MAN IN THE QUR'AN
Man's creation: the heart of the matter
By Amanulla Vadakkangara

Qalb - Qalb has also got two meanings. It means first a piece of flesh in the left breast called heart which is hollow in the interior, which is filled up with black blood and which is again a source of Ruh of life. Heart is the centre of mine for circulation of blood. The second meaning of Qalb is soul with which we are concerned here.

It is an immaterial thing or formless Latifa or basic subtle element which has got connection with the material heart. It is just like unseen electricity. It is the principal thing in a man. It catches knowledge of God and spiritual world. It is punished and rewarded. The connection of soul with heart is the connection of attributes with the bodily limbs, or a machine with the machine man, or a house with its inmates.

This connection is of two kinds. One kind of connection is with Ulume Mokashafa or spiritual knowledge. Its second connection requires the knowledge of the secrets of soul. The Prophet did not throw light on this subject and so we should refrain from it. We shall translate the word Qalb here as soul or an immaterial thing Latifa with its attributes.

Aql ­ It has got many meanings of which let us examine the important two. The first meaning of Aql is intellect with which true nature of things of this material world is known and its seat is in soul. The second meaning of Aql is power to understand the secrets of different learnings. It is subtle essence called knowledge which is an attribute. Attribute and the thing which contains it are two different things. Intellect is the name of both.

This is supported by the following hadith: The first thing which God created is intellect. The attribute of intellect is an immaterial thing but the attribute cannot stand without a material thing. So the place of intellect should be created first or along with it. Knowledge is the content of intellect and so it was created first. Whoever wins over these are truly successful and really victorious in this world and the hereafter.

All Islamic obligations and forms of worships are meant for the purification of the soul and moulding a better individual with dignified character and conduct. That is why Islam asks us to make all aspects of our life a worship of Allah. Islamic worship or Ibadat has a very wider perspective since it includes all the words, deeds, and feelings which Allah likes and is satisfied.

So if you free your speech from filth, falsehood, malice and abuse and speak only truth and talk goodly things and do all these only because God as so ordained to do, they are considered Ibadat. If you obey the rules of Allah in its true spirit in your agricultural, domestic, commercial, or financial affairs and abide by it in your dealings with your colleagues parents, relatives, friends and all those who come in touch with you, surely these are considered as Ibadat and Allah will reward it.

When you feel sympathy to the poor, destitutes and the orphan and try to solve their problems either by giving something by your own or guiding them to somebody who may help them is an accepted Ibadat. To put in a nutshell we can say all our actions and thoughts are Ibadat when we do it with a sincere heart and with good intention of receiving reward of Allah alone.

Superiority of man is hailed here. Because he does not accept anything from anybody for his deeds except from his creator, Allah the Almighty. The Qur'an describe the nature of true believers, when they do something good to others, they will say we don't want either reward or words of thanks from you, what we do is for Allah's sake and He will reward us. We fear a day where we will stand before him.

The Qur'an gives a good description of this nature of true believers in Sura Al Insan - "As to the Righteous, they shall drink of a cup (of wine) mixed with Kafur, a fountain where the Devotees of God do drink, making it flow in unstinted abundance. They perform (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil flies far and wide. And they feed, for the love of God, the indigent, the orphan, and the captive, (saying), "We feed you for the sake of God alone: no reward do we desire from you, nor thanks. We only fear a Day of distressful Wrath from the side of our Lord". But God will deliver them from the evil of that Day, and will shed over them a Light of Beauty and a (blissful) Joy. And because they were patient and constant, He will reward them with a garden and (garments of) silk."

We must not forget here that Islam has taken all precautions to keep the souls of Muslim society in high esteem with reputed values and traditions. Throughout the Qur'an and Hadith we can see valuable directions regarding purification of the soul.

We can see that Islam has prohibited all bad habits and foul talks which will harm the harmonious and healthy relationship between the members of the Islamic Society. Islamic concept of brotherhood is not safeguarded unless and until the so­called evils of social security is well taken care of. This is very clear in the verses of the Qur'an and teachings of the Prophet (pbuh) we may observe that Islam has closed all doors of deviation from the brotherhood and unity.

That is why Islam has prohibited backbiting, jealousy, lies and all related things and Islam urges maximum co­operation of all members of the society in all good ventures. Allah says: "You co­operate in good deeds and in piety and not in evils and enmity".

Islam also tell us that the religion is good will to Allah, His messenger and all Muslims. We must long for well being and welfare to all our fellow Muslims and strive for that with united effort. The Prophet's words about the unity of Muslim is quite relevant in this context. The Prophet (pbuh) has taught: The example of Muslim, in their love, mercy and affection is like a single body. If anything happens to some part of the body the whole body will suffer. Like wise, Allah wants us to strengthen our Nafs, Qalb, Ruh and Aql in such a way that treats ourselves as an inevitable part and parcel of Muslim brotherhood.

Everybody knows that man can't live alone. He is a social animal. When men lives in the society he requires to be well mannered and cultured. The Qur'anic teachings are all concerned with moral lessons to lighten the social bondage of man. The famous words the Caliph Umar are surely directive principles of human life in the society. He said: There is no Islam without a social setup of a group and organisation, no such group or organisation with leadership and no leadership without obedience.

That means a social set up with proper leadership is a must for Islamic living of the people. Allah's messenger (pbuh) has also underlined the significance of an organised social setup in Islam by saying whoever goes away a little from this organisation he goes that much from Islam. Muslims should mould their minds in the way for a healthy social culture and Islamic manner to reach the coveted goal before Allah.

See the Qur'anic verses in the Sura Al Asr where Allah pledges by the witness of the time through the ages that man is futile except those who rise up to the expectation of high Islamic Character of strong faith accompanied by good deeds and mutual good will and advice of patience and Truth. Allah says: "By (the Token of) time (through the Ages), verily Man is in loss, except such as have Faith, and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth, and of Patience and Constancy".

If life be considered under the metaphor of a business bargain, man, by merely attending to his material gains, will lose. When he makes up his day's account in the afternoon, it will show a loss. It will only show profit if he has Faith, leads a good life, and contributes to social welfare by directing and encouraging other people on the Path of Truth and Constancy.

Faith is his armour, which wards off the wounds of the material world; and his righteous life is his positive contribution to spiritual ascent.

If he lived only for himself, he would not fulfil his whole duty. Whatever good he has, especially in moral and spiritual life, he must spread amohis brethren, so that they may see the Truth and stand by it in patient hope and unshaken constancy amidst all the storm and stress of outer life. For he and they will then have attained Peace within.

The organisational setup of the Islamic society and the relationship among the members of Islamic society are clearly underlined in the above mentioned sura and the Muslims are warned against any deviation from this setup. There are several verses of the Holy Qur'an and words of the prophets cementing the unity of the Ummat. It is also noticeable that a man by declaring his belief he is bound to do good deeds based on his faith, otherwise there is no meaning in mere declaration of faith.

The Prophet (pbuh) has said, Iman has more than 70 branches, the most top among them is testifying that there is no God, but Allah, and the lowest among that is removing the disturbance from the way, shyness is a part of faith. Each and every word of this hadith requires explanation. As we have discussed earlier the fundamental principle of faith is testifying the oneness of Allah.

The personality of a Muslim is based on this theory and that makes him high in all levels. Secondly the hadith refers to the lowest branch of faith, which is removing disturbance from the way. This sheds enough light on the aspects of faith and the role of a believer in the society. A believer is useful to the better existence of the society and he is always beneficial to the people. So a believer can never be selfish and away from the society, rather he will be much involved in the welfare of the whole society.

The Qur'anic advice of co­operation in good things and piety is truly reflected in this hadith also. We may recollect here what the disbelievers of Makkah said to Abu Bakr Siddique, when he was migrating from the country, they said: people like you should not go out of the country. That is true believers will be appreciated even by the disbelievers and their influence will be remarkable.

Thirdly, the hadith refers to the quality of timidity. A man blessed with Iman would not dare to cheap things or behave in such a way since the quality of shyness, is an inevitable part of his Imanic personality will prevent him from such things. The Holy Qur'an present this in a very impressive way in Sura Al­i­Imran: Allah says: "You are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in Allah."

This reveals that the logical conclusion to the evolution of religious history is a non sectarian non­racial, non­doctrinal, universal religion - Islam. This implies that a Muslim is the one having firm faith, followed by right actions of public utility and benefits at the same time striving for creating good things and annihilating wrong things.

The following instruction of the Prophet (pbuh) supports this view. "Whoever from you see a wrong thing should prevent it by his hand (Power) if he could not do that with his tongue (by telling to avoid it and giving proper advice) if he is not able to do that also he should prevent it by his heart (by hating it) that is the weakest of faith.

In short, we can summarise that Allah has a very special motto behind the creation of man and the Qur'an gives enough directions to the spiritual purification which is the most important aspect of Islamic personality.

See the Prophet's words: Surely there is a lump of flesh in the body, if it is purified the whole body is purified and if it is polluted the whole body is polluted, remember that is Qalb.