Understanding God is a fundamental and obligatory issue in any religious belief system. There are many ways to learn about our Creator, and nature can be one of the easiest ways to understand Him. In Islam, our Creator communicates with us in two ways, categorised as (i) verbal communication and (ii) nonverbal communication.

Verbal communication refers to the religious scripture revealed by God directly through the angels to His Prophets and messengers. The Prophets and Messengers act as human intermediaries, linking God and His servants. On the other hand, nature serves as a universal and nonverbal way for God to communicate with His servants, mankind, without any intermediaries. God’s creations can lead us to Him directly, without any other medium.

Logically, it is possible that a group of people may not have access to a Prophet or receive divine scripture due to their era, region, or geographical isolation. For example, scientists have recently discovered a group of people in the Amazon Forest who remain disconnected from the modern world, living as though they are in an earlier stage of human history.
This raises an important question: how will they be judged on the Day of Judgment? Such people may not adhere to any religion, neither Islam nor any other religion, because they were isolated and did not receive the message from a Prophet. Yes, they will be asked for their belief in God, the Creator. But how would it be justified to ask them such a question?
To get the answer to the above questions, one may need to learn the meaning of understanding God first. In Islam, Understanding God refers to recognising Him as the Creator and Sustainer, appreciating His attributes, and realising the purpose of our creation. Hence, recognising His Greatness and the ultimate reality of our lives may lead us to worship Him alone, and the nature of worship may vary due to the situation, as stated earlier. However, worshiping God is one of the ultimate purposes of our creation and sending us to this world. The Qur’an states, “… And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” (Surah al-Dhariyat, 51:56)

The various creations surrounding us in nature serve as a mirror reflecting the magnificence and attributes of our God who created everything with a purpose. For example, from the towering mountains to the delicate petals of flowers, every aspect of the natural world speaks volumes about the One who brought it into existence. Both sources of Islam, the Qur’an and Hadith, recognize that understanding God through nature is a central theme, encouraging us to contemplate the signs of Allah (Ayat) in creation.

The Qur’an repeatedly commands us to look at nature, think about it, and try to find out the history behind it. It also urges mankind to reflect upon the natural world as a means of recognising Allah’s greatness and sovereignty. The nature, thus, has been described as a book of signs of Allah that testify to not only His existence but also His attributes (Sifat). The Qur’an states: “Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, are signs for those of understanding.” (Surah Ali ‘Imran, 3:190)

Not only that, but also He the almighty asks us to look at His specific creations, thinking about them may help us to understand the existence of God and His greatness. The Qur’an Understanding God through naturementions, “Do they not ever reflect on camels—how they were ‘masterfully’ created; and the sky—how it was raised ˹high; and the mountains—how they were firmly set up; and the earth—how it was levelled out? So, continue to remind all, O Prophet, for your duty is only to remind. You are not there to compel them to believe. But whoever turns away, persisting in disbelief, then Allah will inflict upon them the major punishment. Surely to Us is their return, then surely with Us is their reckoning.” (Surah al-Gashiyah, 88: 17-26) Allah often contrasts the believers who contemplate these signs, with those who ignore them, emphasising that reflection is a path to true faith.

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) encouraged us to observe the world around us as a means of drawing closer to Allah. In one narration, he said: “Reflect deeply upon the creation, but do not reflect upon the essence of the Creator. Verily, His essence cannot be known other than to believe in it.” (Musnad al-Rabi, 742)

Rationally, nature helps us to know our Good. If anyone observes the nature looking critically the system of ruling the universe, he may find someone behind all these things ruling over us. For example, the perfection in designing the nature, cycle of life, provision and sustenance system of all living beings, beauty and aesthetics of the creation surely lead one to believe that there is someone behind all these things who is none other than our God, the Creator, Sustainer and who must be worshiped alone.

To conclude, it can be stated that understanding God through nature is obvious for all of us irrespective of either one receives the message of Allah or not. It’s a journey that strengthens our faith and fosters a deep connection with the Creator in true sense. By contemplating these signs, believers not only deepen their understanding of God but also fulfil their purpose as His servants. Thus, nature is not merely a creation to be admired but a classroom for the soul, guiding it toward its Creator. May Allah guide us on the right path!
_________________________________________
The writer is a scholar of Islamic views on contemporary issues.
Email: [email protected]