INFINITE VARIETY

Do you not see that God has committed in your service

everything in the heavens and the earth,
and has showered you with His blessings —obvious and
hidden? (31:20)

Do you not realize that God remember to be appreciative The heavens and the earth
sends down from the sky of all He created. We can are full of proofs for the
water, whereby we produce probably never be believers. Also in your
fruits of various colors. appreciative enough, but we creation and the creation of
Even the mountains have have to try. After all, in all the animals, there are
different colors; the peaks order for us to survive proofs for people who are
are white or red or some physically in this world we certain. (45:3-4)
other color. And the ravens just need some basics—air,
The creatures, like all the
are black. Also, the people, water, food. And yet, God
forces of nature, are among
the animals, and the created such a variety of
God’s proofs. There is such
livestock come in various everything. Why?
an infinite variety of animals
colors. This is why the
In the creation of the in this world. There are
people who truly reverence
heavens and the earth, the animals that lived on earth
God are those who are
alternation of night and before man ever came down.
knowledgeable. God is
day, the ships that roam the Today there are creatures
Almighty, Forgiving.
ocean for the benefit of the living in the depths of the
(35:27-8)
people, the water that God ocean that we know little or
The people who truly sends down from the sky to nothing about. Every year 7-
reverence God are those who revive dead land and to 10 thousand new species of
are knowledgeable. spread in it all kinds of insects are discovered.
Reverence and knowledge go creatures, the manipulation Scientists estimate that there
hand in hand. And I think of the winds, and the clouds are perhaps 10 million insect
tied closely to that is that are placed between the species still undiscovered.
appreciation. We have to sky and the earth, there are
acknowledge that God sufficient proofs for people
created everything. Then, we who understand. (2:164)
have to

January 1999: Page 1, 2, 3, 4 Submitters Perspective Page 2

 large and venomous Gila has tried them all. Such
Infinite Variety Monster, and snakes—huge variety in appearance,
Continued from page 1
and dangerous like the texture and taste.
diamondback rattlesnake What about the sky? We
But what we do have and small and delicate like know it is a perfect structure
knowledge of is staggering. the banded sand snake, all that protects and provides
There are more than 4500 move along the desert floor, for us. Have they not looked
species of mammals. There soaking in the warmth of the at the sky above them and
are about 9,700 species of sun. And strange and how we constructed it and
birds. There are more than a wondrous insects and adorned it, without a flaw?
million species of insects spiders, like the tarantula, (50:6) And the clouds in the
that we know about. This is the black widow spider, sky—why are there so many
amazing. And they all several varieties of varieties of cloud—powerful
interact with one another in scorpions, centipedes and storm clouds and gentle
such intricate and perfect millipedes. The ground is drifting lines and shapes?
ways. “Proofs for the alive with these creatures, They are part of the
believers.” but you have to really look “adornment” of the sky,
If we simply looked at for them. And God fully providing beauty and
animals of the desert we controls each and every one enjoyment as you watch
would be amazed at their of them. them drifting by. And, of
variety. There are bright and Among His proofs is the course, they bring the
colorful birds such as the blessing of rain.
creation of the heavens and
hooded oriole with a vivid God is the One who sends
the earth, and the creatures
yellow body and a sharp the winds, to stir up clouds,
He spreads in them. He is
black mask on its face. There able to summon them when to be spread throughout the
are dull colored birds, such He wills. (42:29) sky in accordance with His
as the curved bill thrasher will. He then piles the clouds
that blend into their Infinite variety doesn’t just up, then you see the rain
surroundings. And all kinds apply to animals. How many coming down therefrom.
of birds in between—the species of plants are there in When it falls on whomever
roadrunner who races along the world? Just in the He chooses from among His
the desert floor, using its desert, the variety is servants, they rejoice.
long tail as a rudder for amazing—special plants (30:48)
maneuvering, only flying adapted to live with limited
There is certainly infinite
when absolutely necessary, water and great heat. It’s not variety in people. Why? We
and the Gambels quail, who one kind of cactus; it’s could all be one color, one
stay together as a family unit dozens. And in a lush rain size, one shape. We could all
all summer long, crossing forest, plants are so
look exactly the same.
the road with mama in front, abundant and varied they Sometimes it seems as if
all the little chicks scurrying live on top of each other. science would like to create
behind, and papa bringing You cannot imagine the that sameness. God made
up the rear. And birds that number of shades of green each of us unique.
soar in the summer sky. Not till you’ve looked at a
just one kind of soaring bird hillside covered with trees. O people, we created you
but five or six different And then, by God’s from the same male and
species of hawks, two kinds wonderful grace, many of female, and rendered you
of vultures, eagles and at those greens change to distinct peoples and tribes,
least four different species of yellow and orange and vivid that you may recognize one
owl. They are beautiful to red. another. The best among
watch as they catch a you in the sight of God is the
He is the One who sends
thermal and soar with most righteous. God is
down from the sky water,
almost no movement of their whereby we produce all Omniscient, Cognizant.
January 1999: Page 1, 2, 3, 4 Submitters Perspective Page 3

amazing variety of their gifts for our senses. We

Infinite Variety sounds—from the soft could all survive with water,
Continued from page 2
cooing of doves to the varied one kind of food and air to
tunes of a mockingbird, the breathe. But how dull our
As humans, we tend to go raucous harmony of a tree lives would be. We need to
through our day as if filled with song birds, as recognize and appreciate
blindfolded. Unless we really they glorify God in their own that God made all of this for
concentrate, we’re too busy way. Smell the land after a our enjoyment and our
to notice anything around rain, enjoy the perfume of service. It’s important to
us. But when we take the blossoms filling the air. Feel take every opportunity to
time, all of our senses are the textures of the bark of a thank Him for these
assaulted with the wonder tree and the petals of a blessings of infinite variety.
and variety of God’s flower, or the soft fur of a
creations. Watch the If you count God’s blessings,
puppy or kitten. Taste the
sunrises and the sunsets, the fresh white snowflakes or a you cannot possibly
brilliant colors moving and just-picked strawberry. encompass them. (16:18)
changing across the sky— Lydia Kelley
deep bright reds, pastel Remember that God didn’t
pinks and vivid yellow. have to create such a
Listen to the birds and the wondrous variety of
 Medical Benefits of Ramadan
Most Muslims do not fast because of medical benefits but because it has been ordained
to them in the Quran. The medical benefits of fasting are as a result of fasting. Fasting
in general has been used in medicine for medical reasons including weight
management, for rest of the digestive tract and for lowering lipids. There are many
adverse effects of total fasting as well as so-called crash diets. Islamic fasting is
different from such diet plans because in Ramadan fasting, there is no malnutrition or
inadequate calorie intake. The caloric intake of Muslims during Ramadan is at or
slightly below the national requirement guidelines. In addition, the fasting in Ramadan
is voluntarily taken and is not a prescribed imposition from the physician.
Ramadan is a month of self-regulation and self-training, with the hope that this
training will last beyond the end of Ramadan. If the lessons learned during Ramadan,
whether in terms of dietary intake or righteousness, are carried on after Ramadan, it is
beneficial for one’s entire life. Moreover, the type of food taken during Ramadan does
not have any selective criteria of crash diets such as those which are protein only or
fruit only type diets. Everything that is permissible is taken in moderate quantities.
The only difference between Ramadan and total fasting is the timing of the food;
during Ramadan, we basically miss lunch and take an early breakfast and do not eat
until dusk. Abstinence from water during this period is not bad at all and in fact, it
causes concentration of all fluids within the body, producing slight dehydration. The
body has its own water conservation mechanism; in fact, it has been shown that slight
dehydration and water conservation, at least in plant life, improve their longevity.
The physiological effect of fasting includes lower of blood sugar, lowering of
cholesterol and lowering of the systolic blood pressure. In fact, Ramadan fasting would
be an ideal recommendation for treatment of mild to moderate, stable, non-insulin
diabetes, obesity and essential hypertension. In 1994 the first International Congress
on “Health and Ramadan,” held in Casablanca, entered 50 research papers from all
over the world, from Muslim and non-Muslim researchers who have done extensive
studies on the medical ethics of fasting. While improvement in many medical
conditions was noted; however, in no way did fasting worsen any patients’ health or
baseline medical condition. On the other hand, patients who are suffering from severe
diseases, whether diabetes or coronary artery disease, kidney stones, etc., are exempt
from fasting and should not try to fast.
…I encourage my Muslim patients to fast in the month of Ramadan, but they must do
it under medical supervision. Healthy adult Muslims should not fear becoming weak
by fasting, but instead it should improve their health and stamina.
Excerpts from Shahid Athar, M.D.

January 1999: Page 1, 2, 3, 4 Submitters Perspective Page 4

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 Assalaam aleikum, It is an excellent
Comments On I am learning a lot from this website, ma
guide for those
interested in the
Web Site sha allah. This is the first time that I
Quran and its
have heard to disregard sunna and
relation to other
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religions, a gripping
accepted amongst scholars today? I
I stumbled across your homepage and a
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page trying to understand must visit for all
striving to learn everyday.
Ramadan and the those who are
potential consequences of Ramadan Mubarak seeking the truth.
the ill- conceived air strike Wa salaam
Ramadan Mubarek
against Iraq.
to all of you,
Marria
So, I came here
Karim Azzouzi
surrounded by a cloak of **********
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Thank God. you what a
Thanks for your great website:
I profess complete wonderful web site
http://www.submission.org/home.html
ignorance of the Quran you have created. I,
and so, have downloaded This is the greatest Islamic website ever myself, am a
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Thank you for your efforts
differences.
to maintain this web site. I
plan to visit often. Scott
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