A Rainbow, a Walk, and a Reminder of Allah
There are moments in life that appear ordinary but unexpectedly awaken something deep within us. Sometimes, Allah places a reminder in front of us in the simplest things, a sunrise, a gentle rain, a rainbow, or even a quiet walk to work.
One morning, on my way to work, I stepped off the train and noticed that it was drizzling while the sun was shining. Then I saw a beautiful rainbow.
I had about 30 minutes before I started work. Instead of walking directly to work, I decided to spend about 20 minutes walking, making dhikr, and reflecting.
What began as an ordinary walk became a moment of contemplation and reflection.
From Childhood Wonder to Adult Reflection
When I was a child, seeing a rainbow always made me excited. I would point at it and admire its colors. Rain, sunshine, and rainbows were simply beautiful things to me. But this time, something was different. As I looked at the rainbow, I began thinking about the magnificence of Allah and His power over His creation. The same things that fascinated me as a child were now reminding me of their Creator.
Allah says: “Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and day are signs for those of understanding.” Quran 3:190
The creation of Allah is full of signs and reminders. The rain falls, the sun appears, clouds move across the sky, the rainbows, and everything around us. We see these things repeatedly, yet how often do we actually stop and reflect upon the One who created them and us?
Allah reminds us: “So, which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?” Quran 55:13
Perhaps the difference between childhood and adulthood is not that the beauty around us has changed. We have changed and evolved. As children, we may simply see the rainbow. As believers, we can learn to see the rainbow and remember Allah.
When a Walk Becomes Dhikr
That morning, I could have spent those 20 minutes thinking about work, checking my phone, or simply rushing to my destination. Instead, I walked and made dhikr.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught us the importance of remembering Allah. In a hadith qudsi, Allah says: “I am as My servant expects Me to be, and I am with him when he remembers Me.” (Bukhari, and Muslim)
We don’t always need to be in a mosque or sitting in a specific place to remember Allah. A walk to work can become an opportunity for dhikr. A commute can become a moment of reflection. Waiting for a train can become a moment of seeking forgiveness.
Sometimes, the busiest parts of our day contain opportunities to turn our hearts back to Allah and to remember Allah.
The Rainbow Made Me Think About Death
As I continued walking, my thoughts became deeper. I began thinking about death.
I looked at the people around me, people I had never met; people I had passed many times, people who were each going somewhere. Everyone seemed to have a destination. Someone was going to work, or home, meeting a friend, worried about money, family, pursuing a dream or dealing with a hardship that nobody around them knew about. We are all different and have our own worries and problems. We have different stories, different struggles, different goals, and different things we are hoping to accomplish. Yet there is one destination that every human being and animal will eventually reach. Death.
Allah says: “Every soul will taste death.” Quran 3:185
No matter how different our lives may be, death is something we cannot escape, and it is at doorstep of each of us.
Allah says: “Wherever you may be, death will overtake you, even if you should be within towers of lofty construction.” Quran 4:78
We Are All Pursuing Something
That walk made me think about how much of our lives are spent pursuing things. We pursue education, careers, money, marriage, and family.
We make plans for tomorrow, next month, next year, and sometimes even decades ahead. There is nothing wrong with having goals. Islam encourages us to work, build, provide, and make use of the blessings Allah has given us. But we can become so focused on our temporary destination that we forget our ultimate destination.
Allah says: “And this worldly life is not but amusement and diversion; but the home of the Hereafter is best for those who fear Allah. Will you not then understand?” Quran 6:32
The dunya is temporary and the Hereafter is permanent. That does not mean we should abandon the responsibilities of this life. Rather, it means we should remember why we are here while we are living it. We should know the purpose of our existence here.
Remembering Death Is a Mercy
Thinking about death can sometimes feel frightening. During my walk, I felt some fear as I reflected on it. But perhaps that fear can be beneficial if it brings us closer to Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said: “Remember often the destroyer of pleasures: death.” Tirmidhi
Why would the Prophet ﷺ encourage us to remember death? Because remembering death can put life into perspective and it will make us humble and bring back to reality or back to our purpose. A small argument may not seem worth holding onto. A grudge may not seem worth carrying for years. Chasing people’s approval may suddenly seem less important.
Remembering death does not have to make us hopeless. It can make us feel intentional. It can remind us to repent, forgive, and remember our Creator.
Allah says: “O mankind, indeed We have created you from a male and a female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another.” Quran 49:13
We may be different in many ways, but our differences should remind us of Allah’s wisdom and creativity does not cause us to look down upon one another. And eventually, every one of us will stand before Him.
Allah says: “Then to Us is your return, and We will inform you of what you used to do.” Quran 31:15
The Rainbow Disappeared
The rainbow that caught my attention that morning did not remain in the sky forever. It appeared. I admired it. I reflected upon it. And eventually, it disappeared. In a way, it reminded me of life itself. One day everything will perish or come to an end except for Allah.
We arrive in this world, experience its beauty, and difficulties, make memories and pursue our goals.
Allah says: “The life of this world is only the enjoyment of delusion.” Quran 3:185
The rainbow was beautiful precisely because it was temporary. And perhaps life is also precious because it is temporary. Don’t Let the Reminder Pass You By.
That morning, I almost walked straight to work. Had I done so, I might have seen the rain, the sun, and rainbow without giving them much thought. But because I stopped and walked, that ordinary morning became a reminder. It reminded me that Allah’s signs are everywhere. It reminded me that our hearts need moments of reflection. It reminded me that dhikr can transform an ordinary moment. It reminded me that everyone around us is carrying a story. And it reminded me that no matter how different our paths may appear, we all have the same final destination.
So perhaps the next time you see rain, sunlight, a rainbow, the ocean, a beautiful tree, or even the changing sky, pause for a moment. Look beyond the creation. Remember the Creator. And remember that while we are busy pursuing our destinations in this world, our greatest journey is toward Allah.
“Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” Quran 2:156
May Allah make us among those who recognize His signs, remember Him often, prepare for the Hereafter, and return to Him with hearts that are pleasing to Him. Amine.