By Kazi Wadud Nawaz, New Age Islam
20 August 2021
Nothing
in the Universe Makes Sense Except in the Light of the Holy Quran
Main
Points:
1. If you view
the objective realities through the lens of the Holy Quran, you will understand
the meaning and purpose of your life and the universe.
2. Holy Qur'an
suggested a correct approach towards understanding of the Realities through
integration of comprehensible and incomprehensible aspects of divine signs.
3. Ayat-e-Mutashabihaat
is in essence the higher evolutionary stage of Ayat-e-Muhkamaat.
4. The Holy
Qur'an provides mankind with a divine tool for evaluating and understanding the
Attributes of Allah manifested in worldly life.
------
"Nothing in the Universe Makes Sense Except in the Light of the Holy Quran"-says Prof. P.A. Wahid in his book "The Quran: Scientific Exegesis".
To be more
specific, if you view the objective realities through the lens of the Holy
Quran, you will understand the meaning and purpose of your life and the
universe. The Holy Qur'an as a Divine Manual of Universal Governance has been
revealed for guidance of mankind. It's a manual for transforming the world and
building up individual and collective life of mankind on the basis of Islamic
Laws and Code of Conduct just to make them worthy of the status of Allah's
Caliph on earth. General approaches of the Holy Qur'an towards cognition of the
objective realities are as follows:
A) Integrating
'Ayat-e- Mu'hkamaat' and 'Ayat-e- Mutashabihaat':
The Holy
Qur'an through the verse (Qur'an:3:7) which is self-explanatory has clearly
suggested a correct approach towards understanding of the Realities through
integration of comprehensible and incomprehensible aspects of divine signs.
"He it is Who has sent down to thee the
Book: In it are verses basic or fundamental (of established meaning); they are
the foundation of the Book: others are allegorical. But those in whose hearts
is perversity follow the part thereof that is allegorical, seeking discord, and
searching for its hidden meanings, but no one knows its hidden meanings except
Allah. And those who are firmly grounded in knowledge say, "We believe in
the Book; the whole of it is from our Lord:" and none will grasp the
Message except men of understanding." [Qur'an:3:7].
The basic
principles of Islamic Faith, religious ethics, social and family laws and all
verses related to comprehensible divine Attributes or ‘Sifat' belong to the
category of clear and comprehensible verses (Ayat-e-Muhkamat). Qur'anic verses
that point to the miraculous events of the unseen occurring in the worldly life
but related to the 'Essence or Zaat' of Allah beyond the cognitive ability of
mankind, belong to the category of incomprehensible verses.
(Ayat-e-Mutashabihaat).
The
perceptible world forms the foundation of the clear and comprehensible domain
of the Holy Qur'an (Ayat-e-Muhkamaat) that finds its extension in
incomprehensible and non-visible reality (al-Gayeb) reflected by the
allegorical domain of the Holy Qur'an. Ayat-e-Mutashabihaat is in essence the
higher evolutionary stage of Ayat-e-Muhkamaat. The reflection of
Ayat-e-Mutashabihaat on physical world and human consciousness might be a
subject of scientific research as comprehensible 'Relative Truth' but in the
final analysis Ultimate Reality or Absolute Truth will always remain outside
the fold of science beyond human comprehension.
The
universe with all its interconnected physical phenomena manifests divine attributes
extending towards the domain of spirituality and collectively leads towards a
Singular Eternal Entity, the ultimate cause of all creations. The same thing
happens with Time as an all-pervasive Divine Attribute. Its manifestation and impact on the evolutionary
process of life, universe and human consciousness constitute the comprehensible
domain of divine signs in the physical world well within the cognitive capacity
of Science. But the scientists are getting baffled and confused on the question
of the origin of time, life, consciousness and the universe. Since all these
points to the essence or ‘Zaat' of the Eternal Reality, they form the
incomprehensible part of divine signs ie, "Ayat-E-Mutashabihaat".
Their manifestations, impact and functional strategies all might come within
the range of scientific endeavour as part of "Ayat-e-Muhkamaat" but
the Ultimate Truth, in the final analysis, will be beyond the reach of science.
And hence for the Modern Physics, Time is still an Illusion and so far as its
beginning and origin are concerned will remain illusory beyond the cognitive
ability of Science for all time to come.
B) Just
Estimation of Allah’s Attributes and Greatness as the Creator
"No
just estimate have they made of Allah, such as is due to Him" -
says the Holy Qur'an [verse- 39:67].
Just
estimate of Divine attributes is a vital component of faith of a believer. The
Holy Qur'an, from beginning to end has described and explained in details, the
depth and intensity of divine blessings and mercy on mankind, to convince him
of Allah's greatness as the Creator.
All
Qur'anic Verses without exception in course of argumentation have adequately
laid bare the logical basis of Allah's Sovereign Authority that demands
acknowledgement and recognition of Divine Blessings from mankind on the
stand-point of Faith and Morality.
The Holy
Qur'an provides mankind with a divine tool for evaluating and understanding the
Attributes of Allah manifested in worldly life. And Science in course of its
advancement reveals step by step glories of Allah's creation unravelling
underlying Laws of Nature as "Divine Tools for Universal Governance".
The Holy
Qur'an considers the universe, the Heavens and the Earth as a Divine Book full
of signs similar to the verses of the Holy Qur'an, stretched open for mankind
to study and reflect on the manifestations of the Attributes of Allah as the
Creator and Sustainer of the Universe.
The Holy Qur'an through many of its verses has revealed close similitude
between divine signs of the physical world and the Holy Qur'an itself. Allah
says:
"On
the earth, there are signs for those of assured faith. As also in your own
selves: will ye not then see? And in Heaven is your Sustenance, as (also) that
which you are promised. Then by the Lord of heaven and earth, this is the very
Truth, as much as the fact that you can speak intelligently to each
other." [Verses: 20, 21, 22 and 23].
Allah
speaks to mankind, His Caliph on earth, in the language of divine signs
pervading the physical world and also through the Books of Revelation.
Scientific
knowledge as divine blessings has been bestowed on mankind by Allah to help the
study of these two books, 'the Book of Nature and Revealed Scriptures' and to
explore the mysteries of divine creations.
To see
human life and the Universe in the light of the Holy Quran means to adopt an
Integrated World-View that integrates both science and spirituality based on
the concept of At Tawhid. At-Tawhid as an essential criteria of Islamic Faith
constitutes the foundation of Quranic Theory of Knowledge. In short, total
surrender to the Ultimate Reality, analysing all aspects of material and
spiritual life of mankind on the basis of the Unity of Allah, and translating
its basic principles in individual and
collective life, are all part and parcel of "Quranic World-View".
C)
Understanding the Norms of History: Observation, Analysis and Learning
I.
Quranic Concept of History:
Materialistic
and Western Concept of History builds up mainly on man's struggle for existence
against adverse nature, unethical human endeavour and fierce fighting for
accumulation of worldly resources. Marxist concept of 'Historical Materialism'
holds human history as the 'History of Class Struggle'. This is no-doubt a
partial truth and one-sided approach towards norms of history that upholds the
Animal Instinct only to the utter disregard of innate rational and moral
elements in human nature. And, from the viewpoint of Corporate Economy, history
builds up on hypocrisy, aggression and genocide committed by Corporate Capital
to monopolize world Resources and global Market.
But the
case is different with the Holy Quran. Quranic concept of history is an
integrated and holistic concept that covers entire life-cycle of mankind
starting from the creation of man in Metaphysical Domain of 'Alam-e-Arwah',
development and transformation of foetus in mothers' womb on earth, his
struggle for existence in worldly life, his post death life in the grave, 'Alam
-e Barzakh', and his life on and after the final Day of Judgement. The Quranic
Concept of History encompasses both material and spiritual dimensions of human
life.
The Holy
Quran attaches great importance on learning from the history. Many a verse of
the Holy Quran urges mankind again and again to learn from the Norms of History
and assimilate the principles of historical evolution. "Al-Quran does not
consider any worldly event to be without a cause or to be a mere manifestation
of Allah's irresistible power. In contrast, it tells human intelligence that
the field of history is governed by definite laws and norms, and that to be the
master of his destiny man must know them." [Trends of History in Quran:
Al-Islam.org]
Allah (SWT),
in the overall interest of divine governance, parallel to the laws of nature,
has also promulgated a number of principles for guiding evolutionary process of
the history. These are as follows:
i) All
divine creations have a limited life-span with pre-destined period of origin,
development, decay, death or destruction.
ii) All
divine creations of the heavens and the earths, on attaining their pre-destined
evolutionary goals, will be brought back to their root or point of origin.
iii) Union with the "Ultimate Reality"
is the highest stage of creative evolution prescribed for mankind by Allah
iv) 'Divine
Command' is active and functional every moment at all stages of evolutionary
process of the Universe, life, and consciousness.
v)Moral
Stance of a Nation that is Collective Morality as expression of 'Taqwa' or
Righteousness act as a powerful "Catalyst" that influence the Norms
of History towards Rise and Fall of a Nation.
According
to the Holy Quran Natural laws and Laws of history both manifest sovereign
authority of Allah. Verses: 29:19 and 30:11 as shown below have clearly termed
'Historical Evolution' to be the principal strategy of Divine Creation.
"See they not how Allah originates
creation, then repeats it: truly that is easy for Allah"[Verse: 29:19]
"It is
Allah Who begins the creation, then repeats it; then shall you be brought back
to Him."[Verse: 30:11]
With the
above two verses in view it can be safely said that, the history of mankind is
in fact the history of evolutionary cycle of all divine creations, that starts
from its point of origin and finishes at the same point after traversing the
full evolutionary cycle. Quranic concept of history is an integrated and
holistic concept that treats history as the continuity of evolutionary process
of divine creations as a whole
The materialistic
concept treats history to be totally independent of human consciousness and
mankind to be a helpless victim swimming aimlessly in the vortex of history. As
for them human values and morality have no role to play in Natural Science and
History.
The Holy
Quran treats Natural Science and History as most powerful instruments of divine
governance. Quranic Concept of Natural
Science and History builds up on the foundation of 'Meezan' or Universal
Balance of Justice. That is why Al-Quran attaches so great importance to man's
active role in history and natural science.
II)
Historical Lessons from the Viewpoint of the Holy Quran
1. Allah's Strategy
for Dealing with Transgressors and Rejecters of Truth Remains Unchanged in all
ages.
True
knowledge about grievous consequence of the rejecters of truth and
transgressors of the past is a great lesson for moral education of mankind of
all ages. Divine rules of punishment inflicted on evil-doers of all ages remain
unchanged with no degree of variation. This is Law of the History. Lot of
verses of the Holy Quran uphold this historical truth. Divine punishment
inflicted on the community of Aad, Thamud, Lut, Nuuh and Pharao for acting in
contravention to the fundamental Law of Nature, transgression and violation of
human values and divine justice, is no doubt a severe warning and a great
negative lesson for mankind of all ages. In all these cases natural calamities
like flood, tornado, thunder-storm, earthquake, epidemic and pandemics were
harnessed as medium of divine punishment.
Related
Verses:
Nay, the evil results of their Deeds overtook
them. And the wrong-doers of this (generation)- the evil results of their Deeds
will soon overtake them (too), and they will never be able to frustrate (Our
Plan)![Verse:L39:51]
"Do they not travel through the earth and
see what the end of those before them was? They were even superior to them in
strength, and in the traces (they have left) in the land, but Allah did call
them to account for their sins, and none had they to defend them against
Allah." [Qur'an:40:21].
See they not how of those before them We did
destroy?---------generations We had established on earth , in strength such as
We have not given to you, for whom We poured rain from the skies in abundance,
and gave them streams flowing beneath their(feet). Yet for sins We destroyed
them, and raised in their wake fresh generation (to succeed them)” [Verse:
6:165].
"They
swore their strongest oaths by Allah that if a warner came to them, they will
be more rightly guided than any one of the nations: but when a warner came to
them, it has only increased their aversion, on account of their arrogance in
the land and their plotting of Evil. But the plotting of Evil will hem in only
the authors thereof. Now are they but looking for the way the ancients were
dealt with? But no change wilt thou find in Allah's way (of dealing): No
turning off wilt thou find in Allah's way of dealing."[Verse: 35:42-43],
“And
what will explain to you what the Day of Sorting Out is? And woe, that Day to
the Rejecters of Truth! Did We not destroy the men of old (for their evil)?So
shall We make the later (generation)s follow them. Thus We will deal with Rejecters
of Truth.'[Verse:
77:14-18]
2) Every
Soul is held in pledge for his deeds
"Every
Soul will be (held) in pledge for its deeds." [Verse: 74:38]
According
to the Holy Quran mankind is held in pledge for his deeds. So any misfortune befalling him results as
Backlash of his own activities.
This claim
of the Holy Quran is undoubtedly a historic truth transcending all barriers of
time and ages. The Holy Quran has clearly assigned a moral responsibility on
mankind as Allah’s representative on
the Earth to refrain from any sort of activities that endanger the very
existence of man and divine creation as a whole. From the view-point of
ecological Science over- extraction of renewable natural resources beyond
sustainable limit causes ecological imbalance and erosion of bio-diversity on
global scale. Over-use of chemicals in chemical-intensive farming system causes
mass-scale pollution of soil, water and atmosphere. This results in elimination
of beneficial bacteria and viruses with harmful microbes filling the vacuum to
restore ecological balance. Production and testing of Nuclear, Chemical and Biological
Weapons aggravate the situation all the more.
The
Corporations and their Institutions have become powerful enough to grasp and
plunder global resources on an unprecedented scale and dimension in violation
of all scientific norms and moral values .This is tantamount to “defacing the
fair nature” as the Holy Quran puts it. All these are Human activities that
destabilize the stable ecosystem triggering ecological uncertainty beyond human
control impacting adversely on life support system of the earthThe Corporate
Media all over the world is now all out to manufacture Truth in accordance with
their desire and thus in the language of the holy Quran has put ‘the heavens
and the earth and all beings therein’, in the danger of ruin. The Corporate world nakedly pursues a
strategy of violating human rights and Universal Balance of Justice in their
own interest. They take resort to falsehood and go all-out for fabrication and
‘Manufacturing Truth’ turning in full-swing the wheels of Corporate Media.
The ongoing
pandemic that is mass-scale Covid-19 Virus infestation,to be the reflection of a deep-rooted crisis inherent in Modern
Development Paradigm.
The present
world situation created by the Corporate Development Model mirrors Holy Quran’s
moral concern as expressed in the following verses:
“If the Truth had been in accord with their
desires, truly the heavens and the earth, and all beings therein, will be in
ruin. Nay, we have sent them their admonition, but they turn away from
admonition” [Verse;
23: 71]
“Whatever Misfortune happens to you, is because
of the things your hands have wrought and for many (a sin) He grants
forgiveness”.
[Verse: 42:30]
“Mischief has appeared on land and sea because of (the meed) that the
hands of men have earned, that (Allah) may give them and taste of some of their
deeds: in order that they may turn back (from evils)” [Verse: 30:41]
The
disastrous situation as envisaged by the above mentioned Quranic Verses seems
to devour the whole world today.
Just
contrary to the Corporate Values, Moral Stance of the holy Quran is strong,
specific, transparent and perfectly in tune with the basic laws of human
nature.
The facts that all existing problems of
mankind to-day; economic, political, cultural, whatsoever, including the
disastrous situation arising out of Covid-19 virus, in spite of denial by all
scientifically advanced countries of the world, are their own creation. All
these proclaims the truth and authenticity of Verses: [74:38, 42:30, and 30:41]
of the Holy Quran. Poverty, Natural Disasters, Famine, Epidemics, Pandemics,
Wars and accompanying Catastrophe - all, in the language of the Holy Quran, are
outcome of this immoral, disastrous development model. The present and past
history bears testimony to these facts. At this critical juncture of humanity,
the greatest responsibility assigned by the history on Muslim Community is to
uphold and implement 'Active Quranic Morality'.
3)
Historically Rise and Fall of Any Nation Has a Fixed Time-Frame;
Ranging
from smallest micro-organisms to all living beings including mankind, from
minutest particles to infinite galaxies and stellar systems- all have a fixed
time-frame for its creation, development, decay and destruction. Death is the
common lot and an inviolable destiny decreed by Allah for all His creations.
There is no exception to it. So is the Rise and Fall of a nation. These are
also time-bound. But the time-frame is a divine secret best known to Allah only.
The following verses of the Holy Quran uphold this historical truth:
By the time! Lo! Man is in a state of loss;
save those who have faith and do righteous deeds, and counsel each other to
hold on to truth and counsel each other to be steadfast. [Verses: 103:1-3]
"I swear by the glow of the sunset, by the
night and all that the night brings to life, and by the full moon, that you
will move from your present existence to a different existence".[verses:84:16-19,]
"Do they see nothing in the government of
the heavens and the earth and all that Allah hath created? (Do they not see)
that it may well be that their terms is nigh drawing to an end? In what message
after this will they then believe? "[Verse: 7:34]
"If the people of the towns had but
believed and feared Allah, We should indeed have opened out to them (All kinds
of) blessings from heaven and earth; but they rejected (the truth), and We
brought them to book for their misdeeds."[Verse: 7:96]
"Have they not considered the dominion of
the heavens and the earth, and what things Allah hath created, and that it may
be that their own term draweth nigh? In what fact after this will they
believe?"[Verse:
7:185,]
": Never did We destroy a population that
had not a term decreed and assigned beforehand. Neither can a people anticipate
its Term, nor delay it" [verse: 15:4-5]
"And (all) those townships! We destroyed them when they did wrong, and We
appointed a fixed time for their destruction."[Verse18:59]
"Were Allah to take people to task for
their wrong-doing, He would not have spared even a single living creature on
the face of the earth. But He grants them respite until an appointed term. And
when that term arrives, they have no power to delay it by a single moment, nor
to hasten it".
[Verse: 16:61]
"If people were to keep firmly to the
Right Way, We would have vouchsafed them abundant rain" [Verse:: 72:16]
"How many were the towns, We utterly
destroyed because of their inequities, setting up in their places other people."[Verse: 21:11]
"How many populations have We destroyed,
which were given to wrong doing? They tumbled down on their roofs, And how many
wells are lying idle and neglected, and castles lofty and well-built.
"Do they not travel through the land, so
that their hearts (and minds) may thus learn wisdom and their Eears may thus
learn to hear? Truly it is not the eyes that are blind, but the hearts which
are in their breasts."[Verses:
22:45-46]
The above
mentioned verses of the Holy Quran have adequately discussed about divine
judgement in History that steers the Destiny of Nations. The Verses clearly confirm that righteousness
and morality are determining factors for success or failure in individual and
collective life of mankind. A nation how ever developed and powerful may be, is
sure to fall down in case of moral degradation. Perpetual corruptions and
Transgression of Universal Balance of Divine Justice, accelerate the downfall
of a nation. This is an inviolable historical destiny for any nation
irrespective of its Geographical, Linguistic and Cultural identity. From
Quranic point of view, farther a nation moves away from 'Taqwa' or Righteousness,
the faster it approaches its doom. This is the greatest lesson of the history.
4)
Knowledge about human limitations as regards his origin and development is very
vital for moral uplift of mankind.
Knowledge,
intellect, strength, capacity and longevity of mankind are all limited and
relative. On the other hand Allah's knowledge is unlimited, eternal and
all-encompassing. But the Satan, the symbol of all evils, instigates him to
forget his limitations. And he starts thinking himself to be all powerful,
independent and sovereign. He forgets the history of his origin and that he is
not owner even of his own self. He also forgets that he has no control over his
life and death. He illusively considers the divine blessings of relative and
limited freedom bestowed on him by Allah to be absolute and decisive. He
forgets that his whole existence is intricately bound up with Universal Laws of
Divine Governance. That is why the Holy Quran time and again reminds him of his
limitations lest he should be confused and go astray.
Related
Verses:
"The mutual rivalry for piling up (the
good things of this world) diverts you (from the more serious things), until ye
visit the graves. But nay, ye soon
shall know (the reality).Again, ye soon shall know! Nay, were ye to know with
certainty of mind, (Ye would beware!)
Ye shall certainly see Hellfire! Again, ye shall see it with certainty
of sight! Then, shall ye be Questioned that Day about the joy (ye indulged
in)!" [Verse:
103:1-8]
"Has there been for man a period of time
when he was not anything worthy of mention?" [Verse: 76:1]
"And Allah has caused you to grow out of
the earth so wondrously, and He will later cause you to return to it and will
then again bring you out of it'. [Verse: 71:17-18]
“Proclaim! (or Read !) In the name of thy Lord
and Cherisher, Who created— Created man out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood.
Proclaim! And thy Lord Is Most Bountiful,—He Who taught (The use of) the Pen, —
Taught man that Which he knew not. Nay but man doth Transgress all bounds, In
that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient. Verily, to thy Lord is the
return (of all)".
[Verse: 96:1-8]
"Accursed be man! How stubbornly he denies
the Truth. Out of what did Allah create him?
Out of a sperm-drop did He create him and then determined a measure for
him, and then made the course of life easy for him, then He caused him to die
and brought him to the grave, and then, whenever He wishes, He will raise him
back to life". [Verse:
80: 17-22]
"Woe on that Day to the deniers! Did We
not create you from a humble fluid, placing it in a secure place until an
appointed time? 1 We ˹perfectly˺ ordained ˹its development˺. How excellent are We in doing so!" [Verse: 77:19-23]
5) Role
of Man in History
[Union with
the "Ultimate Reality" is the highest stage of creative evolution
prescribed for mankind by Allah]
According
to the Holy Quran, evolution and transformation of physical universe do not
depend on tier-intra cause and effect relationship only. Al-Quran considers
Marxist Doctrine of "Class struggle as the motive force of history"
one-sided, unsubstantiated and fallacious.The Materialists deny the potential
role of morality and spiritual bondage, as a powerful catalyst, that accelerate
or retard the evolutionary process of the history.
Allah
initiated a long-drawn protracted moral warfare against Satan, the symbol of
all evils, through creation of Adam. And He assigned the heavy responsibility
of leadership in that war on to his progeny. Allah bestowed on mankind the
honour as His Caliph on earth for shouldering the responsibility of fighting
injustice, transgression and evils .Creating highly potential mankind from an insignificant, detestable
fluid drop, keeping infinite potential of oceans dormant within a tiny
droplet-therein lies the greatness, charisma
and inherent beauty of Allah's art of creation. But realization of this
dormant human potential needs a life-long battle from cradle to the grave on
the part of mankind. Allah’s strategy for creative evolution constrains him to
fight for his existence against adverse nature, against falsehood,
transgression and injustice. At every step of his life he needs to prove his
mettle, sincerity, and loyalty to safe-guard his faith and morality. The issue
of human freedom unshackling the bondage of slavery raised in the verses
:(90:8-13) is not confined only to the question of setting any individual free
from the bondage of slavery, rather it commands
human freedom from any slavery other than that of Allah. It’s a clear
instruction for severing all human bondage and lighting up human consciousness
with ideological fire of At-Tawhid. This freedom is an essential criterion for
imbibing "Taqwa" or Righteousness in human heart. The path is really
tortuous and tire-some that calls for sincere endeavour and relentless struggle
for emancipating human heart from selfish mean desire, and consciousness from
human bondage. There is no room for opportunism and hypocrisy in this moral
war-fare.
"Islam
aims to free the human ego from the bonds of material and social habits and
norms so that the individual’s deepest self is in contact with the ‘Most Real’
or God in other words. This contact with
the ‘Most Real’ or the Creator who is upon a new creation at all times, opens
the individual to a process of continuous growth, challenge, struggle and
creation." [Reconstruction of Religious Thoughts In Islam by Allama Iqbal]
So, from
Quranic point of view the history of mankind is the history of evolution
of human endeavour towards
safe-guarding universal justice and
attainment of highest degree of morality
"Taqwa" for Union with the
Supreme Ideal.[refer:Verse:84:6]
The
following Verses have clearly upheld this Historical Truth.:
"O
you man! Verily you are ever toiling on towards your Lord painfully toiling,
but you shall meet Him." [Verse: 84:6]
"Verily
We have created man into toil and struggle"[verse: 90:4]
"Have
We not made for him a pair of eyes/ And a tongue and a pair of lips? And shown him two highways? But he has made
not haste on the path that is steep. And what will explain to you the path that
is steep? It is freeing the bondman." [Verses: 90:8-13]
6) Man's
Active Role in History: Struggle for Implantation of Universal Balance of
Justice-- Jihad
Quranic Morality
is based on Truth and Justice. It is the moral responsibility of all members of
Muslim Community to practise it in their individual, social and national life.
According to the Holy Quran Self-purification of a Muslim is only possible
through constant practice of such moral pursuits in worldly life. Islam never
permits of any self-purification bid in isolation from realities of life.
There is no
room for any passive morality in the Holy Quran. ": Taqwa', as the highest
level of Quranic Morality can be attained only through relentless struggle
against evils to establish Divine Justice. And this human endeavour towards
establishment of "divine justice"
is known as "jihad",
the highest testing ground for faith of a believer . The Qur’anic concept of
‘Jihad’ in its true spirit refers to human endeavours for self-purification and
transformation of the world to ensure divine justice, peace and security. To
sum up, Jihad constitutes the revolutionary essence of the Holy Qur’an
'Repelling
evils with the good deeds 'is the essence of active Quranic Morality. And this
is also the Core Message of Islam-
"Nor
can Goodness and Evil be equal. Repel (Evil) with what is better--"
[Verse: 41:34] And Jihad is the most powerful instrument for repelling evils.
The
following two verses of the Holy Qur’an express clearly the Quranic stand of on
Jihad as a determining factor between a believer and a hypocrite drawing a
clear line of demarcation between these two
“And why should you not fight in the cause of
God and the utterly helpless men, women and children who are crying, ‘Our Lord!
Deliver us from this land whose people are oppressors and send forth to us, out
of Your grace, a protector and send us one that will help us.’” (Qur’an: 4:75).
Those who believe fight in the cause of God,
and those who reject the faith fight in the cause of evil. Fight, then, against
the friends of Satan. Feeble indeed is the Cunning of Satan.” (Qur’an: 4:76).
The verses
have clearly revealed material and spiritual perspectives, needs, justification
and objectives. ‘Jihad’ calls for a decisive battle of truth against falsehood-
it’s a clarion call and divine response to the heart-rending cry of endangered
and distressed humanity. [Qur’an:4:75].
It is an instrument for setting aright the fulcrum of universal balance.
It is the acid test for the faith of a believer.
Anybody
reluctant to fight against evil forces on earth may be anything but a Muslim,
rather a ‘Munafiq’ (hypocrite) as per the verdict of the Holy Qur’an. Jihad, that is fighting the evil forces in
this world, is an active instrument of justice and faith-based human endeavour.
Unflinching
support for the good and uncompromising struggle against the evils and evil
forces at social, national and international levels as per the instructions of
the Holy Qur’an is Jihad. Allowing evil forces to continue with their misdeeds
without protest and resistance in worldly life, is tantamount to fleeing back
from the field of Jihad, and certainly is an act of hypocrisy.
Reluctance
and negligence towards divine responsibilities on earth as viceroy of Allah is
an act of opportunism and hypocrisy. A peaceful and secure life in the
hereafter cannot be ensured without the performance of divine responsibilities
on earth. The enemies of Islam have been instigating terrorism and committing
all sorts of inhuman crimes in the name of "Jihad" to vilify Islam on
one hand and take resort to distortion of the basic Qur’anic principles of
Jihad on the other. Non-believers have
been taking advantage of such ideological weakness among Muslims worldwide.
The paid
agents of different Western and Eastern Intelligence Agencies in the guise of
so-called Islamic thinkers and intellectuals, support injustice in the name of
Jihad, just to create confusion and try to strip Islam off the very
revolutionary essence of Quranic Jihad for their own interests.
Quranic
concept of Jihad is very dynamic and powerful ideological weapon for changing
the objective world for ensuring the balance of justice for all humanity.
The existing
socio-economic and political systems of the world based on materialistic values
have given overemphasis on physical needs and denied the moral and spiritual
aspects of human life. This is tantamount to a denial of the unique position
granted by Allah to mankind amongst all His creations and bringing down
humanity to the status of a beast.
Philosophical
and moral values based exclusively on material interests may create a temporary
illusion of peace, unity and stability
in the world, but are sure to devalue
spiritual status of humanity and destined to end up in rivalry and lust for
worldly wealth, rift, disunity, violence and bloodshed among nations in the
long run. And this has been the historical destiny of all hitherto
socio-economic and political systems, theories and practices of the modern
world.
The
conspiratorial activities of enemies of Islam sow the seeds of discord and
disunity within Muslim community and instigate violence through their agents in
the name of Jihad to serve their economic and geopolitical interests. Then they
turn their propaganda machines on in full swing to put the blames of fanaticism
on Muslim community. The existing world situation is very critical for the
Muslim Community. Then what is to be done? The World Muslim Community Must hold
fast on to the "Rope of Allah and His Messenger “and hold aloft the flag
of Active Quranic morality.
D) 'Divine
Command' is active and functional every moment at all stages of evolutionary
process of the Universe, life, and consciousness
This
Universe as a Divine creation is not an end in itself but a single link of an
infinite chain of divine creations passing sequentially towards the future
phase by phase as per divine will.
Evolutionary
process of Divine Creation unfurls with forward movement of TIME while its
reversal with rolling up of the scroll that is Space and Time will result in
ultimate completion of one phase opening up a new phase in the evolutionary
process of divine creations.[Verse:21:104]The Master Plan of the process of divine
Creation and Destruction is well-documented clearly in the Record
Perspicuous.[Verse: 34:3].
In the
opinion of materialist Philosophers and Scientists, "the universe it self
is self-emerging and self-sustaining, so does not need any creator. Its origin
is a one-time affair and an accident subsequently guided exclusively by the
laws of physics."
But according to the Holy Quran the very idea
of self-sustainability of the Universe is hypothetical, unrealistic and
fallacious. The Universe all through its evolutionary process inevitably needs
divine intervention for its onward movement towards a predestined evolutionary
goal. Allah's Command remains active and
functional at every stage of its development.[Verse:55:29]
Natural
Calamities, Epidemic, and Pandemics, all as part of divine planning, are most
powerful instruments of Allah's Creative Evolution and Universal Governance
system. Modern Science also holds that natural calamities and known and unknown
disease vectors resulting from interaction of different physical forces and
physic-chemical processes constitute most powerful and sustained Evolutionary
Agents. Michael Brooks in his book “New ideas in Science” has said:
“Disease is
still a big driver of human evolution: people with particular genetical arrangements
are more likely to survive Malaria and HIV, for example. And almost all humans
have lost the Caspase 12 gene from their genomes, probably because those who
have it are more susceptible to Bacterial Infection. It happens slowly but we
are still changing”
It is clear from the verses given below that
uninterrupted process of transformation as an integral part of creative
evolution, serve twin purposes-
as a strategy
of Divine Creation and as a tool for Divine Punishment and establishment
of Divine Justice.[ Refer Verses: 55:29, 29:19, 30:11, 21:104,6:6, 56:60-61,
70:40-41]
The
'Creative Evolutionary Process' of the objective world initiated by Allah the
Ultimate Reality manifests itself-
Firstly, in
the emergence of Free-willed, Intelligent, Conscious Beings anywhere in the
divinely selected part of the Cosmos like mankind on earth, marks the highest
stage or culminating point of divinely engineered Creative Evolution of the
whole Universe.
Secondly,
Final stage of evolution of man or any other conscious being, that is to be
attained through their union with the supreme Ideal or Reality.
'Adam' as
the first man and the Quranic description of divine process of his creation,
are all allegorical in essence that
marks the culmination of creative evolution of the physical universe executed
under divine command.
According
to Allama Iqbal's theory of creative evolution,
"the
Ultimate Ego manifests itself, from the lowest forms of matter to the highest
evolutionary form of the spiritually
most advanced human personality. The trust or the challenge which man accepted,
is to become conscious of his own true fiṭrah or nature. Man’s Fitrah has its roots in the Divine Life
and it is part of his nature to grow and evolve towards greater and greater
perfection by using his creative will and power."
The
"Promised Day" or the "Day of Resurrection “marks the
culminating point of Creative Evolution of the Universe ie its Union with the
"Supreme Ideal".
Through His
Command "Kun": Allah set the Evolutionary Wheel of His creations move
towards culminating points firstly, in the emergence of the conscious beings
like mankind in the selected regions of the Cosmos and secondly, leading the
whole process towards union with the Ultimate Reality or the Supreme ideal,
that is in the language of Allama Iqbal through attainment of 'the highest
evolutionary form of the spiritually most advanced human personality'.
Relevant
Verses of the Holy Quran:
a)
"For to Allah belong the forces of the skies and the earth, and Allah is
exalted in Power,Full of Wisdom" [Verse; 48:7]
b)"Of
Him seeks *(the need) every creatures in the skies and on earth, every day He
is in a state of action" [Verse: 55:29]
c)"
See they not how Allah originates creation, then repeats it: truly that is easy
for Allah" [Verse: 29:19]
d) "It
is Allah Who begins the creation; then repeats it; then shall you be brought
back to Him". [Verse: 30:11]
e)
"The Day that We roll up the heavens like a scroll rolled up for books
(completed), even as We produce the first Creation, so shall We produce a new
one: a promise We have undertaken :truly shall We fulfil it "[Verse:
21:104]
f)
"See they not how many of those before them We did destroy?- Generations
We had established on the earth, in strength such as We have not given to you-
for whom We have poured out rain from the skies in abundance, and gave streams
flowing beneath their (feet):yet for their sins We destroyed them, and raised
in their wake fresh generations (to succeed them)" [Verse:6:6]
g) "We
have decreed Death to be your common lot, and We are not be unable, From
changing your forms and creating you (again) in (Forms) that you know
not." [Verses: 56:60-61]
h)
"{Whatever is in the skies and on earth, declares the Praises and Glory of
Allah :for He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. To Him belongs the dominion of
the skies and the earth; it is He Who gives Life and Death; and He has power
over all things. He is the First and the Last, the Evident and the Hidden: and
He has full knowledge of all things."[Verses: 57:1-3]
i) Now I do
call to witness the Lord of all points in the East and the West that We can
certainly- Substitute for them better
(men) than they- and We are not to be defeated (in Our Plan)
[Verses:70:40-41]
References:
.Re-construction
of Religious Thoughts in Islam-by Allama Iqbal
2. "Understanding Pandemics and Natural
Calamities: Conceptual Options in the Holy Quran"- by Kazi Wadud Nawaz,
posted in New-age Website on 27.1.2021
3'.Quranic
Concept of Jihad" -by Kazi Wadud Nawaz, Published in two parts in the
Daily Sun, Dhaka on 17.03.2017 and 24 March, 2017
4. Facing
the Corporate Menace" -by Kazi wadud Nawaz, posted in the Newage-Islam Website on
16.7.2014
5. “New Ideas in Science ”-by Michael Brooks.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-spiritualism/holy-quran-universe-human-life/d/125248
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