Section 3: The Universe and Its Nature of Submission and Obedience to Allah

The entire universe, with its skies, its earth, its orbits, its planets and stars, its animals, trees, axes, seas, angels, jinns, and mankind, are submissive to Allah, obeying His Universal Commands. He - the Most High - said: “...While to Him submitted all creatures in the heavens and the earth willingly or unwillingly.... ” (Qur’an 3:83) He - the Most High - also said: “Nay, to Him belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth, and all surrender with obedience (in worship) to Him. ” (Qur’an 2:116) “And to Allah prostrate all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth, of the live moving creatures and the angels, and they are not proud [i.e. they worship their Lord (Allah) with humility].” “See >’0« nor that to Allah prostrates whoever is in the heavens and whoever is on the earth, and the sun, and the moon, and the stars, and the mountains, and the trees, and ad-Dawabb (moving creature, beasts, etc.), and many (men).... ” (Qur’an 22:18) “And unto Allah (Alone) falls in prostration whoever is in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly, and so do their shadows in the mornings and in the afternoons. ” (Qur’an 13:15) All these things and beings are subservient to Allah, subdued by His Authority. They move in consonance with His Will and obey His Command. None of them disobeys Him therein, they all fulfill their respective roles, and the result thereof is a precise order, which negates any deficiency, incapacity or blemish from its Creator. He the Most High said: “The seven heavens and the earth and all that is therein, glorify Him and there is not a thing but glorifies His praise. But you understand not their glorification...” (Qur’an 17: 44) All these creatures, both dumb and vocal, living and dead, are all obedient to Allah and submissive to His Universal Command. All of them absolve Him of deficiencies and defects, implicitly and explicitly. Whenever a sane person ponders over these creations, he recognizes that it has been created with truth and for truth (i.e. for a true reason), that it is subservient, without deviation or failure from the command of its Controller. Everyone recognizes that there is a Creator by their Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah - may Allah grant him mercy - said: They are subject, submissive, obedient and compelled from several • Their recognition of their dependence and dire need o f Him (Allah): • Their subjugation and submission to what occurs to them o f His Decrees and Will and; • Their supplication to Him in their times of need. The Mu ’min (Believer) submits to the Command of His Lord willingly and to whatever He decrees of calamity upon Him. He acts at such times according to what he has been commanded of patience and other things, willingly. So he submits to Allah willingly and is subject to Him willingly. The disbeliever on the other hand, submits to the Universal Commands10 of His Lord. The meaning of the prostration of all things (as in the verses above) is submission. So, each prostrates in a manner that befits its nature and encompasses submission to the Lord. The glorification of (His) praise is in accordance with its nature; it is real and not Also, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah said regarding the statement of Allah the “Do they seek other than the religion of Allah (the true Islamic Monotheism - worshipping none but Allah Alone), while to Him submitted all creatures in the heavens and the earth, willingly or unwillingly. And to Him shall they all be returned." (Qur’an 3: 83) 10 These are commands to which all creatures are subject to, such as sleeping, getting tired, hunger, thirst and so on. (TN) He dl said: ‘So, Allah Glorified is He, mentioned the submission o f all things willingly and unwillingly: this is because all creatures are subjected to Him in perfect submission, regardless of whether one recognizes it or denies it. They are under obligation to Him and are controlled (by Him). So, they are submissive, whether willingly or unwillingly. No creature is capable of escaping His Will, Decrees and Pre-ordainments upon it. There is neither motion nor strength except with His leave. He is the Lord of all mankind, jinns and all that exists, and He is their Owner. He directs them as He wills. He is their Creator, Maker and Fashioner. Everything besides Him is a subject and creature, one that was made. It is dependent, subjugated and subdued, while He, Glorified is He, is the One, the Subduer, the Creator, the Maker, the Fashioner.'1 1 ‘al-Fatawa vol. 1, pg. 45