Bismillah wal hamdullillah was Salaatu Was Salaamu ‘Alaa Rasoolillahi

Ammaa Ba’d:

Upon the authority of Abut Tufail who said: Ibnul Kawwaa asked Ali – Radhiyallahu ‘Anhu – about the Milky Way so he replied:

“It is the ‘Sharaj’ (broad opening to the heavens) and from it Allah sent water down in abundance (i.e during the flood of Nooh)

(Collected by Imaamul Bukhaari in his Adabul Mufrad 766/589)

Shaikh Al Albaani declared its isnaad ‘Saheeh’ then commented:

“The ‘Sharaj’ of a valley is its expansive wider opening (i.e. its mouth, its broad beginning)”

Upon the authority of Ibn Abbaas – Radhiyallahu ‘Anhumaa – who said: “The rainbow is a safeguard for the inhabitants of the earth that they will not be drowned (as a form of destruction as in the time of Nooh) and the Milky Way is the door of the heavens and the splitting of the heavens will begin from it (i.e on the day of Judgement)”

(Collected by Imaamul Bukhaari in his Adabul Mufrad 767/590)

Shaikh Albaani declared its isnaad ‘Saheeh’

These narrations then establish the wisdom behind these two great aspects of the creation of Allah that people have marveled over for centuries.

Compare this to that which occurs in the bible discussing a similar affair and look how it is used to attribute deficiency to our lord the most High.

Genesis 9 Vs 12-17:

And God said (to Noah), “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: ¹³ I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. ¹⁴ Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, ¹⁵I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. ¹⁶ Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.” ¹⁷ So God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant I have established between me and all life on the earth.”

Look how the passage attributes forgetfulness to Allah the Mighty and Majestic. To the extent that he needs the rainbow to remind him of the covenant he took with the creation! If anything it is a reminder to the creation and a sign to them of his mercy.

Would it not also follow that he would need some reminding to bring forth this reminder!

May Allah be far exalted above what they attribute to him!

Subhaanaka Rabbi Laa illaaha ilaa ant!

Wa Sallallahu ‘alaa Nabiyinaa Muhammad

@abuhakeembilal