Page 63 - Deep Thinking

Those Things that Need to be Thought About 61

◆ The charming picture of fruits on their branches or as they are
planted is one which Allah presents us. The picture of hundreds of fruits
on the apparently bone-dry branch, tightly fastened to it and juicy inside,
some of them as if specially polished on the outside, is evidence that each
one of them has been created by Allah. For instance, bunches of grapes
look as if they have been placed on the branches of the grapevine one by
one. Allah has created each one of them as a unique creation. Their
appearance on their branches is fashioned in such a way as to appeal to
people. For this reason, while depicting Paradise in the Qur'an, Allah states
that its fruits are ready to be picked, in the verse, "Its shading branches
will droop down over them, its ripe fruit hanging ready to be
picked." (Surat al-Insan: 14).
Certainly, what are mentioned here are only a few limited examples.
The blessings Allah creates are too diverse to be counted. He who realizes
this at the dining table remembers another verse of Allah.
Is He Who creates like him who does not create? So will you not
pay heed? If you tried to number Allah's blessings, you could
never count them. Allah is Ever-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Surat
an-Nahl: 17-18)

What Flavors and Odors Make One Think
Continuing to think, we come to realize more the beauties and sub-
tleties in the creation of Allah. While pondering all these, a conscientious
person also thinks that it is a great favor of Allah that he is able to derive
pleasure from the blessings that Allah offers. He remembers that the sens-
es of taste and smell, in particular, help us perceive many of the world's
beauties. And he goes on to think that if we did not have the sense of
smell, we could not take as much pleasure as we now do from a rose, from
the fruits we eat or even from a barbecue. If we did not have the sense of
taste, we would not recognize the unique tastes of chocolate, sweets, meat,
strawberries and other blessings.