Animals in the Quran

-Powerpoint Presentation explaining the insects and animals mentioned in the Quran, the miracles surrounding their mention, and amazing facts about them that demonstrate Allah's perfect creation.
-Educational presentation about ants, bees, crows, camels, donkeys, spiders, mosquitos, elephants, cows, snakes, hud-hud, whales in the Quran.
-Great resource for Islamic Studies and Quran teachers.

1. Animals in the Quran Created by: Banan M. Obeid

2. How many animals are mentioned? Animals in the Quran Trivia

3. 35 Animals

4. How many Ayat mention animals?

5. Over 200 Ayat

6. How many suwar are named after animals?

7. 6 Suwar

8. 35 Animals/insects are mentioned 200 AYAT mention animals 6 Suwar NAMED AFTER animals 1. Al- Baqarah: The Cow 2. Al- Naml: The Ant 3. Al- Anaam : The Cattle 4. Al- Nahl : The Bee 5. Al- Ankabut : The Spider 6. Al-Feel: The Elephant

9. In what context are animals mentioned? #1. Proof of a Creator: Contemplating the creation of allah (SWT) increases our faith. It is mind-boggling to study the millions of animal species on earth, and the amazing complexities of each animal community. Muslims believe that all animals recognize their creator and praise him, even though we can not understand their language.

10. The Qur'an says that animals benefit humans in many ways. They are mentioned as examples of Allah’s blessings upon us. Companionship Psychological/Emotional benefits Animals are aesthetically pleasing to look at. Nutritional benefits : M eat, milk, eggs. We also benefit from their feathers, wool, hair and skin (leather) for making fibers, warm clothing, shoes, bags, rugs. Transportation : Before cars were invented, humans rode horses, donkeys and camels to get from one pace to another. Even today we ride these animals for recreational purposes. #2. Benefits to Humans :

11. #3 Their Integral part in the Earth’s ecosystem: Allah’s creation is amazing and complex. Every organism on Earth is essential to the ecosystem. An ecosystem is a community of living organisms working together. The air, plants, animals, soil and bacteria are all connected. They work together. Without animals there would be dysfunction within the ecosystem, and human life would be disrupted .

12. مَا مِنْ مُسْلِمٍ يَغْرِسُ غَرْسًا أَوْ يَزْرَعُ زَرْعًا فَيَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ طَيْرٌ أَوْ إِنْسَانٌ أَوْ بَهِيمَةٌ إِلَّا كَانَ لَهُ بِهِ صَدَقَةٌ #4. Our responsibility towards animals: Allah (SWT) entrusted us as the care-takers of the Earth. It is our religious duty to treat animals with mercy. Animal cruelty is prohibited in Islam. The Prophet (S) said: “There is no Muslim who plants a tree or sows a seed and then a bird, or a person, or an animal eats from it, except that it is regarded as a charity for him.”

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14. Surat Al Nahl (#16) In this Ayah, Allah (S) tells the (female) bee to take a home within the mountains and the trees and in the homes she builds (of wax). MIRACLE #1: We know that bees build their hives from their own wax, but scientists now know that some bees (carpenter bees) build hives in wood, and some can even drill into solid stone-just as the Ayah mentions. During the Prophet (S)’s time, they did not have knowledge about the different types of bees. The Bee

15. MIRACLE #2: -The verse referred to above is all in the feminine tense. Today we know that in the world of bees, it is a female’s world. The leader of the bees is the QUEEN. The females are the workers, builders and defenders of the hive. They are the ones who build the hive and make the honey. The male has no real input apart from the reproduction process. . “Then, eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of your Lord made easy (for you). There comes forth from their bellies , a drink of varying color which has healing for mankind. Verily, in this is indeed a sign for people who think.”

16. When a b ee whizzes by, nobody can tell what sex it is ! If you are familiar with Shakespeare, some of the characters in his play “Henry the Fourth” mention that bees are “soldiers” and have a “King”. That’s not the case at all, but that was the common belief back then! Today, modern science has confirmed that the bees we see out there doing their thing are actually females and return to the nest and answer to a Queen! It took the last 300 or so years for modern science and all her advancements to figure this out! How could the Prophet have known this fact if the Quran had not been the words of the creator??

17. MIRACLE #3: -The verse mentions “belly” in the plural tense: “bellies” Scientists now know that honeybees have an extra stomach dedicated for honey. An illiterate man 1400 years had no access to this knowledge, yet we find it in the Quran.

18. Miracle # 4: Surah Nahl is Surah #16 and the only place the Bee is mentioned. From the beginning of the Ayah to the end of the word Bee, there are 16 letters. A nd bees have 16 pairs of chromosomes (except for the Queen)

19. Nothing in the Quran is a coincidence. The Queen has 32 chromosomes: The exact number of times that the word Allah appears before the word Bee in this Ayah !

20. MIRACLE #6: The verse mentions that honey has healing properties. Modern medicine teaches us that honey is a natural antibiotic, which helps heal wounds and burns, prevents scarring. and boosts immunity. MIRACLE #5: The verse mentions that the honeybees produce honey in many different colors. Around the world we find honey that is amber, gold, red and bronze- depending on the type of flower from which the pollen is extracted. The honey also differs in intensity and flavor

21. Be Like the Bee The Bee Lessons for Humanity The bee eats only what is good and pure (unlike the fly which will stand on filth) We should only pursue what is good and pure. This refers to good friendships, halal jobs, and healthy food that we put into our bodies. The bee takes but doesn’t break. It sits softly on the flower and takes from it but does not disturb or destroy it in the process. On the contrary, when it eats, it produces more life. We should take care to not hurt others or the environment when we take what we need from them. On the contrary, humans are destroying the environment and leaving behind so much waste. A bee will not go near a flower that was “claimed” by a bee from a different hive. Bees work together to reach their goals. We should respect the property of those around us, and help others to reach their goals.

22. Bees flap their wings 11,000/minute to control the temperature of the it at 92-93 degrees at all times. This is the loud buzz you hear! Amazzzzing Bee Facts…..

23. Cross-pollination is essential for plant health . Without bees, half the plants would disappear. It is estimated that humans could not survive for more than 4 years if bees became extinct.

24. It’s amazing that an insect the size of a thumbnail is so remarkable! Who taught it what to do? Who programmed it to work as it does? Its creation is a benefit to us, but also a miracle to ponder over Allah’s creation and be humbled by his unique design.

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26. The Ant - Ants are capable of carrying objects approximately 30 times their own body weight with their mandibles (jaws). Relative to their size, their muscles are thicker than those of larger animals or even humans. We humans are god’s best creation, and at times it feels like we have troubles that weigh us down, but if we take the ant as an example, then we can find the inner strength, collectively, to get past the hurdles we face. For each human on Earth there are 1.5 MILLION ants . There are 12,000 species of ants on Earth

27. TEAMWORK makes the dream work. This could never be more true than with the ant. As we have mentioned, they can lift some serious weight, but what is more impressive, is the way in which they can work together to achieve great feats. Ants can join arms to create a living raft to facilitate movement across the water and protect their queen! They create bridges with their bodies to cross over from one surface to another

28. “When the army approached the ant colony, a “female” ant warned: oh ants, take shelter in your homes so that Sulieman and his army do not “shatter” you by mistake!” This Ayah (revealed 1400 years ago) tells us 3 things about ants that had not been discovered until recently: MIRACLE #1: In 2009, Scientists who were studying butterflies accidentally discovered that ants DO have a language of their own! Surat Al Naml mentions the story of Prophet Sulieman as he is marching with his army.

29. MIRACLE #2 Scientists discovered that the Queen ant is the leader responsible for protecting her colony. This is exactly how the Quran mentioned that the female ant called out to her colony to protect them. MIRACLE # 3: Scientists now know that due to the skeletal structure of the ant, when it is stepped on, it is shattered rather crushed. This is the exact description used by Allah in the Ayah above. The queen did not say : “they will smash us/ they will crush us.” She said: “ they will shatter us” Allah’s words are exactly on point.

30. Prophet Suliman, the King of Bani Israel, heard this ant warn her colony. He stopped an entire army that was on their way to an important war. He stopped this mission to wait for the ants to move out of their path. This is a lesson about kindness to animals. His response to hearing this ant speak was that he smiled and thanked Allah for giving him this beautiful gift. This is a duaa that will be recited by all Muslims until the Day of Judgment.

31. Socially speaking, ants are the most similar creatures to humans They have highly organized societies-colonies They live in groups and work together to solve problems They cooperate in searching for food and taking care of the queen ant. They divide work based on the age of the ants. They communicate by “talking” by leaving chemical trails. They have funerals/morn for their dead for days before burying them! Subhan Allah! Interesting Ant Facts…

32. Benefits of Ants *Their tunnels aerate the soil, allowing water and nutrients to flow to plant roots, helping them grow. *In the process of collecting food, they help distribute seeds and pollinate plants. *Their excretions (waste) change the chemistry of the soil for the better. *They are decomposers- they eat organic waste, insects or other dead animals. They  help keep the environment clean . ... Ants are Allah’s natural vacuum!

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34. The Spider Why is Allah (S) talking about spiders and their homes ? In this Ayah, Allah gives an example to the idol worshippers of Mecca who worshipped gods other than Allah. The idol worshippers thought those Gods would help them and provide for them.

35. They created different idols that served different purposes: An idol they prayed to when they wanted rain An idol they prayed to when they wanted more wealth An idol they prayed to when they were sick and wanted to be cured. An idol of fertility they prayed to when they wanted to have more children. Travel idols they took with them to protect them on long journeys.

36. In this Ayah, Allah (S) is using the spider as an example to show the people of Quraysh that all their Gods are powerless. He compares them to the house of the spider, which is the weakest house of all. It is weak both physically and spiritually, as we will see! By clinging to those Gods they are like a person who holds on to a spider’s web and does not gain any benefit from it. Muslims hang on to the what will save them, to the strongest rope of Allah: The one that never breaks because of its strength and stability. But how could something they created with their own hands benefit or protect them in any way?

37. MIRACLE #1: The spider is mentioned in the female pronoun: ‘ it’takhathat baytan ”: “She built the home” It’s a scientific fact that the female is the one that spins the web… the male spends most of his life travelling and rarely ever builds a home for himself. MIRACLE #2: When the ant and bee are mentioned in the Quran, they are referred to in plural form because ants and bees live in communities and work together. However, when Allah mentions the spider, He refers to it in the singular form – because spiders live a solitary life, (except when mating) . Spiders don’t work together, or live together. They do not share a web. Look at how accurate the Quran is!

38. Why does Allah call the spider web the weakest house ? 1. Physically weak: The spider’s house is such an amazing creation, but physically, it is the weakest house of all. It is made out of delicate silk threads. These threads are interwoven, leaving large separating spaces at most times. Therefore, they do not protect from the heat of the sun, or the extreme cold. These threads do not form adequate shade, nor protect from the rain, storming winds, or the dangers of attackers .

39. Spiritually weak: The spider’s house, spiritually speaking, is the flimsiest of all houses, because it is deprived of all love and kindness, which are the pillars of any happy home. The female, in some types of spiders, kills the male as soon as the fertilization takes place. Being larger in size and more violent, the female kills the male and eats its body. In some cases, the female eats its youngsters mercilessly!!

40. In some types of spiders, the female dies after fertilizing its eggs, which are usually fostered in a silk bag. When the eggs hatch, spiderlings come out to find themselves in a very crowded place inside the eggs bag. The siblings then start to fight for food, space or both. The brother kills its brother and sister, and the sister kills its sister and brother, until the fight ends with a few spiderlings remaining. This makes the spider’s house the most violent and ruthless house, lacking all forms of love or connection. For these reasons, Allah (S) uses the spider’s home as an example in its weakness. It lacks the simplest form of kindness between the husband and wife, the mother and her children, and the siblings. Spiderlings

41. The house of the spider isn’t just a place to live. It is a sticky net which is a trap for flying insects such as flies. These insects are the victims on which the spider feeds. Similarly, anyone who trust in gods besides allah, are stuck in a trap which leads them to their destruction in this life and the next. Some people lure other into these traps with alcohol and drugs, which ruins their lives and their afterlives. Just as spiders live alone in solitary, following our desires and false gods will leave us feeling all alone, with no protector. Symbolic Meaning

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43. Locusts Surat Al-Araf Ayah 133: فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمُ الطُّوفَانَ وَالْجَرَادَ وَالْقُمَّلَ وَالضَّفَادِعَ “ So we sent upon them the flood, and locusts, and lice, and frogs, and blood as distinct signs, but they were arrogant and were a criminal people.” Locusts are mentioned as one of the 7 plagues sent to the people of Firone (The Pharoah) who rejected the message of Musa (AS).

44. Severe Drought 2. Sever e Flooding 3. Lice 4. Frogs invading the entire village 5. Water tuning to blood 6. Rijz : boils on their skin 7. Swarms of locusts eating all the crops The 7 Plagues :

45. خُشَّعًا أَبۡصَـٰرُهُمۡ يَخۡرُجُونَ مِنَ ٱلۡأَجۡدَاثِ كَأَنَّہُمۡ جَرَادٌ۬ مُّنتَشِرٌ۬ They will come out of the graves with their eyes looking down, like a large swarm of locusts. This Ayah describes the people’s situation on the Day of Judgement when everyone will come out of their graves to be judged. Why does Allah (S) compare this scene of humans to swarms of locusts? Why locusts? 1400 years ago, Allah said this about locusts in Surat Al Qamar, Ayah #7:

46. In the 20 th Century, the use of micro cameras taught us a great deal about locusts. NASA satellite data was used to identify desert locust colonies in Africa. Scientists have discovered that locusts behave as a single body! One swarm can reach up to 460 square miles long and wide, looking like a dark cloud approaching. One swarm can have up to 80 BILLION locusts ! Locusts are a nightmare to farmers because they eat and destroys all the crops in their path.

47. The female locusts dig long tunnels underground. Each female lays up to 158 eggs. After 2 months, the larvae mature, hatch and emerge in a large group. Some locusts live underground in the dark for years and years before emerging to the surface. Where do all those locusts come from?

48. The Kuffar of Quraysh doubted that mankind will be brought back to life after dying and being buried in the ground. Why did Allah mention this to the people of Quraysh?

49. The way locusts exist underground for so long, then suddenly emergence in HUGE numbers (all at the same time) resembles the resurrection of human beings on the Day of Judgement. There is a similarity between the way we will all come out of our graves and way the locusts all come out of the ground. The Quran made this comparison of billions of men and women coming out of their graves at a time when these technologies did not exist and scientists did not know about locusts living underground.

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51. The Mosquito Surat Al Baqara , Ayah #26: Indeed, allah doesn’t shy away from using the example of a mosquito or what is above it . And those who have believed know that it is the truth from their lord. But as for those who disbelieve, they say, “Why did Allah use this as an example?" What do you think this Ayah means?

52. The Arabs were impressed with the Quran when it spoke of big animals. When Allah (S) revealed a Surah describing the war horses, they were impressed because they loved horses. - However, when Allah spoke of the fly and the spider, the disbelievers were not impressed. They laughed at those Ayat . If Allah is so great, why did he mention such insignificant creatures? They didn’t realize that even the smallest creation is a miracle and a sign of Allah’s existence. Let’s look at those miracles….

53. MIRACLE #1: Note that the Ayah refers to the mosquito in the female form. Modern Science has discovered that only the female mosquito sucks blood. This is because she uses the protein from our blood to nourish her eggs.) Allah responded to their mockery by revealing the Ayah: “Allah does not shy away from using the example of a mosquito and what is on top of it.”

54. MIRACLE #2: After the invention of the electric microscope (which magnifies by 400,000 X’s), scientists have discovered hosts- small mites- that live on the female mosquito and take nutrition from her.

55. What makes the mosquito so amazing?? Mosquitos have what no airplane has. They fly using thermal reception. They detect their surroundings through heat waves. They sense heat since they can’t see size or color. This system helps the female find her victims and determine the best place to lay her eggs. The mosquito’s “needle” has 47 sharp edges

56. The mosquito’s heart pumps clear “blood” forward and backward through the body. The mosquito’s head has hundreds of lenses

57. She has a blood testing system. Not all blood types suit her, so she first takes a small sample, then if the blood is the right type, she sucks to her fill. She has a system that dilutes blood. Our blood is too thick to go through her needle, so she dilutes it first. The female mosquito is an amazing creation She has a sedation device which protects her from being killed. She numbs you while she sucks your blood. By the time she is finished, the sedation wears off and you slap at the itch. By then she is long gone.

58. A Mosquito’s sense of smell is 10,000 times greater than that of humans- they smell the CO2 we exhale from over 70 ft away! Mosquitos flap their wings 600 X’s/Second.

59. Mosquito legs have claws that are used when they stand on rough surfaces and hooks for when they stand smooth surfaces. There are over 3,ooo species of mosquitos. The female lives for one month and the males usually lives for a week.

60. These creatures are anything but insignificant. If the people of Q uraysh knew what we know today about them, they would not have mocked allah’s creation. Allah speaks of such a small creature to show us the complexity of something that weights approximately 5 mg but is so complex. (You need 200,000 mosquitos to weight 1 lb !!) The complexity of allah’s creation is a type of proof that increases our faith in him as the true creator. “This is the creation of allah. So show me what those other than me have created. The disbelievers are in great denial” - Surat L uqman , Ayah 11

61. The Example of the Mosquito https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwZAky_KV_k

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63. The In Surat Al Kahf : Allah described the “companions of the cave” as youth who were rightly guided. They escaped an oppressive king who was forcing them to worship other than Allah. They took refuge and hid in a cave. Even though Allah does not mention the exact number of people, he does specifically mention that they had a dog with them and that the dog was guarding the entrance of the cave. The story was not complete without the dog. This detail was not mentioned by accident. Every word in the Quran serves a purpose. Dog

64. There are differences of opinion regarding the permissibility of dogs. However, if they were completely prohibited in Islam, Allah would have made that clear in any one of the 5 Ayat in which they were mentioned. Dogs are allowed to be used for all types of benefits. We are encouraged to make use of Allah’s creations, just as those righteous youth of the cave had a dog as their companion and guardian. “They ask you, [O Muhammad], what has been made lawful for them. Say, "Lawful for you are [all] good foods and [game caught by] what you have trained of hunting animals which you train as Allah has taught you. So eat of what they catch for you, and mention the name of Allah upon it, and fear Allah.” EXAMPLE: It is OK to use trained dogs for hunting, as mentioned in Surat Al- Maidah , Ayah #4.

65. EXAMPLE: Service Dogs are beneficial in helping the disabled, such as guiding the blind or deaf. Some dogs, called seizure-alert dogs, are used by individuals who have constant seizures. Trained dogs can sense the seizure before it comes and alert the owner so they prepare themselves and do not get injured.

66. So why do Muslims keep away from owning dogs as pets, but they keep cats and other animals?? The Prophet said: “Angels do not enter a home in which there is a dog… ” This is why it is best to keep them outside. Angels do not like places where there is no cleanliness and no purity. Dogs are not very clean animals. They do not clean themselves after they relieve themselves, and they can not stop themselves from panting. This affects the Tahara (purity) of one’s home. One of the requirements for prayer is that our body, clothes and place of prayer are pure. The urine and feces (and in some opinions - the saliva) of the dog are Najasa (impurities) and therefore we risk the perfection of our prayer when dogs are present in our space. There is no problem keeping a dog as a service dog/guard dog/hunting dog, but it is best to keep them outside/keep them in an isolated space so they do not roam around the home spreading najasah .

67. This may be due to the type of bacteria in a dog’s saliva, but we do not know the exact reason. Allah knows best why dog saliva is considered different than that of other animals. In all cases, if there is doubt in any Islamic matter, it is always best to play on the safe side. The Prophet said: “The purification of a utensil belonging to you after it is licked by a dog, is to wash 7 times, once with sand.

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69. The S N A K E And [he was told], "Throw down your staff." But when he saw it writhing as if it was a snake, he turned and ran and did not return. [Allah said], "O Moses, approach and fear not. Indeed, you are safe.” The snake is referenced several times in the Quran in connection to Prophet Musa (AS) and his famous staff. The staff turning into a snake was one of his miracles to the Pharaoh of Egypt.

70. The snake has held various meanings throughout history, but for the Egyptians (the people of Musa) it was viewed as a representation of royalty and deities. - Firone’s sorcerers knew how to create chemical reactions that allowed pieces of rope to move, mimicking slithering snakes. In response, Allah allowed Musa’s staff to turn into a REAL snake that ate all the other fake snakes. When the sorcerers saw this, they recognized it as a true miracle, and instantly believed in the message of Musa.

71. - Some snakes have over 200 teeth. The teeth aren’t used for chewing but they point backward to prevent prey from escaping the snake’s throat .

72. The venom from a Brazilian pit viper is used in a drug to treat high blood pressure - Most snakes are not harmful to humans. Actually, they help balance the ecosystem by keeping the population of rats, mice and birds under control.

73. Amazing Snake Factssss … In some snake species, the heart is not found at a fixed point in the body. Instead, it keeps on moving around in order to make room for a prey when it is swallowed by the snake. - The word “cobra” means “hooded.” Some cobras have large spots on the back of their hood that look like eyes to make them appear intimating even from behind. - Snakes smell with their tongue.

74. Why did Allah (S) create creepy things like bugs? Harmful things like bacteria? Things that can be used for violence, like weapons? IF EVERYTHING ON Earth was created FOR us…. Why does Allah (S) create harmful things? Things that scare us? Things we are not allowed to eat/do?

75. Evil is created in order to show the beauty of what is good. **If there were no diseases , it would be impossible to know what a great blessing health is. **If there was no darkness , the value of the light could not be understood. ** If there was no evil in the world, the superiority of the good would not be understood. #1. Everything is recognized by it’s opposite! *Happiness is recognized through sadness. *Good is recognized through evil. *Cold is recognized through heat.

76. On the other hand, we have all experienced little snapshots of what Jenna is like: Beautiful landscapes: trees, flowers, mountains, waterfalls. Great food and drinks Different forms of entertainment Feelings of happiness, contentment and love. Allah (SWT) gave us these examples to help us understand what we are working towards for our next lives. This life is only temporary and is NOT our final destination. #2. Everything on Earth is a representation of Allah’s power, and a test of our actions. We have all experienced pain, and fear. We have all seen some type of ugliness in the world. We all know how scary/destructive fire can be. If Allah can create fear on Earth, what kind of fear can He create on the Day of Judgement?

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78. The Crow “ Then Allah sent a crow digging the ground, to show him how to cover his brother's corpse. He said, "Woe to me! I was unable to be like this crow and bury my brother's corpse." And he became full of regrets. 1400 years ago, Allah mentioned the crow in Surat Al- Ma’idah , Ayah #31 Allah mentioned the crow in a murder story. The crow was a ‘teacher’ who taught man how to bury the dead:

79. Both of them wanted to marry the same girl, who was very beautiful. They did not know how to decide which one of them should marry her. So their father, Prophet Adam, asked each one of them to give an offering (sacrifice) to Allah. And the one whose offering was accepted by Allah, would m arry the girl. On the other hand, Qabeel kept the best for himself and gave a poor offering. Habeel , whose intentions were good, chose the best sheep from his flock and gave it as an offering to Allah. The story is a story of the two sons of P. Adam, Habeel and Qabeel.

80. Allah accepted Habeel's offering because he gave the best of what he had. His sacrifice was given with sincerity. This meant that Habeel had Allah’s permission to marry the girl.

81. Qabeel was jealous that his brothers’ sacrifice was chosen over his. Instead of focusing on himself, and worrying about Allah’s pleasure, he focused on Habeel’s acceptance. He threatened his brother that he was going to kill him. I will surely kill you  Allah only accepts from those who fear him If you raise your hand against me to kill me, I won’t raise my hand against you to kill you. I fear Allah, Lord of the worlds .

82. It was the 1 st time that anyone had ever killed another person . It was the 1st time any human being had ever died, so Qabeel did not know what to do with the dead body. He carried it on his shoulders and wandered around helplessly. Qabeel’s jealousy grew like a poison in his heart, and he followed through with the threat. He committed the ultimate crime- he killed his own brother.

83. Seeing this, Qabeel admitted that he was not even as intelligent as that crow, who taught him to bury the dead body of his brother Habeel . He then dug a grave for his brother Habeel and buried him in it. Then Allah sent two crows who fought in front of Qabeel. One of them was killed. The other dug a hole in the ground and placed the body of the dead crow into it covering it with Earth.

84. A fter the first murder on earth was committed by Qabeel , Allah (S) taught us an important lesson: “…whoever kills a soul, without [its being guilty of] murder or corruption on the Earth, it is as though he had killed all mankind, and whoever saves a soul it is as though he had saved all mankind.” (Quran, Chapter Al- Ma’idah ; 5: 32) The murdered brother earned forgiveness for his sins and was admitted into Paradise, while the murderer failed and earned Allah’s anger. أَنَّهُۥ مَن قَتَلَ نَفْسًۢا بِغَيْرِ نَفْسٍ أَوْ فَسَادٍۢ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ فَكَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا وَمَنْ أَحْيَاهَا فَكَأَنَّمَآ أَحْيَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعًۭا ۚ

85. More Lessons from the Story of Habeel & Qabeel The Prophet ( S ) said: “ Anytime a human being is killed unjustly, part of the responsibility for the crime belongs to the first son of Adam ( Qabeel ) who invented the tradition of killing on the earth” (Sahih al-Bukhari). This means that anytime we invent or encourage a sin, we get bad deeds every time people copy us and commit that sin! Humans were created inherently good. They were created to love and have mercy, but then learn evil and hatred with the help of Shaytan. E ven Shatan himself was not created evil. He consciously chose to be so. 

86. More Lessons from the Story of Habil & Qabil Beware of Jealousy! The reason why Shaytan went from being a good Jinn, to being a cursed Jinn, is because of the jealousy he felt towards the creation of humans. When the Angels heard of this creation, they were confused. So they asked Allah questions about His decision. They accepted His wisdom. Shaytan didn’t do that. He started being “racist” against this new creation. His jealousy and thinking he is better than others is what will cause him to go to Jahannam…. I’m better than him! The inventor of jealousy

87. For a long time people thought that birds were unintelligent creatures, but scientists now declare that the crow, in specific, is a very intelligent bird. Its level of intelligence can be compared to that of a 7-year-old child. Crows are the only non-primates that can make new tools. In addition to using sticks as spears and hooks, crows will bend wire to make tools, even if they have never encountered wire before.   They watch what we do and learn from us. Crows have been seen to drop nuts in traffic lanes, so the cars will crack them open. They will even watch traffic lights, only retrieving the nut when the crosswalk sign is lit. The Crow’s Intelligence

88. Just like humans, crows mourn their dead. They surround the corpse and continue to squawk loudly. Scientists have observed that crows later avoided the territories where dead crows had been found. When Allah sent an animal to teach Qabeel a lesson, He did so using the most intelligent bird. Crows have been known to memorize restaurant schedules and garbage days, to take advantage of prime scavenging times.

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90. The Whale The whale is mentioned in the Quran in relation to the story of Prophet Yunus . P.Yunus Ibn Matta is nicknamed in the Quran as صاحب الحوت and was the 1 st Prophet mentioned in the Quran. His story was mentioned in 5 Suwar: Yunus , Al- Saffat , Al- Tur, Al- Anbiyaa and Al-An3am. Allah (S) sent this Prophet to Naynawah (present day Iraq). The people there were worshiped idols. H e continued to call them to the worship of Allah, reminding them of the terrible wrath of Allah that was directed at Ad, Thamud and the people of Nuh .

91. He boarded a small passenger ship with the intention of travelling as far away from his people as possible. The ship travelled through the calm waters during the day; but as the night closed in, a storm raged on rocking the ship wildly. The crew and passengers began to fear for their lives as the sea water gradually began flooding into the deck, slowly sinking the ship. The people kept rejecting him, so P. Yunus gave up on them and fled the city without the permission of Allah(SWT).

92. The Captain ordered his men to throw the luggage overboard to lighten the ship’s load , but the ship continued to sink as it was still too heavy The Captain was left with no choice—he had to sacrifice the life of one man to save the rest. He decided to draw lots to choose the passenger to be sacrificed.   The lots were cast and Prophet Yunus’s name was selected. The men knew that Yunus was a righteous, honest and a blessed man, so they refused to throw him out and agreed to draw lots again. T he lots were cast a second time , and Yunus’s name appeared again . The men refused to throw Yunus saying, “ We are not going to get rid of Yunus . He is our blessing on the boat. He is the best man we have on the boat; we are not going to get rid of him.”  The lots were cast a third time , and Yunus ’ named appeared yet again ! The men were baffled, but Prophet Yunus knew that this was the verdict of Allah for he had left his people without his Allah’s permission. P. Yunus jumped out of the ship into the dark, angry waves in the middle of ocean…… right into the mouth of a whale…

93. Imagine being in the situation of Prophet Yunus : As far as the eye can see is water and you are in the middle of it. In the middle of nothingness, pitch black darkness all around you. You have no form of technology with you. If you screamed, no one could hear you. No one knows you are here or if you are even alive. You are surrounded by all the creatures and beasts of the wide seas. To make matters worse, a whale swallows you whole. You are now inside the whale’s murky belly, surrounded by the remains of all the dead creatures it has eaten. The stench of its intestines lurks around your nostrils as you struggle to stand straight while covered in its saliva. You can’t see anything. Even if you were to somehow escape the belly of the whale, you would be in the middle of the sea with nowhere to go and would most likely drown anyway. What would you do????

94. The Quran mentions exactly what P. Yunus did while he was in this predicament. He continued to repeat a duaa over and over again in repentance to Allah for the mistake he had made: This duaa is one we should all keep close to our hearts. It is the duaa of the hopeless, when one has been blinded by all the darkness in their life; this is the duaa that provides the light for one who wishes to see. To call out with the same words of P. Yunus in all humility you yourself become the lantern. “ So then he cried out in the darkness : 'There is no one worthy of worship except for You, glory be to You, surely I have wronged myself. We are encouraged to use this duaa when we commit sins or need Allah’s help. فَنَادَى فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ أَنْ لاَ إِلٌهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ

95. “So then We responded to him ( Yunus ) and saved him from the grief, and in this way, We always rescue the true believers . How Did Allah (SWT) Respond? Prophet Yunus ’ duaa was answered, and Allah ordered the whale to take him to the shore and spit him out. P. Yunus had no protection against the sun and wind so Allah commanded a tree to grow over him to provide him with food and shade. Allah forgave him and informed him that if it were not for his sincere duaa, Yunus would continue to be in the stomach of the whale util the Day of Judgment. He was very sick, so Allah cured him and allowed him to go back to his city. He found that, by Allah’s grace, his people left idol worshipping and continued to follow his teachings until the day he died.

96. This story is an example to show us that even in the darkest depths of the ocean, Allah will hear our calls. There is no situation that is impossible for Allah to fix. LESSON: Whatever you are going through right now, whatever darkness you are surrounded by, if you look to Him, there is no way Allah will leave you.

97. “The Giants of the Ocean” There are 90 species of whales on Earth

98. A Blue Whale’s Heart The blue whale's heart is huge. It's the largest heart in the animal kingdom, weighing about 400 pounds - about the same weight as a gorilla and roughly the size of a bumper car. As a blue whale dives to feed, its giant heart may only beat twice per minute.

99. A Whale’s Tongue: A blue whale’s tongue alone can weigh as much as an elephant. Whales are LOUD: W hales are  the loudest animals on the planet . A jet engine is 150 decibels; the call of a whale reaches 230 decibels . Their language of pulses, groans, and moans can be heard by others up to 1,000 away.

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101. The Donkey (Story of Uzair) *The story of U zair and his donkey is mentioned in Surat A l- Baqara and Surat A t- T awbah. *Some scholars believe he was a Prophet of allah( swt ) who was sent to bani israeel after p. Musa (AS). *He was blessed with memorizing the Torah and had good knowledge of aAllah’s teachings . . The Babylonians destroyed Palestine and killed thousands from Bani Israeel. Jerusalem became a ghost town. Uzair was crossing across this city on his donkey. The city was ruined! Everything was destroyed. He saw bones and remains everywhere. Uzair’s story happened at a time when Bani Israeel began to leave the teachings of Musa (AS). This happened some time between P. Suliman and P. Zakariyah

102. He took a break under a tree to eat a snack. He though to himself: How could Allah bring back life after death?” To set an example, Allah made him sleep there for 100 years! When he woke up, he saw that his donkey had turned to dust and bones, but his food was fresh and untouched.

103. He thought he had just taken a quick nap, but when he walked around, he saw an entirely new city in the place of the one that had been destroyed. Everything had changed!! Allah sent him an Angel in human form who asked him: “How long have u slept ?” Uzair replied: “ A day or half a day” The angel replied: “No, you slept 100 years. Look at how your food and drink is untouched, and look at your donkey which we will make a miracle for the people” In front of Uzair’s eyes, the donkey came back to life as if nothing had happened !

104. *LESSON* If Allah can revive a dead animal and recreate an entire village, why do people find it hard to believe that Allah can revive us all on the Day of Judgment ??? Nothing is impossible for Allah. Surat Al- Baqara , Ayah #259 : Like the one who passed by a city which was in ruins. He wondered, “ How could Allah bring this back to life after its destruction?” So Allah caused him to die for a hundred years then brought him back to life. Allah asked, “How long have you been asleep?” He replied, “Perhaps a day or part of a day.” Allah said, “No! You have remained here for a hundred years! Just look at your food and drink—they have not spoiled. Look at ˹the remains of˺ your donkey! We have made you into a sign for humanity. And look at the bones ˹of the donkey˺, how We bring them together then clothe them with flesh!” When this was made clear to him, he declared, “Now I know that Allah is Most Capable of everything.” أَوْ كَالَّذِي مَرَّ عَلَىٰ قَرْيَةٍ وَهِيَ خَاوِيَةٌ عَلَىٰ عُرُوشِهَا قَالَ أَنَّىٰ يُحْيِي هَٰذِهِ اللَّهُ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا ۖ فَأَمَاتَهُ اللَّهُ مِائَةَ عَامٍ ثُمَّ بَعَثَهُ ۖ قَالَ كَمْ لَبِثْتَ ۖ قَالَ لَبِثْتُ يَوْمًا أَوْ بَعْضَ يَوْمٍ ۖ قَالَ بَلْ لَبِثْتَ مِائَةَ عَامٍ فَانْظُرْ إِلَىٰ طَعَامِكَ وَشَرَابِكَ لَمْ يَتَسَنَّهْ ۖ وَانْظُرْ إِلَىٰ حِمَارِكَ وَلِنَجْعَلَكَ آيَةً لِلنَّاسِ ۖ وَانْظُرْ إِلَى الْعِظَامِ كَيْفَ نُنْشِزُهَا ثُمَّ نَكْسُوهَا لَحْمًا ۚ فَلَمَّا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُ قَالَ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

105. When he arrived, he saw that everything had changed. The people had started following the rule of the Persian King who rebuilt their city. They forgot all about the Torah (The Book Of P. Musa) and only knew stories they had heard from their parents and grandparents. He did not recognize anyone, and nobody recognized him. He kept telling them: “I AM UZAIR” They replied that they knew stories about a man named UZAIR who had been the only pious man to memorize the Torah but had died years ago…. Uzair thanked Allah for the lesson and continued his journey back home.

106. Uzair tried to tell these people HE is that pious man from their stories, but nobody believed him. Uzair kept insisting, so the people went to the oldest woman in their city. She was 120 years old and was 20 years old when Uzair had gone missing. She had gone blind in her old age. Allah gave Uzair a miracle so the people would believe him. He allowed him to cure the woman’s blindness. When the woman was cured, she saw Uzair and immediately recognized him. (He had not changed while he was asleep for all those years!)

107. The Jews say, "Ezra is the son of Allah “, Christians say, “Jesus is the son of Allah." That is their statement from their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved [before them]. May Allah destroy them; how are they deluded? Everyone began talking about the miracle that happened to Uzair. He began to teach the people about the rules of the Torah and taught them about Allah (S). Unfortunately, some of Bani Israel started saying Uzair was the son of God because of the miracles surrounding him!! They did not follow the Torah and years later, the King of Syria ordered that all Torahs be burnt, and P. Musa’s Torah was lost. This is why Allah sent down the Quran years later. And this is why, today we do not follow the Torah. It has been changed and is no longer the exact word of Allah (SWT)

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109.   The  Camel "Do they not look at the Camels, how they were created?" The camel is mentioned in Surat Al- Ghashiyah , Ayah #17 . * This Ayah mentions an animal that Allah (SWT) wishes us to examine and think about. Allah (S) wanted the people of Quraysh to think about the way He created the camel for their use. Without camels, they would not have been able to travel for long periods of time in the hot desert.   What’s so special about the camel?? It has very special characteristics that allow it to service us in dry climates and tough conditions: The  body structure of the camel protects it in the most severe circumstances…..

110.   Camels can survive for 3 weeks without water , and for 8 days without food.   Its hump is made of  fat, and provides nutrition  to the animal.  The Amazing Camel… Camels can adjust their body temperature to keep cooler during the day and warmer during the nights. Camels  have very strong and rubber-like lips that make it easier for them to eat thorns sharp enough to pierce leather. Like many creatures, the camel was created with many  amazing characteristics and then placed on Earth as a sign of the excellence of the Creator

111. Camels can travel with a bulk of hundreds of pounds on its back, which was a blessing for desert travelers.  Travelers benefitted from their milk, which has more nutrients than a cow’s milk. Camels have a very strong digestive system, so they can eat  almost anything be it vegetation, meat, or bone, -- salty or sweet, a camels stomach knows no limits. Camels can even eat cactus with its needles!

112. A camel’s knees are covered with a structure called "callus", which is composed of skin that is very hard and thick. When the camel lays down on the hot sand, this calloused structure protects the animal from burning their skin! A camel’s feet are created to walk on all types of land:  E ach foot has two toes that are connected together, creating a flexible cushion. These toes can spread widely to make walking on sand easier.   The camel’s  long neck enables the animal to reach and feed on the leaves of tall trees.

113. A camel’s nostrils are amazing. They retain water vapor which can be returned to the body when necessary, but they can also be closed if there is too much sand or wind blowing.  A camel’s eye lashes are designed like two separate combs clamping together. In case of danger, they are automatically closed. With this special design, even a single grain of sand is not let into the eye. Its nose and ears are also covered with long hairs for protection from sand and dust. 

114. For all these reasons, the Arabs call t he camel: THE SHIP OF THE DESERT A c amel is called the ship of the desert because it can travel long distances across the hot and dry sandy areas with no food and water for days They carry goods and passengers across the desert as a ship does across the sea   They are able to withstand the loss of about one third of their body fluid without danger

115.   Where else is the c amel mentioned in the Quran? يَدۡخُلُونَ   ٱلۡجَنَّةَ  حَتَّىٰ يَلِجَ ٱلۡجَمَلُ فِي سَمِّ ٱلۡخِيَاطِۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نَجۡزِي ٱلۡمُجۡرِمِينَ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ كَذَّبُواْ بِـَٔايَٰتِنَا   وَٱسۡتَكۡبَرُواْ  عَنۡهَا لَا تُفَتَّحُ لَهُمۡ أَبۡوَٰبُ ٱلسَّمَآءِ وَلَا Surah Al- A ’raf A yah 40 Those who reject Our signs and treat them with arrogance, the gates of heaven will not open for them. And they will not enter Jannah until the camel can pass through the eye of the needle: That is Our payment for the oppressors. This is an expression Allah uses to mean: It’s not going to happen/It’s impossible. This is similar to the saying: “When pigs fly”

116. In the Story of Prophet Saleh. He was sent to the people of Thamud in Al- Hijr . (Northern Saudi Arabia) They carved elaborate homes and tombs into the mountains, and they became arrogant in thinking they were indestructible.   وَتَنْحِتُونَ مِنَ الْجِبَالِ بُيُوتاً فَـرِهِين          Where else is the camel m entioned in the Quran? They were idol worshippers . Their community was run by 9 families who oppressed others to stay in power

117. They mocked Prophet Saleh when he told them he was sent to teach them about  the One true God. They asked Prophet Saleh for a miracle, so a live camel emerged from the same mountains from which they carved their homes. قَالُوا يَا صَالِحُ قَدْ كُنتَ فِينَا مَرْجُوًّا قَبْلَ هَـٰذَا ۖ أَتَنْهَانَا أَن نَّعْبُدَ مَا يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُنَا وَإِنَّنَا لَفِي شَكٍّ مِّمَّا تَدْعُونَا إِلَيْهِ مُرِيبٍ

118. They were ordered to leave the camel alone, and let it drink from the well- otherwise they would face a punishment from Allah. قَالَ هَـذِهِ نَاقَةٌ لَّهَا شِرْبٌ وَلَكُمْ شِرْبُ يَوْمٍ مَّعْلُومٍ - وَلاَ تَمَسُّوهَا بِسُوءٍ فَيَأْخُذَكُمْ عَذَابُ يَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ

119. The townspeople saw this as a clear victory and cheered loudly for the men. They went on to slaughter the camel and eat her meat. When Saleh heard of this, he hurried to warn the people, but it was too late. The people mocked him saying,  “O Saleh, bring us what you promise us, if you are telling the truth” فَعَقَرُوا النَّاقَةَ وَعَتَوْا عَنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّهِمْ وَقَالُوا يَا صَالِحُ ائْتِنَا بِمَا تَعِدُنَا إِن كُنتَ مِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ The disbelievers (with the support of all the disbelievers in town, nine men (one from each family) had a meeting in which they decided to kill the camel together Let’s kill the miracle of Allah !

120. On the 3rd day, thunderbolts filled the air, there were severe earthquakes and rocks fell from the sky. On the 1st day, the disbelievers’ faces turned yellow. On the 2nd day, the disbelievers’ faces turned red. Prophet Saleh told them that a punishment Would come to them in 3 days! They mocked him, and tried to sneak into His house to kill him. The entire tribe of Thamud was destroyed! Only the believers were saved. Everyone was struck dead by a horrific & loud sound! Their strong buildings could not protect them . ف َأَخَذَتْهُمُ الرَّجْفَةُ فَأَصْبَحُوا فِي دَارِهِمْ جَاثِمِينَ

121. The Hoopoe Bird (Hud Hud) The Hud-Hud is mentioned in Surat Al- Naml when Allah (S) tells the story of Prophet Suliman.

122. Prophet Suliman was a King with many powers granted by Allah (S). He could control the wind. He was the first man to travel by air. He could travel a month’s journey with the quick blow of the wind. He could control the Jinn.  They followed his every command, including building him a palace like no other- one that was built on top of water!! وَلِسُلَيۡمَـٰنَ ٱلرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَہۡرٌ۬ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَہۡرٌ۬ۖ

123. P. Suliman was given an army that consisted of men, Jinn and animals . Allah granted him the miracle of understanding and communicating with the animals. He had many birds under his power that he used for sending letters to other Kingdoms and collecting news. The birds would fly to the neighboring lands and bring P. Suliman any news they could gather.  This made him the most powerful man to walk the Earth. He had all these creatures at his command by Allah’s will. و حُشِرَ لِسُلَيۡمَـٰنَ جُنُودُهُ ۥ مِنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ وَٱلطَّيۡرِ فَهُمۡ يُوزَعُونَ

124. One day P. Suliman was inspected his army of birds, and realized the hud hud was missing. The hud h ud didn’t just give P. Suliman the important news, but he gave a complete analysis of how the people were deluded by Shaytan. P. Suliman ordered the hud h ud to return to this woman with a message from him. The hud hud arrived with news of Balqees , the Queen of Saba.  The hud-hud reported that Balqees was a wise and powerful leader, who sat on a great throne, but that she and her people worshipped the Sun. إِنِّى وَجَدتُّ ٱمۡرَأَةً۬ تَمۡلِڪُهُمۡ وَأُوتِيَتۡ مِن ڪُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ وَلَهَا عَرۡشٌ عَظِيمٌ۬ (٢٣) وَجَدتُّهَا وَقَوۡمَهَا يَسۡجُدُونَ لِلشَّمۡسِ مِن دُونِ ٱللَّ

125. P. Suliman ordered the hud hud to return to Queen Balqees and give her a message calling her to stop worshipping the Sun, and instead worship the One who created it! Balqees read the letter and discussed it with her advisors. They were afraid that King Suliman meant them harm .   N ot wanting to start a war with such a powerful leader, Balqees sent her messengers to Suliman with many expensive gifts .

126. When P. Suliman saw the gifts, he became angry and asked Balqees ’ messengers: “Are you trying to bribe me?  What Allah has given me is so much better than your gifts”  قَالَ أَتُمِدُّونَنِ بِمَالٍ۬ فَمَآ ءَاتَٮٰنِۦَ ٱللَّهُ خَيۡرٌ۬ مِّمَّآ ءَاتَٮٰكُم He sent the gifts back to Saba and sent the messengers back to invite Balqees to come meet with him. The Messengers returned to Saba and described the amazing palace and armies of Suliman and advised Balqees to go meet with him.

127. Meanwhile P. Suliman had come up with a plan to show Balqees a miracle. He had a meeting with all his soldiers.  He asked them all: “Which one of you can bring me Balqees ’ throne before she arrives here?” Sulaiman wanted Balqees to see a miracle before her own eyes. A powerful Jinn responded:  “ I’ll bring it to you before you can blink your eyes!” أَنَا۟ ءَاتِيكَ بِهِۦ قَبۡلَ أَن يَرۡتَدَّ إِلَيۡكَ طَرۡفُكَ‌ۚ In an instant Balqees ’ throne appeared in front of Suliman .

128.   She was even more amazed when she saw her throne- the one she left behind- right here in front of her.   She realized there is a great power in front of her- much greater than her own.  Everything she had was nothing compared to what Suliman had!    قَالَتۡ رَبِّ إِنِّى ظَلَمۡتُ نَفۡسِى وَأَسۡلَمۡتُ مَعَ سُلَيۡمَـٰنَ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ How did my throne get here?! Balqees arrived after a long journey and was amazed when she walked into the palace built on water.  My Lord! I have certainly wronged my soul. Now I submit myself along with Suleiman to Allah, the Lord of all worlds.

129. When the Queen submitted to Islam, her entire army submitted with her. And when she returned to her Kingdom, she taught her people about Allah and her entire Kingdom accepted Islam as well.

130. THINK ABOUT THIS : Even though we can not understand the language of the animals like P. Suliman, we can derive from this story that all creatures on Earth have their own language.  Animals  have their own way of recording what WE humans do. A pet at  home, a bird that flies overhead,  a fly on the wall, an ant on the ground...they are all witnesses for everything we do on Earth.   Angels aren’t the only ones that see what we do. Just because animals don’t speak NOW , doesn’t mean they can not speak against us on the Day of Judgment  and be witnesses for the things we did to disobey Allah (S). Allah’s creatures are all forms of His surveillance.   He has full view of everything.

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132. The Cow Like all creatures of Allah, the cow is a miraculous animal that was placed on this Earth for our benefit. Not only do we benefit from its labor and meat, but also from its milk. In Surat Al- Nahl , Allah describes how contemplating the cow is a lesson for us. Allah created milk for us to drink, and that milk-which is full of nourishment- comes from the cow’s belly. The milk was kept clean and away from the intestines and the blood of the cow. SubhanAllah , how Allah created a factory inside of this animal!!

133. The cow is also mentioned in Surat Al- Baqara in reference to the story of Bani Israel. After Prophet Musa helped them cross the Red Sea and escape Firone, they started a new life in a new land. P. Musa divided them into 12 tribes. Among them lived a very wealthy man who had one nephew- his only inheritor. The nephew killed his uncle in order to take his wealth and blamed it on one of the other tribes. A huge revenge war was going to break out among the tribes if the killer was not pin-pointed. Everyone went to Prophet Musa for a solution.

134. Allah (S) told P. Musa to instruct the people to slaughter a cow if they wanted the killer to be revealed. It was a very simple command. They responded to him in a sarcastic manner, indicating that they didn’t believe slaughtering a cow would solve their problem. Even after they saw many miracles of P. Musa with their own eyes, they still questioned him.

135. They took this is a joke and mocked Allah: “ What is it? Go speak to your Lord to give us more info about this” Imagine Musa’s embarrassment to go back to Allah and ask these questions for them. He had just told them it was a cow and they were asking what it is. Musa came back with Allah’s words:

136. They said: “Ask your Lord w hat color should the cow be?” Musa came back with instructions from Allah: “He replied that it is a bright yellow cow, one that mesmerizes those who look at it ” They again responded with mockery: “Give us more information about what it is.” (The last question they asked was the same as the first!) This is what people do when they want to make fun of religion. They ask stupid questions even when they are given simple, intelligent answers. They play dumb just for the sake or argument.

137. P. Musa responded: “It is a cow that has never been used for labor nor to till the land, nor does it carry water. It has no deficiencies on it (perfect)” They responded: “ Now you have spoken the truth!” (sarcastically)   * These men kept asking questions until they made Allah’s command extremely hard to obey. * All they had to do was slaughter ANY cow, but now they had to slaughter a cow that was neither too old, nor too young, had never worked before, and was bright yellow!! How likely was it that a cow like that existed? Where were they supposed to get this from?

138. *The men spent a lot of time looking for that exact cow … * T hey made things hard on themselves because of their mockery. After a long search, they found a young orphan who was living with his mother. He owned a cow that was the source of their livelihood. The cow was not too young or old, never been worked, and was a perfect yellow with no spots or imperfections. The men begged the orphan: “ We need to buy this cow! The orphan responded: “ No, I promised my mother not to sell it because we need it to live off of.” The men kept offering the orphan more and more money until he couldn’t refuse the amount! Some say they purchased the cow with its weight in gold!

139. * The men took the cow and slaughtered it. * Musa ordered them to take part of the cow and touch the dead man with it. * They did so, and the man came back to life as a miracle from Allah. * The man woke up and exposed his nephew as the murderer and Bani Israel was saved from revenge wars between the tribes.

140. LESSON: Bani Isreal had seen so miracles with their own eyes- The snake of Musa, the hand of Musa, the 7 plagues, the splitting of the Sea, the raising of the mountain, the water springs exploding from the rocks - and yet they still continued to mock Allah and make a mockery of Prophet Musa. When Allah commands us to do something in the Quran, we shouldn’t question Him and keep asking questions that make life harder on ourselves. We should trust His Judgment and obey. Allah wants to make things easy for us but we like to complicate them.      

141. So are we not allowed to ask questions ? We are supposed to ask initial questions until we believe that Allah is the Lord, Muhammad is His Prophet and the Quran is His book. Once we are convinced of all that and accept it as truth, then we shouldn’t ask WHY Allah did/said/chose so and so…. After we trust the One (we KNOW by conviction) is the Creator and knows all, we should not have doubts in his decisions. Once we believe in Him, we should no longer ask WHY , rather , HOW AND WHEN AND WHERE…

142. F U N C O W F A C T S There are over 800 different breeds of cows in the World. Almost 2,000 quarter pound hamburgers can be made from the ground beef of 1 cow. Cows can smell things that are up to 6 miles away. A cow’s stomach has four different compartments, each serving a different digestive function.

143. F U N C O W F A C T S A cow will chew for up to 8 hours a day an d can move their jaws about 40,000 times a day. Cows might not seem like they would take to water, but any cowboy could tell you that cattle can swim. C ows will wade into ponds and lakes to cool down and escape from insects in the summer.

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145. The Elephant The elephant is mentioned in Surat Al-Fil where Allah (S) describes the events that happened the year the Prophet (S) was born: “The Year of the Elephant” In the same year as the birth of the Prophet (S), there lived a Christian King named Abraha. He was the ruler of Yemen. At the time, most trade was going through Mecca because the Arabs considered the Kaaba to be Holy. Mecca

146. Abraha felt envious be ca use all the trade was going to Mecca. He decided to build a massive Church to lure people to his kingdom. His intention was to take the attention and trade away from Mecca and bring it to Yemen.

147. After the Church was built, Abraha was upset to see that nobody was flocking to Yemen. B ecau se his plan didn’t work, he gathered an army of 60,00 soldiers and made his way to Mecca to destroy the Kaaba. He took an army of elephants with him. The Arabs of Mecca were not familiar with these large animals and they were frightened by their size.

148. * Some of the people of Mecca evacuated the city and hid in the mountains when they heard about the approaching army. *Abraha arrived to Mecca and asked to speak to the leader of Quraysh. The leader at the time was Abdul-Muttalib (the Prophet’s grandfather) Don’t you want to protect your kaaba ? The Kaaba has a Lord and he will take care of it.

149. Abraha’s army continued the march towards the Kaaba, but when the army got close, the elephants refused to move forward. Allah ordered the elephants to stop. Abrha and his army felt that something was not right.

150. Suddenly the sky became black as hundreds of birds filled the sky, flying towards the Kaaba. Each bird was carrying a pebble from Jahanam. Each stone was pre-programmed by Allah to hit a specific target. The pebbles shot at their targets with such force, as to enter the body and come out of the other side.

151. So he left them like chewed up straw. Allah saved his house, protected the people of Mecca, and destroyed the evil plan of Abraha and his army.

152. 40 years after the people of Mecca saw this miracle, they were asked to believe that Muhammad (S) was a Prophet. After seeing assassin birds covering the sky, and after witnessing Allah wiping out an entire army, why was it so hard for the Meccans to believe in the miracle of the Quran??

153. Elephant Facts that make you say “ SubhanAllah ”  Elephants Can Eat Up to 300 l bs of Food Every Day! To compare, the average adult human only eats around 3-5 lbs of food per day. Yes, that means that an elephant can eat around 100 days worth of your food in just one day!

154. Elephants Have Ears Shaped Like Continents ! The African elephant has ears that look like Africa. And the Asian elephant has ears that look like the continent of India !

155. Elephants Weigh The Same As A Car or Two! The African elephant weighs 8800-15,400 tons, while Asian elephants come in at a slightly smaller 6600-13,200 tons! To compare, the average car only weighs around 4000 tons

156. Elephants, particularly African elephants, live in tough climates, where it’s hot, and water is often scarce. Allah allowed them to m anage these harsh conditions by creating them with a thick skin! And because elephants have no glands with which to sweat and cool down, t he wrinkles in the skin help to retain water to keep them cool. They also take good care of their skin, taking regular mud baths to keep it clean, hydrated, and protected.