Story Stories of the prophets

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Every day, countless birds cross the sky, gliding, flapping their wings, landing and taking off again, without any human hand to support them. This sight, so familiar that we often stop noticing it, is presented in the Quran as one of the clear signs of divine power.

The Verse from Surah Al-Mulk

In Surah Al-Mulk, Allah draws the believers' attention to the flight of birds as proof of His almighty power and care for all creation:

﴿ أَوَلَمْ يَرَوْا إِلَى الطَّيْرِ فَوْقَهُمْ صَافِّاتٍ وَيَقْبِضْنَ ۚ مَا يُمْسِكُهُنَّ إِلَّا الرَّحْمَٰنُ ۚ إِنَّهُ بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ بَصِيرٌ ﴾

"Have they not seen the birds above them with wings spread and folded in? None holds them aloft except the Most Merciful. Indeed, He is over all things All-Seeing."

(Surah Al-Mulk, verse 19)

This verse invites a simple yet profound reflection: how can a bird, whose body is far heavier than air, remain suspended in the sky, now with wings fully spread, now folded against its body, without ever falling? According to Quran commentators, this rhetorical question does not seek a scientific answer—although science today explains the mechanics of lift and flight—but rather calls us to recognize that it is Allah, the Most Merciful, who has established the laws making this daily marvel possible.

A Sign Among Other Creatures

The Quran mentions birds repeatedly as organized creatures, each with their own form of community. In Surah Al-An'am, it is reported:

"There is no animal on earth nor a bird that flies on its wings but they are communities like you" (Surah Al-An'am, verse 38, according to the meaning generally understood by scholars).

This teaching emphasizes that birds, like other animals, are not mere decorative elements of creation, but organized beings according to an order willed by Allah, worthy of consideration and respect.

It is also reported in the prophetic tradition that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ spoke of kindness toward animals as an act that can bring the believer closer to divine forgiveness. In a hadith reported by Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, it is told that a man was forgiven by Allah for giving water to a thirsty dog, showing that mercy toward every creature, bird or other animal, is valued in Islamic teaching.

Observe to Remember

Quran scholars emphasize that this verse from Surah Al-Mulk addresses anyone who lifts their eyes to the sky. It is not knowledge reserved for specialists, but a universal invitation to wonder: watching a simple flight of birds can become an opportunity for remembrance, a moment when the heart turns toward its Creator.

• Birds spread and fold their wings in precise balance.
• This flight is cited in the Quran as a sign of Allah's power and mercy.
• The prophetic tradition encourages kindness toward all creatures, including birds.

Thus, watching a flight of birds, such an ordinary act, can become a moment of gratitude. This Quranic invitation to observe also reminds us of our responsibility: to protect bird habitats, respect their peace, and avoid causing them harm, for they are part of this creation whose beauty and wisdom the Quran asks us to recognize. Caring for them is responding to this call for kindness toward all the creatures that inhabit our world.