Do Flowers Recite Allah’s Remembrance (Dhikr)?
One day, Shaykh Uftada was on a picnic in a meadow with his disciples.
DO FLOWERS RECITE THE REMEMBRANCE OF ALLAH?
At his command, all the dervishes roamed the most beautiful parts of the meadow and brought their teachers a bouquet of flowers each. However, Kadı Mahmûd Efendi of Bursa, who later became known as Azîz Mahmûd Hüdâyî, only had a broken, wilted flower in his hand…
After the others presented their bouquets to their teacher with joy, Mahmûd Efendi, bowing his head, presented this broken and wilted flower to Shaykh Uftada. Shaykh Uftada asked amidst the curious looks of the other disciples:
“–My son Mahmûd! While everyone brought bouquets of flowers, why did you bring a flower with a broken stem and drooping petals?”
Mahmûd Efendi, lowering his head with great reverence, replied:
“–My Shaykh! What I could offer You is too little. But whenever I reached out to pluck a flower, I found it in a state of reciting the remembrance of its Lord, saying ‘Allah, Allah.’ My heart was unwilling to hinder their dhikr. Helplessly, I had to bring this flower, which could not continue its remembrance.”
For those who possess a delicate heart, every particle in the universe is an arena of instruction. All beings, animate and inanimate, recite Allah’s remembrance. It is stated in a verse:
“Seven heavens and the earth and whatever is therein glorify Him. And nothing of creation fails to glorify Him. But you do not perceive their glorification. Indeed, He is tolerant and forgiving.” (Surah Al-Isra, 44)
Thus, humankind should take a lesson from this magnificent scene in the universe, become aware of his original duty, and not be negligent in reciting Allah’s remembrance.