In Surah Al-Mulk, verse 19 talks about birds so we can think about them. Before this, Allah asks us to think about the heavens, which are hard to imagine. But verse 19 asks us to think about nature, which is something we know and can see every day.
Also, the Makkan people were familiar with the significance of birds, as Allah Almighty had sent them to stop Abraha from destroying the Ka’ba. The battle of the elephants was a significant event in the history of the Quraysh, and they got a glimpse of the power of Allah (SWT).
So, that is why Allah Almighty uses the example of birds in Surah Al-Mulk to draw attention to their wings, their flight together, their moving patterns, their daily search for food, and how He provides for each and every one of those birds. Allah (SWT) goes on to mention that it is He who keeps the birds up in the sky, suggesting that this is not their default position.
The words “saafatin” mean the spreading of wings, and “yakabin” denotes their folding. Allah is telling us that birds flock together, yet they keep modifying their flight patterns. He wants us to reflect on our patterns of movement and how He has laid out the earth for us as we move to different parts of it in search of our “Rizks” (sustenance), just as He keeps birds in the sky to look for food.
He is trying to reassure us not to fear, as ‘Rizk’ is from him, and nobody can take it away from us unless he wills it so. Millions of birds leave their nests and return to feed their offspring daily, as their ‘Rizk’ is provided for by Allah Almighty every single day. In Ayah No. 15, Allah touches on the topic of Rizk. He says,
وَكُلُواْ مِن رِّزۡقِهِ
Which means that whatever He gives is halal, so we cannot eat or earn from non-halal means, as we will then be questioned about it. Also, we cannot abuse His sustenance or waste it, as that will also be questioned. This is why I’m asking you, my brothers and sisters, to study birds and see how fascinating the creation of Allah Almighty is.
So, let’s take the example of the Arctic tern, known to be perhaps the strongest migratory bird. It has the ability to travel very large distances from the north to the south pole, with the shortest distance being at least 19,000 km. They also have the ability to migrate at an altitude of nearly 10,000 feet.
We can take a lesson from these birds and develop a sense of ‘Shukr’ (gratitude) as they have no home or food and need to constantly migrate to other lands to find shelter. Yet Allah Almighty has instilled the highest “Tawakkul” (trust in Allah) in them as they fly fearlessly and return to their nests every single day, content.