.: LIFESTYLE AND COMMUNICATION OF ANTS :.

Consider the following Qur’anic verse: “And before Solomon were marshaled His hosts – of Jinns and men And birds, and they were all Kept in order and ranks. “At length, when they came To a (lowly) valley of ants, One of the ants said: ‘O ye ants, get into Your habitations, lest Solomon And his hosts crush you (Under foot) without knowing it.’” [Al-Qur’aan 27:17-18}
In the past, some people would have probably mocked at the Qur’an, taking it to be a fairy tale book in which ants talk to each other and communicate sophisticated messages. In recent times, research has shown us several facts about the lifestyle of ants, which were not known earlier to humankind.
Research has shown that the animals or insects whose lifestyle is closest in resemblance to the lifestyle of human beings are the ants. This can be seen from the following findings regarding ants:
(a) The ants bury their dead in a manner similar to the humans.

(b) They have a sophisticated system of division of labour, whereby they have managers, supervisors, foremen, workers, etc.

(c) Once in a while they meet among themselves to have a ‘chat’.

(d) They have an advanced method of communication among themselves.

(e) They hold regular markets wherein they exchange goods.

(f) They store grains for long periods in winter and if the grain begins to bud, they cut the roots, as if they understand that if they leave it to grow, it will rot. If the grains stored by them get wet due to rains, they take these grains out into the sunlight to dry, and once these are dry, they take them back inside as though they know that humidity will cause development of root systems and thereafter rotting of the grain.

Source: "The Qu'ran and Modern Science By Dr Zakir Naik.

.:: HONEY HAS HEALING PROPERTIES ::.

The bee assimilates juices of various kinds of flowers and fruit and forms within its body the honey, which it stores in its cells of wax. Only a couple of centuries ago man came to know that honey comes from the belly of the bee. This fact was mentioned in the Qur’aan 1,400 years ago in the following verse: “There issues From within their bodies A drink of varying colours, Wherein is healing for men.” [Al-Qur’aan 16:69]

We are now aware that honey has a healing property and also a mild
antiseptic property. The Russians used honey to cover their wounds in World War II. The wound would retain moisture and would leave very little scar tissue. Due to the density of honey, no fungus or bacteria would grow in the wound. A person suffering from an allergy of a particular plant may be given honey from that plant so that the person develops resistance to that allergy. Honey is rich in fructose and vitamin K. Thus the knowledge contained in the Qur’aan regarding honey, its origin and properties, was far ahead of the time
it was revealed.

Taqwa – Piety

This is an action of the heart. What is At-Taqwa and how can we manifest it in our actions.
Darimi – Hadith Maoquf of Imaam Ali (ra) said ‘Taqwa is to fear from Allah (SWT) and to follow the revelation and satisfy with a little and to be ready for the day of departure'
This includes four pillars of Taqwa:
1. Al-Khawof min al-Jaleel - Fear from almighty Allah (SWT) exclusively
This talks about the ahkaam of Khawof. Fearing Allah (SWT) is one of the noblest forms of worship. Allah (SWT) says that the one who fears him (SWT) is the one who is eligible for Jannah. Those who have fear will have closer relationship to Allah (SWT). Some of the fear is haram, some recommended, some is shirk and some fard etc…everyone has a different angle on fear.

With this Imaam Ali (r.a) restricted fearing from anyone other than Allah (SWT). When fearing from anyone else we will therefore not use the word Taqwa. If you fear from anyone else that is the hidden shirk.
This fear is the one which manifests in the heart, but can sometimes be seen physically. When Musa (as) came to the court of Phiroan, he stood up out of fear (although he never stood for anyone before) – Hamaan said ‘Shall I tie him?’ he said ‘No, but keep him away from me’
[Shirk Jali is that which can be seen clearly – like going to the court or making Tawaaf around a grave. The other one is Shirk Khafi which cannot be seen, like fearing another along with Allah (SWT)]
2. Al-A’mal bil-Tanzeel - Implementing the wahi
To act upon and fulfil all the revelation. The revelation could be Qur’anic or Prophetic. We must act upon the Qur’an and Sunnah and the Sunnah of the Sunnah (i.e. Sahabi understanding and sayings).
3. Al-Qana’ah bil-Qaleel - Satisfaction with the little
To have satisfaction. There is a saying that ‘conviction is a treasure which never finishes’. To accept whatever Allah (SWT) has kismet for you. The one who has no Qana’ah he will live all his life in confusion. The reason is to believe that Allah (SWT) is the provider. The fear from Allah (SWT) is manifested in the Qana’ah.
4. Al-Isti’daad Liyoum Al-Raheel - Preparing for the day of departure
To be ready to leave the country. When a person doesn’t know when his departure day is he should be ready all the time. When the Sahabah were asked if they were ready for the day of departure no one rose his hand, even though they have been promised Jannah – because they said to the Messenger Muhammad (saw) ‘you said that we are on the last action we do and we do not know what that will be’Abdullah Ibn Masoud (ra) talked about ‘O you who believe! Fear Allâh as He should be feared and die not except in a state of Islâm with complete submission to Allâh’ [EMQ 3: 102]
If you want to truly fear Allah (SWT) [he said three things] he spoke about ‘…Itaqillaha haqqa tu qaatihi…’

Abdullah Ibn Masoud (r.a) said that the truthful Taqwa has the following:
(i) Al-Ta'ha – To be obeyed and never disobeyed
You must obey Allah (SWT) inner and outer by your heart, tongue and limbs.
(ii) Al-Zikr - To be remembered and never forgotten
To remember him, his names and commands in all matters. You make Zikrullah with your tongue by speaking the truth and trading without cheating, to ask what the punishment is for a crime – all this is Zikrullah. Zikr is one of the names of the Qur’an. This is therefore to remember Allah (SWT)’s rights and commands in all spheres of life.
(iii) Al-Shukor - To be thanked and not to be ungrateful towards
We thank only Allah (SWT) and all the thanks are for him and there is no thanks to other than Allah (SWT). Even when we say Jazak Allah khair we mean may Allah (SWT) give you khair who facilitated your action towards me etc…
To thank Allah (SWT) in all spheres of life. Allah (SWT) gave us many ne’am and the biggest one is that he made us Muslim.
Tamaam ul-Taqwa - The complete Taqwa.
Abu Al-Darda gave us another Ilm.
He said this is for the servant:
To fear Allah (SWT) exclusively to the level of an atom’s weight of deed – whether good or bad (these being defined by what Allah (SWT) says is good or bad).
Ahl Ul-Taqwa - The pious people
He must obviously be Muslim to begin with.
So who is the Mutaqee – who is the man of Taqwa, i.e. has true, complete Taqwa. The Mutaqeen will always be in Jannah.
Abdullah Ibn Abbas (r.a) said ‘Those who fear Allah (SWT) in case they left some of what he ordered or did some of what he forbade’.
So he isn’t just the one who doesn’t do the haram but the one who fears from doing it when it comes and is facilitated for them and they reject it.
Abdullah Ibn Abbas (r.a) – said ‘How can I be a man of Taqwa if I do not know what Allah (SWT) forbade?’

From Abu Hurairah (r.a):
They asked Abu Hurairah (r.a) ‘define Taqwa for us’ he said ‘let me tell you a story about Taqwa – if you are in a road and there are a lot of thorns on the road, at the end of which there are all the fruits and you go every day and return back. How will you fair on it.’ He said ‘I will keep avoiding the thorns in order not to hurt myself and all the time I will be concerned that I may hurt myself and on the way back I will do what is necessary to avoid them and they are always different’ So Taqwa is the way to avoid the haram in life and to have the hardship and do all the duties.
Jazaak Allah Khairan for reading.