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Man is a part of the universe; the laws which govern human
nature are no different from the laws governing the universe.
God is the Creator of the universe as well as of man. Man's
body is made of earthly material, yet God has bestowed upon
him certain characteristics which make him more than the
earth from which he is made; God provides him according
to a measure. In his bodily functions man involuntarily
follows the same laws of nature as other creatures. His creation
is according to the will of God rather than of his father and
mother. The father and mother are able to come together;
yet they are not able to transform a sperm into a human being.
Man is born according to the method of development and the
method of birth which God has prescribed for him; he breathes
God's air in the quantity and fashion prescribed by God; he
has feelings and understanding, he experiences pain, becomes
hungry and thirsty, eats and drinks - in short, he has to
live according to the laws of God and he has no choice in
the matter. In this respect there is no difference between him
and other inanimate or animate objects of the universe. All
unconditionally submit to the Will of God and to the laws of
His creation.
He Who has created the universe and man, and Who
made man obedient to the laws which also govern the universe,
has also prescribed a Shari'ah for his voluntary actions. If
man follows this law, then his life is in harmony with his
own nature. From this point of view, this Shari'ah is also a
part of that universal law which governs the entire universe,
including the physical and biological aspects of man.
Each word of God, whether it is an injunction or a prohibition, a promise or
an admonition, a rule or guidance, is a
part of the universal law and is as accurate and true as any
of the laws known as the "laws of nature" -the Divinely-
ordained laws for the universe-which we find to be operative every moment according to what God has prescribed for them
from the dawn of creation.
Thus the Shari'ah which God has given to man to organize
his life is also a universal law, as it is related to the general
law of the universe and is harmonious with it. This obedience
to the Shari'ah becomes a necessity for human beings so that
their lives may become harmonious and in tune with the rest of
the universe; not only this, but the only way in which harmony can be brought
about between the physical laws
which are operative in the biological life of a man and the
moral laws which govern his voluntary actions is solely through
obedience to the Shari'ah. Only in this way does man's
personality, internal and external, become integrated.
Man cannot understand all the laws of the universe, nor
can he comprehend the unity of this system; he cannot even
understand the laws which govern his own person, from
which he cannot deviate by a hair's breadth. Thus he is incapable of making laws
for a system of life which can be in
complete harmony with the universe or which can even
harmonize his physical needs with his external behavior.
This capability belongs solely to the Creator of the universe
and of men, Who not only controls the universe but also
human affairs, and Who implements a uniform law according
to His will.
This obedience to the Shari'ah of God is necessary for
the sake of this harmony, even more necessary than the establishment of the
Islamic belief, as no individual or group of
individuals can be truly Muslim until they wholly submit to
God alone in the manner taught by the Messenger of God-
peace be on him, thus testifying by their actions that there
is no deity except God and that Muhammad is God's Messenger.
Total harmony between human life and the law of the
universe is entirely beneficial for mankind, as this is the only
guarantee against any kind of discord in life. Only in this
state will they be at peace with themselves and at peace with
the universe, living in accord with its laws and its movements.
In the same way, they will have peace of mind, as their actions will agree with
their true natural demands, with no conflict
between the two. Indeed, the Shari'ah of God harmonizes the external behavior of man with his internal nature in an easy
way. When a man makes peace with his own nature, peace
and cooperation among individuals follow automatically, as they
all live together under one system, which is a part of the general
system of the universe.
Thus, blessings fall on all mankind, as this way leads in an
easy manner to the knowledge of the secrets of nature, its
hidden forces, and the treasures concealed in the expanses
of the universe. Man uses these for the benefit of all mankind,
under the guidance of the Shari'ah of God, without any conflict or competition.
In contrast to the Shari'ah of God are men's whims:
"Had the truth followed their opinions, the heavens and
the earth and whosoever is in them would surely have
been corrupted." (23:71)
From this we come to know that the truth is one and not
many. It is the foundation of this religion, the heavens and
earth are based upon it, all the affairs of this world and of
the next are settled by it, man will be accountable to God
on the basis of it, and those who deviate from the truth are
punished by it, and people will be judged by God according
to it. Truth is indivisible, and it is the name of that general
law which God has ordained for all affairs; and everything
in existence either follows it or is punished by it.
"We have sent to you a Book which speaks about you;
do you not then use your reason? Many a wicked town have
We destroyed and have replaced them with other people.
When they felt Our Might approaching, they started to run. (It
was said to them), 'Do not run; return to the luxury that
you gloated in and to your homes; maybe you shall be
questioned' .
They said: 'Woe upon us! We have been evil-doers'. So
they did not stop crying until We made them stubble, silent
and still. We did not create the heavens and the earth and
whatsoever is between them as a sport. Had We desired
to adopt it for Us as a diversion, We would have taken it
to Us from Ourselves, had We done so. Nay, but We held
the truth against falsehood, and it prevails over it, and behold!
falsehood vanishes away. Then woe to you for what you
ascribe (to God). To Him belongs whatsoever is in the heavens and the earth, and
those who are with Him do not be- come too proud to worship Him; neither do they grow weary
of glorifying Him by night and by day and never failing."
(21: 10-20)
Human nature in its depths has full awareness of this truth.
Man's form and body, and the organization of the vast universe around him,
reminds him that this universe is based
on truth, and truth is its essence, and it is related to a central
law which sustains it. Thus, there is no disturbance in it, no
conflict between its parts; it does not move at random, nor
does it depend on chance, nor is it devoid of an overall plan;
neither is it a sport in the hands of human caprices, but
runs smoothly on a precise, detailed and prescribed course.
Conflict begins when man deviates from the truth which is
hidden in the depths of his own nature, under the influence
of his desires, and when he follows laws based on his own
opinions instead of following God's commandments. Instead of
submitting to his True Master along with the rest of the universe, he rebels and
revolts.
When this conflict between man and his own nature, and
man and the universe, spreads to human groups, nations and
races, then all the forces and resources of the universe are
utilized not for the benefit of all mankind, but for its destruction and for
violence against others.
It becomes clear from the above discussion that the purpose
of the establishment of God's law on earth is not merely for
the sake of the next world. This world and the next world
are not two separate entities, but are stages complementary to
each other. The law given by God not only harmonizes these
two stages but also harmonizes human life with the general
law of the universe. Thus, when harmony between human life
and the universe ensues, its results are not postponed for the
next world but are operative even in this world. However, they
will reach their perfection in the Hereafter.
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