According to teachings of Quran and many Hadiths we find that man has been constituted with two fundamental natures. First we are is His chosen creature, Vicegerent, Trustee, Slave and on the other hand he is a mischief maker, sheds bloods, ungrateful, unjust, disobedient etc.
“Behold thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth. ........" (2:30)
Man in Islamic perspective is at once the vicegerent, the khalifah of Allah(swt) on earth and His servant. As His servant man must be obedient to His will. As his Vicegerent, he must be active because he is Allah’s (swt) representative in this world. He is the bridge between heaven and earth, the instrument through which the Will of Allah is realized and crystallized in this world.
Humans are conceived in Islam not in his Titanic nature which rebels against the Will of Allah(swt). But we are level down as Servant of Allah (swt). Our dignity, grandness, splendor is not coming from us but from our position as Allah’s(swt) vicegerent. And that we are able to carry the Will of Allah in our live and in this world and act as a creature which reflects Allah’s (swt) Wisdom and Power in this world.
That is why humans are addressed in Quran has the Chosen creature of Allah (swt)
“But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him and gave him guidance. (20.122)”
“We have indeed created man in the best of molds” (95:4)
“Those who have faith and do righteous deeds they are the best of creatures.” (98:7)
“It is Allah Who hath created the heavens and the earth and sendeth down rain from the skies and with it bringeth out fruits wherewith to feed you; it is He Who hath made the ships subject to you that they may sail through the sea by His command; and the rivers (also) hath He made subject to you.” (14:32)
“And He hath made subject to you the sun and the moon both diligently pursuing their courses: and the Night and the Day hath He (also) made subject to you.” (14:33)
“And He giveth you of all that ye ask for. But if ye count the favors of Allah never will ye be able to number them:...........”.(14:34)
It is He who hath created for you all things that are on earth.........(2:29)
We are chosen by Him in a sense that we reflects most directly the Divine Wisdom. We are the only central being in the world and that is why we are His vicegerent. We have the power to dominate all other creatures, but we also bears the responsibilities to care for all of them. As Prophet Muhammad (sm) said: “The world is beautiful and green, and Allah(swt) has made you governors over it to see how you will act.” (Muslim)
Islam sees us a being possessing intelligence and will. Allah(swt) gave us the intelligence to understand that the Allah (swt) is the Lord, He is One and to testify to His Unity. That is why in Quran, Allah(swt) addresses us before the creation of the world and asks us :
"Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?" They said: "Yea! we do testify!" (7:172)
And by this Yea we came into covenant with Allah (swt) and through which we accepts the Lordship of Allah(swt).
Till now have seen one side of coin. What about the second fundamental nature of man. Lets look what the Quran has to say:
..........They said "Wilt thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?........ (2:30)
..........verily man is given up to injustice and ingratitude. (14:34)
Most of them We found not true to their covenant: but most of them We found rebellious and disobedient. (7:102
Most ungrateful is man! (17:67)
............he was indeed unjust and foolish(33:72)
Truly man was created very impatient (70:19)
Fretful when evil touches him; (70:20)
And niggardly when good reaches him (70:21)
This is the color we human carry. At one side we see our self as the “.......best of creatures.” (98:7) and on the other side we are “.......lowest of the low” (95:5)
If we rebel against Allah (swt) and follow evil we will be degraded to the lowest possible position. and if we use our intelligence and follow Allah’s (swt) law we will reach the high and noble destiny intended for us.
We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains: but they refused to undertake it being afraid thereof: but man undertook it....... (33:72)
Now with this verse we see that we are the trustee of Allah(swt). The Giver of the trust has given us the trust and expects us to use it according to His (the creator of the trust) wish.
But the question is how could man despite so many inherent weakness, flaws in his nature accepts the Trust. The reason maybe is we are made of clay. ....... I am about to create man from clay (38:71) and clay has the capacity not only to keep intact, hide, sustain but also to grow, enlarge and reproduce. So this origin of man has made him special and gave him strength to bear the Trust. But Iblis (Satan), the Jinns could not do it cause they are not fit for it they are made from fire and fire goes up-wards (like proud ness) and fire burns everything.
Assuredly the creation of the heavens and the earth is a greater (matter) than the creation of men: Yet most men understand not (40:57)
As a human we are all or nothing, we can choose between being all or nothing. We are none the less a creature of flesh and blood and we walk in this world and fall back in to it when we die. We can be higher than the angles, or lower than the animals.
In such a two-face situation Prophet Muhammad (sm) has shown us the most balanced way. To overcome from this situation we have to adopt his lifestyle (sunnah). To remind, we live in a time of ‘lifestyle choices’ but for us, right now, there is only one ‘lifestyle choice’, there is no alternatives and there is no contest at all beside the radiant humanity of Rasulullah (sm).
His lifestyle (sunnah) demanded living in this world, not running away from it. He prayed for long hours at night and fasted in rigorous ways but he did not allow his companions to follow it. He was detached and yet in this world. He was truly the Vicegerent: the one who speaks, acts, rules by and for Allah alone.
Living his lifestyle means imitating his inner and well as his outer perfection. It is an unique efficient vehicle for human improvement which embraces every aspect of man.
I conclude by saying Praise be to Allah Lord of all the worlds
“Behold thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on earth. ........" (2:30)
Man in Islamic perspective is at once the vicegerent, the khalifah of Allah(swt) on earth and His servant. As His servant man must be obedient to His will. As his Vicegerent, he must be active because he is Allah’s (swt) representative in this world. He is the bridge between heaven and earth, the instrument through which the Will of Allah is realized and crystallized in this world.
Humans are conceived in Islam not in his Titanic nature which rebels against the Will of Allah(swt). But we are level down as Servant of Allah (swt). Our dignity, grandness, splendor is not coming from us but from our position as Allah’s(swt) vicegerent. And that we are able to carry the Will of Allah in our live and in this world and act as a creature which reflects Allah’s (swt) Wisdom and Power in this world.
That is why humans are addressed in Quran has the Chosen creature of Allah (swt)
“But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him and gave him guidance. (20.122)”
“We have indeed created man in the best of molds” (95:4)
“Those who have faith and do righteous deeds they are the best of creatures.” (98:7)
“It is Allah Who hath created the heavens and the earth and sendeth down rain from the skies and with it bringeth out fruits wherewith to feed you; it is He Who hath made the ships subject to you that they may sail through the sea by His command; and the rivers (also) hath He made subject to you.” (14:32)
“And He hath made subject to you the sun and the moon both diligently pursuing their courses: and the Night and the Day hath He (also) made subject to you.” (14:33)
“And He giveth you of all that ye ask for. But if ye count the favors of Allah never will ye be able to number them:...........”.(14:34)
It is He who hath created for you all things that are on earth.........(2:29)
We are chosen by Him in a sense that we reflects most directly the Divine Wisdom. We are the only central being in the world and that is why we are His vicegerent. We have the power to dominate all other creatures, but we also bears the responsibilities to care for all of them. As Prophet Muhammad (sm) said: “The world is beautiful and green, and Allah(swt) has made you governors over it to see how you will act.” (Muslim)
Islam sees us a being possessing intelligence and will. Allah(swt) gave us the intelligence to understand that the Allah (swt) is the Lord, He is One and to testify to His Unity. That is why in Quran, Allah(swt) addresses us before the creation of the world and asks us :
"Am I not your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?" They said: "Yea! we do testify!" (7:172)
And by this Yea we came into covenant with Allah (swt) and through which we accepts the Lordship of Allah(swt).
Till now have seen one side of coin. What about the second fundamental nature of man. Lets look what the Quran has to say:
..........They said "Wilt thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood?........ (2:30)
..........verily man is given up to injustice and ingratitude. (14:34)
Most of them We found not true to their covenant: but most of them We found rebellious and disobedient. (7:102
Most ungrateful is man! (17:67)
............he was indeed unjust and foolish(33:72)
Truly man was created very impatient (70:19)
Fretful when evil touches him; (70:20)
And niggardly when good reaches him (70:21)
This is the color we human carry. At one side we see our self as the “.......best of creatures.” (98:7) and on the other side we are “.......lowest of the low” (95:5)
If we rebel against Allah (swt) and follow evil we will be degraded to the lowest possible position. and if we use our intelligence and follow Allah’s (swt) law we will reach the high and noble destiny intended for us.
We did indeed offer the Trust to the Heavens and the Earth and the Mountains: but they refused to undertake it being afraid thereof: but man undertook it....... (33:72)
Now with this verse we see that we are the trustee of Allah(swt). The Giver of the trust has given us the trust and expects us to use it according to His (the creator of the trust) wish.
But the question is how could man despite so many inherent weakness, flaws in his nature accepts the Trust. The reason maybe is we are made of clay. ....... I am about to create man from clay (38:71) and clay has the capacity not only to keep intact, hide, sustain but also to grow, enlarge and reproduce. So this origin of man has made him special and gave him strength to bear the Trust. But Iblis (Satan), the Jinns could not do it cause they are not fit for it they are made from fire and fire goes up-wards (like proud ness) and fire burns everything.
Assuredly the creation of the heavens and the earth is a greater (matter) than the creation of men: Yet most men understand not (40:57)
As a human we are all or nothing, we can choose between being all or nothing. We are none the less a creature of flesh and blood and we walk in this world and fall back in to it when we die. We can be higher than the angles, or lower than the animals.
In such a two-face situation Prophet Muhammad (sm) has shown us the most balanced way. To overcome from this situation we have to adopt his lifestyle (sunnah). To remind, we live in a time of ‘lifestyle choices’ but for us, right now, there is only one ‘lifestyle choice’, there is no alternatives and there is no contest at all beside the radiant humanity of Rasulullah (sm).
His lifestyle (sunnah) demanded living in this world, not running away from it. He prayed for long hours at night and fasted in rigorous ways but he did not allow his companions to follow it. He was detached and yet in this world. He was truly the Vicegerent: the one who speaks, acts, rules by and for Allah alone.
Living his lifestyle means imitating his inner and well as his outer perfection. It is an unique efficient vehicle for human improvement which embraces every aspect of man.
I conclude by saying Praise be to Allah Lord of all the worlds
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