God’s Signs

If a man opens his mind to the signs of God around him, the universe will become a manifestation of God’s splendour. He will discover his Lord by observing them.

Multiple verses in the Quran point out that there are signs in the universe for men to understand. For example, consider the following verses of the Quran.

“There are signs in the heavens and the earth for those who believe: in your own creation and all the creatures He has spread about, there are signs for people of sure faith; and in the succession of night and day, and in the means of subsistence which God sends down from the skies, giving life thereby to the earth after it had been lifeless, and in the circulation of the winds: [in all this] there are signs for people who use their reason.” (45:3-5)

According to the above verses of the Quran, God requires man to believe in certain hidden realities. To make this easier, he has set up material symbols of these realities in the outside world. Therefore, man has to see the reflection of invisible realities in the mirror of visible signs.

The sun and the moon give us a glimpse of God—the source of all light. The birds and the animals provide us with a picture of innocence; they are God’s representatives on our planet. The sky, in its vastness, gives us an idea of the might and greatness of God. Wind and water show us the mercy of the One who has created them. The trees and the mountains provide a pointer to God’s exquisite beauty.

If a person opens his mind to the world’s wonders, taking in all that he sees in the universe, he will find the light of God shining in all that he beholds. He will see the divine wisdom that lies behind every object of creation. In all its vastness, the cosmos will serve as a constant reminder of the infinity of God. The earth and the heavens will become manifestations of His splendour; he will come to know the Lord by observing them.