The Spider: A Soldier of God

We often stumble upon the question: "What is the purpose of life?" The answer is a complex yet simple one at the same time. When Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was with his companion, Abu Bakr, in the cave hiding from the enemy, a spider formed a web at the entrance of the cave, making the enemy believe there was no way anyone could have went in without tearing apart the delicate threads of the web, and that the cave must have been long abandoned. So they left. It was this spider that acted as a force of God. A tiny insect that acted out God's command saved a human life, and not just any human, but our beloved Prophet Muhammad(PBUH). As verse 40 in Surah Altawba speaks of this event, it adds: "وأيّده بجنود لم تروها", which translates as “And He(God) aided him(Prophet Muhammad) with soldiers you did not see.” Can you imagine that even a tiny insect's action of building its web can make that spider a soldier of God?! What we deem to be insignificant around us can actually be an agent of God, fulfilling His commandments, as we ourselves on the other hand, at times blindly follow our desires. 

 

There is a famous story of a doctor who was on a plane but could not make it to his destination due to inclement weather. Severe lightning, heavy rain, and gushing winds forced his plane to land in the middle of nowhere. It is in that deserted town where he found a mother and her sick child who had needed to be seen by a doctor for months, but their inaccessible location made it logistically impossible for that child to receive the medical attention needed. However, nothing is impossible for God. He will appoint whomever and whatever He wills to fulfill His command, whether it be a human, an insect, or in this case, inclement weather. The circumstances that exist around us are a function of Divine will and intervention, not a matter of chance or “coincidence.” Everything we see in nature is appointed by God, and not just a mere accident. Had it not been for the intense lightning, rain, and wind, that sick child may have never seen a doctor, but God's forces work in mysterious ways. 

 

Now let us ask ourselves, in what ways are we agents of God? Are we fulfilling His commands as a spider did over 1400 years ago? Are we acting as agents of God’s mercy and benevolence on this earth? Hearing this prayer once struck me: "Oh Allah, use me for Your cause on this earth". It made me question myself, my habits and interactions. Are my actions a reflection of God's command, as are forces in nature around us?

 

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said in a beautiful statement: "God has appointed a group of His servants to fulfill the needs of people. People rush to these servants when in need. Verily, these servants will be saved from God's punishment". Know that if God loves you, He will place people's needs in your hands. When you find yourself being that person relied on for so much, know that God is appointing you, as He appointed the spider for Prophet Muhammad and the lightning for that sick child. 

 

Neither one of us wants to leave this earth without having benefited the world around us in some way, shape or form. Asking about an old friend, being there for a person in dire need of companionship, visiting the sick, or carrying the load of a complete stranger are all simple tasks that can change our communities if every one of us acted upon them. Undoubtedly we all have daily tasks, but the question is do these duties qualify us to be agents of God? Are we soldiers of God for ourselves, our friends, families, and communities at large? Are we working for Him, in accordance with His laws and in a way that pleases Him? Because once we do that and just that, then we have fulfilled the very purpose of our existence. 

God's compassion to our Prophet(PBUH)

Surah Alanaam, verse 33:

قَدْ نَعْلَمُ إِنَّهُ لَيَحْزُنُكَ الَّذِي يَقُولُونَ فَإِنَّهُمْ لَا يُكَذِّبُونَكَ وَلَٰكِنَّ الظَّالِمِينَ بِآيَاتِ اللَّهِ يَجْحَدُونَ

"We know indeed the grief which their words cause you (O Muhammad). Yet it is not you that they deny, but it is the Verses (the Quran) of Allah that the wrong-doers deny."

What amazes me about this verse is that God is comforting our beloved prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the most compassionate of ways. He is telling him "don't worry, it's not you they're not believing in, it's My words they're not believing in". As if God is telling him "don't take it personally". Or "don't let it get to you". 

We see reflections of God's mercy to Prophet Muhammad repetitively in the Quran, yet some verses are more obvious than others. 

Read this verse in Surah Ash-shura, verse 48:

فَإِنْ أَعْرَضُوا فَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ عَلَيْهِمْ حَفِيظًا إِنْ عَلَيْكَ إِلَّا الْبَلَاغُ وَإِنَّا إِذَا أَذَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِنَّا رَحْمَةً فَرِحَ بِهَا وَإِن تُصِبْهُمْ سَيِّئَةٌ بِمَا قَدَّمَتْ أَيْدِيهِمْ فَإِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ كَفُورٌ

"But if they turn away from you (O Muhammad), then We have not sent you as a protector over them. Your duty is to convey the Message. And verily, when We give man a taste of Our Mercy, he rejoices, but when some ill befalls them because of the deeds which their hands have sent forth, then verily, man is ungrateful."

The beginning of this verse is almost subtly comforting Prophet Muhammad(PBUH), but then it starts speaking of how man is ungrateful to God's blessings. 

At first, I could not relate those two issues together. What does the second part of the verse have to do with the first part? What does man's nature of rejecting God's blessing have to do with people rejecting Prophet Muhammad's message?

And then there is the correlation! God is as if saying to our beloved Prophet : "Don't be upset when they turn away from your message, because look how often people reject my blessings". What a beautiful way to comfort and support the final messenger! 

We see similar verses in the Quran showing God's mercy and support to Prophet Muhammad(PBUH). And each have a beauty of their own. 

Surah Ash-Shura verse 25

وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَعْفُو عَنِ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ

"And He it is Who accepts repentance from His servants, and forgives sins, and He knows what you do". 

What I love so much about this verse is actually the last statement before this verse that ties their meaning so well together. It says:  إِنَّهُ عَلِيمٌ بِذَاتِ الصُّدُورِ

"He is well aware of the secrets of all hearts."

First, God is telling us that He knows everything. Not just what's on the surface, but what's on the inside. No one knows you like God does. Not your parents, spouse, children, or best of friends. 

One would worry after hearing this at times, because we know how many faults we have on the inside. So how befitting is it that God now tells us that although He knows us and our past, our current mistakes, and our darkest secrets, that He is the one who accepts repentance. So knowing us on the inside doesn't give God a reason not to accept us, but the exact opposite; it's even a more reason for Him to want to forgive us <3