The Moon as a Symbol of Life

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

The following is the transcript of a lecture given by Mawlana Wafi’ Muhammad. 

Allah (s.w.t.) Says in Surah YaSin: 

سُوۡرَةُ یسٓ

وَٱلشَّمۡسُ تَجۡرِى لِمُسۡتَقَرٍّ۬ لَّهَا‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ تَقۡدِيرُ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡعَلِيمِ (٣٨) وَٱلۡقَمَرَ قَدَّرۡنَـٰهُ مَنَازِلَ حَتَّىٰ عَادَ كَٱلۡعُرۡجُونِ ٱلۡقَدِيمِ (٣٩) 

“And the Sun runs his course for a period determined for him: that is the Decree of (Him), the Exalted in Might, the All-Knowing.  And the Moon - We have Measured for her mansions (to traverse) until she returns like the old (and withered) lower part of a date-stalk.” (Surah YaSin:38-39) 

Everyday, the Sun has a particular mission.  It rises and sets at certain times, and it will continue along this pattern until Allah(s.w.t.) Wills. 

The Moon on the other hand has a different mission and it is an important lesson for man.  Human beings are just like the Moon’s set patterns.  We come into this world as a microscopic creature, invisible to the naked eye.  Sometimes the new Moon might be over the horizon; but we may not be able to see it.  Then it goes through different stages, just like the helpless infant grows.  Thereafter, it becomes full, there for all to see.  After, it begins to get weaker and weaker until it fades away, just like the life of man.  Allah (s.w.t.) Mentions the stages of man in Surah Haj: 

سُوۡرَةُ الحَجّ

يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ إِن كُنتُمۡ فِى رَيۡبٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡبَعۡثِ فَإِنَّا خَلَقۡنَـٰكُم مِّن تُرَابٍ۬ ثُمَّ مِن نُّطۡفَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ مِنۡ عَلَقَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ مِن مُّضۡغَةٍ۬ مُّخَلَّقَةٍ۬ وَغَيۡرِ مُخَلَّقَةٍ۬ لِّنُبَيِّنَ لَكُمۡ‌ۚ وَنُقِرُّ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡحَامِ مَا نَشَآءُ إِلَىٰٓ أَجَلٍ۬ مُّسَمًّ۬ى ثُمَّ نُخۡرِجُكُمۡ طِفۡلاً۬ ثُمَّ لِتَبۡلُغُوٓاْ أَشُدَّڪُمۡ‌ۖ وَمِنڪُم مَّن يُتَوَفَّىٰ وَمِنڪُم مَّن يُرَدُّ إِلَىٰٓ أَرۡذَلِ ٱلۡعُمُرِ لِڪَيۡلَا يَعۡلَمَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ عِلۡمٍ۬ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا‌ۚ وَتَرَى ٱلۡأَرۡضَ هَامِدَةً۬ فَإِذَآ أَنزَلۡنَا عَلَيۡهَا ٱلۡمَآءَ ٱهۡتَزَّتۡ وَرَبَتۡ وَأَنۢبَتَتۡ مِن ڪُلِّ زَوۡجِۭ بَهِيجٍ۬ (٥) 

“O mankind!  If ye have a doubt about the Resurrection, (consider) that We Created you out of dust, then out of sperm, then out of a leech-like clot, then out of a morsel of flesh, partly formed and partly unformed.  In order that We may Manifest (Our Power) to you; and We Cause whom We will to rest in the wombs for an appointed term, then do We Bring you out as babes, then (Foster you) that ye may reach your age of full strength; and some of you are called to die, and some are sent back to the feeblest old age, so that they know nothing after having known (much), and (further), thou seest the earth barren and lifeless, but when We Pour down rain on it, it is stirred (to life), it swells, and it puts forth every kind of beautiful growth (in pairs).” (Surah al-Haj:5) 

Power, status and wealth will not last forever.  Just like the stages of the Moon they will all begin to diminish slowly or all at once.  Do not give too much importance to gaining power and wealth.  One day, not known to us we will have to depart this world just as we came in it, with nothing.  Prophet (s.a.w.) was so successful in his mission that he was able to teach the barbaric Arabs to say, “Allah and His Rasul”.  Emerge from this world like the full Moon.  Make use of all that we have for life in this world and the hereafter.  Do not destroy our personality by chasing after only the comforts of this world.  We must be thankful to Allah (s.w.t.) for all that He has Given us and never be ungrateful, because He Knows what is best for us. 

As we enter the new Islamic year, we beg Allah (s.w.t.) to make it a beautiful and successful year for us all.  May He Make the trials and tests easy and bearable and if He has Decreed to take us back to Him, may He Cause us to be with the righteous.  May He Continue to Guide and Protect all the Muslims and may He Take Care of all of our affairs, insha’Allah.