Believe it or not, we depend on a star to live. The Sun, the closest star to us, is placed at a distance where if changed by merely 1%, life on Earth would end. Due to its perfectly placed position in space and with respect to the Earth, we are able to live and thrive. For deeper understanding and appreciation, let us have a five-dimensional reflection on the sun: 

Our Sun is a yellow dwarf star, a hot ball of glowing gases at the heart of our Solar System. It is made of 91% hydrogen and 8.9% helium. The Sun has six regions: The core, the radiative zone, and the convective zone in the interior; the visible surface, called the photosphere; the chromosphere; and the outermost region, the corona. The boundary between the Sun's interior and the solar atmosphere is called the photosphere. It is what we see as the visible "surface" of the Sun. Today, we seek light even in the evening, and for that we use lamps. In fact, we use them during the day also. 

Let us compare the Sun to artificial light. The Sun is essential for every creature on Earth; plants, animals, and humans need sunlight to live. The lamp, however, has limited benefits for humans only. While sunlight is unlimited and free, artificial light is not. Moreover, sunlight is used to produce energy through solar panels for a cleaner environment, while artificial light consumes energy.

Did you ever wonder how artificial light came to be? Well, after the widespread use of candles, gas lights, oil lamps, and fire, English chemist Humphry Davy developed the first incandescent light in 1802, followed by the first practical electric arc light in 1806. Over the decades, many other scientists continued to develop electric lights. For example, in 1878, after nearly 1000 failed attempts, Thomas Edison filed his first patent application for "Improvement In Electric Lights". Do you think it would have been possible for animals to have such an invention? How about the wind? Will it be able to produce such tool through random pushing of matter?

Just as the invention of electric light required great minds and consistent improvement to reach the level of sophistication that exists today, Sunlight too must have a Creator behind it. Nature cannot randomly create light and energy from simply placing helium and hydrogen together. Furthermore, as the sun's energy is based on a nuclear explosion, it took thousands of years for humanity to learn how to use nuclear energy. Of course, the first thing we, humans, did was to build atomic bombs and kill thousands. Contrastingly, God uses nuclear explosions in the sun to support life on the earth. The Sun is, yet again, another beautiful sign in the miraculous book of the universe. When the Sun was created in the nebula - the area in space where stars are formed, its leftovers lead to the formation of planets later on. 

The Sun, as the heart of the Solar System, was given gravity to allow planets to be arranged in their respective order. It is because of the design and existence of the Sun that plants are able to grow via photosynthesis, that humans and animals get sufficient Vitamin D, and that the weather, ocean currents, seasons, and climate are derived.

 Our Maker reveals His infinite knowledge, wisdom, and power to us through His signs in the universe. Indeed, He is aware of how sunlight is vital to creatures on earth and to celestial bodies in our Solar System. He connects nature, plants, animals and all human beings by keeping us in sync and in harmony with the universe's rhythms. He communicates His kindness to us through the granting of such an amazing source of life at no charge. 

The perfect succession of day and night, the changing of the seasons, and the nutrients provided through the Sun are just a few of the many signs that point to the Maker’s infinite knowledge and flawless creation. Our Creator blessed us with eyes to observe the sunrise and sunset everyday, ears to hear the humming birds at the dawn of each morning, and skin to feel the heat of the Sun especially when we seek warmth in cold times of the year. Through the Sun, flowers grow and give off pleasing scents. Shouldn’t we be grateful to the Maker of the these many gifts? Should we not praise the Maker of such amazing gifts? What would you do without sensing the Sun everyday? How would you time your day? How would you grow? How would you eat and sleep? Indeed, we should show the utmost appreciation for the valuable gift of the Sun through the use of good words and fine deeds.