SubhanAllah! We have often heard the folk tale about the eagle renewing itself at age 40, it is widely shared as a story. And in my case, I have not only heard it but also transmitted to my kids as bedtime story along with the required disclaimer that it is folk tale.
While the story as a whole, about eagles retrieving to mountains and going through a painful process to renew itself is not scientifically accurate, but it has been narrated so widely that I would like to derive its symbolic message, which carries deep lessons, may be I reverberated with the lessons, as these days I have been placed on mountains by Allah Al-Hakeem’s immense hikmah, and also may be due to the reason that in a couple of years, I would be 40 inshaAllah.
Let me brief the story as commonly told.
An eagle reaches around 40 years of age, but by then, its beak becomes weak and curved, its talons grow dull, and its feathers become heavy, making it difficult to hunt. The eagle must make a painful decision, either die or go through a difficult renewal process. It flies to a high mountain, breaks off its old beak, plucks out its old talons and feathers, and waits for them to regrow. After several months, the eagle emerges renewed, able to live for another 30 years.
The story ends here, but there is so much symbolism even in this folk tale.
The eagle must endure intense pain to be renewed.
In life, major growth often comes after difficult informed, conscious choices, suffering, and sacrifice.
The eagle flies to the mountains, away from distractions. The eagle must shed its old feathers, beak, and talons to survive.
SubhanAllah! In life, we often hold onto relationships even with ourself and with others due to weird ways of thinking which is due to prevailing jahilliya (ignorant) cultures around us, that prevent us from thriving toward sirat al mustaqeem.
We must make conscious room for a stronger, wiser self, to unlearn the concepts which contradict with Islamic principles.
The age of 40 is symbolic.
At or around 40, people often experience deep self-reflection, renewal, or a turning point. People in today’s world term it as mid life crisis but it actually is the voice of fitrah (natural disposition) screaming about what’s wrong within ourselves, and the society around.
Mountains often symbolize spiritual elevation, higher purpose, and self discovery.
It gives you an eagle’s eye view about what’s happening inside you, and around you.
The eagle’s story reminds us that change is painful, but necessary for growth.
Let’s try to develop an eagle’s eye view, (their 340-degree field of vision combined with incredible eyesight makes them one of the most visually powerful creatures), let’s consciously develop the eagle’s eye view, especially when we are in the blessed month of ramadan that how much consciousness have we developed about ourselves, about our Creator, and the society at large? Are we becoming
أُو۟لِى ٱلْأَبْصَـٰرِ
people of vision/insight, who interestingly can develop 360 degrees view due to enlightened thinking given to them through Holy Quran and seerah.
What old habits, fears, or negative beliefs do we need to let go of?
What “mountain” do we need to climb for consciousness?
As Iqbal (rh) cited in his poetry
تو شاہین ہے، بسیرا کر پہاڑوں کی چٹانوں میں
“You are a Shaheen (eagle), so make your dwelling on the mountain peaks.”
تجھے پرواز میں رکھّا ہے قدرت نے بلند اتنا
کہ تو جھُک کر دیکھے تو زمیں پر ستارے نظر آئیں
“Nature has destined your flight so high
That when you look down, the stars appear on the ground.”
Let’s ask consciously that How can I use my struggles to grow stronger?
Again quoting Iqbal (rh)
پرواز ہے دونوں کی اسی ایک فضا میں
کرگس کا جہاں اور ہے، شاہین کا جہاں اور
“Both fly in the same sky,
But the vulture’s world is different from the Shaheen’s (eagles).”
SubhanAllah! We all know that Eagles do not fear storms, instead, they fly into the wind and use the storm to lift themselves higher.
And likewise, Eagles fly alone or with other Eagles, never with crows or sparrows. We need to choose companions who inspire us, challenge us, and push us forward inshaAllah.