#5 DDN - Biomimicry and Learning from Nature
#5, 31 January 2025, The Divine Duty Newsletter
Assalamu Alaikum!
Welcome to Issue #5 of the Divine Duty Newsletter, the first edition of 2025.
Once a month, I send out a newsletter full of timeless ideas and insights you can use in life and work, insha’allah. This is in a different format to the usual articles I write.
This month, we’re exploring biomimicry and learning from nature - one of the greatest sources of wisdom we often overlook. Allah’s creation carries divine lessons on resilience, balance, and survival. Whether it's the deep rootedness of trees, the teamwork of bees, or the adaptability of birds, nature has been designed to teach us profound truths.
Before diving in, check out the free scorecard that assesses how aligned your life is with your true purpose. Nearly 3,000 Muslims have taken it so far! (link)
In today’s nature-themed newsletter, we will go over:
Quaint Quotes: Timeless reflections on the wisdom embedded in nature.
Deep in Thought: Insights from my one or more of my past articles on what we can learn from nature.
Fascinating Frameworks: A practical tool, framework or model to apply nature’s wisdom to your own life.
Actionable Insights: Steps to integrate nature - inspired lessons into your personal and professional growth.
Resources to Review: Books, lectures, and tools that deepen our understanding of biomimicry.
Let’s explore how nature can shape our mindset and approach to life…
“And there is no creature on the earth or bird that flies with its wings except [that they are] communities like you.” (Surah Al-An’am, 6:38)
Everything in creation has a system, a purpose, and a way of thriving - what can we learn from them?
“Do they not look at the camels - how they are created? And at the sky - how it is raised?” (Surah Al-Ghashiyah, 88:17-18)
Allah commands us to observe His creation as a source of knowledge and reflection.
"He has let free the two seas meeting together. Between them is a barrier which they do not transgress." (Surah Ar-Rahman, 55:19-20)
Water, though fluid and boundless, obeys divine laws. Despite meeting, the seas remain distinct—just as nature follows balance, we too must honor the boundaries set by Allah.
“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” — Frank Lloyd Wright
The most successful systems in the world have always taken inspiration from nature.
"The example of a believer is that of a fresh tender plant; from whatever direction the wind comes, it bends it, but when the wind quietens down, the plant becomes straight again..." narrated by Abu Hurayra, Bukhari Prophet Muhammad (SAW)
We can learn from nature how to handle difficult times when they inevitably come.
I went for a nature walk. For a few hours, I just did nothing but walk and take in my surroundings, let the senses kick in and just think.
And it struck me.
Why is it, that God is constantly telling us in the Qur’an to reflect on the signs around us? He implores us to look at nature, to look at the universe, to look at His creation, as contained within them are ‘Signs for those who ponder / think / reflect / are intelligent’ (depending on which verse). It is repeated SO often within the Qur’an.
The reason God keeps telling us to look towards nature, is actually profound in its simplicity.
It’s because nature is doing what it was created to do.
Nature is ‘in order’. It follows Allah’s laws exactly as it should. Day in, day out. It is on its fitrah (natural disposition). That’s why the sun rises and sets daily, like clockwork. That’s why the four seasons come in and out, the same time every year. It’s why the bees do their job and cross-pollinate, and why the trees give out oxygen. They do the job they were created for, without fail.
Are we?
It appears that the only creation that has such inconsistency in this regard is humans. We are often forgetful of our true purpose. Part of that is due to the test of free will upon us, and of course Shaytan’s mission to constantly deviate us from the path we’re supposed to be on. As such, we are no longer in ‘balance’ - we are completely out of sync. And we’re getting worse. We’re moving further and further away from what we should be doing and as we do so, we are more in disorder than ever…
Read the full article here: (link)
Here’s how to bring nature’s wisdom into your daily life:
Observe and Reflect: Spend time outdoors, paying attention to patterns in nature - what do they teach you about resilience, patience, or teamwork?
Embrace Cycles: Recognise that everything has a season - hardship and ease, growth and rest. Don’t rush the process.
Simplify and Reduce Waste: Just as nature is efficient, cut unnecessary distractions and streamline your work.
Build Community: Like trees in a forest, strong networks provide support and long-term success. Strengthen your relationships.
Work Like a Bee, Think Like a Bird: Stay grounded in daily tasks but always maintain a higher vision for the future.
From the Know Your Purpose program, here’s a framework inspired by nature’s most efficient and visionary creatures, the birds and the bees. I talk about these two creatures often, as for me, they represent the epitome of how we should be as humans. As you can see, my logo is also represented by these creatures!
Presenting the BeeBird Framework.
This is a quadrant which measures your level of service, alongside your level of growth. Some people are very giving, but burn out. Some people are very single-minded in their ambition but then feel empty. Some are are neither ambitious nor service driven. And then you get the perfect hybrid - the BeeBird! More here (link).
The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate (book), Peter Wohlleben (link)
An eye-opening book on how trees communicate, cooperate, and support each other - offering deep lessons on patience and community.
Disconnect from the Physical World (Lecture), Sheikh Muhammad Foulds (link)
The Harmony Project (Organisation) (link)
A fantastic nonprofit organisation focusing on creating education and learning materials for schools and individuals that connect us to the natural world.
Forget Survival of the Fittest. Only the Purposeful Prevail (Article), Faisal Amjad
I write about lessons of nature pretty often. Here’s one of my recent (link)
Livestream - Sunday, 2 February, 5pm UK time with yours truly
Join me for the first monthly livestream in the KNOW community. To attend you’ll have to register to join the KNOW community (it’s totally free) (link)
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Practical Activity: The Feel Fulfilled Forever Formula Guide (link)
Download our ebook about 10 inspiring icons from the Islamic golden age (link)
Interested in our rich heritage and a brighter future? Check out the 20 part series on Second Golden Age (link) or our newsletter (link)
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Interested in finding your purpose? Here’s some free training (link)
You, the people will decide
Nature is one of the greatest teachers Allah has given us. When we take time to observe, reflect, and apply its lessons, we can unlock clarity, efficiency, and resilience in our lives.
I pray that Allah grants us insight to learn from His creation and wisdom to apply it, ameen.
Please let me know what you think of these newsletters and give me suggestions for themes for future issues. I promise to read every single email insha’allah!
With Love,
Faisal
P.S. Here are the previous editions if you'd like to check them out:
#1: The Two Seas of Knowledge | #2: Knowing Yourself | #3: Being an Amazing Action Taker | #4: Balance, Meezan and the Middle Path
I love the actionable steps and quaint quotes of these newsletters especially! I always have something interesting to learn from them.