A Lesson from Sardines - The Importance of Unity

Allahu Akbar… in observing the marine biology of sardine fish, Allah teaches us a valuable lesson on the importance of unity as a Jemaah (group/congregation).
Sardines by themselves are rather helpless fish, with no real defence mechanisms against their predators – no claws, thorns, sharp tooth, poison secretion, skin change ability, or even swift evasive swim skills. In fact, they are so delicate they cannot live in waters exceeding 20 degrees C.

Their only defense is sticking together in huge, million-sized shoals/schools, and to cleverly take advantage of their shiny scales to reflect off the sunlight. When predators come in,sardine shoals move swiftly in formation with such coordinated and organized evasive manoeuvres, that the massive movement and random lights simply confuse the sharks, as they swim around their prey, ironically unable to get a single bite to eat despite being surrounded in the massive buffet.

The equally interesting lesson in teamwork is how these shoals of sardines eventually get caught and victimized. Where Sharks are more aggressive and stronger, they are also more individualistic and lack in teamwork.
Dolphins, on the other hand, are equipped with radar-like sonar emission abilities, and have the brilliant skills team up among themselves to round up their Sardine prey, isolating the shoals of sardines to small, “hunt-able” sizes, so their confusing defensive manoeuvres become less effective, going for the kill.

When dolphins start the hunt, other predators, including sharks, whales, and the sea-diving gannets, jump the bandwagon to benefit from their great organizational skills to join the frenzy. And when the predators get together, they ignore each other – all focusing on the great sardine feast, gobbling them up by the thousands, as millions get eaten up within a span of minutes.

And amazingly, at the end of the day, despite the great feeding frenzy, more than half of the sardines survive, mostly the ones who are able to stick to the large group.

And subhanAllah what an amazing lesson to reflect on here. In this ocean of life, filled with constant trials and tribulations, of things that distract us from our destination and purpose in life – of God and the Hereafter – it’s easy to get ‘picked out’ by the “predators” and fall prey to temptation and the fleeting delights of this worldly Life, the beautification of this dunya.

But if we stick to our congregation, and help each other – towards righteousness and piety - to stay focused and survive these trials, our chances are survival are much, much increased – even if, like the sardines, we are weak and virtually defenceless (i.e. even if we lack in knowledge).
And just like the dolphins, there are disbelieving folk out there who are better equipped, and very intelligent in strategically disuniting our ummah; and other predators who will jump the bandwagon when they have the chance to attack.

But if we stick close to the main group and play our role help each other out, the predators don’t stand a chance, no matter how well equipped or large their numbers may be.
May Allah unite us as a Jemaah and amongst those who help each other to al-Birr and at-Taqwa.

The Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said:
فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِالْجَمَاعَةِ فَإِنَّمَا يَأْكُلُ الذِّئْبُ الْقَاصِيَةَ
“So upon you is (to stick to the) Jemaah* (congregation) – for the wolf eats up a lone sheep that stays far from the flock”
(Narrated by Abu Daud, An-Nasa’i, graded sahih)

*one of the subnarrators of the hadith said, “the congregation here means the congregational prayer (solah in jamaah)”
وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّـهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا ۚ
“And hold on fast, all of you, to the Rope of Allah, and do not be divided amongst yourselves!” (Surah Al-Imran, verse 103)