The Language of Nature
The seven heavens, the earth, and all those in them glorify Him. There is not a single thing that does not glorify His praises—but you ˹simply˺ cannot comprehend their glorification. He is indeed Most Forbearing, All-Forgiving.
Surah Al-Isra 17:44
The more we listen to and observe the world around us, the more we sense that nature is alive with meaning. Ants, bees, birds, and fish communicate through sounds, movements, and behaviors filled with wisdom that we are only beginning to notice. Those who live close to nature often develop a deeper understanding of this language: a farmer may sense an approaching frost, while a fisherman can anticipate a coming storm.
This ayah reminds us that all of creation, the heavens above us, the Earth beneath us, and everything living in between, is in constant remembrance of God. Yet we are told clearly that we do not comprehend how they glorify Him. The limitation is not in nature’s awareness, but in our ability to perceive its language. Nature is constantly in a state of praise and connection to the Divine; spending time within it helps us feel more connected and notice what we may have overlooked.
The Quran offers a glimpse of this hidden language in Surah An-Naml:
“And David was succeeded by Solomon, who said, ‘O people! We have been taught the language of birds, and been given everything ˹we need˺. This is indeed a great privilege.” Surah An-Naml 27:16
German forester Peter Wohlleben, author of The Hidden Life of Trees, describes the “wood wide web,” a natural network through which trees share information, revealing a more interconnected natural world than we once imagined.
“I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting system through which God speaks to us every hour, if we only tune in.”
George Washington Carver
Bring your awareness to the fact that nature is always in a state of praise and connection to God.
Sit with a plant at home or in your office. Observe its color, shape, and size. Notice how its leaves naturally grow in the direction of sunlight.
Close your eyes and focus on your breath. As you inhale, the plant exhales. As you exhale, the plant inhales. Do that for a few breaths and notice how different you might feel after that.
If you are near a tree, place one hand on its bark and stand with both feet on the ground. Imagine a steady flow of energy moving down through your body, into your feet, and into the Earth beneath you.
Then imagine that grounded energy rising back up through your body, passing through your heart and up toward your head, creating a gentle, continuous circuit of grounding and balance.
“Trees are like human families: tree parents live together with their children, communicate with them, support them as they grow, share nutrients with those who are sick or struggling, and even warn each other of impending dangers. Wohlleben also shares his deep love of woods and forests, explaining the amazing processes of life, death, and regeneration that he has observed in his woodland.”
The Hidden Life of TREES – Peter Wohlleben
“The heights of the heavens and skies praise you, and prayers to You from the depths of the seas. For You have decreed upon Yourself knowledge, wisdom, and justice.”
Ancient Egyptian Prayer – The Book of the Dead
