FROM MAULANAS DESK
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, born in 1925, in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, is an Islamic spiritual scholar who is well-versed in both classical Islamic learning and modern disciplines. The mission of his life has been the establishment of worldwide peace. He has received the Padma Bhushan, the Demiurgus Peace International Award and Sayyidina Imam Al Hassan Peace award for promoting peace in Muslim societies. He has been called ’Islam’s spiritual ambassador to the world’ and is recognized as one of its most influential Muslims . His books have been translated into sixteen languages and are part of university curricula in six countries. He is the founder of the Centre for Peace and Spirituality based in New Delhi.
WHAT DRIVES US TO THE
POINT OF NO RETURN?
THE World Health Organization reports that suicide has become
the second most common cause of death among young people
worldwide. In order to create awareness on mental health and
tackle the issue of suicide, WHO has developed a Mental Health Action
Plan 2013-2020, which was adopted by the 66th World Health Assembly.
The recent case of suicide of the 34-year-old Bollywood actor, Sushant
Singh Rajput, has once again opened up the debate on declining mental
health and growing case of depression amongst youth. Rajput was
good in studies; he had chosen to opt out of engineering to become an
actor. At a young age he achieved name and fame for his acting skills.
Despite the prospects of a good life ahead of him, what drove Rajput
to the brink so that he ended his life? This question has been bothering
me ever since I heard this news.
Man is born with unlimited potential, yet he finds limited use for it.
He harbours an ocean of desires in his heart, but all these dreams are
never realized. In this case, there is no difference between a poor man
and a rich man. Each person finds himself amidst toil and strife. But dwelling on the non-fulfillment of desires or sinking into depression
because reality does not match your dreams is not the solution.
We cannot forget that while each of us has our share of challenges in
life, we also have an inherent ability to fight back. That resilience is
within each one of us, we only have to realize it and get ourselves out
of the depths of depression. But there is a precondition. And that is,
to not view stress and failures as the endgame. Thomas Edison had
famously said, “I have not failed, I have just found 10,000 ways that
won’t work!” This saying of Edison teaches us that in order to succeed
in life, we should put in relentless efforts in
the face of repeated failures, and we should
maintain positivity at all times.
Some say that one should stop thinking about
what is bothering one. But this approach is
not the right one. This is because our mind
never really stops thinking.
The ability to make
a plus from a minus
is the hallmark of
human civilization.
This is what has
kept progress going
despite all sorts of
failures that have
been witnessed
throughout history.
In this process, each
life contributes and
therefore each life
counts!
Instead of wading through the problem and
finding an opportunity, if we choose to simply
create an illusion in order to stop thinking
about the problem, it impedes our ability to
fight back. Resilience is the essence of human
spirit! When we dwell on problems and get
trapped in failure, we end up obstructing
the flow of positive ideas thereby creating a
double jeopardy for ourselves.
The ability to make a plus from a minus is the hallmark of human
civilization. This is what has kept progress going despite all sorts of
failures that have been witnessed throughout history. In this process,
each life contributes and therefore each life counts! It is incumbent
upon all of us to not only foster our own positive thought process
but also extend support to all those around us who may be in need of
support and guidance.
Instead of getting disheartened with failures, the remedy lies in feeding
the opportunities and starving despair! The health of this equation
determines the health of our mind, which in turn determines the
success of our endeavours and renders meaning to our lives.
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Follow Maulana at http://www.speakingtree.in (The Times of India)
FROM THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Prof. Farida Khanam is an author, editor, translator, public speaker and former
professor of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Among her books are
‘A Simple Guide to Sufism’ and ‘A Study of World’s Major Religions’. She has translated
into English many books authored by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Currently the
chairperson of CPS International, she is a regular contributor of articles to various
publications. Prof. Khanam has edited Maulana’s English translation of the Quran
and has also translated his Urdu commentary of the Quran into English. She can be
reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
FAITH IN THE UNSEEN
The Quran says:
This is the Book; there is no doubt in it. It is a guide for those who are
mindful of God, who believe in the unseen […]. (
FAITH in the unseen is not just a matter of belief. It is directly
related to guidance. Only if you believe in the unseen will you
receive God’s guidance. If you do not believe in the unseen, you
will not receive God’s guidance.
By ‘unseen’ is meant a reality that cannot be seen, but is present
nonetheless. This is so with God. Although God is apparently invisible,
in reality His presence can be experienced more than all existing
things. In the above-quoted Quranic verse, faith in the unseen actually
refers to faith in God, but in consequence it includes all those aspects
of faith which a believer is required to believe in—for instance, divine
revelation, angels, Hell and Heaven, etc.
We know things in two ways. Firstly, through observation, and secondly,
through inference. From the scientific point of view, both these methods
are equally reliable.
Today, science is considered as a reliable means for analyzing and
arriving at a conclusion. Science consists of theoretical science as well
as technical science. Technical science looks only at the appearance of
things, but everything that appears to be visible is, in the final analysis,
invisible. For instance, you can see a flower, but you can’t see its
fragrance, not even through the most powerful microscope. This is so even though the flower’s fragrance has an existence of its own in the
same way as the flower does.
According to science, all things are collections of atoms, and, ultimately,
all atoms are collections of electrons, which are not visible to the
naked eye. Referring to this fact, a scientist commented that the entire
universe is an invisible ‘mad dance’ of electrons'. Another scientist
describes it as a collection of ‘waves of probability’.
In this sense, one can say that it is not only
the apparently invisible Creator who is in
the unseen but also the apparently visible
creatures. The British scientist A. S. Eddington
wrote a book on this subject, titled Science
and the Unseen World around a century ago.
The fact is that we see only the external
appearance of the things that are visible to
us in this world. Their reality remains invisible
to us. This is true with God as well. In terms
of His being, God is unobservable, but in
terms of His creation, God is visible for us.
The existence of the creation is evidence of
the existence of the Creator. The universe is
so meaningful that it is simply impossible to
explain it without accepting the existence of
the Creator.
Faith in the unseen
is not just a matter
of belief. It is directly
related to guidance.
Only if you believe
in the unseen will
you receive God’s
guidance. If you do
not believe in the
unseen, you will
not receive God’s
guidance.
God’s being invisible to us is, in one sense, in line with the requirements
of the test to which we are put. The test is to discover God while He is
in the unseen. If God were plainly visible, there would have been no
test at all. Because God is in the unseen, faith in Him is an ‘examination
paper’ for us. If God were visible, believing in Him would not have been
an ‘examination paper’ for us.
For God and other articles of faith to remain in the unseen is a great
blessing for human beings. It is because of this that our process of
thinking continues and that we are led to continuously reflect and
ponder on things. It becomes possible for us to find God at the level
of discovery. It is because of this that God-realization can become
a self-discovered reality for us. And it is a fact that there is nothing
greater in this world than a self-discovered reality. Thus, for God and
other articles of faith to remain in the unseen is an endless source of
intellectual development for us.
A person whose mind
has been awakened
through study,
reflection and deep
pondering can truly
have faith in God
and truly realize
Him. Someone with
an un-awakened
mind flounders
in intellectual
blindness, and in
such a situation can
hardly hope to arrive
at God-realization.
Faith in the unseen as a condition for God’s
guidance is no arbitrary condition. In fact, it
is a very reasonable condition for a creature
like man. To understand any great reality,
one needs an awakened mind. Only someone
whose mind is awakened is capable of
understanding a profound truth. God is,
undoubtedly, the biggest and most profound
truth—the Absolute Truth. And so, only a
person whose mind has been awakened
through study, reflection and deep pondering
can truly have faith in God and truly realize
Him. Someone with an un-awakened mind
flounders in intellectual blindness, and in
such a situation can hardly hope to arrive at
God-realization.
Prof. Farida Khanam
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
A PURPOSEFUL LIFE
Pursue the Ultimate Truth
MAN attains distinction only when he leads a purposeful life.
Such a life characterizes the most advanced stage of human
development. This does not mean that by taking up just
any task, which is apparently significant, man’s life becomes truly
purposeful. A really purposeful life is one in which man discovers
his supreme status; a life in which his personality makes manifest its
unique distinctive quality. An animal strives to obtain food; a bird flies
in search of a better country when the seasons change; a wasp busies
itself building up its own home from tiny particles of earth; a herd of
deer takes measures to protect itself from wild beasts of prey. All of
these appear to be purposeful actions.
But when the phrase ‘a purposeful life’ is applied to man, then it does
not refer to efforts of this nature. Without doubt arranging for one’s
food, clothes and habitation are some of the tasks that man has to
perform in this world; but this is a level of purposefulness in which men
and animals, being concerned only with bare survival, are equal. Its
true application in relation to man can only be one in which he appears
in all his dignity. Man’s life becomes purposeful only when it goes
beyond commonplace animalism. It is about striving towards attaining
the loftier form of superior humanism.
God’s creations in this world fall into two categories: animate and
inanimate. Obviously, animate objects enjoy certain superiority over
inanimate objects. The former can be divided into three classes: the
vegetable, the animal and the human. Modern scientific research has
shown that plants also possess life, in that they nourish themselves,
they grow and they have feelings.
But animals and men surely represent a higher form of life. In what way
does man excel animals? Many theories have been advanced in answer
to this question over the ages, and great minds are still studying it.
Modern biologists have come to the conclusion that it is man’s capacity
for conceptual thought, which distinguishes him from other life forms.
Animals lack this quality, whereas man is conscious of the fact that
he is thinking. He consciously forms a plan of action in his mind; in
his everyday life his actions are determined by himself, whereas this
is not the case with animals. Though many of their actions appear to
be like those of men, they are not the result of thought; they all stem
from pure instinct. Animals are simply led intuitively by their desires and their needs in a certain direction. Their actions are governed by
environmental stresses from without and physical pressures from
within.
It is in terms of this unique conceptual quality of man that we can
conceive of what his higher purpose in life should be. The latter can
only be one, which does not result from the pressures of desire or of
immediate exigencies. It must emanate from his own urge to worship
God.
Man’s true purpose in life can only be one, which reflects the higher
side of his personality; one, which displays him as the superior being
that he is.
If one pauses at this stage to take note of
what the Quran has to say, one will find that
it gives us clear guidance in this matter. Man’s
purpose in life has been explained in the
Quran in the following words:
“I created the jinn and humankind only so that
they might worship Me: I seek no sustenance
from them, nor do I want them to feed Me—it
is God who is the great Sustainer, the Mighty
One, the Invincible.” (
The worship of God
is a purpose, which
is motivated neither
by inward desires nor
outward influences.
Rather it comes
into being through
thought alone. Only
when a person goes
beyond his self and
his environment can
he understand that
there is a higher
purpose on which he
should focus his life.
These verses specify man’s purpose in life
as worship. This is a purpose, which elicits
from man his uniqueness in its ultimate
form. It raises man to a much higher plane
than that of animals. Not a trace of animalism
contributes to the achievement of such a goal.
God does not demand of you a livelihood, the
verse states; rather He himself is responsible
for your livelihood. This means that worship
of God is a purpose, which is motivated neither by inward desires nor
outward influences. Rather it comes into being through thought alone.
Only when a person goes beyond his self and his environment can he
understand that there is a higher purpose on which he should focus
his life.
The motive for the fulfillment of this purpose is not the urge to satisfy
one’s needs or those of others. The worshipper seeks neither to gratify
his own desires nor those of the Being he worships. It is a purpose
which sets before man a goal far above all these things—a goal which does not follow internal needs or external pressures, but results purely
from conceptual thought.
When a person works, makes money, builds a house, makes an effort
to improve his standard of living, he appears to be engaged in efforts
towards some worthy end. But a life of this nature cannot be called a
purposeful life, for these activities do not demonstrate man’s unique
status. It might seem as if they are the result of deliberation, but if one
looks at the matter in depth, one will see that in reality, the motive
force behind these actions is the same urge that motivates an animal
in various ways, in its concern for its own survival. It is the driving
force of one’s desires; the pressure of one’s needs and the wish to
fulfill the demands of one’s self that underlie such a life. These are
the considerations which, in fact, guide a person in his search for his
livelihood.
When man grows up, he realizes that there
are certain material necessities without which
he cannot live. He requires food, clothes, a
place to live. He requires a reliable source of
income to sustain him throughout his life. He
is forced by these considerations to obtain
these things. Then he sees that those who
have an abundance of these material things
enjoy respect and apparently possess every
form of happiness and luxury in this world.
Thus he is driven on to do more than just seek
a livelihood; he desires to earn to a degree
greatly in excess of his actual requirements.
To determine the
purpose of life is, in
short, the effort to
make life meaningful.
It must be one which
is in accordance with
man’s unique status.
It must be one which
leads man on the
path to success and
progress in terms of
his true nature.
In bustling markets, grandiose offices, and
opulent buildings, he is not really guided by
deliberate thought. Rather, he is being guided
by inflated ideas of his own needs, desires, longings and ambitions
to achieve fame and high status in this world. For this reason these
activities cannot be considered as being directed towards the purpose
which sets man apart from the animal and lends him a higher distinction.
Man’s greater dignity cannot be based only on a purpose, which
emanates from inner desires and pressures of environment. Man’s
true purpose in life can only be to seek the pleasure of God. When
man seeks the pleasure of his Lord, his human qualities find full
manifestation. This is a purpose loftier than the one towards which an
animal directs its energies. It distinguishes man from animals. It is the
ultimate station of human dignity.
To determine the purpose of life is, in short, the effort to make life
meaningful. It must surely, therefore, be one which is in accordance
with man’s unique status. It must be one which leads man on the path
to success and progress in terms of his true nature. Celebrated English
writer, Gilbert K. Chesterton, summarized it thus: Man is an exception,
whatever else he is. If he is not the image of God, then he is a disease
of the dust.
IN GODS COUNTRY
Follow the Guidelines
AN American lady went on a tour of Russia. There, she saw pictures
of the Chairman of the Communist party hanging everywhere
she went. She took offence of this and gave vent to her feelings
in the presence of some Russians. Her companion whispered in her
ear: “Madam, you are in Russia now, not America.”
One can live as one likes in one’s native country, but when one goes to
a foreign country one has to abide by its laws. If one does not do so,
then one will be considered an offender.
The same is true, in a broader sense, of this
world. A human being is born into a world
which he did not create. The world in which
one lives is entirely of God’s making. Man,
then, is not in his own country; he is living
in the country of God. The only way that a
person can prosper is by understanding God’s
scheme and living in the world according to
that scheme. If he contradicts the scheme of
God, then he will be considered a rebel.
The prophets showed
people, plainly and
in terms that they
could understand,
exactly what the
Lord requires of
them; they defined
the principles that
God wants a person
to adhere to and the
character He wants
them to embody.
The question is: how should one live in the
world in order to conform to the will of God?
It was to provide an answer to this question
that God raised up His prophets.
The prophets showed people, plainly and in
terms that they could understand, exactly what the Lord requires of
them; they defined the principles that God wants a person to adhere to
and the character He wants them to embody.
The Quran is a collection of this prophetic guidance. It provides
spiritual guidance on how to lead one’s life such that one can develop
a noble personality which in the Hereafter is held deserving of God’s
blessings.
MAN A GIFTED CREATION
Value Your Life
THE Prophet of Islam is reported to have said: God created Adam
in His own image (Sahih Bukhari). However, this does not mean
that man is like God in physical appearance. It means that God
has in a limited way granted man those divine attributes which exist in
perfect form in His being.
In the entire universe man is an exceptional creature. His is a living
existence. He is the only creature who has been granted a complete
personality. He thinks, sees, hears, carries out planned action and can
enjoy a multitude of things by using his senses. All these are exceptional
qualities which are granted only to man out of all the creatures in the
universe.
Man has been given these exceptional gifts so
that he may engage himself in an exceptional
task. This exceptional task is to recognize and
accept the Creator at a conscious level. In this
way, the Almighty Lord of the universe has
given man the opportunity to discover Him at
the level of realization. This realization should
enable a person to see God who is physically
unseen, to understand that he is actually
powerless even though he seems to have
some powers, and so that he may surrender
himself before God of his own free will and
not out of compulsion.
The Almighty Lord
of the universe
has given man the
opportunity to
discover Him at the
level of realization.
This realization
should enable a
person to see God
who is physically
unseen so that
he may surrender
himself before God
of his own free
will and not out of
compulsion.
He is blessed in having been given the ability
to convert the entire world of nature into
spiritual provision for himself, for he has to
develop himself intellectually by awakening
his consciousness. When he does so, he
finds truth at the level of personal discovery;
the realization of God comes to him as he prostrates. Then he has to
develop his personality to such a degree of moral refinement that he
may be held deserving of finding a place in the vicinity of Almighty
God. Those who fail to develop such a personality are mere animals in
human form. They are worthless in the eyes of God.
EVERY SITUATION IN LIFE IS A TEST
Comforts and Hardships
A COMMON phenomenon observed when Muslims get their
cherished homes built for themselves is the display of words put
up in frame outside their home: “This is by the grace of my Lord.”
These words are part of a much larger Quranic verse. Apparently, the
owner means that the house he possesses is a blessing bestowed on
him from God or a gift given to him by God. But this is not the correct
or implied meaning of these words.
The phrase “this is by the grace of my Lord” has appeared in the
Quran in Chapter al-Naml. These are the words spoken by the Prophet
Solomon. The context given in the Quran is that when the Queen
Sheba entered Solomon’s royal court, he demanded the jinns of his
kingdom to bring to him her crown all the way from Ma’rib in Yemen
to Jerusalem in Palestine. One of the jinns who was under Solomon’s
command accomplished this feat in the twinkling of an eye. When
Solomon saw this extraordinary feat of the Queen’s crown being so
swiftly placed before him, he exclaimed: “This is by the grace of my
Lord, to test whether I am grateful or ungrateful.” (
If we keep all of Solomon’s words before us, we will realize that he had
taken God’s “grace” as a means of putting him to the test. According
to him, this special blessing of God upon him was to test if he would
acknowledge His bounties and humble himself before God, or if he
would become arrogant and haughty.
In truth, believers will receive God’s gift in the world Hereafter. Whatever
a person gets in this world is only meant to test him. Its real purpose
is to test a person and not to bestow anything upon him. From this
perspective, the comforts and luxuries of this world are, in essence, the
same as the difficulties and hardships—both situations are meant to
examine a person. One is required to be grateful to God when he enjoys
well-being and to exhibit patience when he experiences problems.
A person should develop the ability to express gratitude to God when
in comfort, and to remain patient when faced with troubles. This
approach is the real gift of God to human beings in this world.
THE WORD OF GOD
From The Scriptures
The Quran is the book of God. It has been preserved in
its entirety since its revelation to the Prophet of Islam
between AD 610 and 632. It is a book that brings glad
tidings to humankind, along with divine admonition,
and stresses the importance of man’s discovery of the
Truth on a spiritual and intellectual level.
Translated from Arabic and commentary by
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
The decree of God is at hand, so do not seek to hasten it. Holy is
He, and exalted far above what they associate with Him. He sends
down the angels with revelations by His command to whoever of His
servants He pleases, saying, ‘Warn humankind that there is no god
save Me, so fear Me.’He created the heavens and the earth for a
true purpose. He is exalted above anything they associate with Him.
(
The reality of religion is that man should apprehend the Being of
God and His workmanship in the universe so intensely and realistically
that the Being of the one God should become everything for him; man
should fear only Him and on Him alone, should he build up his hopes.
The one God should be the entire focus of his heart and mind.
This is what constitutes the act of making God the object of worship (ilah)
and amounts to praying to Him. All the prophets came into the world in
order to bring about this condition. Those who prove to have this sense
of submission to God will be treated as successful on Judgement Day,
but those who go against this will be left without hope. For the general
people, this decision will be taken on Doomsday (Judgement Day), but
for the addressees of the prophet, it starts in this world itself.
There is perfect unity in the universe and at the same time, there also
is perfect meaningfulness. Unity in the universe makes it unwarranted
for anyone to make somebody other than the one God the centre of
his attention. And it is the natural consequence of its meaningfulness
that it should meet a meaningful end. In this way, the system governing the universe provides arguments in favour of both the unity of God
(tawhid) and the existence of the Hereafter.
He created man out of a [mere] drop of sperm: yet he shows himself
to be openly contentious! He has created cattle for you: from them
you derive food and clothing and numerous other benefits; how
pleasant they look when you bring them home in the evenings and
when you take them out to pasture in the mornings. They carry your
loads to places which you could otherwise not reach without great
hardship—surely, your Lord is compassionate and merciful—He has
created horses, mules and donkeys, so that you may ride them, and
also so that they may be put on show, and He creates other things
beyond your knowledge. (
Man’s life begins from a humble fluid. But when man grows up, he tries
to take a stand in opposition to God. If he were to keep in view the
reality of his origin, he would never allow himself to become arrogant
in this world.
Animals, in particular, cattle, are among the various bounties with
which man has been blessed in the present world. These are just like
living machines of nature that are engaged in catering to the various
requirements of man. Cows consume grass and fodder and convert
them into meat and milk for his consumption. Sheep produce wool on
their bodies which is used for his clothing. The owner of these animals
includes them in his assets and this enhances his prestige.
‘He creates other things beyond your knowledge’ refers to those
benefits that are available through sources other than animals. A part
of these other sources was available to man even in ancient times. Man
has discovered the major part of it in modern times and, for instance,
is utilizing machines in place of animals.
Man’s innumerable worldly endowments have not been created by him
but have been provided for him by God. This shows that the Creator of
this world is a kind Creator. Thus it necessarily follows that man should
be grateful to his Creator and discharge the obligations due to Him as
his Benefactor.
FREEDOM OF CHOICE
Self-discipline Rather than Freedom
IN 1945 an atom bomb destroyed the entire city of Hiroshima.
This bomb was equivalent to 12,500 tons of TNT (trinitrotouline).
In 1980s, the world’s nuclear arsenal contained 12,000 to 15,000
megatons, each megaton being equal to a million tons of TNT. After the
Cold War, the number of nuclear weapons has declined significantly,
a feat accomplished through arms control agreements. The pace of
reduction has slowed significantly compared with the 1990s. Instead
of planning for nuclear disarmament, the nuclear-armed states appear
to plan to retain large arsenals for the indefinite future, are adding
new nuclear weapons, and are increasing the
role that such weapons play in their national
strategies.
According to a report in The Telegraph
(October 11, 2017) it is estimated that the US
and Russian arsenals combined have power
equating to 6,600 megatons. This is a tenth
of the total solar energy received by Earth
every minute. As Jonathan Schell has pointed
out in his best-seller The Fate of the Earth, man
is now in a position to destroy life on Earth
many times over.
What, basically, are these weapons? Like any
other weapon, they are just a misuse of the
resources of nature. A sword is a misuse of
steel, a nuclear bomb a misuse of nuclear
energy.
The freedom of
choice that man has
been given in the
world today is a test;
it is not his right. If
he uses his freedom
correctly, and makes
the right choice for
himself, he will be
successful. But if he
misuses his freedom,
he is doomed to
failure.
The things from which weapons are made were in the possession of
nature for millions of years, causing no destruction. When man gained
control of them, however, they suddenly became destructive. Why? It
is because nature has no freedom. Man, on the other hand, is free to
act as he pleases. What philosophers call a ‘problem of evil’ is simply a
misuse of human freedom.
Modern man takes enormous pride in the freedom he has won for
himself. But it is self-discipline rather than freedom that is needed for
peace to prevail on Earth. The freedom of choice that man has been
given in the world today is a test; it is not his right. If he uses his freedom correctly, and makes the right choice for himself, he will be successful.
But if he misuses his freedom, he is doomed to failure.
Resources that remain in the control of nature function properly. When
man gains control of them, however, they cause havoc in the world.
This fact shows us how order can be maintained in the world. Man
must learn how to utilize these resources in the way nature utilizes
them. The model of nature must be applied to human life. This is the
real task facing both individuals and societies in the world today.
MISUSE OF FREEDOM
Necessary Price for an Environment of Test
IT is said that the entire debate over belief and disbelief boils down to
one question: Does logic prevail? Those who have chosen disbelief
say that if there were a God, why do we see a contradiction in the
world. That is, from our observations of the universe, we clearly come
to the conclusion that there is grand design in the world of nature.
However, the human world presents quite a different picture. Here,
we witness misery, sorrow, suffering and all kinds of evil. According to
these people this contradiction between the two worlds—the material
world and the human world—shows that our world is a bundle of
randomness. Although, in the partial sense there seems to be design in
the world, when we look at the picture in totality, the design disappears.
This scenario dispels the argument from design that, if there is design,
there ought to be a designer.
The explanation of this contradiction lies in
drawing a comparison. When we compare
the two worlds, we discover that there is a
fundamental difference between the two.
The human world is characterized by total
freedom without any restrictions. Man is free
to choose either nonviolence or violence and
bloodshed. He can utilize nuclear energy for
constructive purposes, or use it to develop
nuclear weapons. This kind of freedom is
bound to create chaos and conflict. It has the
potential of destroying all systems.
The problem of evil is
not a phenomenon of
the material world.
It is exclusively a
phenomenon of
the human world.
This so-called evil
is a necessary price
that we have to
pay for all those
developments which
have culminated into
what we refer to with
pride as civilization.
On the other hand, the case of the material
world is different. In spite of its mind-boggling
vastness and countless components, we find
complete determinism in the material world.
From the microworld to the macroworld the
whole universe is functioning under a rigid
discipline, or natural laws. As a result, the material world has a highly
predictable character. It is because of this predictability that we have
been able to develop science and technology with precision.
Lack of determinism in the human world is the reason why social
sciences could not become exact sciences like the physical sciences.
For example, while the solar system has only one definition, political
science has a dozen different definitions.
This difference between the two worlds makes us believe that the plan
of the Creator regarding the two worlds is different. The Creator has
kept determinism in the material world. On the contrary, the Creator’s
scheme for the human world involves complete freedom for man. There
is deep wisdom behind this difference. If we observe the physical world,
we realize that there is no phenomenon of intellectual development in
it. In other words, it has remained the same for millions of years. But,
in the human world there are constant challenges, and it is this kind of
challenging environment that leads to progress and development.
Without experiencing challenges there can be no creative thinking or
intellectual development. When we observe the material world we
find order in it. While in the human world there seemingly is disorder.
This “disorder” is not a negative phenomenon; rather it is a positive
phenomenon. The positive term for this disorder in the human world
is ‘challenge’.
Due to this difference, we have to apply two separate yardsticks to
judge these worlds. The material world has to be judged from the
yardstick of determinism, while the human world should be judged
with the yardstick of freedom of choice. Because of its deterministic
nature, the material world could be utilized for building technology.
Without this predictability we would not have been able to use the
material world for industrial development. On the other hand, in the
human world because of total freedom there are several problems or
challenges, and it is in meeting these challenges that we develop and
advance. However, this total freedom also gives rise to evil.
The problem of evil is not a phenomenon of the material world. It is
exclusively a phenomenon of the human world. This so-called evil is a
necessary price that we have to pay for all those developments which
have culminated into what we refer to with pride as civilization.
TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE
We often talk of peace in the context of war. But this is
a very narrow and restricted notion of peace. Peace is
deeply linked with the entirety of human life. Peace is
a complete ideology in itself. Peace is the only religion
for both—man and the universe. It is the master-key
that opens the doors to every success. Peace creates a
favourable atmosphere for success in every endeavour.
Without peace, no positive action—small or big—is possible.
THE AGE OF PEACE
ROBIN FOX (b. 1934) is an Anglo-American anthropologist. In his
article ‘Fatal Attraction: War and Human Nature’, he talks about
war as one of obvious human enjoyments. On the other hand, he
also mentions the factors that have made the modern times as one of
‘war is dead’ periods. Many arguments are put forth to bring home this
point: that force is losing its efficacy as a means of extending policy;
that democracy is now in worldwide demand and democracies are
of their nature pacific; that the growth of transnational corporations
aided by better transport and instant worldwide communications is
creating a level of international interdependence that will not tolerate
war; that all this raises the cost of war to an unbearable level.
In ancient times there were two things in particular that made war
seem necessary and unavoidable for those who chose to go to war.
The first of these was family-based monarchical rule. The second was
the agriculture-based or land-based economy.
In the modern age, a major development completely transformed
this situation, and that is what is called the Industrial Revolution.
Because of this revolution, today innumerable new economic means
and opportunities have become available, utilizing which a person can
make great economic progress. Even without becoming a landowner
he can become economically wealthy.
This change is so massive and significant that it can, without any
exaggeration, be called an ‘economic explosion’. It has completely
transformed the entire political and economic scenario. Things that earlier seemed impossible have now become completely possible.
Things that earlier appeared merely imaginary have now become a
practical reality. The age of political and economic monopoly has come
to a complete and final end.
After this revolutionary change, there is now no excuse left for anyone
to go to war. A person, group or country can now obtain their economic
or political objectives by availing of the vastly expanded opportunities
that have now been made possible, using peaceful means alone. In such
a situation, there is no need for war at all. War and violence would now
only indicate a complete lack of awareness of the ample possibilities
that are today available for obtaining one’s objectives using peaceful
means alone. Today, war has been rendered utterly ineffective and
useless in terms of producing any positive results.
After the border clash in the Galwan Valley, tensions between India
and China flared up. Whereas the commonalty did speak about
teaching a lesson to and wreaking havoc upon the opposing party,
the top brass of both governments demonstrated better sense. P.S.
Raghavan, chairman of the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB), an
independent advisory body on security issues,
said in an interview, “There is a strict code
of conduct observed by the armies of both
sides that we shall not shoot. Because if you
shoot to kill, that is a sure way of launching an
escalation which can go to a war.” (The Print,
June 29, 2020)
The world has
come to realize the
inefficacy of war to
obtain the desired
objective. In this
age, talking about
war has become
anachronistic and
obsolete. This is an
age of peace.
Kelsey Broderick, China analyst at consultancy
Eurasia Group, said in a note. “The fact that
the 15 June incident, despite the fatalities,
did not boil over into a larger conflict is one
positive signal that higher-ups on both sides
are not interested in sparking any kind of
war.” (CNBC, June 16, 2020)
This shows that no party is willing to start aggression. They fully realize
the catastrophic effects of war which no one is willing to suffer. This
episode is ample proof that the age of war is over. The world has come
to realize the inefficacy of war to obtain the desired objective. In this
age, talking about war has become anachronistic and obsolete. This
is an age of peace. Diplomacy is the only viable approach to resolve
international disputes. Those individuals and organizations still wishing
to achieve their goals through violence and warfare are ignorant of the
times they are living in.
THE CREATION PLAN OF GOD
This Life is a Test
GOD, according to His will, created a perfect world called Paradise.
A world in accordance with all of our desires as human beings,
in that it is free of all limitations and disadvantages, free of
fear and pain; free of all imperfections. An eternal world where there
is neither death nor old age. An ideal world where we could achieve
complete fulfilment.
A perfect Paradise cannot be inhabited by
less-than-perfect beings. So, God created
perfection-seeking beings—us. He intended
us to spend a period of trial in this present
and imperfect world and after this, according
to our deeds, we will earn the right to inhabit
the perfect and eternal world.
Who will qualify for
Paradise? Those
pure souls who,
in their life in this
world, come up
to the standard
of citizenship
of Paradise—a
perfect world of
eternal comfort and
pleasure, a world
which holds far
greater meaning
than this one.
As part of this test, Paradise is kept hidden
from us. This world, therefore, has all the
components necessary for a test. It has
perfection-seeking beings in a less-thanperfect world. Beings who have been given
complete freedom to choose their actions.
We thus have a choice—we can misuse our
freedom to do evil, or we can use our freedom
wisely, submit to God and qualify for Paradise.
Who will qualify for Paradise? Those pure souls
who, in their life in this world, come up to the standard of citizenship
of Paradise—a perfect world of eternal comfort and pleasure, a world
which holds far greater meaning than this one. Perhaps it is this divine
plan which Jesus Christ was referring to:
"This is how you should pray: Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be
Your name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on Earth as it
is in Heaven.” (Mathew 6: 9)
The test rests on our discovery of God, who is in the unseen. Before
we can see Him, we should voluntarily surrender ourselves to Him.
Our desire for Paradise should make this world seem insignificant. We
should willingly adopt divine ethics. We should develop intellectually
and spiritually until we are fit to inhabit the refined world of Paradise.
HUMANS ON TRIAL
Why has God Given Man Freedom?
UNLIKE any other creature in the universe, man appears to enjoy
free will. God has not placed any curbs on him. This freedom
is for the purpose of putting man to the test, and is not meant
to encourage him to lead a life of permissiveness like animals do, and
then just pass away one day. Rather its purpose is that man should
lead a morally upright life of his own free will, thus demonstrating that
he is of the highest moral character.
One who conducts himself in this manner should be reckoned as God’s
special servant who, without any apparent compulsion, chose to be a
man of principle; who, without being subjected to any external force,
did of his own free will, what his Lord would have desired. This liberty
accorded to man gives him the opportunity to gain credit for being the
most superior of all creatures of God.
All the things in this world are God’s subjects. The stars and their
satellites rotate in space entirely at their Lord’s bidding. Trees, rivers,
mountains, and all other such natural
phenomena function according to the
unchangeable laws of God laid down by Him in
advance. Similarly, the animals follow exactly
those instincts instilled in their species as a
matter of Divine Will. Man is the only creature
who has been given, exceptionally, the gift of
power and freedom.
The freedom granted
to human beings
is for the purpose
of putting man to
the test, and is not
meant to encourage
him to lead a life of
permissiveness like
animals do, and then
just pass away one
day
This freedom has opened doors of two kinds
for man, one leading to success and the
other to failure. If, on receiving freedom an
individual becomes arrogant and insolent, it
will mean that he has failed the test.
If on the other hand, he remains modest and
humble, bowing to his Lord’s will on all occasions, he will have made the
right use of his God-given freedom. He will, without any compulsion,
have bound himself by divine principles. One who chooses this course
will succeed in the test of freedom. He will be handsomely rewarded
by God as no other creature. Held to be the chosen servant of God, he
will remain in an everlasting state of blissfulness and blessedness.
FROM THE SPIRITUAL TREE
There is a tree beside my house. I call
it the 'Spiritual Tree'. I derive spiritual
inspiration from it. A tree is an evergrowing being that was initially a seed
possessing the potential of becoming a
full-grown tree. A seed takes food from the
universe around it and then grows into a
tree. The same is true with spirituality,
the desire for which is intrinsic to, and an
integral part of, the very nature of every
human being. To realize this spirituality,
man must derive spiritual food from the
universe around him. A tree converts
carbon-dioxide into oxygen; a spiritual person is one who can take positive lessons
from negative situations. From this perspective, a tree is an embodiment of a
spiritual personality. —Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
THE VEIL OF CAUSATION
A STRONG conviction in the existence of God is most desirable,
but experience shows otherwise. Most people are unable to
have a strong faith in God. Some of them go to such extremes
as to deny God altogether. This fact can be observed throughout the
history of humankind. Why is this so?
This is because in accordance with the creation plan of God, all events
and incidents are a consequence of cause and effect. For every event
that happens in this world there appears to be a cause, because of
which, most people attribute the event to its cause. Due to the presence
of this apparent cause, they are unable to see the hand of God behind
the event.
This phenomenon has been observable throughout human history. But
in the present age with the discoveries of science, it has taken the form
of an ideology that could be called the ‘law of causation’. When scientific
developments using microscopic and macroscopic observations in
the universe uncovered the natural causes for all events, it came to
be understood that everything was the result of its cause. Because of
these scientific discoveries it came to be said:
If events are due to natural causes; they are
not due to supernatural causes.
However, this is the very test of man in
this world. Man needs to develop his
consciousness so that he can see the hand
of God behind every causal event. He should
discover that in these events the cause is just
a veil and not the reality.
The name of this discovery is faith in God.
Those people who are able to discover this
reality in this world are the ones who will
deserve a reward from God: entry into everlasting Paradise.
Man needs to develop
his consciousness so
that he can see the
hand of God behind
every causal event.
He should discover
that in these events
the cause is just a veil
and not the reality.
QURAN A GUIDE TO LIFE AND BEYOND
Towards A Meaningful Living
MEDICINES are usually accompanied by leaflets explaining what
illnesses they are designed to cure, how they should be used
and what their basic formulae are. But, it is a tragedy that
man is born into the world in such a condition that he knows neither
what he is nor why he has been put here. No convenient handbook
accompanies him. There are no signboards fixed to the summits of the
mountains to give him directions or provide him with answers to his
questions. Man has, in consequence, formed strange opinions about
himself, the Earth and the sky, being ignorant of the essential reality
of life.
When he examines his own being, it appears to him as an amazing
accumulation of intellectual and physical powers. Yet, he did not will
himself into being, nor did he play any part in the making of himself.
Then he looks at the world outside of him and finds a universe of such
extreme vastness, that he cannot encompass or traverse it. He cannot
even count the innumerable treasures it contains. What is all this, and
why is it there? Where did this world start from and where will it all end?
What is the purpose of all this existence? He finds himself completely in
the dark on these subjects.
Man has, of course, been given eyes, but all his eyes can do is see
the outside of things. He has intelligence, but the trouble with human
intelligence is that it does not even know about itself. Up till now, man
has been unable to find out how thoughts enter the human mind or
how the mind functions. With such inadequate faculties, he is neither
able to arrive at any sound conclusion concerning himself, nor he is
able to understand the universe.
This riddle is solved by the Book of God. The Quran is a scripture which
gives us definite knowledge concerning the realities of life.
Those who have tried to understand the universe without recourse to
the guidance of God will be akin to those blind people who try to find
out what an elephant is by touching the different parts of its body. One
will touch its leg, and think he has found a pillar. Another will feel its
ear, and think it is a winnowing basket. Its back will be proclaimed a
platform, its tail a snake and its trunk a hosepipe. But where in all this
is the elephant? No matter how these blind people put together their
findings, they cannot arrive at the correct answer. This is the eternal predicament of all atheist philosophers and thinkers. In the absence
of true knowledge their conclusions have been like those of a man,
fumbling in the dark, and just hazarding wild guesses as to the nature
of his surroundings, without ever truly understanding it.
There have been people in this world who have devoted their entire
lives to the quest for Truth, but who, in their desperation at being
unable to find it, have even taken the extreme step of putting an end to
their lives. And then there have been others who sought the Truth, but
having failed to find it, settled for a concocted philosophy based on pure
conjecture. While the latter, mistaking conjecture for reason, compiled
their conclusions and presented them to the world as Truth, the former
saw speculation for what it was, rejected it, then—anguished at their
own ultimate helplessness—opted out of this mysterious world.
Both groups were denied True Knowledge, for,
in reality, no one can understand the secret of
life without the help of the original Keeper of
the Secret—God. True, man has been given
the capacity to think and understand. But this
capacity is little better than an eye, which can
see only so long as there is some external
source of light. In pitch darkness, this selfsame eye cannot see anything whatsoever.
Only when a light is switched on does
everything become clearly visible. The human
intellect, like the eye, needs the light—the
light of God’s revelation—if it is not to grope
in the dark forever. Without God’s revelation,
we can never arrive at the truth of things.
The Quran presents
to us the knowledge
about God. It not
only speaks about
His existence but also
paints an incredibly
vivid picture of the
Being who sustains
and directs the
universe.
The Quran presents to us the knowledge about God. It not only speaks
about His existence but also paints an incredibly vivid picture of the
Being who sustains and directs the universe. Not only does it tell us about
the Hereafter, but describes also the Day of Judgement so graphically
that its horrors become deeply etched on our consciousness. There is
a well-known story of a Greek artist who painted such a realistic picture
of a bunch of grapes that birds would come and peck at it. Just think
that if a painting executed by an ordinary mortal could have such an
extraordinary effect, what heights of consummate artistry could not
be reached by the Lord of the universe in the Quran? Could any mere
mortal truly appreciate the perfection of such art?
The Quran bears verbal witness to the sovereignty of God. It describes,
with great force and clarity, the great, hidden, determinative force at
work throughout the entire cosmos, and gives us definitive information
on those metaphysical realities, which elude the hand and the eye. Not
only does it spell out the facts of existence, but it also builds up an
astonishing gallery of word-pictures. Thus, it brings a hitherto unseen
world before our very eyes.
The Quran shows us where strength in this
world really lies, giving us a handhold on
a rope that never breaks. Without this, we
have no real support in life. Moreover, it is
only through attachment to God that human
beings can retain their hold on the cord that
binds each to each.
The Quran explains that it is God alone who
sustains us throughout our lives here on
Earth. Through Him our hearts are set at ease,
for it is He who provides true warmth in life.
He rescues us in times of peril, assists us in
the hour of need. All power rests in His hands.
Honour and glory will be the reward of any
nation that looks to Him for support, while
only disgrace and humiliation will be the lot
of those who abandon Him. To know this is to
hold the key to all the treasures in life. He who possesses this key gains
all; he who loses it, loses all.
The Quran, first
and foremost, is
the Proclamation of
God. Just as every
individual and society
possesses a set of
guidelines for its
optimal functioning,
so is the Quran a
'Guidebook' for entire
humanity revealed by
the Almighty, Master
of Man, King of kings.
The Quran, first and foremost, is the Proclamation of God. Just as every
individual and society possesses a set of guidelines for its optimal
functioning, so is the Quran a ‘Guidebook’ for entire humanity revealed
by the Almighty, Master of Man, King of kings. To put it very simply, the
Quran is a book of directions, showing man the right path to tread. It
is a Light which guides his faltering steps, giving him timely reminders
of God’s will, awakening his sleeping nature and conveying the Lord’s
admonition. It is a book that, in giving him the moral sense to distinguish
right from wrong, cures him and his society of all ills. In this sense, it is
a book of wisdom, full of every expression of correct understanding. It
lays down for us the very foundations on which to build and organize
society. In short, it provides everything that man as an individual and
as a member of society will ever need. Without this, man can never be
the gainer, no matter how hard he tries.
How can a believer gauge whether he has actually developed a
relationship with God? There is only one answer to this question: by
turning his eyes inward, and judging how his inner self stands in relation
to the Quran. The way one relates to the Quran is a true reflection of
one’s relationship with God. The degree to which a man adheres to the
tenets of the Quran will be a sure indication of his attachment to his
Maker. If the Quran is the book he values most, it goes without saying
that God is dearer to him than any other. But if some other book is
held in greater esteem by him, then the most important person in his
life will be its author, and not his Maker. When one discovers one's
true Creator, it is impossible that he will hold words of others more
precious than the words of guidance from His creator. It is the means
through which the Almighty converses with His servants. It is a scale on
which man’s devotion to his Creator may be measured.
When man fears to stand alone, without support, in an unfathomable
universe, the Quran sets his mind at rest by making his destination clear
to him, and directing him towards it. In the Quran man thus meets his
Lord, beholds His promises and rejoices in His good tidings. In this way,
the Quran fills a man with conviction to define his place in the world.
Giving concrete form to the instinctive feelings which swirl in man’s
subconscious about his Lord and Master, the Quran sets his feet well
and truly on the path of submission to Him, the path of Islam (Islam as
contained in the original scriptures and the life of the Prophet, and not
the Muslim culture which people are witnessing) and brings him closer
to God. This is when man has found his true purpose in life.
THE REALITY OF LIFE
The Perfection of Natural Laws
PEOPLE in general, try to live this worldly life in as prestigious
and comfortable way as possible. It is because they believe
that afterwards, neither man, nor anything that concerns
him, will remain. Some do think about this matter, but only on a
philosophical level. They seek a theoretical explanation of the world.
Such explanations are interesting from a philosophical point of view,
but they are of no intrinsic value to man. Theoretical discussions about
whether a cosmic spirit keeps the whole universe revolving for its own
fulfillment, or whether everything is part of some sublime being, do
not raise any personal issues for man. Some have a religious answer to
the question, but their solution is also of no import to man. Some see
life as a mysterious, recurring cycle, with man repeatedly being born
and dying; some claim that man will be rewarded and punished in this
world. These are the creeds of which most religions are made.
All such solutions to the problems of life differ from one another
considerably but in so much as none of them raises any serious
personal issue for man, they are all the same. They are either
explanations of events or a means of providing us with some sort of
spiritual satisfaction. They do not issue us any warning or stir us into
any action.
The Islamic perspective provided by the Prophet Muhammad is of
an entirely different nature. The Prophet in his solution to problems
places every individual in a precarious position from which the next
step leads either to a dreary and unfathomable abyss of destruction or
to a world of eternal bliss. It requires every man to take a serious view
of his situation—even more so than a traveller in the night whose torch
reveals a black snake slithering menacingly in front of him.
The message taught by Muhammad contains a greater warning for all
humankind. He taught that after this world a vaster world is awaiting
us, where every person will be judged and then punished or rewarded
according to his deeds. The props which man relies on in this world will
not support him there, for there will be no trading, no friendship and
no acceptable intercession.
The warning, which the Prophet delivered, to humankind makes his
existence a matter of personal importance to everyone. Everyone’s fate,
according to his teachings, hangs in the balance. Everyone has freedom to either believe in his message, follow his guidance in preparation for
everlasting Paradise, or one can ignore his teachings depriving oneself
of this Paradise.
There are two things, which make this matter
even more worthy of our attention. Firstly,
those who consider material aggrandizement
to be all that is worthwhile in life have no
proof for their theory. Their ideas are based
on superficial attractions. Those who speak
in philosophical terms have only analogies to
offer as evidence. They do not have full faith
in what they say. Then there are those who
speak without reliable historical information.
The criterion with which to judge the past
is history, and history does not verify the
authenticity of their dogmas.
The Prophet Muhammad, born in the full
light of history, presents his teachings which
have been recorded in book-form. The Quran
exists in its revealed form. So, one is free to
put this through their scrutiny.
The Prophet
Muhammad taught
that after this world
a vaster world is
awaiting us, where
every person will
be judged and
then punished or
rewarded according
to his deeds. The
props which man
relies on in this world
will not support
him there, for there
will be no trading,
no friendship and
no acceptable
intercession.
The Prophet warned us that we are confronted
with a reality which we can never change;
we have no choice but to face it. Death only
transfers us to another world; it does not
obliterate us altogether. The Creator has established an eternal scheme
for success and failure, which no one can alter or opt out of. We have to
choose between Heaven and Hell; we have no other choice.
If the meteorological department forecasts a hurricane, it is telling us
about an impending disaster in which those affected will have no say in
the matter; another power will control events. One can either escape
or expose oneself to destruction. So, when the earthquake of the Last
Day occurs, we will be subject to judgement by our Creator. There is no
escape from this.
DETERMINISM VS FREEWILL
Equal Role in Life
IS man’s life predestined or is it determined by his freewill? Is man
free to choose his path or is he helpless? The answer to this question
is that in one sense, man is free, but in another sense he is helpless.
It is a matter of fifty-fifty or equal share. In our daily lives, each one
of us goes about doing things with freedom. But, along with this, we
repeatedly feel that there are powers beyond our control which cannot
be ignored or else, we will be unable to accomplish our tasks.
What are these two seemingly opposite factors? One is our individual
personalities and the other is the conditions and circumstances
within which we act. These conditions or circumstances can be called
‘infrastructure’ which is established by nature.
As far as we are concerned, we are totally
free. We have the freedom to think and speak
as we please, to direct our lives in whichever
direction we want. In this sense, we are
completely free.
Man lies between two
different and distinct
considerations—in
one sense, he is free,
and in another, he is
helpless and under
compulsion.
But as far as the ‘infrastructure’ within which
we operate is concerned, we do not have the
power to change it or to plan our course of
action by ignoring it. For instance, if you walk,
it is something that you choose to do. But to
walk, you need the earth beneath your feet. You need gravity below you.
You need atmospheric pressure above you. These things are part of
the external ‘infrastructure’, without which you cannot walk. The same
is true for everything in the context of which we carry out our actions.
Similarly, our birthplace, family, conditions, gender are predetermined
for us. We have no choice in these matters.
This state of affairs tells us that in this world, man lies between two
different and distinct considerations—in one sense, he is free, and in
another, he is helpless and under compulsion. In terms of using his
will, he is completely free, but he is helpless in the sense that he cannot
use his free will without the infrastructure that has been established
by the Creator. The right position in this matter is one of balance—a
middle-position between freedom, compulsion and predetermined
aspects. Jawaharlal Nehru has aptly worded this standpoint. He wrote,
“Life is like a game of cards. The hand that is dealt you is determinism;
the way you play it is free will.”
The debate about freewill and predetermination is an ancient one.
Ancient philosophers and others who came after them have written
much on this subject. But someone who reads all that they have written
is likely to get very confused. Man seeks a clear answer on this issue,
but he does not find it in the enormous corpus of writings on this
subject. This is because, ordinarily, people veer to one or the other side
of the issue. They either think that it is total
freedom that prevails or that we are totally
predetermined.
This one-sided approach is not proper. If a
writer argues for total freedom, the reader is
left thinking that he has ignored the element
of predetermination. If the writer says that
everything in life is preordained, the reader
feels he has ignored man’s freewill. This leads
to confusion in the reader’s mind.
Life is evenly
balanced between
both freewill and
divine will, between
freedom and fate.
As has been suggested here, life is evenly balanced between both
freewill and divine will, between freedom and fate. If you reflect on
both aspects, your confusion will end and you will arrive at a definitive
answer to this question.
ASK MAULANA
Your Questions Answered
The remedy for ignorance is asking questions. (Prophet Muhammad)
The spirit of enquiry is the hallmark of an open society and the above
saying of the Prophet aptly illustrates this principle. A culture of
curiosity and open-mindedness will foster development in any society
by motivating its members to learn enthusiastically and enrich their
knowledge. This is because awareness of one’s ignorance is half of
knowledge, as it becomes a stepping-stone to seeking and finding
answers. A questioning mind is like a flowing river that is replenished
with fresh thoughts and ideas and continues on its journey
Should we follow humanity or God?
These are both different issues. We believe in God because He is the
Creator. Humanity is not a creator; it is a social phenomenon. It is a
known fact that nature is an enormous reservoir of facts and knowledge,
and according to science, man—in his limited lifetime—can acquire
only a partial knowledge of reality. If science has a limited scope, then
the question arises as to how should one attain wisdom?
There are numerous grave situations in life that require wisdom and
guidance from God the Creator of the universe to find solutions. The
Quran says: He grants wisdom to whom He will; and whoever is granted
wisdom has indeed been granted abundant wealth. Yet none bear
this in mind except those endowed with understanding. (
are many examples from the life of the Prophet where he was guided
towards wise solutions for problems by God Almighty. So, belief in God
is essential because there are many occasions in life when we require
wisdom to deal with the situations in our life. Quran the book of God
and the life of the Prophet who lived under divine guidance present
this wisdom. Belief in humanity is only one aspect of belief in God. It
is because of our belief in God that we can inculcate human values in
ourselves.
What is actually within man’s control?
The present pandemic is directly giving us this understanding of what
we can control and what we cannot. Natural laws will always remain as
God has ordained them. These are laws which God has defined. There are physical laws known to man, and man cannot alter them. Human
beings have freedom only to choose their action. For example, a person
cannot change the natural laws governing the natural resources, but
he can choose to make use of them with responsibility or be a reckless
user. According to the creation plan of God, this is a test for man and he
will be accountable for the choices he made in life, which is entirely in
his control. Belief in God and accountability of our actions instill in man
a responsible behaviour towards every resource God has bestowed on
us in this world.
THE EXISTENCE OF EVIL
Not an Inherent Feature
THE physical world, it has been established, functions according
to certain fixed, predetermined laws. It is curious that those
who extend the application of these laws to the study of human
history cannot but meet with failure. While the physical world may be
explainable within the framework of predeterminism, the events of the
human world are simply not amenable to interpretation in terms of
such laws.
Others want to interpret the events of the human world in the context
of freedom, but they are not satisfied with their interpretation. This
is because in the case of human freedom, the suffering experienced
in this world has no valid understandable
explanation. The failure of both these
interpretations is due to the fact that they
attempt to explain the whole in the light of a
part—which is not at all possible.
According to Islam,
that person is most
precious who leads
his life in this world
in such a manner
that despite facing all
sorts of temptations,
he succeeds in
overcoming them.
Despite having the
power to misuse his
freedom, he refrains
from doing so.
The truth is that the right principle by which
to interpret human history is neither that of
predeterminism nor of freedom. According
to Islam, there is only one correct principle
to interpret human history and that is the
principle of ‘test’. Man has been placed in the
present world for the purpose of being tested.
On the outcome of this test will depend the
eternal future of all humankind.
Favourable circumstances were a sine qua
non for this test in the world. Predeterminism
to a certain extent had to be a feature of
these circumstances as a guarantee against any obstacle coming in
the way of carrying out man’s trial. On the other hand, the element of
freedom was also essential in order that the intentions and actions of
each individual could be properly judged. For man can be granted the
credit for a good deed only on the condition that, despite having the
opportunity to indulge in bad deeds, he chooses of his own free will to
act virtuously.
If everything had been totally predetermined in this world, the element
of trial would have been absent. However, the granting of freedom did involve the risk of some people misusing their freedom and misuse it,
and they did. This gave rise to the problem of human suffering which
results from evil, yet this suffering, or evil, is a very small price to pay
for a very precious thing.
According to Islam, that person is most precious who leads his life in
this world in such a manner that despite facing all sorts of temptations,
he succeeds in overcoming them. Despite having the power to misuse
his freedom, he refrains from doing so. Despite the possibility of
leading an unprincipled life, he chooses of his own free will to be a
man of principle. To identify such individuals, it is essential that an
atmosphere of freedom prevail in the world. This is not possible under
any other system.
SURRENDER BY CHOICE
A Conscious Decision
GOD Almighty created the universe. In its vast space there are
stars, galaxies, planets, the solar system, and countless other
particles and so on. All these items of creation have adopted
a culture of worship, which is total surrender to God, without the
slightest deviation. It is this surrender to God that makes our universe
a zero-defect universe. This fact is mentioned in the Quran in these
words: “God created seven heavens one above the other in layers. You
will not find any flaw in the creation of the Gracious One. Then look
once again: can you see any flaw?” (
However, there was a “missing link” in this
universe. The universe, with all its vastness,
has surrendered to God under compulsion.
Now, there was a vacant room for a creature
that surrenders to God by choice. God
Almighty created human beings to fill in this
gap. Man was given total freedom. At the
same time, he was given a thinking mind.
The universe, with
all its vastness, has
surrendered to God
under compulsion.
Now, there was a
vacant room for
a creature that
surrenders to God by
choice. God Almighty
created human
beings to fill in this
gap. Man was given
total freedom. At
the same time, he
was given a thinking
mind.
It was required that man utilizes this mind
and surrenders before God as a reality rather
than as a matter of compulsion. When such
a human being surrenders to God, it is as if
he is saying, ‘O God, You are great and I am
not great. I am accepting this fact as a reality,
without the slightest compulsion.’
The fact is that man is the only creature
throughout the universe who has been
endowed with a mind, who consciously knows
‘I am what I am’. Although man has no power,
as regards freedom, he is totally free without
any restrictions. In other words, God is All-powerful while man is allpowerless in spite of having complete freedom. When man says: ‘O
God Almighty, You are my Lord!’ he says this consciously, without any
compulsion. This phenomenon is the greatest moment in the entire
universe.
A HISTORY OF INTELLECTUAL PERVERSION
A Curb on Freedom of Choice
ACCORDING to the Quran, God has created the universe with
a certain purpose. All its parts which are strictly under His
control are carrying out His divine scheme without the slightest
deviation. Similarly, man too has been created with a certain purpose.
Yet man, on the contrary, is totally free in his choices. He can do what
he wants by his own decision. However, in spite of this freedom he
is being watched constantly by God, for He does not allow any such
deviation in human history over a long period as would nullify His very
creation plan.
A Custom-made Universe
The universe made by God is so vast that, despite the enormous
progress made by human beings in their attempts to fathom the
universe, many of its secrets still remain unknown. The planet Earth,
made by God as part of the cosmos, was and still is unique in the entire
universe, in that it has been endowed with an atmosphere and all the
other factors which are essential to make it habitable for man.
After bringing into existence a favourable world in the form of Earth,
God created the first man Adam, and his feminine counterpart Eve.
Although the precise date of this event is unknown, Adam and Eve were
the first pair of human beings to set foot on Earth.
Adam was the first man as well as the first Prophet. The way of God
is to select a man as His messenger from amongst human beings
themselves in order to send His revelations to humankind. Therefore,
God revealed to Adam through an angel the purpose of man’s inhabiting
the Earth. According to this plan, God created a special creature in the
form of man, upon whom He bestowed freedom. Amongst the entire
universe that functions compulsorily under the will of God, man is the
only creature that has been granted free will. The rest of the universe
has no choice but to submit to the will of God, it is desirable for man
also to opt for this divine plan of his own free will.
This plan of divine will is based on two basic principles—monotheism
and being a well-wisher of humanity. Monotheism holds man to
worshipping one God alone, and not associating anyone or anything
in this worship. Being a well-wisher holds man to adhering completely to ethical principles in dealing with other human beings and refraining
from all kinds of injustice and oppression.
Along with this, God informed man that, although he appeared to be
free, he was fully accountable to Him. God has a complete record of
man’s actions. In the eternal life after death God would judge everyone
according to this record. One who exercised his freedom wrongly
would be thrown into eternal hellfire.
Adam prepared tablets of clay on which he
engraved the basic divine teachings, then
heated them in a fire, thus preserving this
divine guidance for the coming generations.
It is believed that these divine teachings were
written by Adam in the Syriac language.
God has a complete
record of man’s
actions. In the
eternal life after
death God would
judge everyone
according to this
record. One who
exercised his freedom
wrongly would be
thrown into eternal
hellfire
Deviation from the True Path
God subsequently sent Noah as His messenger. He was granted
an exceptionally long life of nine hundred and fifty years. During
this extended period, he continued to show people the right path,
generation after generation. Only a few people heeded his words. The
rest persisted in their sinful ways. Then, in accordance with the ways
of God, a huge flood engulfed them by way of punishment. Noah and
his small band of followers were saved in an ark, while all the rest were
drowned.
The Reasons for Perversion
What were the reasons for this continued transgression? There were
two main reasons; one, political absolutism; another, ignorance about
the world of nature.
FIND YOUR TRUE CALLING
You are made for a Higher Purpose
ROBERT Clive (1725-1774) was the first British Governor of the
Bengal Presidency. He began as a writer for the East India
Company. Dissatisfied with his salary of a mere 5 pounds a year,
he decided to end his life. Clive became so depressed with his desk job
he attempted suicide by putting a loaded pistol to his head and pulling
the trigger, but the gun failed to fire. Suddenly realizing that God
had made him for a bigger task, he joined the East India Company’s
Army, and gradually reached the top. Robert Clive went on to become
instrumental in establishing British rule in India.
The Quran and the Hadith tell us that if God prevents a task from
happening the way you had planned it, it is a clue that He wants you to
do something else. A Hadith report says that when God loves a people,
He tests them through difficulties. (Tirmidhi)
And why is this so?
It is to make you rethink and re-plan your
life. It tells you that He has created you for
something bigger than what you are presently
involved in. God has not made you to make this
world your goal and purpose and to get lost
in it. He has created you to worship Him. So,
instead of chasing the world, devote yourself
to God-realization and inviting people to God.
Be grateful for the
seeming setbacks
and problems you
face in life. They
may be God’s way
of telling you that
He has some higher
purpose for you.
Moses was brought up in Pharaoh’s palace,
but God created such conditions that his stay
there could not continue. God had created Moses not to live in the
palace, but for a far higher purpose—to invite people to God.
So, be grateful for the seeming setbacks and problems you face in life.
They may be God’s way of telling you that He has some higher purpose
for you.
THE PROBLEM OF EVIL
Answering an Age-old Question
IN its issue no.
in England), brought out an article titled, ‘The Relationship between
Faith and Reason’, by Dr Paul Badham, a Professor of Theology and
Religious Studies at St. David’s College, Lampeter, in the University of
Wales. He appears to be defenceless while discussing the Problem of
Evil. He writes:
“I have to acknowledge that the existence of so much evil and suffering
in the world counts against any vision of an all-powerful and loving
God.”
The problem of evil is the question of how to
reconcile the existence of evil and suffering
with an Omnipotent, Omnibenevolent, and
Omniscient God. To put it simply, this is a
question of why there is so much suffering in
the world if there indeed is a God who loves
His creation.
The present world
appears meaningless
when seen
independently, that
is, without joining
the Hereafter with
it. However, when
we take this world
and the Hereafter
together, the entire
matter takes a new
turn.
It must be noted that evil is a relative term.
An evil is an evil so long as it cannot be
explained. A doctor performs surgery on the
patient’s body, a judge sentences a criminal to
be hanged. All this appears to be injustice and
cruelty, but we do not call it so, simply because
we have a proper explanation to give for the
acts of the judge and the doctor. The same is
true of the evil pointed out by Dr. Badham.
The evil that exists in human society is not spread over the entire
universe. Leaving aside the limited human world, the vast universe is
perfect, par excellence. It is entirely free of any defect or evil.
Now the question arises as to why there is evil in the human world.
To arrive at an understanding of this we shall have to understand the
creation plan of the Creator. The creation plan of God provides the only
criterion by which to judge the nature of this matter.
The creation plan of God as revealed to His Prophet is that this world
is a testing ground, where man’s virtue is being placed on trial. It is in
accordance with the records of this period of trial that man’s eternal
fate will be decreed. It is for the purpose of this test that he has been granted freedom. In the absence of freedom, the question of life being
a test would not arise.
The evil in question is, in fact, a concomitant of this freedom. God desires
to select those individuals who, in spite of being granted freedom, lead
a disciplined and principled life. For individuals to prove their worth
an atmosphere of freedom must be provided. Undoubtedly, due to
such an atmosphere, some people will surely misuse this freedom and
perpetrate injustice. This is the inevitable price to be paid for such a
creation plan to be brought to completion. No better creation plan can
be envisaged for this world.
The present world appears meaningless when seen independently,
that is, without joining the Hereafter with it. However, when we take
this world and the Hereafter together, the entire matter takes a new
turn. Now this world becomes extremely meaningful and extremely
valuable. What at first was seen as Problem of Evil, is essentially a
misuse of freedom by man.
MANS UNIQUENESS
Responsibility and Privilege
EARTH contains nearly 1 trillion species, according to a study
from biologists at Indiana University. Among all of these, human
beings have a special status. All other living creatures fully comply
with the law of nature. In the whole world, human beings are the only
creatures who have been given full freedom. They can choose their
actions based on their own will. This concept is mentioned in the Quran
as ‘appointing man as successor on Earth’ (
man’ (
reward of eternal Paradise in their next phase of life.
In contrast to other living beings, man must do something unique—
and that is, to live in self-discovered truth. Man must, through his own
choosing, walk on the right path. Through his own will he must lead a
life of self-control. Through his own decision he must adopt a life of
submission to his Creator.
This is man’s uniqueness. But there is always a responsibility that comes
along with every gift. And so, along with man’s uniqueness a certain
responsibility is also present—and that is what is called a test. The test
for man is for him to bow down before God despite the freedom that he
enjoys. Despite this freedom, he must obey God. Despite this freedom,
he must save himself from defiance and deviance. He must stand
firm in self-discovered truth and adopt the method of self-imposed
discipline. This disciplined life is termed in the Quran and Hadith as
doing something for the sake of God. This conduct that is desired of
man is so important that for this, the Creator has assured the greatest
reward—eternal Paradise.
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan (1925-2021) was an Islamic scholar, spiritual guide, and an Ambassador of Peace. He authored over 200 books and recorded thousands of lectures giving the rational interpretation of Islamic concepts, prophetic wisdom, and the spiritual meaning of the Quran in the contemporary style. His English translation, The Quran, is widely appreciated as simple, clear and in contemporary style. He founded Centre for Peace and Spirituality (CPS) International in 2001 to re-engineer minds towards God-oriented living and present Islam as it is, based on the principles of peace, spirituality, and co-existence. Maulana breathed his last on 21 April, 2021 in New Delhi, India. His legacy is being carried forward through the CPS International Network.
What God most earnestly desires from human beings is worship. The Quran says: “I have not created jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” ( 51:56 )
