RISALAH ILMIAH SIRI KELIMA - HOW IS YOUR VIEW ABOUT THE TINY ANTS?

Allah S.W.T said in Quran :

“In the creation of the Heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and day, and the ships

which sail the seas to people’s benefit, and the water which Allah sends down from the sky by which He brings the earth to life when it was dead and scatters about in it. Creatures of every kind, and the varying direction of the winds, the clouds subservient between Heaven and earth, there are signs for people whose use their intellect”

(Surah Al-Baqarah: 164)

There are several facts about the amazing Ants as the following:

- Ants are capable of carrying objects 50 times their own body weight;

- Ants are the longest living insects in the world, living up to 30 years; and

 - The largest ant colony ever found was over 6,000 kilometres or 3,750 miles wide.  

The above facts are so impressive! Subhanallah!!

These facts cannot be achieved by these amazing ants if they do not have special characters or positive attitudes. Even though ants are tiny creatures, they give us a big impact in our life as humans especially as Muslims.Why do I say so? Let’s take a look two characters of these ants which can have a big impact in our life.

1] Ants teach us to be cooperative in society

وَتَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى ٱلۡبِرِّ وَٱلتَّقۡوَىٰۖ وَلَا تَعَاوَنُواْ عَلَى ٱلۡإِثۡمِ وَٱلۡعُدۡوَٰنِۚ

 “ And help on another in goodness and piety, and do not help one another in sin and aggression.” (Surah Al-Maidah: 2)

 They are always cooperative when doing a job and get the tasks done together. The harder parts will be easier and smooth. In fact, the colony of ant will create a bridge by holding on tightly to each other when they need to cross a ditch.

 As a Muslim, we should always be helping each other. Shame on us if we eat delicious food while we let our neighbours in hunger. Where is the ‘ukhuwah’ spirit that we Muslim mention every time? When our friends are in difficulties or have problems, we should strive to help, assist and show how we care about them.

2] One of the good values from the ants is their self-determination and not giving up in life . Besides that, they always work hard to achieve their target. If an ant’s target is situated on top of a stone but it fails to reach it, not once but many times, it will always try to climb that particular stone until it reaches its target. If something is blocking their path, they will find another way or method to continue their job. As a Muslim, we should strive to achieve “mardhatillah”.

Indeed, we know that there are many tribulations and obstacles in our path to achieve this target. If we feel like giving up on something, always remember that Allah does not burden us with responsibilities which we do not have the ability or strength to face it with. Moreover, it makes us stronger after we are successful in overcoming all the problems.

وَٱلَّذِينَ جَٰهَدُواْ فِينَا لَنَهۡدِيَنَّهُمۡ سُبُلَنَاۚ وَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَمَعَ ٱلۡمُحۡسِنِينَ 

And (as for) those who strive hard for Us, We will most certainly guide them in our ways; and Allah is most surely with the doers of good.” (Surah Al-Ankabut: 69)

In conclusion, let us relate our lives as Muslim from the perspective of the ants' characters mainly cooperative and self-determination. We can learn something through Allah’s creatures which are the tiny ants. Now, let us all strive towards a harmonious life through the Way of Islam.

" Aplikasi Ilmu Menyumbang Integriti Ummah "

Sincerely written by,

Muhammad Nazim Bin Mohd Sahaimi

Library Unit, Bureau of Academic,

BKASM session 2014/2015.