The Reality of Man

The Reality of Man

Mohammad Mussaddeq

The reality of man has many aspects: most important of them are three:

(1) - First of all man is the gist of this Universe: i.e., of whatever qualities we find in the Universe. Somehow or the other man has imbibed those qualities in his person. Therefore the Universe is called MACROCOSM where as a man is called MICROCOSM. It can be simply understood that man in his person is a universe,

(2) - The Second aspect of man's life is that he is a compound of four different elements; A-Water: B-Fire; C-Air; and D-Dust. All these elements are quite different in their nature and qualities from the other, but ALLAH has brought them together to form the man. Just by the combination of these elements man has got the highest rank in the universe and became superior in the whole universe, and by the gift of wisdom he is in a position to reach the Ultimate Reality.

(3) -The Third and most important aspect of human life, is the link of Soul and body, where we find that the soul is of different types; Human Soul or Angelic Soul: Pure Soul and Animal Soul etc.

Now, let us see the relationship of soul and body in a man's life. There are many aspects in a man's life, but most important is that combination of Angelic qualities and Animal qualities in one person, which has put man in a perpetual struggle because the soul is LIGHT WHICH TAKES HIM TO THE HIGHEST SOCIETY, and one the other hand because of his Animal qualities and the darkness of the body. HE CAN BE TAKEN TO THE LOWEST DEPTH HIS LIFE. As it is rightly said:

Everything comes back to its original shape.

Apparently this struggle seems to be very painful, but truly it is the greatest blessing of ALLAH to mankind, because this perpetual struggle takes man to the ultimate goal and reality of life, and also gives him the ability to fight the evil in and outside him.

The combination of soul and body can be understood as LIGHT and DARKNESS and because of this combination man attained supremacy in the Universe, and thus, man was able to shoulder the greatest responsibilities and Trust given to him by ALLAH, which no other could shoulder as it is explained in the Holy Qur'an:

"We did indeed offer the trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, but they refused to undertake it being afraid there of; But man undertook it, indeed he was injust and foolish.“ (Surah 33 : 72)

The angels could not shoulder these responsibilities and Trust because they are LIGHT BEINGS AND the Earth and Mountains couldn't either because they are DARKNESS; but because man has the combination of LIGHT AND DARK, in other words: SOUL and BODY, therefore, he was able to shoulder these responsibilities and Trust.

Because of this reason ALLAH ALMIGHTY addressed the Angels thus:

IWILL CREATE A VICEGERENT ON THE EARTH (SURAH 2: 31).

In this very verse the importance of the combination of SOUL and BODY was proven, therefore ALLAH commanded the Angels saying:

AND WHEN WE SAID TO THE ANGELS: “PROSTRATE YOUR SELVES BEFORE ADAM“, THE PROSTRATED THEMSELVE’S (Al-Qur’an: 2: 34).

And thus man became the Vicegerent of ALLAH on this earth. Therefore man has become the true copy of ALLAH‘s Attributes, as Hazrat Ali (RDA) said: "Whoever comes to realize his own self, certainly he will come to the realization of his Lord".

Now it is man's duty to realize his own responsibilities, aims and objects of his life, as ALLAH has directed him in the Holy Qur'an with these words:

L HAVE ONLY CREATED JINN AND MAN THAT THEY MAY SERVE ME. (Al-Qur’an: 51:56)

Here we have been commanded by ALLAH to be the slaves of ALLAH alone. Man can't be the true slave of ALLAH unless and until he creates in himself intense love of ALLAH, for without the utmost love of ALLAH a man cannot reach that ultimate reality, which is the Aim and Object of his life, ALLAH says in Holy Qur'an:

AND THOSE WHO ARE BELIEVERS ARE MOST INTENSE IN THEIR TOYS OR ALLAH. (Al-Qur’an 2:165)

In fact LOVE is the test of IMAN, for it a person lacks love, he certainly lacks Iman,

The Holy Prophet (ﷺ) has said:

Verily; He who has no love has got no lman (Faith).

Verity; He who has no love has got no lman (Faith).

Verity; He who has no love has got no lman (Faith).

He is also reported to have said;

Love should be for the sake of ALLAH and hatred should be for the sake of ALLAH.

If we want the Pleasure to Almighty ALLAH, then we must act for the sake of ALLAH, and not for the sake of our personal motives, in order to achieve the Ultimate Reality, which alone is the Reel AIM of our lives.

In conclusion, I pray to Almighty Allah to create in us the utmost LOVE OF HIM so that we may act to please him only, in order to obtain the ULTIMATE REALITY which is the REAL GOAL of our lives. AMEEN.