Moths

ﺒﺴﻤ ﺎﷲ ﻠﺮﺤﻤﻦ ﻠﺮﺤﻳﻤ

A few nights ago, I was sitting in my bedroom when I saw a small moth settle on the wall in the light. I thought to myself how they always like to go to light areas and how they are attracted to lamps and fires, and it got me thinking a little. I saw it as a little sign from Allah, showing us some things He wants to say – don’t get too close or you will get burnt, and more importantly – seek the Light of Truth.

The whole sign revolves around Light – the source of enjoyment and delight. There are two types of light – the light of this world and that of the hereafter. The first is a deceiving light – it is the light of glitz and glamour; the limelight; fame and riches; material pleasure. It attracts us on TV and in magazines, amongst other things, inviting us to seek the fashions and trends that the crowds are following. In frenzied excitement – just like the moths – we run in circles around the pleasures of the world, seeking ever more and more. The only thing is, that the light of the world is one which invites to Hellfire. If we get too close to it, it will destroy us. If the world is in our heart and not our hands, we will lose ourselves forever.

The second light is an eternal Light – that of Al-Haqq, The Truth; that of An-Nur, The Light.  It speaks to us in subtle ways; too powerful to need advertising and media to attract us, because it is in our hearts already, in our natural disposition – our fitrah. All we need to do is listen out for it calling; to seek that which brings true peace. Yet, in Allah’s mercy, He also broadcasts that Light through more obvious ways – through the athaan calling us to prayer, through hearing the Qur’an being recited, seeing men and women living pure lives, lowering their gazes, women wearing hijab, da’wah work, and other beautiful things that make up Islam. That Light is also manifest in creation – in sunrises and sunsets, babies forming in the womb and being born, animals, birds, fish and insects, plants growing, strong mountains, the stars and galaxies, and tiny atoms. Who is all behind these things? Only The One Who Is Light, calling us to seek and find Him.

In Sura Qari’ah it is written that on the Day of Judgment, mankind will be “like moths scattered about” (101:4), in a state of reckless confusion and distraction. When moths fly in the light, they look like they are in a frenzied race to see which one of them will reach the source of the light first, or as if they are flying in an aerial dance.

This is how it will be on the Day of Judgment with us – the seekers of the worldly light will be in a state of disorder, running about scattered all over, like on the movies depicting natural disasters. However, if we were of those who sought the eternal Light, we will be filled with peace, and our movements will prove not to be a state of terror, but a dance of joy.

May Allah save us from fear, and make us of those who seek His Light and dance with joy, ameen.

Salaam

Saadiqah

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