Birth of the Earth

Dear listeners, today on the blessed 25th of the sacred month of Dhu’l-Qa’dah we invite you to listen to a special programme pertaining to a very significant event in the history of Planet Earth.

As food for thought we present you ayahs 30, 31, 32, and 33 of Surah an-Naze’aat of the holy Qur’an, which read:

“…He spread out the earth; and brought forth from it its (sweet) water and pastures; and set firm the mountains; as a [place of] sustenance for you and your livestock.”

The Almighty Creator, in the ayahs preceding those which we recited to you, has spoken of bringing into existence the vast and wonderful universe, including this spherical planet of ours which spins on its axis while revolving around the Sun to ensure proper exposure to light and darkness or the day’s heat and the night’s coolness that are vital elements for the flourishing of life.

He then, as is clear by the wordings of the ayahs that we recited to you now, refers to “earth” or dry piece of land that emerged from under the saline waters covering the planet to receive direct sunlight for the first time, and was gradually spread, as pastures, mountains, and rivers of fresh flowing water began to take shape upon its surface for new forms of life, and finally for accommodating the Best of God’s creation, the intelligent species called the human race in whose terminology the whole planet came to known as “Earth”.

Thus, the important point to note is the emergence of earth or dry piece of land and its spreading, which in Arabic means “Dahw al-Ardh” – a highly significant event that occurred on a particular day which was not lost in the mist of time before the creation of mankind, because the All-Wise God has ensured its commemoration in order to constantly remind human beings of the orderly existence of the universe, the purpose of life, the inevitably of death, and the certainty of resurrection for the eventual reward and punishment, in accordance with one’s deeds and that too after much mercy and forgiveness.

Adam was fashioned out of clay, followed by his mate and wife, Eve, the Parents of the human race, which God granted the intellect and the power of speech, and through their progeny ensured a long line of divinely-designated prophets to guide mankind as it spread out around the expanse of the earth, in order to prevent people from falling prey to the misuse of their brain, the perils of the instinct, and the vain desires that eventually bring about self-destruction.

Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, were the most prominent of the prophets who preached the message of monotheism in all parts of the planet, culminating in the universal mission of the Last and Greatest of them all, Prophet Muhammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny).

This means that it is Islam, the set of belief decreed for the entire human race by the All-Loving Creator, which enlightens us with these dynamic facts, including exact day of the Dahw al-Ardh, that is, the 25^th of the sacred month of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, and the precise location of the first spot of dry land to emerge, that is, the place where the holy Ka’ba stands today in Mecca.

It was built by Father Adam, as the first ever structure on Planet Earth, but not as his own abode. He was commanded by the Creator to build as the Symbolic House of the Unseen but Omnipresent Lord, Who has neither has shape or form, nor is bound by time and place.

Now we understand why the holy Qur’an refers to the holy Ka’ba as the First House. We also begin to realize why the pilgrims from all over the globe start their journey towards it in this sacred month of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, so as to be present in time in the initial days of Dhu’l-Hijjah for performing the annual Hajj at the place that was rebuilt by Prophet Abraham and institutionalized as the focal point for all humanity by Prophet Muhammad (blessings of God upon him and his progeny).

As God Almighty says in ayahs 96 and 97 of Surah Aal-e Imran:

“Indeed the First House to be set up for mankind is the one at Bakkah (Mecca); blessed and guidance for all nations. In it, are manifest signs [and] Abraham’s Station, and whoever enters it shall be secure. And it is the duty of mankind toward Allah to make pilgrimage to the House —for those who can afford the journey to it...”

History bears testimony that the straight and unwavering path shown by Divine Messengers, continues its enlightening task of guiding believers towards the bliss of paradise and preparing nations for emergence of the Kingdom of God, no matter what crimes power-drunk tyrants commit against humanity in their vain bid to dominate Planet Earth before they plunge into the eternal inferno. 

In view of this undeniable fact, we wish to inform our listeners that Abraham the Iconoclast who thwarted the tyrant Nimrod’s bid to become master of the world (tyrants of our times beware including Donald Trump), was born on the eve of 25^th Dhu’l-Qa’dah.

Another warning to modern day Herods (such as the child-killer Benjamin Netanyahu), who like the ancient Jewish tyrant will soon be cast into the dustbin of history, is the birth on the night of Dahw al-Ardh of Prophet Jesus (AS).

This means the 25^th of Dhu’l-Qa’dah has a message for all humanity. This fact confirms the confusion of the pagans of Europe, who on conversion to Paul’s creed called Christianity – over three centuries after the end of the monotheistic mission of the Messiah – made the fatal error of designating 25^th of the Roman solar month of December as Jesus’ (AS) birthday, instead of the correct 25^th of the Semitic lunar month of Dhu’l-Qa’dah that was in vogue in Palestine.

Another interesting fact is that, it will be this very day on which the Prophet of Islam’s 12^th and Last Infallible Heir, Imam Mahdi (AS) will reappear to establish the global government of peace, prosperity and justice.

Here is a passage from the special supplication for this day in the Divine Court:

“O Pardoner of slips, pardon my failings! O Answerer of supplications, grant my supplication! O Hearer of all sounds; hear my cry; have mercy on me; and overlook my misdeeds and faults. O Majestic and Munificent One!”

Thus, the spectacular progress of mankind, the wonders of science and technology, the venture into outer space after having explored the depths of the oceans, are all indeed indebted to this day, when dry land, in harmony with water, made Earth hospitable for life, unlike the barren spherical bodies orbiting around the Sun.

Today, as arrogantly ignorant mortals, boasting of their ephemeral wealth, transient power, and volatile weapons, but oblivious of their impending doom, indulge in every imaginable crime against humanity or nations refusing to accept their hegemony over Planet Earth, let us reflect on what the holy Qur’an says in Ayah 8 of Surah Roum:

“Have they not reflected in their own souls? Allah did not create the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them except with reason and for a specified term. Indeed many of the people disbelieve in the encounter with their Lord.”          

Hence "Dahw ul Ardh" or the 25th of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, is a very important occasion. According to a saying of the Prophet of Islam, whosoever fasts on this day his fast would equal 70 years of fasting.

Having known these merits, should we limit our celebration with fasting and the expression of joy, or should our struggle transcend beyond that? This obviously would depend on our vision about this important day. And in order to understand properly the importance of this day, we should understand the Earth better.

Islam was not revealed for a certain time and a particular people. Its laws and teachings apply for all ages to come. We should try to appreciate this vital truth and behold the "universality" of the religious teachings.

The problems the earth faced in the past may be different from the problems the earth confronts in our age. Our duty in every age when this Islamic Earth Day is celebrated should be to ponder over this God-given blessing, the reason why it was created, whether it is utilized for the purpose it was created, the crisis it faces at present, the remedy for such crisis, etc.

In other words, we should try to understand the present problems of the Earth and contribute whatever we can in this auspicious day. Our contribution can take various forms, such as educating the public on the methods of eradicating problems such as water and air pollution, deforestation, waste of resources, industrial wastes, manufacture of weapons of mass destruction, release of dangerous greenhouse gasses that are depleting the Ozone layer thereby causing global warming and the spread of dangerous diseases, and depriving others of their rights through political, economic, and military terrorism, as the US does.

Last but not the least, we should strive to eradicate spiritual pollution from the society which is the real cause of physical pollution that not only destroys mother nature, but destroys the human being itself through spread of such dangerous ills as disobedience of God’s commandment and disregard for religious teachings with the catastrophic result being drugs, violence, promiscuity, crimes, and terrorism.

AS/SS