Reflections

Seeing the Clouds Move

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tattoodjay/2868354129/in/photostream/

When I was younger, I took many things for face value: leaves were green, fire burned, candy tasted yummy, and perfume smelled nice. I don’t remember ever questioning why certain things were the way they were—in depth at least—and I just sort of accepted whatever I perceived as being the ultimate truth. Which is why, when I glanced up at the sky, I saw blue and white—sky and clouds.

However as I was staring upwards one day, I noticed something: the clouds were moving. I was amazed. I mean for me, clouds were nothing more than the static, fluffy masses that I drew in art class. But as I focused on the sky above me, I was dazzled not only by their movement, but at the speed at which they floated across the sky! I remember measuring the cloud movement against still objects like trees and houses, and spending countless amounts of time memorizing the positions of clouds to confirm that they were shifting. I was astonished.

Up until that moment, I had never stopped to actually comprehend the full magnificence of clouds. I had never paused to watch them move, and thus, had never seen them actually move.  That’s why I assumed that they didn’t. But it was only when I stood still and comprehended the glorious white sheets above me that I noticed how they danced to the tune of the wind. It was, and still is. a beautiful sight.

Seeing the clouds move took concentration and focus – and these are things we need in our lives. This is because we take so many experiences, issues, and circumstances that we go through at face value without searching for deeper meanings. We fail to ask ourselves: is this a test from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala(exalted is He)? Is this a punishment? And thus, we continue to miss both the subtle and blatant signs He sends us. As a result, we fail to learn and grow from whatever we go through and lose hope in our situation without realizing that so many people, all around the globe, are going through the same thing. So, as a child fails to notice clouds moving, we fail to realize how dynamic and enriched our lives truly are.

We should look around and try to see the signs of Allah (swt)—whether they be in our lives or even in ourselves—and take a moment to ruminate over the movement we finally begin to perceive.

About the author

Ubah

Ubah was born and raised in Western Canada. She received her BSc in Psychology and is currently training as a psychotherapist through a Masters program focused on spiritually-integrated psychotherapy. In her spare time, she engages with her community through running an all-girl’s program focussed on Muslim Canadian identity and broader community involvement. She is passionate about seeking the links between human behavior, psyche, spirituality and Islamic traditions, and the quest for self-actualization and truth. A comprehensive body of her written articles, poetry, and essays can be found on her website, www.seekingtobetter.com.

7 Comments

  • JazakAllah for sharing. I remember a similar kind of realisation from a sunrise I watched years ago…how we have our busy lives, yet the signs of Allah are all around us. Nature goes on, and we can draw lessons from these things that we otherwise just take for granted and don’t consciously ponder about.

    My reflection that day resulted in this poem:

    http://dreamlife.wordpress.com/2007/06/02/rise/

  • yes, I’m amazed too with the clouds and the sky in general.. Looking at them just reminds you of how Great Allah is. And the verses of how Allah moves the clouds and gathers them come to mind.. Subhanallah.. And how those birds are actually making tasbih to the Al-Mighty. And what do I do? Sometimes, and many times indeed, I go thru life forgetting my Creator. I drive and just drive, many times mind on dunya.. But the birds fly and make tasbih to the One and Only Creator at the same time.. A sad thing to happen to human beings.

  • Subhanallah, so true. One of the reasons I love summer, is that I can spend the evenings lying on the grass to stare up at the beautiful sky and witness what you describe in your article. This also inspired a poem of mine a few years ago! =) I could never finish counting Allah’s Blessings.

  • Salam Alaykoum dear Brothers and Sisters,

    JazakAllah for this beautiful article. I enjoyed watching blue skies as a child, but noticed some major changes these past years, finding that the blue sky is now white and the sun is permanently veiled.

    With regards to the following hadith, I’d like to share some information which is crucial for the health of all of us, and which may change forever the way you look at the sky, all poetry aside.

    “Whoever of you sees an evil must then change it with his hand. If he is not able to do so, then [he must change it ] with his tongue. And if he is not able to do so, then [he must change it] with his heart. And that is the slightest [effect of] faith.”

    You may therefore want to check out the following, and share this information in our Ummah and beyond, barak Allah oufik:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHwklKssvkU

    There are countless organisations worldwide analyzing rainwater, soils etc on a scientific basis, protesting against geoengineering, writing essays and articles, making films, photos, organising petitions, but still too many of us ignore what this is all about and what is happening above our heads.

    Here are some more links for further information:
    http://www.geoengineeringwatch.org
    http://www.zengardner.com/chemtrails-wireless-and-you/

    If you wonder what you can do about it as individuals, please start by spreading the word and maybe detox your body from these heavy metals (http://www.naturalnews.com/026258_zeolite_toxins_chelation.html)

    But first and foremost, pray Allah swt that this insanity may stop, the sooner the better for our planet as a whole in shaa Allah.

    [2:205] And when he turneth away (from thee) his effort in the land is to make mischief therein and to destroy the crops and the cattle; and Allah loveth not mischief.

    Wa salam

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