In Surah al-An’nam (6:38), Allah, Al-Waasi’ (The All-Encompassing, The Boundless), reveals to us that every animal on the Earth and every bird that flies with wings (all Earth-bound and aerial animals) are in umamun (communities; sing. ummah) like ourselves. They have perception, knowledge and awareness of their Creator and their own conditions. They glorify and praise Al-Waasi’ all the time. The multitude of animals are joined in a single comprehensive goal which each individual animal tries to achieve. It is clear to anyone who observes that animals have individual and collective beliefs and ways that dictate how they will move and rest. They know how to fulfill their needs (get food and shelter, cohabit, stay safe, etc.). And in the ant, bee and even termite umamun, there are sophisticated manufacturing processes and subtle norms and policies found only in “civilized and developed human groups.” The ways animals base their activities, in spite of their differences in their affairs and goals, are full of inciting and repelling forces, appreciation of some things and disapproval of some things and a sense of justice and injustice. (Tafsir al-Mizan) It is Al-Waasi’ Whose expansive essence encompasses the whole of creation and His power, mercy, generosity and knowledge over everything and everyone is endless, boundless and all-encompassing. At the end of this ayat, Allah Subhanahu wa ta’ala says that they will all be gathered to Him. [Animals are] ‘not totally deprived of the gift of free choice, although it is weaker than what we find in average humans…we observe in many animals, especially the domesticated ones, the effects of hesitation in some situations which are coupled with some impediments; likewise when they desist from action because of rebuke, threat or training. All this proves that there is in their ‘souls’ (nafs) the ability to decide to do or not to do an action; and that is the basis of free choice in reality, although contemplation is very weak in them and does not reach the level of what we find in an average human. And since it is correct that the animal, other than humans, is not totally devoid of free choice even if a weak one, then it will be okay if Almighty Allah makes the average level of free choice among them as the basis of duties relevant to them that we do not comprehend; or He may deal with them based on the gift of free choice in a different way which we do not understand except that this gift is found in them in a way that it would justify to reward them in case of obedience and to censure and punish them in case of disobedience as Allah knows it better.” (Tafsir al-Mizan)

Colours

Writing in Very Dark Baby Blue; Design in Topaz, Light Orange Spice, Medium Dusty Rose, Dark Terra Cotta, Light Salmon, Light Baby Blue, Baby Blue, Light Cornflower Blue, Cloud Blue, Light Green, Black, White, Ultra Very Light Desert Sand, Light Hazelnut Brown, Medium Brown, Tan, Very Light Beige Brown, Medium Beige Brown, Pearl Grey and Dark Steel Grey; Border in Light Cornflower Blue

Size

7.7” X 7.75”