The Heavens as a Source of Provision and Decree
In traditional Islamic thought, the heavens and their orbits (aflak) act as servants to humanity, carrying out God’s commands to deliver exactly what people need on Earth. However, the heavens are not just a source of blessings; they are also the place from which divine trials and warnings are sent.
The Quran highlights this dual reality of heavenly decree:
- For Blessings: “And in the heaven is your provision and whatever you are promised.” (Surah Adh-Dhariyat, 51:22)
- For Warnings: “Do you feel secure that He who is in heaven will not cause the earth to swallow you and suddenly it begins to quake?” (Surah Al-Mulk, 67:16)
As mentioned in Surah Fussilat (41:12), God assigned specific duties to each heaven and perfectly equipped them to fulfill those roles. Angels are stationed in every layer of the sky to manage the movements of these orbits, ensuring that the sustenance decreed by God reaches the earth.
The Visible and Invisible Rains
While physical rain falls from the clouds to grow our crops and fruits, there are also spiritual, invisible rains that descend from the higher heavens. Most people cannot perceive them, as illustrated by a beautiful story narrated by the Prophet’s (pbuh) wife:
One day, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) left the house for an errand. I also went outside to take care of a need, throwing his cloak over myself for shelter. Suddenly, a heavy rain began to pour down.
When I returned home, the Prophet (pbuh) arrived shortly after me, but he was completely dry. Surprised, I asked him, “O Messenger of Allah, how are you not wet from the rain?” He replied that he hadn’t seen any rain. When I explained what happened, he asked, “Which cloak did you wear when you went out?”
When I told him I had used his cloak, he smiled and understood. He said, “That rain was a special blessing falling because of me. It did not come from the clouds above us, but from the higher heavens. Sometimes, God sends these hidden rains down upon people, but not everyone can see them. God chose to reveal it to you. These rains provide spiritual nourishment; they bring peace, divine mercy, and light to human hearts.”
The Duty of Reflection
Even though ordinary people cannot see these spiritual manifestations, everyone benefits from God’s continuous mercy flowing through the celestial system.
Therefore, a believer is encouraged to deeply reflect on the vastness and design of the universe, recognizing that nothing was created by accident. This practice of mindful reflection is beautifully described in the Quran:
“Those who remember God while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides, and who ponder over the creation of the heavens and the earth, saying, ‘Our Lord, You have not created all this without purpose. Glory be to You! Save us from the torment of the Fire.'”
(Surah Ali ‘Imran, 3:191)
The Descent of the Divine Decree From Heaven
In traditional Islamic metaphysics, God has linked the stars in the heavens to the countless creations on Earth. When God wills a decree to take place in our physical world (the realm of the elements), He entrusts it to the angels who govern the celestial spheres.
This journey of the divine command is a beautiful process of transformation:
- The Origin (The Divine Names): The decree begins as pure divine will, associated with God’s Names.
- The Intellect: It then transitions into a cosmic “intellectual” form.
- The High Realms: It passes through the highest spiritual stations: the Arsh (Throne), the Kursi (Footstool), and Sidrat al-Muntaha (The Lote Tree of the Utmost Boundary).
- Bayt al-Ma’mur: It then reaches the highest heaven, entering Bayt al-Ma’mur (The Frequented House). Upon its arrival, this celestial house rejoices, and its light shines brilliantly throughout the heavens.
Passing Through the Seven Heavens
As the divine command continues its descent from the higher heavens to the lower ones, it undergoes a beautiful transformation:
- At each heavenly layer, the decree is accompanied by the angels of that sphere, as well as the spiritual forces of the zodiac signs and fixed stars.
- Like light passing through colored glass, the decree takes on the “color” (the unique spiritual characteristics) of each heaven it passes through.
- By the time it reaches the physical elements of Earth, the decree carries the combined spiritual forces, movements, and blessings of all the orbits (aflak) and celestial bodies it crossed.
Manifestation in the Physical World and the Human Heart
Ultimately, the divine command reaches the earth and manifests directly within the hearts of creation:
- In Human Hearts: It appears as sudden thoughts, inspirations, and internal whispers (waswas or ilham). Humans react to these thoughts by desiring, planning, and acting. Depending on the person’s free will, these actions may manifest as obedience, permission, or sin.
- In Nature: This same descending command drives the movements of minerals, plants, animals, and earthly angels. Every movement in the physical universe is a direct manifestation of this continuous divine decree.
Because these thoughts enter our hearts silently, we rarely know their origin. In reality, they are spiritual messengers carrying the divine command, constantly renewing the universe with every single breath.
The Vision of the Spiritual Seekers
Those blessed with spiritual unveiling (Kashf)—deep spiritual insight granted by God—can actually observe this process:
A person of spiritual vision can witness a divine decree leave the lowest heaven and travel through the atmosphere for three years before it physically manifests on Earth.
Because they are permitted to see these descending decrees ahead of time, these spiritual sages can often foresee and report major events a year or more before they actually happen in the physical world.
The Perfection of the Divine System
The universe operates under a flawless divine system where nothing is created without purpose. Every single moment, creation receives God’s commands and mercy; without this continuous divine flow, nothing could exist or survive.
While this intricate spiritual structure cannot be seen with the human eye or measured by logic alone, those blessed with deep spiritual insight can perceive it. For every Muslim, believing in this unseen reality is a core duty. Actively seeking knowledge about this divine order strengthens a believer’s faith and brings profound joy and peace to their worship.
The Contradiction of Pure Materialism
There will always be skeptics who refuse to believe in anything beyond physical intellect and the five senses. Yet, ironically, these same individuals readily accept many unseen concepts—such as human consciousness, thoughts, and emotions—which cannot be touched or measured by the senses.
Limiting truth strictly to what can be physically perceived creates a massive contradiction. Human logic is highly valuable, but it is incomplete on its own. To truly understand the universe, one must bridge the gap between logical thinking and the acceptance of divine, spiritual secrets.
A Concluding Prayer
My friends, let us pray that Allah Almighty grants all Muslims the wisdom to realize these spiritual secrets within the cosmos.
We cannot wish for anything unless Allah wills it, and without His divine guidance, we cannot comprehend these higher truths. True success and understanding come from Allah alone.
References
“ Fusus ul-Hikem”, Ibn Arabi, Istanbul Bookstore, 1981
“Fütûhat-ı Mekkiyye”, Ibn Arabi, Litera Publishing, Istanbul, 2008
“The Discovery of Hearts”, Imam Gazzali, Çelik Publishing, Istanbul, 2012
“Marifetname”, Erzurumlu İbrahim Hakkı, Hasankale, 1980
“Mektûbât”, Imam Rabbani, Yasin Publishing House, Istanbul, 2008
“Mesnevi”, Mevlânâ, Kırkambar Library, Istanbul, 2013
“ Sahih -i Bukhari”, Imam Bukhari, Ötüken Publications, Istanbul, 2010.