Qur’an’s Metaphor of Rain: A Reminder to Make the Most of Our Time on Earth

The Qurʾān gives the example of this life as rain and vegetation: And present to them the example of the life of this world, [its being] like rain which We send down from the sky, and the vegetation of the earth mingles with it and [then] it becomes dry remnants, scattered by the winds. And Allah has power over all things, perfect in ability (Q. 18: 45). This verse is highlighting the different phases of a plants life. First, it rains, then the rain mixes with the mixes with the seeds, then it becomes dry and they whither away. If we further reflect on this verse, the phases of plant life are much more complicated and detailed.

Why then did the Qurʾān highlight it in such a short way? Because that is how life works. Each of our lives is very detailed, but we do not remember the details. We only remember major occasions such as a birthday party, a wedding, graduation, death etc. Essentially, we summarize and describe our own lives in a similar way to the verse “I was born on this day, graduated in this year, got married, had kids, got a job, and now I am retired.” There are so many details that we don’t remember them because of the quick and fleeting nature of this life. One day you are young and beautiful like a new plant, then next thing you know your beauty will whither away with age and you leave this earth.

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