Every Veil Points Back to Allah

March 25th, 2025

Allah hides His mercy behind familiar things—like light, rain, birth, and breath—to test our hearts. Do we see the veil of nature, or the hand of the Creator behind it?

Introduction

We live in a world filled with patterns, causes, and effects. The sun rises, the rain falls, seeds sprout into trees. We are so used to these processes that we often forget who orchestrates them. Allah, the Creator of everything, chooses to veil His direct actions behind worldly phenomena. This divine design is a test of our faith. Will we see only the surface of things, or will we recognise the unseen hand of Allah behind every moment?


Allah is the True Cause Behind All Means

In our daily lives, we rely on means: jobs for income, doctors for healing, the sun for light, and rain for crops. But none of these means have power on their own. They function only by the will of Allah.

"O humanity! Remember Allah’s favours upon you. Is there any creator other than Allah who provides for you from the heavens and the earth? There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him. How can you then be deluded ˹from the truth˺?"
The Quran
| Chapter 35, Verse 3

This verse reminds us that while we may see the food on our table or the rain in our gardens, the true source is always Allah. Everything else is just a means—tools used by the Divine.


The Sun is a Veil for Divine Light

Take the sun as an example. Its rays provide warmth, growth, and the rhythm of day and night. But it is not the sun that gives light—it is Allah who sends the light, using the sun as a veil.

"All praise is for Allah Who created the heavens and the earth and made darkness and light."
The Quran
| Chapter 6, Verse 1

When we praise the beauty of the sunrise or marvel at the golden light of day, we are in fact witnessing the mercy of Allah, disguised behind a glowing sphere in the sky.


Clouds Are the Veil, But Rain Is a Mercy from Allah

Rain falls from the sky, seemingly from clouds. But the Quran repeatedly reminds us that it is Allah who sends down the rain, using clouds as the visible veil.

"It is Allah Who sends the winds, which then stir up ˹vapour, forming˺ clouds, which He then spreads out in the sky or piles up into masses as He wills, from which you see rain come forth. Then as soon as He causes it to fall on whoever He wills of His servants, they rejoice,"
The Quran
| Chapter 30, Verse 48

It’s not the cloud that decides when or where to rain. It is Allah’s command that controls it. This divine control is subtle—hidden behind clouds and weather—but unmistakably His.


Seeds Are Not the Cause of Growth

We plant seeds and watch them grow. But do seeds truly hold the power to create life? Allah is the One who gives life and causes growth.

"Indeed, Allah is the One Who causes seeds and fruit stones to sprout."
The Quran
| Chapter 6, Verse 95

The seed is just a symbol—a tiny container veiling the command of Allah. The moment of growth is not mechanical; it is a miracle wrapped in the ordinary.


The Birth of a Child Is Among the Most Hidden Miracles

One of the most powerful examples of Allah’s veiled action is the birth of a child. A baby develops in the womb—unseen and unknown to us—yet perfectly fashioned in every detail.

"˹For˺ indeed, We ˹alone˺ created humans from a drop of mixed fluids, ˹in order˺ to test them, so We made them hear and see."
The Quran
| Chapter 76, Verse 2

But the miracle doesn’t stop at birth. A newborn baby, who has never been taught anything, instinctively knows how to nurse from the mother. The baby cries when hungry, seeks warmth, and finds comfort in the mother’s heartbeat.

Who taught the baby to do this? None but Allah. It is His wisdom and mercy—veiled behind instinct and nature.


Breathing is a Constantly Veiled Miracle

We breathe without thinking. Yet every breath is a divine gift wrapped in biology. Oxygen travels from the air to our lungs, through our blood, and reaches every cell. This happens in every human being, every moment, across the planet—without our control.

"If you tried to count Allah’s blessings, you would never be able to number them. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
The Quran
| Chapter 16, Verse 18

Even the very air we breathe, the balance of oxygen in the atmosphere, and our ability to take it in effortlessly—all of it is hidden divine care, veiled behind what we call ‘normal’.


Other Veiled Wonders of the Everyday

The wonders of Allah’s mercy are all around us, often hidden behind processes we overlook:

  • Food and flavour: Behind every bite is a system designed to nourish and delight, though we only see ingredients and meals.

  • Sleep: A daily surrender that resembles death, where our souls are taken and returned—yet most see it as just rest.

  • Healing: Whether through time or medicine, healing is ultimately from Allah, not the pill or the prescription.

  • Emotions: Love, comfort, peace—they are placed in the heart by Allah, not generated by our will.

  • The sky: Though we see the open sky above us as simply blue and vast, it holds together the balance of clouds, weather, and air. Allah keeps it suspended, with no visible support, providing shade, navigation, and mercy—without our awareness of how it all works.

"It is Allah Who has raised the heavens without pillars"
The Quran
| Chapter 13, Verse 2

Why Does Allah Use These Veils?

These veils serve a deeper purpose. They test our hearts. Do we stop at the surface, believing in the power of worldly causes? Or do we see through the veil and recognise the hand of Allah in everything?

"Ask ˹them, O Prophet˺, 'Who provides for you from heaven and earth? Who owns ˹your˺ hearing and sight? Who brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living? And who conducts every affair?' They will ˹surely˺ say, 'Allah.' Say, 'Will you not then fear ˹Him˺?'"
The Quran
| Chapter 10, Verse 31

Acknowledging the veils yet seeing beyond them is the sign of a heart grounded in faith.


Final Thoughts

Faith is not only believing that Allah exists—it is recognising His actions, even when they are hidden behind ordinary things. The sun, the clouds, the seeds, the miracle of birth, the oxygen in every breath—each is a veil covering divine mercy, power, and care.

If we learn to see through these veils, we will live with deeper trust, wonder, and gratitude. Because everything we depend on in this life—light, warmth, nourishment, healing, air, even love—comes from Him alone.