Learn from the Religion of Nature | The Sunday Guardian |13th May 2012 | Page 10
The Quran presents nature as a model for human behaviour. An explanation of this is given in the following verse of the chapter entitled Al-'Imran (The Family of 'Imran): "Do they seek a religion other than the religion of God, when everything in the heavens and the earth has submitted to Him, willingly or unwillingly? To Him they shall all return" (3:83).
The religion of God means the law of nature. The whole world is controlled by this law and the crux of this law is submission. Therefore, the religion of the universe is based on submission. Submission to God is the only religion for both man and the universe.
This natural model for man's devotion is referred to in several parts of the Quran. For example: "The sun cannot overtake the moon, nor can the night outpace the day: each floats in [its own] orbit" (36:40). This means that sun and moon follow their own prescribed orbits, and the same is required of man. Of course, all men and women are allowed to organise their own activities, but it is with the caveat that they should not go beyond limits, that is, they should not do anything which could be harmful to others.
The sun supplies light and heat every day, but it never sends out any bills. Heat and sunlight are supplied free to all living beings. The same service is required of man. Man must adopt the principle of selfless service.
The honeybee enters the world of plants; along with the flowers it encounters thorns. But when the bee takes nectar from the flowers, it always ignores the thorns. The same conduct is required of man. Man must be positive in his behaviour; it is not permissible for him to behave in a negative way.
This is true for all things in nature, where everything serves as a model.