You probably opened this page to find out what J. Cole and Islam have in common. Well, allow me to explain. When I first heard this track I was left feeling some type of way. As a Muslim, as someone who with all their innate faults has consciously submitted their life to Allah (God), it’s always beautiful to hear people we respect praising The Almighty. But this time, J. Cole does it in a way that makes me believe he was influenced by The Quran.

The Human Condition

I got a friend smart as ****, but he stupid as hell

He swear that God ain’t real

Since it ain’t no way to prove it his self

J. Cole – on the street

Humankind was created weak. Our weakness doesn’t just lie in our physical capabilities but in our mental, emotional and spiritual too. Oh, and let’s not forget about our extremely limited intellect.

In the Quran, we have many examples of people who were gifted with more than others in terms of worldly blessings or human attributes. An example of this is the people of the Stone Valley, they had the ability to carve homes out of mountains. Imagine that for a second, the level of intellect and the sheer strength needed at a time when machinery and technology didn’t exist. They were extremely capable and successful in that regard. But regardless of their strength and intelligence, they were stupid as hell. They didn’t believe in the signs sent to them – as if the signs around them weren’t enough in the first place.

وَلَقَدْ كَذَّبَ أَصْحَـٰبُ ٱلْحِجْرِ ٱلْمُرْسَلِينَ ٨٠ وَءَاتَيْنَـٰهُمْ ءَايَـٰتِنَا فَكَانُوا۟ عَنْهَا مُعْرِضِينَ ٨١ وَكَانُوا۟ يَنْحِتُونَ مِنَ ٱلْجِبَالِ بُيُوتًا ءَامِنِينَ ٨٢

 

Indeed, the residents of the Stone Valley also denied the messengers. We gave them Our signs, but they turned away from them. They carved their homes in the mountains, feeling secure.

Al-Hijr 15:80-82

Allah (God) says in the Quran many times that even if the disbelievers were shown unequivocal proof they would still disbelieve. Being able to prove God’s Existence in human terms is not the case here. Plus, the burden of proof is not on those saying God Is Real, but rather on those who say He isn’t. Not being able to “physically” prove something ourselves with our limited capabilities isn’t good enough. In fact, the human condition is such that the more we learn the more we discover we don’t know – unless arrogance has taken over and that’s a discussion for another day.

People were given proof. They were shown the truth. They were shown clear signs. Time and time again. We are given the names and stories of 25 messengers who each came with their own proofs, but we believe up to 124,000 messengers have come and gone with the Prophet Muhammad PBUH being the seal of prophets. Each one was given signs. Each one was given compelling proof. Yet people disbelieved then and they disbelieve now. It’s not a matter of proof.

Humans have for a long time struggled to rationalise between logic and spirituality. We desire to have a “logical” explanation regarding everything, but where logic fails us and can’t provide the answer or provides the wrong answer, we still feel unsatisfied. That’s because we haven’t satisfied the spirit. The spirit yearns for what logic can’t provide – or at least can’t provide in full. You can choose to believe in the metaphysical or not, but if the concept itself exists, then perhaps that’s your answer right there.

Ignorance is bliss, right? Have you ever deeped it? Why is it that ignorance is bliss? Well, when you know something, you have the responsibility to carry it. You have the responsibility to act upon it. And unless you’re a despicable human being that has no guilt function built into their soul, you’ll feel the burden of knowledge. When you know something – when you believe something, the way you move and the way you view life is different to those who don’t. It also comes with the responsibilities of being patient and grateful – two characteristics that in themselves are among the most difficult to master.

Universe

As if the universe ain’t enough
J. Cole – on the street

Is the Universe not enough? Physicists tell us the Universe is constantly expanding – Allah told us that 1400 years ago. There are more galaxies in the “observable” universe than there have been humans. 200 billion compared to an estimated 117 billion respectively. What’s more, is that some astronomers estimate the number of galaxies to total 2 trillion. And with the average galaxy containing 100 million stars, the number of stars in the universe is estimated to be 1 to the power of 24, 1 septillion for the Americans and 1 quadrillion for us normal folk in Europe and the East. This isn’t a science lesson, this is perspective. But you can’t prove The Creator right? All these galaxies and stars are random, obviously. Numbers human brains can hardly comprehend in the physical, but that’s not enough huh?

 وَٱلسَّمَآءَ بَنَيۡنَٰهَا بِأَيۡيْدٖ وَإِنَّا لَمُوسِعُونَ ٤٧

 

We built the universe with ˹great˺ might, and We are certainly expanding ˹it˺.

Adh-Dhariyat 51:47

I will add more verses for you to refer to in the appendix.

Mountains/Volcanoes

As if the volcanoes ain’t erupt
J. Cole – on the street

Volcanoes and mountains are another one. Geologists love to explain how they work and they’re probably right. Yes, mountains are like pegs that hold the crust of the Earth together. Yes, they are a result of millions of years of plates pushing against each other and all that stuff. But we’re just finding all of that out, aren’t we?

وَتَرَى ٱلۡجِبَالَ تَحۡسَبُهَا جَامِدَةٗ وَهِيَ تَمُرُّ

مَرَّ ٱلسَّحَابِۚ صُنۡعَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَتۡقَنَ كُلَّ شَيۡءٍۚ إِنَّهُۥ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَفۡعَلُونَ ٨٨

 

Now you see the mountains, thinking they are firmly fixed, but they are travelling ˹just˺ like clouds. ˹That is˺ the design of Allah, Who has perfected everything. Surely He is All-Aware of what you do.

An-Naml 27:88

Imagine 1400 years ago being told that the mountains are “travelling” like clouds, you’d think whoever told you that was tripping. But now we know that the crust of the Earth lies on the mantle, which at the boundary with the crust is mostly magma and “plastic” as described by geologists. We know that the plates move. We know that the Earth’s land was once one single continent (I’m simplifying it for the purpose of this post). We know that magma becomes lava once exposed to the elements. We know that lava cools down and hardens to create rock formations and parts of the land we walk on today. But even that isn’t enough, huh? It’s still random, right?

Birds

As if the birds don’t chirp
J. Cole – on the street

Have you ever wondered why birds chirp? Or why they sit on the branches of trees and chirp away? Or maybe why they soar through the air of the atmosphere echoing hymns we have no knowledge of? Is that coincidence too?

فَفَهَّمۡنَٰهَا سُلَيۡمَٰنَۚ وَكُلًّا ءَاتَيۡنَا حُكۡمٗا وَعِلۡمٗاۚ وَسَخَّرۡنَا مَعَ دَاوُۥدَ ٱلۡجِبَالَ يُسَبِّحۡنَ وَٱلطَّيۡرَۚ وَكُنَّا فَٰعِلِينَ ٧٩

 

We guided ˹young˺ Solomon to a fairer settlement, and granted each of them wisdom and knowledge. We subjected the mountains as well as the birds to hymn ˹Our praises˺ along with David. It is We Who did ˹it all˺.

Al-Anbiya 21:79

أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ مَن فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱلطَّيۡرُ صَٰٓفَّٰتٖۖ كُلّٞ قَدۡ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهُۥ وَتَسۡبِيحَهُۥۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمُۢ بِمَا يَفۡعَلُونَ ٤١

 

Do you not see that Allah is glorified by all those in the heavens and the earth, even the birds as they soar? Each ˹instinctively˺ knows their manner of prayer and glorification. And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all they do.

An-Nur 24:41

Human body/Nervous System

As if a trillion nerves don’t work in the human body
J. Cole – on the street

There are trillions of nerves in the human body. Each relays the relevant signals at incredible speeds through our nervous system to our brain so we may understand what’s happening to us at any given time. Of course, some people haven’t got a complete working nervous system due to injuries or genetics or deformities, but in general – and exceptions don’t negate the rule – the nervous system is a remarkable thing. We have been created in the absolute best form.

وَتِلۡكَ ٱلۡأَمۡثَٰلُ نَضۡرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِۖ وَمَا يَعۡقِلُهَآ إِلَّا ٱلۡعَٰلِمُونَ ٤٣

 

These are the parables We set forth for humanity, but none will understand them except the people of knowledge.

Al-‘Ankabut 29:43

لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ فِيٓ أَحۡسَنِ تَقۡوِيمٖ ٤

 

Indeed, We created humans in the best form.

At-Tin 95:4

Guidance and Life

Sh*t, who would I be?

Without The Creator of this theatre beside me to gently guide me?
J. Cole – on the street

If we were to observe our lives from a bird’s eye view, what would we see? Would we see the turmoil and the troubles and the banality? Or would we see a drama unfolding in real-time? Perhaps it would even be entertaining. I mean, we pay to watch plays and movies at theatres depicting turmoil and drama and we get a major kick out of them.

“Theatre” is defined as “dramatic literature”. It’s impressive how Cole calls this life a “theatre”. Even Scientologists can’t deny it, especially with the theory of us living in a “simulation” gaining popularity. Ultimately, that is what the reality of this life is. A simulation. A theatre. A fleeting mirage. A game. A distraction.

Perhaps there’s an element of “thrownness” in Cole’s reference which is a philosophical theory that suggests we are thrown into existence. We have to figure things out as we go along. But how do we figure out the correct way to act in this theatrical performance without the gentle guidance of The Director?

This is perhaps one of the most important questions to ask. Who would we be? Who would we be without The Creator gently guiding us?

I wouldn’t even dare imagine.

We find it easy to believe that we “evolved” and that we just came to be. That we developed skills and knowledge through just being. Or that it’s instinct. We don’t deny evolution and instinct, but it’s not enough. The One Who created us and everything around us is The same Mighty Creator of evolution and instinct.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ١ ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٢ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٣ مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ ٤ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ٥ ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ٦ صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ٧

In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. All praise is for Allah—Lord of all worlds, the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment. You ˹alone˺ we worship and You ˹alone˺ we ask for help. Guide us along the Straight Path, the Path of those You have blessed—not those You are displeased with, or those who are astray.

Al-Fatihah 1:1-7

This chapter, Al-Fatihah (The Opener) is read at least 17 times a day by Muslims. I include this to demonstrate the connection between what Cole says and our needs as human beings based on our natural disposition. The Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. His Majesty is being invoked with His Names of being the Most Compassionate and the Most Merciful – “gently”.

The second half of the chapter is about seeking The Almighty’s guidance because without it we are nothing. And if this chapter is read at least 17 times a day then what does that tell you about the condition of the human being, what then if we had no guidance at all? – “guide me”.

My homie constantly telling me ’bout Quran, puttin’ me on

I read a few pages and recognize the wisdom in it
J. Cole – l e t . g o . m y . h a n d

I found it relevant to make these connections since the arguments made by J. Cole are Quranic arguments themselves and of course, The Quran goes deeper than a few simple bars. J. Cole isn’t a stranger to The Quran as he himself said on the track l e t . g o . m y . h a n d off his album The Off-Season. He has read it, perhaps he has read more than a few pages, perhaps he was inspired by it to write these bars.

As a believer myself, I wish nothing more for my fellow humans, especially those who’ve been good to me directly or indirectly such as friends and supporters or even artists such as J. Cole to find the true guidance that is Islam. I ask The Almighty to gently guide J. Cole, his listeners, every person reading this and the rest of us to the Straight Path. I ask The Almighty to allow us to benefit humanity with our work and our art and to be beacons of light amidst the darkness that is consistently corrupting our societies.

As Jay Electronica says:

All Praises due to Allah for such an illustrious platform
Jay Electronica – Universal Soldier

May The Almighty gently guide us to illustrate nothing but goodness on these platforms.

Appendix

Universe

Fussilat 41:53

سَنُرِيهِمۡ ءَايَٰتِنَا فِي ٱلۡأٓفَاقِ وَفِيٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ حَتَّىٰ يَتَبَيَّنَ لَهُمۡ أَنَّهُ ٱلۡحَقُّۗ أَوَلَمۡ يَكۡفِ بِرَبِّكَ أَنَّهُۥ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ شَهِيدٌ ٥٣

We will show them Our signs in the universe and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that this ˹Quran˺ is the truth. Is it not enough that your Lord is a Witness over all things?

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

As-Saffat 37:6

إِنَّا زَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِزِينَةٍ ٱلۡكَوَاكِبِ ٦

Indeed, We have adorned the lowest heaven with the stars for decoration

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Al-An’am 6:97

وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِي جَعَلَ لَكُمُ ٱلنُّجُومَ لِتَهۡتَدُواْ بِهَا فِي ظُلُمَٰتِ ٱلۡبَرِّ وَٱلۡبَحۡرِۗ قَدۡ فَصَّلۡنَا ٱلۡأٓيَٰتِ لِقَوۡمٖ يَعۡلَمُونَ ٩٧

And He is the One Who has made the stars as your guide through the darkness of land and sea. We have already made the signs clear for people who know.

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

An-Nahl 16:12

وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ ٱلَّيۡلَ وَٱلنَّهَارَ وَٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَۖ وَٱلنُّجُومُ مُسَخَّرَٰتُۢ بِأَمۡرِهِۦٓۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَأٓيَٰتٖ لِّقَوۡمٖ يَعۡقِلُونَ ١٢

And He has subjected for your benefit the day and the night, the sun and the moon. And the stars have been subjected by His command. Surely in this are signs for those who understand.

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Qaf 50:6

أَفَلَمۡ يَنظُرُوٓاْ إِلَى ٱلسَّمَآءِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ كَيۡفَ بَنَيۡنَٰهَا وَزَيَّنَّٰهَا وَمَا لَهَا مِن فُرُوجٖ ٦

Have they not then looked at the sky above them: how We built it and adorned it ˹with stars˺, leaving it flawless?

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Fussilat 41:12

فَقَضَىٰهُنَّ سَبۡعَ سَمَٰوَاتٖ فِي يَوۡمَيۡنِ وَأَوۡحَىٰ فِي كُلِّ سَمَآءٍ أَمۡرَهَاۚ وَزَيَّنَّا ٱلسَّمَآءَ ٱلدُّنۡيَا بِمَصَٰبِيحَ وَحِفۡظٗاۚ ذَٰلِكَ تَقۡدِيرُ ٱلۡعَزِيزِ ٱلۡعَلِيمِ ١٢

So He formed the heaven into seven heavens in two Days, assigning to each its mandate. And We adorned the lowest heaven with ˹stars like˺ lamps ˹for beauty˺ and for protection. That is the design of the Almighty, All-Knowing.”

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Al-A’raf 7:54

إِنَّ رَبَّكُمُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَ ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ فِي سِتَّةِ أَيَّامٖ ثُمَّ ٱسۡتَوَىٰ عَلَى ٱلۡعَرۡشِۖ يُغۡشِي ٱلَّيۡلَ ٱلنَّهَارَ يَطۡلُبُهُۥ حَثِيثٗا وَٱلشَّمۡسَ وَٱلۡقَمَرَ وَٱلنُّجُومَ مُسَخَّرَٰتِۭ بِأَمۡرِهِۦٓۗ أَلَا لَهُ ٱلۡخَلۡقُ وَٱلۡأَمۡرُۗ تَبَارَكَ ٱللَّهُ رَبُّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ ٥٤

Indeed your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days, then established Himself on the Throne. He makes the day and night overlap in rapid succession. He created the sun, the moon, and the stars—all subjected by His command. The creation and the command belong to Him ˹alone˺. Blessed is Allah—Lord of all worlds!

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Mountains/Volcanoes

Al-Isra 17:37

وَلَا تَمۡشِ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَحًاۖ إِنَّكَ لَن تَخۡرِقَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَلَن تَبۡلُغَ ٱلۡجِبَالَ طُولٗا ٣٧

Do not strut arrogantly about the earth: you cannot break it open, nor match the mountains in height.

• Abdul Haleem

Al-Hijr 15:19

وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ مَدَدۡنَٰهَا وَأَلۡقَيۡنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِيَ وَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ شَيۡءٖ مَّوۡزُونٖ ١٩

As for the earth, We have spread it out, set firm mountains on it, and made everything grow there in due balance.

• Abdul Haleem

Qaf 50:7

وَٱلۡأَرۡضَ مَدَدۡنَٰهَا وَأَلۡقَيۡنَا فِيهَا رَوَٰسِيَ وَأَنۢبَتۡنَا فِيهَا مِن كُلِّ زَوۡجِۭ بَهِيجٖ ٧

how We spread out the earth and put solid mountains on it, and caused every kind of joyous plant to grow in it,

• Abdul Haleem

Al-Isra 17:37

وَلَا تَمۡشِ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ مَرَحًاۖ إِنَّكَ لَن تَخۡرِقَ ٱلۡأَرۡضَ وَلَن تَبۡلُغَ ٱلۡجِبَالَ طُولٗا ٣٧

And do not walk on the earth arrogantly. Surely you can neither crack the earth nor stretch to the height of the mountains.

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

An-Nahl 16:15

وَأَلۡقَىٰ فِي ٱلۡأَرۡضِ رَوَٰسِيَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمۡ وَأَنۡهَٰرٗا وَسُبُلٗا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تَهۡتَدُونَ ١٥

He has made mountains stand firm on the earth, to prevent it shaking under you, and rivers and paths so that you may find your way,

• Abdul Haleem

He has placed into the earth firm mountains, so it does not shake with you, as well as rivers, and pathways so you may find your way.

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Ibrahim 14:46

وَقَدۡ مَكَرُواْ مَكۡرَهُمۡ وَعِندَ ٱللَّهِ مَكۡرُهُمۡ وَإِن كَانَ مَكۡرُهُمۡ لِتَزُولَ مِنۡهُ ٱلۡجِبَالُ ٤٦

They devised every plot, which was fully known to Allah, but their plotting was not enough to ˹even˺ overpower mountains ˹let alone Allah˺.

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Al-Hashr 59:21

لَوۡ أَنزَلۡنَا هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ عَلَىٰ جَبَلٖ لَّرَأَيۡتَهُۥ خَٰشِعٗا مُّتَصَدِّعٗا مِّنۡ خَشۡيَةِ ٱللَّهِۚ وَتِلۡكَ ٱلۡأَمۡثَٰلُ نَضۡرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ ٢١

If We had sent this Quran down to a mountain, you [Prophet] would have seen it humbled and split apart in its awe of God: We offer people such illustrations so that they may reflect.

• Abdul Haleem

An-Naml 27:88

وَتَرَى ٱلۡجِبَالَ تَحۡسَبُهَا جَامِدَةٗ وَهِيَ تَمُرُّ مَرَّ ٱلسَّحَابِۚ صُنۡعَ ٱللَّهِ ٱلَّذِيٓ أَتۡقَنَ كُلَّ شَيۡءٍۚ إِنَّهُۥ خَبِيرُۢ بِمَا تَفۡعَلُونَ ٨٨

Now you see the mountains, thinking they are firmly fixed, but they are travelling ˹just˺ like clouds. ˹That is˺ the design of Allah, Who has perfected everything. Surely He is All-Aware of what you do.

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Birds

Saba 34:10

۞ وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا دَاوُۥدَ مِنَّا فَضۡلٗاۖ يَٰجِبَالُ أَوِّبِي مَعَهُۥ وَٱلطَّيۡرَۖ وَأَلَنَّا لَهُ ٱلۡحَدِيدَ ١٠

We graced David with Our favour. We said, ‘You mountains, echo God’s praises together with him, and you birds, too.’ We softened iron for him,

• Abdul Haleem

Indeed, We granted David a ˹great˺ privilege from Us, ˹commanding:˺ “O mountains! Echo his hymns! And the birds as well.” We made iron mouldable for him,

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Al-Mulk 67:19

أَوَلَمۡ يَرَوۡاْ إِلَى ٱلطَّيۡرِ فَوۡقَهُمۡ صَٰٓفَّٰتٖ وَيَقۡبِضۡنَۚ مَا يُمۡسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنُۚ إِنَّهُۥ بِكُلِّ شَيۡءِۭ بَصِيرٌ ١٩

Do they not see the birds above them spreading and closing their wings? It is only the Lord of Mercy who holds them up: He watches over everything.

• Abdul Haleem

Have they not seen the birds above them, spreading and folding their wings? None holds them up except the Most Compassionate. Indeed, He is All-Seeing of everything.

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

An-Naml 27:16

وَوَرِثَ سُلَيۡمَٰنُ دَاوُۥدَۖ وَقَالَ يَٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ عُلِّمۡنَا مَنطِقَ ٱلطَّيۡرِ وَأُوتِينَا مِن كُلِّ شَيۡءٍۖ إِنَّ هَٰذَا لَهُوَ ٱلۡفَضۡلُ ٱلۡمُبِينُ ١٦

Solomon succeeded David. He said, ‘People, we have been taught the speech of birds, and we have been given a share of everything: this is a clearly a great favour.’

• Abdul Haleem

And David was succeeded by Solomon, who said, “O people! We have been taught the language of birds, and been given everything ˹we need˺. This is indeed a great privilege.”

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

An-Nur 24:41

أَلَمۡ تَرَ أَنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُسَبِّحُ لَهُۥ مَن فِي ٱلسَّمَٰوَٰتِ وَٱلۡأَرۡضِ وَٱلطَّيۡرُ صَٰٓفَّٰتٖۖ كُلّٞ قَدۡ عَلِمَ صَلَاتَهُۥ وَتَسۡبِيحَهُۥۗ وَٱللَّهُ عَلِيمُۢ بِمَا يَفۡعَلُونَ ٤١

[Prophet], do you not see that all those who are in the heavens and earth praise God, as do the birds with wings outstretched? Each knows its [own way] of prayer and glorification: God has full knowledge of what they do.

• Abdul Haleem

Do you not see that Allah is glorified by all those in the heavens and the earth, even the birds as they soar? Each ˹instinctively˺ knows their manner of prayer and glorification. And Allah has ˹perfect˺ knowledge of all they do.

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Al-Anbya 21:79

فَفَهَّمۡنَٰهَا سُلَيۡمَٰنَۚ وَكُلًّا ءَاتَيۡنَا حُكۡمٗا وَعِلۡمٗاۚ وَسَخَّرۡنَا مَعَ دَاوُۥدَ ٱلۡجِبَالَ يُسَبِّحۡنَ وَٱلطَّيۡرَۚ وَكُنَّا فَٰعِلِينَ ٧٩

and made Solomon understand the case [better], though We gave sound judgement and knowledge to both of them. We made the mountains and the birds celebrate Our praises with David- We did all these things-

• Abdul Haleem

We guided ˹young˺ Solomon to a fairer settlement, and granted each of them wisdom and knowledge. We subjected the mountains as well as the birds to hymn ˹Our praises˺ along with David. It is We Who did ˹it all˺.

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Human body/Nervous System

Ar-Rum 30:54

۞ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِي خَلَقَكُم مِّن ضَعۡفٖ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ ضَعۡفٖ قُوَّةٗ ثُمَّ جَعَلَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ قُوَّةٖ ضَعۡفٗا وَشَيۡبَةٗۚ يَخۡلُقُ مَا يَشَآءُۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ ٱلۡقَدِيرُ ٥٤

It is God who creates you weak, then gives you strength, then weakness after strength, together with your grey hair: He creates what He will; He is the All Knowing, the All Powerful.

• Abdul Haleem

Al-Isra 17:51

أَوۡ خَلۡقٗا مِّمَّا يَكۡبُرُ فِي صُدُورِكُمۡۚ فَسَيَقُولُونَ مَن يُعِيدُنَاۖ قُلِ ٱلَّذِي فَطَرَكُمۡ أَوَّلَ مَرَّةٖۚ فَسَيُنۡغِضُونَ إِلَيۡكَ رُءُوسَهُمۡ وَيَقُولُونَ مَتَىٰ هُوَۖ قُلۡ عَسَىٰٓ أَن يَكُونَ قَرِيبٗا ٥١

Or some created thing that is yet greater in your thoughts! Then they will say: Who shall bring us back (to life). Say: He Who created you at the first. Then will they shake their heads at thee, and say: When will it be? Say: It will perhaps be soon;

• English Translation (Pickthall)

At-Tin 95:4

لَقَدۡ خَلَقۡنَا ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ فِيٓ أَحۡسَنِ تَقۡوِيمٖ ٤

Indeed, We created humans in the best form.

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Ar-Rahman 55:13

فَبِأَيِّ ءَالَآءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبَانِ ١٣

Then which of your Lord’s favours will you ˹humans and jinn˺ both deny?

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Ar-Rum 30:20

وَمِنۡ ءَايَٰتِهِۦٓ أَنۡ خَلَقَكُم مِّن تُرَابٖ ثُمَّ إِذَآ أَنتُم بَشَرٞ تَنتَشِرُونَ ٢٠

And of His signs is this: He created you of dust, and behold you human beings, ranging widely!

• English Translation (Pickthall)

Al-‘Ankabut 29:43

وَتِلۡكَ ٱلۡأَمۡثَٰلُ نَضۡرِبُهَا لِلنَّاسِۖ وَمَا يَعۡقِلُهَآ إِلَّا ٱلۡعَٰلِمُونَ ٤٣

These are the parables We set forth for humanity, but none will understand them except the people of knowledge.

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

An-Nahl 16:4

خَلَقَ ٱلۡإِنسَٰنَ مِن نُّطۡفَةٖ فَإِذَا هُوَ خَصِيمٞ مُّبِينٞ ٤

He created humans from a sperm-drop, then—behold!—they openly challenge ˹Him˺.

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

Yunus 10:60

وَمَا ظَنُّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفۡتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلۡكَذِبَ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَٰمَةِۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَذُو فَضۡلٍ عَلَى ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَٰكِنَّ أَكۡثَرَهُمۡ لَا يَشۡكُرُونَ ٦٠

What do those who fabricate lies against Allah expect on Judgment Day? Surely Allah is ever Bountiful to humanity, but most of them are ungrateful.

• Dr. Mustafa Khattab, the Clear Quran

The world being a theatre

Al-An’am 6:32

وَمَا ٱلۡحَيَوٰةُ ٱلدُّنۡيَآ إِلَّا لَعِبٞ وَلَهۡوٞۖ وَلَلدَّارُ ٱلۡأٓخِرَةُ خَيۡرٞ لِّلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَۚ أَفَلَا تَعۡقِلُونَ ٣٢

The life of this world is nothing but a game and a distraction; the Home in the Hereafter is best for those who are aware of God. Why will you [people] not understand?

• Abdul Haleem