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ʾa-lam yaraw ʾilā ṭ-ṭayri musakhkharātin fī jawwi s-samāʾi mā yumsikuhunna ʾillā llāhu ʾinna fī dhālika la-ʾāyātin li-qawmin yuʾminūna
Have they not regarded the birds disposed in the air of the sky: no one sustains them except Allah. There are indeed signs in that for a people who have faith.
— Ali Quli Qarai
Surah An-Nahl – Verse 79
79. “Do they not look at the birds, constrained in the middle of the sky? Naught holds them but Allah; verily there are signs in that for a people who believe.”
As was said before, the content of this Surah provides us with acquaintance about the blessings and focuses attention on their creator. Up until now, we have noted Him mentioning such blessings as rainwater, milk, fruits, honey, the blessings of having wife and children. In this verse, and the next one, the blessings of birds, skin, wool of the four-footed animals, and the ways of utilization of mountains are being discussed. The flight of birds, alone or in flocks, sometimes regulated and sometimes without any proper order, at times for escaping and at other times all take place for food.
Every bird flies with the right kind of wings commensurate with its weight and needs, all of which must focus the attention of the wise on Allah. Thus, Allah wants us to meditate on those creatures, and then He criticizes the ones who do not so. Birds are all, in all cases and everywhere, dominated by Him. The verse says:
“Do they not look at the birds, constrained in the middle of the sky?…”
In modern warfare, some planes fly outside the range of anti-aircraft guns. However, birds are all within Allah’s area of power wherever they go. I was once in an airplane when the airhostess declared, we would soon land in a few minutes at airport. I asked her why she did not mention the words, ‘Allah-willing’. She said: “There is no need for saying ‘Allah-willing’ as the plane computer has set all such as: timing, distance and everything.” I told her all those planes which crash in the air in the east and west of the world do have such equipments. Allah’s will does not wait for your computers. She then thought for a while. Returning, she proclaimed that we would, Allah-willing, land after a few moments. I also thanked her by offering her a gift.
We must not forget about Allah because of having access to equipments, energy and being able to utilize instinctive, experimental and scientific laws as it says:
“…Naught holds them but Allah…”
It is only Allah Who protects them from falling to the ground. It is just like swimmers who swim inside water and they are protected by water. Birds are ‘hanging’ also in the air or ‘floating’ in the air and the air, which itself is a created being by Allah, preserves them, like water which keeps man alive. In fact, it is Allah Who keeps the air underneath their body. Briefly speaking, one must look out at the birds so that he may become aware of the fact that they have got an on-looker Who looks after them and manages everything and Who is Omnipotent. He is Who has created such beings so as to enable people to take lessons and to receive their share of rewards by obeying the truth.
The verse says:
“…verily there are signs in that for a people who believe.”
That is to say: There are abundant reasoning involved in this matter for the believers as to the unity and potentialities of Allah. Obviously, it is only the believers who benefit from such dear evidences.