The Role and Status of Man- Islamic Perspective

Man is the special creation bestowed with enrmous capacity. Therefore, understanding man, his status, and his role has always been a subject of interest for philosophers, thinkers, and reformers, given that man is the only being responsible for the development or corruption of the earth. This write up is an English translated opinion on "The Role and Status of Man in the Islamic Perspective" from an Arab Scholar Dr Ehsan Samara on FB.

أَعُوذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

The Role and Status of Man- Islamic Perspective

Understanding the human being, his status and his role has always been a subject of interest for philosophers, thinkers and reformers, because only man is responsible for the development or deterioration of the earth. (Man is the only one on this earth who brings about change of his own free will) Therefore, man has occupied an important place in the divine messages of revelation. In fact, the last message shows that all divine revelation is sent to man. Indeed, the Holy Quran is the final book of guidance from ALLAH Almighty, which was revealed for the guidance and welfare of all humanity.

“And We have sent down to you (O Prophet!) the great reminder (the Quran) that you may explain clearly to the people what has been revealed to them and that they may reflect.” (An-Nahl: 44)

“And I have been commanded to be among those who submit (to Allah) and to recite the Quran. So whoever accepts guidance, he has indeed followed the right path for his own benefit.” (An-Naml, 27:91-92)

God Almighty says: “O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of God to you all” (Al-A'raf 7:158);

and He also says: “And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds” (Al-Anbiya 21:107).

Hence, the verses of the Holy Quran either speak about humankind, address it, or discuss matters related to it in some way. This indicates the importance and status of humankind, that it is the center of existence. In accordance with this status and importance, AALLAH made humankind responsible for the actions and deeds (performed by each on of them), empowering it to determine its own destiny.

ALLAH equipped "Man" for this with intellect and free will, made it His vicegerent on Earth, and subjected to it all that is in the heavens and the earth. He charged man with reforming the Earth and forbade him from corrupting it. To achieve this, ALLAH Almighty sent prophets and messengers to guide people throughout history to the straightest path, not leaving them to their whims and desires.

This is because humankind, with the characteristics bestowed upon it by God, is the only being that is conscious and aware of itself and its Creator. It possesses instincts and organic needs inherently designed for fulfillment, and it has the capacity for choice. If left to its own devices, it will go astray and be misguided. Hence, it was God Almighty's wisdom that the primary role of humankind in life should be worship in its comprehensive sense, meaning that humankind should be aware of its connection to God in everything it does and everything it refrains from doing, whether it be an action or an inaction.

Whether religious or worldly, this includes developing the earth and doing good deeds in accordance with God’s commands with the intention of pleasing God Almighty. Therefore, worship is the purpose of human existence, and this is what is confirmed by the definitive texts in His Almighty’s saying:

(And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me) Adh-Dhariyat: (56).

And He, the Exalted, said: “And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], ‘Worship Allah and avoid false deities.’ And among them were those whom Allah guided, and among them were those upon whom error was justified. So travel through the land and observe how was the end of the deniers.” (An-Nahl 16:36)

If a person abandons this role of worshipping Allah, the Exalted, he loses his status and role, and becomes like cattle, or even worse.

He, the Exalted, said: “And We have certainly created for Hell many of the jinn and mankind. They have hearts which do not understand.” They understand with them, and they have eyes with which they do not see, and they have ears with which they do not hear. Those are like cattle; rather, they are more astray. Those are the heedless ones. (Al-A'raf: 178-179).

And in accordance with what we have previously stated, we conclude that man is the axis of all natural existence, and he is the master of this earth; Rather, the natural universe, for everything in this natural existence is subservient to it, with what appears to be weakness in it.

And the strength of man that God has bestowed upon him lies in his mind, his will, and his faith in God Almighty as Creator and Manager, and in the role that He has entrusted to him in life, the basis of which is the worship of God Almighty and adherence to His command in what he does or leaves undone.

ALLAH, the Exalted, said: (Indeed, We created man from a sperm-drop mixture that We may try him; and We made him hearing and seeing. Indeed, We guided him to the way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful.) Al-Insan: (2-3).

And He, the Exalted, said: “O my people, worship God; you have no deity other than Him. He created you from the earth and settled you in it, so seek His forgiveness and then repent to Him. Indeed, my Lord is near and responsive.” (Hud: 61)

By worshipping God alone, man fulfills his role in developing the earth and strengthens his position in existence.

God Almighty said: (...Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you. Indeed, God is Knowing and Acquainted.) Al-Hujurat: (13).

Worship of God is only achieved by realizing the connection with God in all actions, meaning being keen to do everything that God loves and is pleased with, and to leave what displeases Him. To the extent that man turns away from God’s commands, his conditions become corrupted, and he becomes savage and corrupt on earth, so his position is lowered, and he becomes one of the losers in this world and the hereafter.

This is because man was created in the best form, and God sent prophets and messengers to him so that he would be upright in God’s command. Man was created only for what is specific to him, and what is other than that of powers, properties, and attributes is shared with him by other creatures.

So, in terms of what he eats and reproduces, he is a plant, and in terms of what he feels and moves, he is an animal, and in terms of his form, shape, and stature; It is not like an image engraved on a wall, but rather its defining characteristic, which determines its status and through which it fulfills its role, thus attaining stewardship on Earth.

For this purpose, Man was created, and God bestowed upon it the blessing of reason, the ability to comprehend the true nature of things, and the capacity to recognize its Creator. This revolves around the worship of God Almighty, that is, obedience to God in all that He commands and forbids.

If Man remains steadfast, it becomes a truly devoted servant of God, rising to be among the best of creation. But, if Man directs its efforts towards following whims and desires, then the Man descends to the level of beasts and becomes the worst of creation. This is alluded to in the words of God Almighty:

“Indeed, those who disbelieve among the People of the Scripture and the polytheists will be in the fire of Hell, abiding eternally therein. Those are the worst of creatures. Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds - those are the best of creatures.” (Al-Bariyyah) Al-Bayyinah: (6-7)

God Almighty has spoken the truth.

Dr . Ehsan Samara

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

دور الإنسان ومكانته في المنظور الإسلامي

كانت وما زالت معرفة الإنسان ومكانته ودوره موضع اهتمام الفلاسفة والمفكرين والمصلحين، كون الإنسان هو الكائن الوحيد المسؤول عن عمارة الأرض أو إفسادها، ولذلك فقد احتل الإنسان مساحة كبيرة في الرسالات الإلهية؛ بل إن الرسالة الخاتمة تظهر أن الوحي الإلهي كله موجه للإنسان؛

[إن القرآن الكريم هو الكتاب الأخير من الله تعالى، الذي أُنزل لهداية البشرية جمعاء وخيرها۔]

بِالْبَیِّنٰتِ وَ الزُّبُرِؕ-وَ اَنْزَلْنَاۤ اِلَیْكَ الذِّكْرَ لِتُبَیِّنَ لِلنَّاسِ مَا نُزِّلَ اِلَیْهِمْ وَ لَعَلَّهُمْ یَتَفَكَّرُوْنَٜ (النحل: 44).

بقوله سبحانه تعالی

وَّ اُمِرۡتُ اَنۡ اَکُوۡنَ مِنَ الۡمُسۡلِمِیۡنَ ﴿ۙ۹۱﴾۔۔ وَ اَنۡ اَتۡلُوَا الۡقُرۡاٰنَ ۚ فَمَنِ اہۡتَدٰی فَاِنَّمَا یَہۡتَدِیۡ لِنَفۡسِہٖ ۚ وَ مَنۡ ضَلَّ فَقُلۡ اِنَّمَاۤ اَنَا مِنَ الۡمُنۡذِرِیۡنَ ﴿۹۲﴾ (النمل، 27: 91 تا 92)

قال سبحانه: (يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنِّي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ إِلَيْكُمْ جَمِيعًا) الأعراف: (١٥٨)؛ وقال سبحانه: (وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَاكَ إِلَّا رَحْمَةً لِلْعَالَمِينَ) الأنبياء: (١٠٧).

ومن هنا كانت آيات القرءان الكريم، إما أنها تتحدث عن الإنسان، أو تتحدث إليه، أو تتحدث عما يتعلق به بشكل من الأشكال، وهذا إنما يدل على أهمية الإنسان ومكانته، وأنه محور الوجود، واتساقا مع مكانة الإنسان وأهميته، جعله الله مسؤولا عن تصرفاته وأفعاله، يقرر مصيره بنفسه، فهيأه لذلك بالعقل والإرادة، وجعله مستخلفا في الأرض، وسخر له ما في السموات والأرض، وكلفه بالإصلاح في الأرض وحرم عليه الإفساد فيها، ولتحقيق ذلك أرسل الله تعالى الأنبياء والرسل للناس على مر التاريخ لهدايتهم للتي هي أقوم، ولم يترك الناس لأهوائهم ورغباتهم، وذلك لأن الإنسان بخصائصه التي حباه الله بها، هو الكائن الوحيد الذي يعي ويدرك ذاته ويدرك خالقه، وعنده الغرائز والحاجات العضوية المهيئة خلقة للإشباع، وعنده المقدرة على الاختيار، فإن ترك لنفسه ضل وغوى، ومن هنا كانت حكمة الله تعالى أن يكون الدور الرئيس للإنسان في الحياة العبادة بمعناها الشامل، أي إدراك الإنسان لصلته بالله في كل ما يعمل وكل ما يترك، سواء أكان العمل دينيا أم دنيويا، فيدخل في ذلك عمارة الأرض وفعل الخيرات وفق أوامر الله بقصد رضوان الله تعالى، فالعبادة إذن هي غاية وجود الإنسان، وهذا ما تؤكده النصوص القطعية في قوله سبحانه: (وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ) الذاريات: (٥٦)؛ وقال سبحانه: (وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَسُولًا أَنِ اُعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ هَدَى اللَّهُ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ حَقَّتْ عَلَيْهِ الضَّلَالَةُ فَسِيرُوا فِي الْأَرْضِ فَانْظُرُوا كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُكَذِّبِينَ) النحل: (٣٦) فإن تخلى الإنسان عن هذا الدور العبادي لله تعالى فقد مكانته ودوره، وكان كالأنعام بل أضل، قال سبحانه: (وَلَقَدْ ذَرَأْنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْجِنِّ وَالْإِنْسِ لَهُمْ قُلُوبٌ لَا يَفْقَهُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ أَعْيُنٌ لَا يُبْصِرُونَ بِهَا وَلَهُمْ آَذَانٌ لَا يَسْمَعُونَ بِهَا أُولَئِكَ كَالْأَنْعَامِ بَلْ هُمْ أَضَلُّ أُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْغَافِلُونَ) الأعراف: (١٧٨-١٧٩). وطوعا لما أسلفناه نخلص إلى القول بأن الإنسان هو محور الوجود الطبيعي كله، وهو سيد هذه الأرض؛ بل الكون الطبيعي فكل شيء في هذا الوجود الطبيعي مسخر له مع ما يبدو فيه من ضعف، وقوة الإنسان التي وهبها الله إليه تكمن في عقله وإرادته وإيمانه بالله تعالى خالقا مدبرا، وما أوكل له من دور في الحياة، قوامه عبادة الله تعالى والاستقامة على أمره فيما يفعل أو يترك، قال سبحانه: (إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الْإِنْسَانَ مِنْ نُطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَبْتَلِيهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِيعًا بَصِيرًا إِنَّا هَدَيْنَاهُ السَّبِيلَ إِمَّا شَاكِرًا وَإِمَّا كَفُورًا) الإنسان: (٢-٣)؛ وقال سبحانه: (يَا قَوْمِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مَا لَكُمْ مِنْ إِلَهٍ غَيْرُهُ هُوَ أَنْشَأَكُمْ مِنَ الْأَرْضِ وَاسْتَعْمَرَكُمْ فِيهَا فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ إِنَّ رَبِّي قَرِيبٌ مُجِيبٌ) هود: (٦١). فبعبادة الله وحده يؤدي الإنسان دوره في عمارة الأرض، ويعزز مكانته في الوجود، قال سبحانه: (... إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِنْدَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ) الحجرات: (١٣)، وعبادة لله إنما تكون بإدراك الصلة بالله في الأعمال كلها، بمعنى الحرص على فعل كل ما يحبه الله ويرضاه، وترك ما يسخطه، فبمقدار إعراض الإنسان عن أوامر الله تفسد أحواله ويكون متوحشا مفسدا في الأرض، فتنحط مكانته ويكون من الخاسرين في الدنيا والآخرة، وذلك لأن الإنسان خلق في أحسن تقويم وبعث الله له الأنبياء والرسل لأجل أن يستقيم على أمر الله، فالإنسان لم يخلق إلا لما هو من خاصيته، وما عدا ذلك من القوى والخواص والصفات، فيشاركه فيها غيره من الكائنات، فهو من حيث يتغذى وينسل فنبات، ومن حيث يحس ويتحرك فحيوان، ومن حيث صورته وشكله وقامته؛ فكالصورة المنقوشة على حائط، وإنما خاصيته التي فيها مكانته، وبها يؤدي دوره فتكون له الخلافة في الأرض، ومن أجلها خلق، وحباه الله بنعمة العقل ودرك حقائق الأشياء والتعرف على خالقه، تتمحور على عبادة الله تعالى، أي: طاعة الله في كل ما يأمر به وينهى عنه، فإن هو استقام كان عبدا ربانيا، وارتفع ليكون من خير البرية، وإن صرف همته إلى اتباع الأهواء والشهوات فقد نزل إلى درك البهائم وكان شر البرية وإلى هذا الإشارة بقوله سبحانه: (إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ فِي نَارِ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا أُولَئِكَ هُمْ شَرُّ الْبَرِيَّةِ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آَمَنُوا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ أُولَئِكَ هُمْ خَيْرُ الْبَرِيَّةِ) البينة: (٦-٧) صدق الله العظيم.