One day during the pandemic, I had a conversation with my grandchildren. Here is a brief description of how it went.

I began the conversation by reminding them that the most important thing in Islam is Salaat. The first thing in Salaat is saying “Allah Akbar.” I wanted them to understand the gravity of these two words in context. So, before telling them what “Allah Akbar'' means, I asked them how old the scientists estimate this universe to be?

After some hesitation and searching, they said it’s about 13 to 14 Billion years old. Then I asked them how expansive is it, and I purposely used the word expansive. Again after a little more pause, they said it has a radius of 46 billion light-years. I let them absorb what they had just said i.e. what a Million and what a Billion Light Years means.

Some of my older grandchildren have graduated from renowned universities in the fields of medicine and business, and some are graduating. The youngest and sweetest one is in kindergarten. Then I told them the One who created this universe is Allah. The God, Al Haqq, The Living Truth, He is Akbar! (Kabeer means great, Akbar means infinitely great). 

Only The Living Truth could be and is The Creator. (2:255)

اللّهُ لاَ إِلَـهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ لاَ تَأْخُذُهُ سِنَةٌ وَلاَ نَوْمٌ لَّهُ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الأَرْضِ مَن ذَا الَّذِي يَشْفَعُ عِنْدَهُ إِلاَّ بِإِذْنِهِ يَعْلَمُ مَا بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَمَا خَلْفَهُمْ وَلاَ يُحِيطُونَ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنْ عِلْمِهِ إِلاَّ بِمَا شَاء وَسِعَ كُرْسِيُّهُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالأَرْضَ وَلاَ يَؤُودُهُ حِفْظُهُمَا وَهُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ

And (24:25)

يَوْمَئِذٍ يُوَفِّيهِمُ اللَّهُ دِينَهُمُ الْحَقَّ وَيَعْلَمُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ الْمُبِينُ  

Right, I asked them? The older ones shook their heads in agreement and the youngest followed them. Now that’s the imitation and following to my liking. Then I surprised the older ones and told them that the Quran states that this universe is expanding (Surah 51:47). That is 1,300 years ahead of the scientist and it took time for others to convince Albert Einstein.

 Then your creator reveals there is more of it. (65:12)

اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ سَبْعَ سَمَاوَاتٍ وَمِنَ الْأَرْضِ مِثْلَهُنَّ يَتَنَزَّلُ الْأَمْرُ بَيْنَهُنَّ لِتَعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ قَدْ أَحَاطَ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ عِلْمًا

The scientists are just beginning to talk about it. Allah Akbar is not to be misused but is meant for all to fathom the unbelievable Greatness and the Majesty of our Lord and our Creator.

Then I brought up the “Black Box” concept to make them aware of their Salaat being heard and recorded. Engineers place a “Black Box” in the sophisticated planes and rockets to hear the conversations and know what is going on. I asked them to compare the sophistication of the human body to the most advanced rocket. There is no comparison. A million times will not be enough. I shared with them the amazing fact about the inside of the human body. Every individual makes 250 billion red blood cells every day. It repairs itself.

The One who has created you and me has a lot more sophisticated means of communication.

Dr. Nawabi writes letters on a variety of issues. His letters can be found at http://nawabiletters.com/