Allah’s Universal Signs

1. Allah’s Universal Signs Delivered at the Islamic Center of Naperville May 20, 2012

2. How do we pray the eclipse prayer? • قَالَتْ: خَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ فِي عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَامَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُصَلِّي، فَأَطَالَ الْقِيَامَ جِدًّا، ثُمَّ رَكَعَ، فَأَطَالَ الرُّكُوعَ جِدًّا، ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ، فَأَطَالَ الْقِيَامَ جِدًّا، وَهُوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الْأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ رَكَعَ فَأَطَالَ الرُّكُوعَ جِدًّا، وَهُوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الْأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ سَجَدَ، ثُمَّ قَامَ، فَأَطَالَ الْقِيَامَ، وَهُوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الْأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ رَكَعَ، فَأَطَالَ الرُّكُوعَ وَهُوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الْأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ، فَقَامَ فَأَطَالَ الْقِيَامَ وَهُوَ دُونَ الْقِيَامِ الْأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ رَكَعَ، فَأَطَالَ الرُّكُوعَ وَهُوَ دُونَ الرُّكُوعِ الْأَوَّلِ، ثُمَّ سَجَدَ، ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ رَسُولُ اللهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، وَقَدْ تَجَلَّتِ الشَّمْسُ • A'isha reported that there was a solar eclipse in the time of the Messenger of Allaah (sallAllaahualayhiwasallam). He stood up to pray and prolonged his stand very much. He then bowed and prolonged very much his bowing. He then raised his head and prolonged his stand much, but it was less than the (duration) of the first stand. He then bowed and prolonged bowing much, but it was less than the duration of his first bowing. He then prostrated and then stood up and prolonged the stand, but it was less than the first stand. He then bowed and prolonged his bowing, but it was less than the first bowing. He then lifted his head and then stood up and prolonged his stand, but it was less than the first stand. He then bowed and prolonged bowing and it was less than the first bowing. He then prostrated himself; then he turned about, and the sun had become bright

3. What should we do during an eclipse? • فَخَطَبَ النَّاسَ، فَحَمِدَ اللهَ وَأَثْنَى عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: «إِنَّ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ مِنْ آيَاتِ اللهِ، وَإِنَّهُمَا لَا يَنْخَسِفَانِ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ، وَلَا لِحَيَاتِهِ، فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمُوهُمَا فَكَبِّرُوا، وَادْعُوا اللهَ وَصَلُّوا وَتَصَدَّقُوا • and he addressed the people. He praised Allaah and magnified Him and said: The sun and the moon are two signs of Allaah; they are not eclipsed on account of anyones death or on account of anyone's birth. So when you see them, glorify and supplicate Allaah, observe prayer, give charity

4. Why does Allah cause eclipses to happen? • قَالَ: خَسَفَتِ الشَّمْسُ فِي زَمَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَامَ فَزِعًا يَخْشَى أَنْ تَكُونَ السَّاعَةُ حَتَّى أَتَى الْمَسْجِدَ، فَقَامَ يُصَلِّي بِأَطْوَلِ قِيَامٍ وَرُكُوعٍ وَسُجُودٍ، مَا رَأَيْتُهُ يَفْعَلُهُ فِي صَلَاةٍ قَطُّ، ثُمَّ قَالَ: «إِنَّ هَذِهِ الْآيَاتِ الَّتِي يُرْسِلُ اللهُ لَا تَكُونُ لِمَوْتِ أَحَدٍ، وَلَا لِحَيَاتِهِ، وَلَكِنَّ اللهَ يُرْسِلُهَا، يُخَوِّفُ بِهَا عِبَادَهُ، فَإِذَا رَأَيْتُمْ مِنْهَا شَيْئًا، فَافْزَعُوا إِلَى ذِكْرِهِ، وَدُعَائِهِ، وَاسْتِغْفَارِهِ» • Verily the sun and the moon are the two signs among the signs of Allaah by which He frightens his servants and they do not eclipse on account of the death of any one of the people. So when you see anything about them, observe prayer, supplicate Allaah till it is cleared from you.

5. Sun and the Moon mentioned in the Quran وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ اللَّيْلُ وَالنَّهَارُ وَالشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ لَا تَسْجُدُوا لِلشَّمْسِ وَلَا لِلْقَمَرِ وَاسْجُدُوا لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَهُنَّ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ (37) 37. and from among his signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. prostrate not to the sun nor to the moon, but prostrate to Allâh who created them, if You (really) Worship Him.

6. Allah’s signs are of different types • Universal signs- the heavens, earth, stars, sun, moon, mountains • Quranic signs- stories of nations and people of the past • How should we start reminding people of the greatness of Allah?

7. Al Qasas 71 • قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ اللَّيْلَ سَرْمَدًا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ إِلَهٌ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُمْ بِضِيَاءٍ أَفَلَا تَسْمَعُونَ (71 • 71. Say (O Muhammad Sal-Allaahu 'alayheWaSallam): "Tell Me! if Allâh made night continuous for You till the Day of Resurrection, who is an Ilâh (a god) besides Allâh who could bring You light? will You not Then hear?"

8. Al Qasas 72 • قُلْ أَرَأَيْتُمْ إِنْ جَعَلَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْكُمُ النَّهَارَ سَرْمَدًا إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ مَنْ إِلَهٌ غَيْرُ اللَّهِ يَأْتِيكُمْ بِلَيْلٍ تَسْكُنُونَ فِيهِ أَفَلَا تُبْصِرُونَ (72) • 72. Say (O Muhammad Sal-Allaahu 'alayheWaSallam): "Tell Me! if Allâh made Day continuous for You till the Day of Resurrection, who is an Ilâh (a god) besides Allâh who could bring You night wherein You rest? will You not Then see?"

9. Crops and Vegetation أَفَرَأَيْتُمْ مَا تَحْرُثُونَ (63) أَأَنْتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَّارِعُونَ (64) لَوْ نَشَاءُ لَجَعَلْنَاهُ حُطَامًا فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَكَّهُونَ (65) إِنَّا لَمُغْرَمُونَ (66) بَلْ نَحْنُ مَحْرُومُونَ (67) 63. tell Me! the seed that You sow In the ground. 64. is it You that make it grow, or are we the Grower? 65. were it Our will, we could crumble it to dry pieces, and You would be regretful (or left In wonderment).66. (saying): "We are indeed Mughramûn (i.e. Ruined 67. "Nay, but we are deprived!"

10. Water أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ الْمَاءَ الَّذِي تَشْرَبُونَ (68) أَأَنْتُمْ أَنْزَلْتُمُوهُ مِنَ الْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنْزِلُونَ (69) لَوْ نَشَاءُ جَعَلْنَاهُ أُجَاجًا فَلَوْلَا تَشْكُرُونَ 68. tell Me! the water that You drink. 69. is it You who Cause it from the rainclouds to come down, or are we the Causer of it to come down? 70. if we willed, we Verily could make it salt why Then do You not give thanks (to Allâh)?

11. Fire • أَفَرَأَيْتُمُ النَّارَ الَّتِي تُورُونَ (71) أَأَنْتُمْ أَنْشَأْتُمْ شَجَرَتَهَا أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنْشِئُونَ (72) نَحْنُ جَعَلْنَاهَا تَذْكِرَةً وَمَتَاعًا لِلْمُقْوِينَ (73) فَسَبِّحْ بِاسْمِ رَبِّكَ الْعَظِيمِ • 71. tell Me! the Fire which You kindle, • 72. is it You who made the tree thereof to grow, or are we the Grower? • 73. we have made it a Reminder (for the Hell-fire, In the Hereafter); and an article of use for the travellers (and All the others, In This world). • 74. Then glorify with praises the Name of Your Lord, the Most Great.

12. Allah is completely powerful over everything • Allah does whatever He wants • “If He wants to command something He says be and it is”- Yaseen :82 • The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said “There is no Maalik except for Allah.” • “Allah gives power/authority to whomever He wants” AlBaqrah:246 • The heavens and earth submit to Allah • فَقَالَ لَهَا وَلِلْأَرْضِ ائْتِيَا طَوْعًا أَوْ كَرْهًا قَالَتَا أَتَيْنَا طَائِعِينَ (11) • and said to it and to the earth: "Come both of You willingly or unwillingly." they both said: "We come, willingly."

13. Manifestation of Allah’s Power • The fire obeys Allah • قُلْنَا يَا نَارُ كُونِي بَرْدًا وَسَلَامًا عَلَى إِبْرَاهِيمَ (69) • We said “O Fire be cool and safety for Ibrahim” –Anbiyaa • Bodies obey Allah • وَقَالُوا لِجُلُودِهِمْ لِمَ شَهِدْتُمْ عَلَيْنَا قَالُوا أَنْطَقَنَا اللَّهُ الَّذِي أَنْطَقَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ وَهُوَ خَلَقَكُمْ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٍ وَإِلَيْهِ تُرْجَعُونَ (21) • 21. and they will Say to their skins, "Why do You testify against us?" they will say: "Allâh has caused us to speak, as He causes All things to speak, and He created You the first time, and to Him You are made to return."

14. Take Home Message • We are completely dependent on Allah سبحانه و تعالى • Allah has complete power and control over everything • We must submit to Him and worship Him alone • With the remaining time we should make istighfaar, give sadaqah, and make dua to Allah