فِي خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ

"Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding."

These Ayat (signs) are more than just lessons and evidence; they serve as catalysts, awakening something deeply embedded within us. Their impact is stronger than that of a traditional argument. For example, philosophical arguments about God's existence often lead to general conclusions and remain open to endless debate because they arise from cognitive reasoning.

In contrast, the Ayat (signs) of God are powerful, tangible markers that resonate deeply within the human soul. They go beyond mere human reasoning and touch something innately embedded within us, something placed by God Himself. The more one reflects and contemplates these Signs, the stronger one's Iman (faith) grows because these Signs speak directly to the Nafs (self), affirming, in ways that no constructed argument can ever replicate.

This inner awareness of God can be compared to how certain emotions, like love, awaken from within us rather than being taught. For example, when a man first falls in love with a woman, he often goes through a series of emotions, from infatuation to deep attachment.

Yet, is this experience unique to him? Could this be due to his upbringing or cultural background, or do all people who fall in love experience similar emotions?

The answer is that love is a deep emotion that is not merely learned or acquired but is inherent within each of us.

From the moment we experience love, the feelings and emotions associated with it, joy, longing, compassion, and even vulnerability, begin to surface naturally. These emotions are not forced or manufactured; they are born organically, as if love itself is a key unlocking something deep within us.

The fact that love so deeply moves every person, regardless of who they are or where they come from, demonstrates that it is woven into the very essence of our being.

This also holds true for a mother's love for her child. Can we attribute this love to social conditioning or learned behaviour, or is it something innate in every mother? This love exists as seeds within her, and the experiences of pregnancy and childbirth awaken and nurture it, revealing the deep, innate love woven into her very being from the beginning.

We can take other examples to further illustrate this point -- the human tongue. It is made up of various taste receptors for sweet, salty, bitter or sour foods. There is a deliberate proportioning of these taste receptors, each evoking emotions linked to these sensations. A sweet taste may trigger feelings of comfort or pleasure, while a bitter one may evoke caution or dislike. This link between physical sensations and emotions shows a deep connection between the body and mind, demonstrating that our very biology is designed to influence our emotional landscape. A slight difference in the proportion of sweet taste receptors would directly influence our emotional responses.

Likewise, the human nose has about 400 types of olfactory receptors, which work together to detect countless odours, each triggering a unique emotional response. The scent of perfume or flowers can evoke feelings of comfort, whilst repugnant smells would typically evoke emotions such as disgust, aversion or nausea, like the smell of rotting food or decaying flesh.

Through our eyes, we experience powerful emotions - joy at the sight of a blooming flower, peace in a blue sky, or awe before a breathtaking landscape. All this forms part of a universal design embedded within us.

يُؤْمِنُونَقُلِ انظُرُوا مَاذَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَمَا تُغْنِي الْآيَاتُ وَالنُّذُرُ عَن قَوْمٍ لَّا

When this Nur (light) is perceived by the heart, a person becomes enlightened. Acting in accordance with this light allows it to radiate through their actions. They become a sign for others, as their righteous actions reflect the light that first entered their heart. For example, when someone is moved by God's mercy, they perceive this light with their heart's eyes. When they embody this quality by showing love and compassion, perhaps to an orphan, they are channelling that light into their actions. As they act, their entire being radiates the same light that once touched their heart, and those around them benefit from it.

Ibn al-Qayyim elaborates:

"This is why the Prophet asked his Lord so fervently to put light in his flesh and bones, muscles, hair and skin, his hearing and sight, above and beneath him, on his right and on his left, behind him and before him -- saying, 'and make of me light'. In short, he would ask his Lord to make every particle of his inner and outer being into light."

When the heart perceives the Ayat of God, knowledge transforms into conviction, and conviction into action. Awareness of Divine signs reshapes one's way of living; the Believer no longer moves through a meaningless world but through a living book written by the Creator. Thus, the perception of God's signs does not merely inform the mind; it reforms the person, aligning thought, emotion, and deed with the rhythm of Divine order.

Sayyid Qutb beautifully notes,

"Mankind is part of this universe, and their life cannot be sound or healthy unless their hearts beat with the rhythm of the universe and are connected to the rhythm of this great universe. There has to be a connection between their hearts and everything they learn about one of the stars or planets, or about the characteristics of plants and animals, or the characteristics of the entire universe in general."

In truth, every Ayah is a bridge between the visible and the unseen - a sign through which the intellect awakens, and the soul remembers. The Believer does not merely observe creation but reads it, discerning meaning in every atom and purpose in every motion. Through these signs, faith and reason meet: one illuminates the other until both converge in recognition of God's greatness. The universe forms a single tapestry of Ayat, each thread pointing to the same eternal truth - that God is, and there is no doubt.

Taken from the book: “God: There is No Doubt!”