WE ARE ALL HIS GUESTS (VERSE NO. 6)

      The aforementioned verse pointed to the fact that God knows the inmost of our thought and whatever we conceal, or whatever we reveal. The above verse gives reason to prove the said attributes, that all things and all matters are actually before God's allِembracing knowledge, which is some sort of a record beyond time and space:ِ

      ``There is not any moving creature in the earth whose sustenance is not provided by Allah; and He knows their resting place and shifting points.''

      Sustenance here is not limited to food and drink. It consists of any means of support, and nourishments, and supplying with all the necessaries of life, be it physical or spiritual; such as knowledge, wisdom, and guidance. The verse implies that not only Allah provides for those creatures that are settled in a certain place or home, but He also knows that, where are they in any moment, and sends them their nourishments there. In other word; God's care and knowledge encompasses everything and every creature throughout his life in any time and space. With Allah is the keys of the unseen, and hidden treasures of nature that no one else knows them! Even a leaf will not fall down without His permission. That is to say:ِ ``nothing can happen in the creation, except by Allah's word and will, and with His allِembracing knowledge!''

      There are living creatures at the bottom of the oceans, thousands of meters deep. The main root, and the base of all sorts of food depends upon the plants and vegetation, for the growth of which sun's light is essential. But how can sun's ray reach the far depths, and bottom of the oceans to give the necessary energy to the plants to grow!?

      Allah has amazingly solved all the problems of creation in the simplest possible way. We now know through scientific researches that the sun light helps some microscopic plants to grow on top of the sea

water, and when such plants are developed like a ripe fruit, they sink down to the depths to feed and sustain the sea creatures.

      The ways in which the Allِknowing Creator sustains His creatures are indeed wonderful and astonishing! He feeds the foetus in the mother's womb to which no one can have access! He feeds the tiny insects who live in the depths of the soils that no one knows how do they live, and as the above verse implies, God knows all their addresses and their resting homes and shifting points!

      In this verse Qurän has used the Arabic word, ``DÄ, BBEH'' which means any moving creatures. But we physically know that no movement can occur without the waste of energy; or better to say, without the change of energy to, hold on with the conservative law. Even the plants themselves are in need of energy to facilitate their growth, and who else except God can create the necessary energy for any kind of movement that may exist?

IS MAN'S SUSTENANCE PREDESTINED?

      The answer to this question is not positive, and it is a little complex too! Some weak minded people say that the sustenance for every creature and particularly for Man, is a matter foreordained by Divine Decree and eternal purpose. They say that we need not to work and bother ourselves to obtain our sustenance, because it is something destined, and divided by God; and our share will come to us in any how, according to God's decree!

      Such a wrong idea creates good opportunities for the exploiters and the profiteers to rob people and deprive them from their resources and available means of prosperities.

      They say so against many clear verses and Islamic traditions that encourage Muslims to work and strive and to be hardy and active. As an instance we have the famous verse NO.39 of the SURA 53 in Qurän, which has turned to a proverb or a slogan, saying:ِ

      ``Man can have nothing except that for which he strives, and soon shall he see the result of his striving.''

      This verse clearly implies that man must work hard and strive, or he will gain nothing moral or material.

      This sort of false and wrong assertions is just like saying:ِ

      ``Every one has a term and a certain life time destined for him, and he will not die until his time is over, but they don't say what of them if they commit suicide!? It is true that the creator in His universal plan, has designed Man so that he can live a long life time of about a century. But this term is on condition, that man observe the rules and regulations of nature and creation. If he intentionally destroys his lungs through smoking, and ruins his stomach by intoxicants, and makes his soul sick by evil deeds, who can keep him alive for long?''

      Even all the prophets have strived and have worked hard, and all of them had an occupation for their livelihood and life's support. Some have been shepherds. Others were farmers. Among them was tailor and weaver of chainِmail. We also have had a prophet carpenter, and none of them said; we will sit hand upon hand and wait for God to provide us with sustenance, and send down our daily bread through a basket from the heavens.

      True that the bases and roots of all sustenances come to us from God our Merciful Creator, just like sun's energy that comes at our door. But if we do not make use of it in farming and other purposes, we shall have no food to eat.

      There is a saying in NAHJOLBALÄGHEH narrated from Hazrat Imam Ali, who said to his son:ِ ``There are two kinds of sustenances for Man. One of the two kind will search and seek him, but the second kind is that which Man has to search and seek.''