains this seeing until wonder becomes praise. Allah Most High says: “Verily in the creation of the heavens and earth and the alternation of night and day are a multitude of mighty signs for those of insight and mind: Those who make remembrance of Allah standing and sitting and on their sides at rest, and who reflect on the creation of the heavens and earth.” [Quran 3:190-191; Keller, The Quran Beheld]
And He says: “We shall unfailingly show them Our signs in all the far-flung directions and in their very selves.” [Quran 41:53]
Shaykh Abd al-Rahman al-Shaghouri (Allah sanctify his secret) called the path to Allah “reflection (i’tibar) becoming stronger than eyesight.” [Keller, Sea Without Shore]
So train it daily, as Imam al-Haddad prescribes: a short period of reflection (fikr) on creation and on Allah’s favors.
Each day, take one thing you see — the snow will do — and name it deliberately as His making, with gratitude. Keep the steps small and constant: the most beloved works to Allah are the most constant, even if small. [Bukhari; Muslim]
Love Grows from Knowing—Begin with One Page and One Glance
Hearts follow what they dwell on: dwell daily on him (Allah bless him and give him peace) and on the signs around you, and love will come of itself.
Allah opened this desire in your heart, and He does not open a door He intends to leave shut.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani
Related Answers
- What Role Does Culture Play in Islam? — Islam affirms what is sound in every culture; non-Arabs are not required to adopt Arab culture.
- The Position of Culture in Islam — Dr Umar Faruq Abd-Allah — Islam as a clear river reflecting the bedrock of each people it flows over.
- On Reflection (fikr) — Imam al-Haddad — The daily practice of reflection that fills the heart with love of Allah.
- Can One Understand and Reflect on the Quran without Knowing Arabic? — Connecting deeply with the Quran through sound translations while Arabic is still ahead.
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.
Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan.
In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era.
Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs.
Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School,” published by White Thread Press in 2004, which is a significant contribution to Islamic literature.
His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse.
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.
