“Indeed, We honored the progeny of Adam, and bore them across land and sea and provided them with good things for their sustenance, and exalted them above many of Our creatures.” [Qur’an, 17: 70]
The status of a person in an organization corresponds to the role he plays in the system. To begin with, a fit candidate must possess the necessary credentials, talents, and propensity compatible with the responsibilities of their appointment and harmonious with the particular culture of the organization. In turn, the organization allocates critical resources and provides support services to enable him to effectively carry out his assignments. The rigor of scrutiny of his performance also corresponds to the degree of intricacy of his duty, ultimately generating his report card, favorable or unfavorable. For a favorable outcome, the system must provide adequate guidelines, task orientation, and a clear understanding of the expectations to the appointee before they embark on the mission. Comprehensive instructions communicated methodically enable an apprised operative to energetically pursue the organizational goals with a clear vision and drive.
Allah SWT is the Creator of the universe, the Lord of mankind, and the Administrator of His Kingdom: “Surely your Lord is Allah, Who created the heavens and the earth in six days, then established Himself on the Throne (of His Dominion), governing all affairs of the universe…” [Q, 10: 3] It is He alone Who keeps the universe in existence and it is He alone Who directs it as He pleases. He is not just the Creator of the universe but is also its Absolute Ruler. Every atom in the universe is bound in obedience to Him: “…all that is in the heavens and the earth is in submission to Him (Allah) – willingly or unwillingly…” [Q, 3: 83] He is the only object of worship: “Your Lord has decreed: Do not worship any but Him…” [Q, 17: 23] Recognition of His exclusive Lordship is the cornerstone of man’s entire life system. All sovereignty vests in the One True Allah in every personal, societal, and political domain.
Whatever Allah SWT creates is fabulous, unique, and perfect. Yet, He has distinguished the creation of man by infusing in his embodiment His spirit; thereby personifying him with some of His attributes: “He (Allah) Who excelled in the creation of all that He created. He originated the creation of man from clay … then He breathed into him of His spirit…” [Q, 32: 7 – 9] The spirit signifies a specific essence comprised of intellect, consciousness, reason, discernment, choice, and free will. It is by dint of these that man is distinguished from all other species of earthly creatures and is invested with a specific personality, individuality, and his Creator’s vicegerency. Man’s qualities of knowledge, reflection, cognition, volition, judgment, and authority which characterize him, are reflections of Allah’s attributes. They are derived from the Creator Himself.
Before Allah SWT created man with his phenomenal qualities, He had defined his momentous role on earth: “…Your Lord said to the angels: Lo! I am about to place a Khalifah on earth…” [Q, 2: 30] A Khalifah or vicegerent exercises the authority delegated to him by his principal and does so in the capacity of his deputy and agent. His authority stems from his principal. He is obligated to carry out the will of his master. As Allah’s representative on earth, man’s mission is to establish the Sovereignty of his Master by obeying His code of conduct in every aspect of life and across the land: “… I did not create jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” [Q, 51: 56]
Comprehensively, worship (ibada) means total submission to the commands of Allah SWT under all circumstances and conditions in every aspect of life, whether social, material, spiritual, or political – right from personal hygiene to the leadership of the world. It is worth noting here that life is neither a bed of roses nor is it a hell. It is what one makes it. Under the Creator’s plan, it is full of difficulties and challenges: “Man has been created in difficulties.” [Q, 90: 4] These difficulties, on one hand, are designed to make a person stronger and more resilient in the pursuit of his higher goals and, on the other, they are tests from Allah SWT to elevate him if patience is practiced in staying the course: “No calamity can occur, except by the permission of Allah; and if any one believes in Allah, He guides his heart aright …”[Q, 64: 11] If a calamity is from Allah SWT, a believer’s trust in Him gets even stronger. Yet, He assures that none will be burdened with difficulties or held responsible for more than what one can bear: “Allah does not lay a responsibility on anyone beyond his capacity…” [Q, 2: 286] Man’s answerability to Allah SWT is limited by the extent of his ability. If he cannot face a difficulty, he will not be taken to task.
Undeniably, and to the exclusion of all other species, the entire power that man exercises has been granted to him by Allah SWT. He occupies a uniquely exalted position in the divine scheme of things: “Indeed, We honored the progeny of Adam … and exalted them above many of Our creatures.” [Q, 17: 70] Putting man’s purpose of life in perspective, Allah SWT has created him with means and faculties and provided him with guidance to see whether he remains grateful to his Creator or uses his freedom to defy Him: “Verily, We have created man from a drop of mixed fluid to test him; so We made him hearing, seeing. Verily, We have shown him the way whether he be grateful or ungrateful.” [Q, 76: 2, 3] If he used his faculties and freedom in compliance with his Creator’s Will and fear of accountability by Him, he would be deemed successful.
Unlike other species, we see, visualize, and understand the nature of objects and the causes of their existence in the universe, and ultimately the universe itself, with three types of lenses: Physical eyes, intellectual inquisitiveness, and intuitional inclination. Each takes us to a deeper level of understanding of reality. The physical eyes see the obvious, like color, shape, and size of objects; the intellectual eyes go deeper to examine their scientific structure; and the intuitive sense leads to the real truth behind their existence. When a seed, for example, is placed in the ground, it develops into a plant under favorable conditions. Physical eyes see its color, shape, and size. A curious mind scientifically learns that when a seed is planted in the right conditions, it undergoes the process of germination. This involves the seed taking in water and oxygen. Fertility of the soil, water, and sunlight facilitates the seed to shoot as a plant. The intuitional reflection is anxious to know the origin of these properties in soil, water, and the sun; and still more deeply, who actually created these elements to begin with. The answer leads a rational mind to recognize the undeniable Truth: “It is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth, Who sent down water …and thereby brought forth a variety of produce…” [Q, 14: 32] Prophet Ibrahim had seen the stars, moon, and the sun before. But when he set out to uncover the truth about this universe, his intuition guided him to reject them as false objects of worship and recognize: “… I have turned my face in exclusive devotion to the One Who originated the heavens and the earth…” [Q, 6: 79]
Indeed life is a test, and we are here for a mission to perform. To know the right way that would ensure sound intellectual orientation and right behavior is man’s greatest need. It is Allah’s most merciful favor that He has taken upon Himself to make arrangements for man’s guidance he needs to live up to his rank as His vicegerent on earth: “It rests with Allah alone to show you the right way, even when there are many crooked ways ...” [Q, 16: 9] Allah SWT has invested man’s body and mind with special characteristics. He has equipped him with senses and other capabilities he can utilize to perform the tasks required of him. He has granted him the means for gaining knowledge, for instance. He has bestowed him innate faculties for reason, reflection, judgment, discernment, and willpower to intelligently lead his life in the world with meaning and dignity worthy of his humanity. Allah SWT has meticulously provided this guidance in a stepwise process that proceeds in a sequence of five distinct elements, mutually reinforcing. Individuals possess these capabilities in various combinations and in varying degrees with a common denominator sufficient for anyone anxious to seek the guidance. They include:
Conscience: Since his birth, human conscience is man’s first guide that has the awareness of right and wrong, good and bad, and just and unjust: “And by the soul and by Him Who has perfected it. And inspired it (with conscience of) what is wrong for it and (what is) right for it. He who purifies it will prosper. And he who suppresses it will be ruined.” [Q, 91: 7 – 10] By birth goodness is intrinsic in man’s nature that revolts against evil: “…Allah has created man on the true nature …” [Q, 30: 30] Nothing obstructs him from following the right path. Pursuant to that, the Prophet Muhammad SAW elucidated: “My Lord says that He has created all of His servants on the true nature…” [Muslim, Ahmad] Man is intrinsically aware that good and evil are different because his Creator has endowed him with a capacity to distinguish between them.
Knowledge: Man is born with a body of knowledge essential for his early stages of survival when he was unable to acquire it externally: “Taught man what he did not know.” [Q, 96: 5] On his own, man did not possess any knowledge. It was Allah SWT Who granted it to him. Additionally, Allah SWT has enabled him to further his knowledge as and when required or as he wishes by using his faculties of seeing, hearing, touching, tasting and smelling which serve as perfect means for gaining knowledge. Because it is expandable, a believer is encouraged to seek Allah’s help to increase in his knowledge: “…and pray: Lord! Increase my knowledge.” [Q, 20: 114] Allah SWT lets man discover what is not within his knowledge. In fact, seeking knowledge, as encouraged by the Prophet SAW, is a must in Islam: “Seeking knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim (man and woman).” [Ibn Majah]
Intelligence: Information is only a load on the mind unless it is processed, synthesized, and organized as a road map to move forward towards the target goal. This thought process requires intelligence and investigative ingenuity. Allah SWT has created man as an intelligent agent. His inherent intellectual capability differentiates him from other species and gives him the power to gain mastery over all other earthly creatures: “Then He (Allah)… bestowed upon your ears and eyes and hearts …” [Q, 32: 9] The sight and hearing are the means through which man gathers information. Together with ears and eyes is mentioned the heart, which actually signifies the mind. It is the thought processing center that sifts and arranges the acquired information, concludes, chooses one of the courses of action, and decides to proceed. These valuable characteristics are rooted in man’s nature to have insight into the truth and choose the right path to follow.
No two individuals have the same level of intelligence. In His infinite wisdom, Allah SWT has granted this faculty to individuals in varying degrees. It is a function of the inherent genetic and cognitive composition of a person which cannot be altered. Given his intellect level, a person acts intelligently in whatever he is motivated to do. An intelligent man does things right.
Wisdom: Wisdom signifies sound perception and sound judgment. It is an immensely precious gift of Allah SWT accorded to only those who excel in their devotion to Him: “He grants wisdom to those whom He wills, and whoever is granted wisdom has indeed been granted much good. Yet none except men of understanding take heed.” [Q, 2: 269] One who is possessed of wisdom follows wholeheartedly the path laid down by Allah SWT without any reservations. The truly wise person is he who makes full use of the tenure of this life and invests his resources for prosperity in the life that will never end. A wise man is also an intelligent man. The converse may not be true. All decisions made by such a person are guided by moral conscience and executed intelligently with full reliance in Allah SWT. A wise man does right things right.
Wisdom essentially demands gratefulness to the One who has bestowed it. A historical figure Luqman, a widely acclaimed paragon of wisdom, was commanded by Allah SWT: “We bestowed wisdom upon Luqman, (enjoining): Give thanks to Allah…” [Q, 31: 12] Man has been granted intelligence, wisdom, reason and discernment. All these characteristics necessitate that he be grateful to his Creator. In fact, thankfulness to Allah SWT should embrace every aspect of man’s life. He should be cognizant in his thoughts that he owes all that he has to Him. He should also express his thankfulness verbally. This sentiment should also manifest itself in his behavior and in all his efforts to please Allah SWT by sharing with others all that he has been granted. Goodness should not be contained to oneself. For its propagation and sustainability, others too deserve to be counseled goodness with wisdom and sensitivity: “Invite people to the way of your Lord with wisdom and goodly exhortation, and reason with them in the best manner possible…” [Q, 16: 125] No deed is nobler than guiding someone to the right path: “And whose word is better than he who calls toward Allah and acts righteously and says I am of those who submit.” [Q, 41: 33] These efforts testify that he is indeed a wise man, truly grateful to his Creator.
Messengers: Despite man being so resourceful in seeking knowledge for a meaningful life, there is a lot more that is out of his reach to be sufficiently informed to comprehend the purpose of his earthly existence and serve it fully. He cannot be expected, for instance, even to have a clue what lies beyond this life and what exactly he must do to earn his Creator’s pleasure for a prosperous eternal life. This leaves him with a dire need for external assistance. Toward this end, right from the beginning, Allah SWT has promised to send His Messengers who would walk with him through each phase of life: “O Children of Adam! If Messengers come to you from amongst you reciting to you My Verses, then those who become pious and righteous shall have no fear, nor shall they grieve.” [Q, 7: 35] Periodically, thence, Messengers had been coming to their respective communities with revealed Scriptures. They provided their people with a code of conduct and meticulously presented themselves as role models of their teachings. The core of their teachings was universal: “…Your God is the One and only God (Allah). Hence, whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord let him do righteous works, and let him associate none with the worship of his Lord.” [Q, 18: 110] Per Allah’s promise, and what a rational mind witnesses in real time, this central message has indeed reached every corner of the world in this cyber age.
Not only does Allah SWT send His Messengers with a precise code of conduct, as assured, He has also pledged that none will be punished without having received the divine guidance: “…And never shall We punish any until We send a Messenger.”[Q, 17: 15] Thus, unless a Messenger has come to a community to convey Allah’s Message or the teachings of a Messenger have reached that community, its dwellers shall not be subject to a judgment for what they did not know.
After fostering and offering various methods of guidance, Allah SWT has granted man two other assets to practically conduct his life and demonstrate his loyalty to his Creator. They include:
Freedom: With his innate sense of good and bad, and the given awareness of what is acceptable and what is not, man has been permitted the freedom of choice and freedom of action: Tell them: People! Truth has come to you from your Lord. Whosoever, then, follows the true guidance does so for his good; and whosoever strays, his straying will be to his own hurt…” [Q, 10: 108] While there is no compulsion to behave in a certain way, this freedom does have the stipulation that the informed people would bear the consequences of the actions they willfully commit. The warning is clear:”…He who transgressed, and preferred the life of this world…his abode shall be Hell. But he who feared to stand before his Lord, and restrained himself from evil desires…his abode shall be Paradise.” [Q, 79: 37- 41] Everyone will be adjudged based on their outlook on life.
Resources: With freedom of choice and action, Allah SWT has also placed enormous resources at man’s disposal to carry out the plans he chooses to undertake with his free will: “It is He (Allah) Who has created for you all that is on earth…” [Q, 2: 29] All these material things have been provided for human sustenance, physical survival, and civilizational development. Simultaneously, intertwined in this conglomerate of resources are the adornments of this life as a test of man’s conduct: “Surely, We have made all that is on earth an embellishment for it to test people as to who of them is better in conduct.” [Q, 18: 7] It is to be seen who restrains himself from illicit desires; yet, wisely benefits from them and remains resolved on the reason of his life.
Recapping, Allah SWT created man with a purpose in life. To facilitate the accomplishment of his mission, his Creator allocated him a fixed duration of time; instilled in his conscience the sense of good and bad; granted him intelligence and wisdom, and equipped him with faculties of hearing, seeing and thinking for acquisition of knowledge and information, reason, discernment, judgment and decision; dispatched His Messengers with Books for his guidance; granted him freedom of choice and action; and placed vast resources at his disposal to carry out his preferred plans. His test is whether he, with his free will and choice, remains grateful to his Creator by conforming to His code of conduct or, to his own peril, becomes neglectfully defiant to Him.
Mirroring, inherently man has intellectual superiority over all other creations and freedom to channel his capabilities in any direction he chooses by using the enormous resources placed at his disposal. In order to retain his status as his Creator’s vicegerent, he is tasked to transform his intellectual superiority into moral superiority by exercising his freedom trustily and establishing Allah’s Sovereignty in every function of his life and, collectively, in society. His journey on earth is to accomplish this mission. If he so strived, he has lived the purpose of his existence and is worthy of distinct acknowledgment from his Creator: “… Those who strive in Our cause, We shall surely guide them to Our Ways. Indeed Allah is with those who do good.” [Q, 29: 69]
Islamic Point of View 