Page 25 - Pakistan Link - June 25, 2021

RELIGION JUNE 25, 2021 – PAKISTAN LINK – P25
Islam and Human Development Gems from the

Holy Qur’an

n By Dr Muzammil H. Siddiqi

e have honored the
children of Adam and
Wcarried them by land
and sea. We have provided them
good sustenance; and favored
them specially
above many of
those We cre-
ated.” (Al-Isra’
17:70)
What is the
main purpose of
the Qur’an and
what was the mission of Prophet
Muhammad? The main theme of

the Qur’an is to develop and re-
form human beings. From the translation by Mu-
This was the main mission hammad Asad (Leopold Weiss)

of Prophet Muhammad – peace
and blessings of Allah be upon About the translator:
him. Prophet Muhammad was a
human being. He was not God, Muhammad Asad, Leopold
or half God and half man, or the Weiss, was born of Jewish parents
incarnation of God. He was a hu- in Livow, Austria (later Poland) in
man being sent for the sake of hu- 1900, and at the age of 22 made his

man beings. first visit to the Middle East. He
Say, I am only a human being, later became an outstanding for-
like you, to whom it is revealed eign correspondent for the Fran-
that your God is One. Anyone who furter Zeitung, and after years of

fears to meet his Lord should do devoted study became one of the
good deeds and give no one a share leading Muslim scholars of our
in the worship due to his Lord. (Al- age. His translation of the Holy
Kahf 18:110) Qur’an is one of the most lucid
The mission of Prophet Mu- and well-referenced works in this

hammad was to care for human Human beings have both el- sary dimensions of human life: materialism category, dedicated to li-qawmin
being, care for his spiritual, mor- ements: material and spiritual. 1. Spiritual Dimension: wor- On the collective level these yatafakkaroo (people who think).
al, physical health and well being, Human beings have their veg- ship, devotion, inner peace and values Islamic values work to ob-
care for his honor, dignity, free- etable side, their animal side but harmony tain the following objectives: Chapter 2, Al-Baqarah (The

dom and rights, care for the pro- they are neither vegetables nor 2. Moral Dimension: truth, 1. Keep the society together Cow), Verses 155 - 157
tection of his life, intellect, family animals. honesty, decency, kindness and 2. Organize the group in a And most certainly shall We try
and society. Islam is concerned Similarly they have their courtesy balanced way you by means of danger, and hunger,
with every aspect of human being angelic side but they are no an- 3. Intellectual Dimension: 3. Control the group from and loss of worldly goods, of lives
and wants a wholesome and bal- gels. Allah created them in the learning, knowledge, wisdom the egotism of some and of [labor’s] fruits. But give glad
anced development of human be- best mold (Al-Tin 95:4), gave 4. Aesthetic Dimension: 4. Guide the group in its deal- tidings unto those who are patient in
ing. Islam cares for human body them pure and good nature (al- beauty, art, enhancing balance, ings with the world and nature adversity – who, when calamity be-
and mind, human intellect and fitrah, Al-Rum 30:30), He en- moderation and equilibrium 5. Bring balance between falls them, say, “Verily, unto God do

emotions, human individual and dowed them with knowledge (Al- 5. Emotional Dimension: various other dimensions of the we belong and, verily, unto Him we
society. There is no philosophy or Baqarah 2:31) and then He sent management of anger, desires, group’s life such as economic, po- shall return. It is they upon whom

ideology that deals with human among them many Prophets and likes and dislikes litical etc. their Sustainer’s blessings and grace
life with all its multi-dimensions Messengers to guide them and to 6. Material Dimension: all Collective level could be are bestowed, and it is they, they who

as fully and as nicely as Islam show them the ways of righteous- economic needs and business peaceful or conflict situation. Un- are on the right path!
does. ness and virtues. When human transactions der peaceful situations Islamic
Human being is a unique beings use their Fitra in the right 7. Social Dimension: family, values work to: Chapter 2, Al-Baqarah (The

creation of Allah. The Qur’an tells way and follow Allah’s proph- neighbors, friends, all relations 1. Emphasize the continua- Cow),Verse 177

us that Allah created human be- ets and messengers they develop within one’s group and the world tion of peace True piety does not consist in
ing from both earthly as well as their potential. Their goodness at large 2. Promote dialogue and turning your face towards the east or

heavenly elements. enhances. When they ignore their All these dimensions are freedom of expression the west – but truly pious is he who
Your Lord said to the angels, own nature and the teachings of complementary to each other. 3. Prohibit compulsion and believes in God, and the Last Day,
“I shall create a mortal out of the Prophets of Allah then they Islamic values on the individual coercion and the angels, and revelation, and
dried clay, formed from dark mud. hamper their growth and destroy level work to obtain following ob- 4. Remove and prevent prej- the prophets; and spends his sub-
When I have fashioned him and their potential. Prophet Muham- jectives: udice and hatred stance – however much he himself
breathed My spirit into him, bow mad came to complete the mis- 1. Direct the individuals in 5. Eliminate oppression and may cherish it – upon his near of kin,
down before him.” (Al-Hijr 15:28- sion of all the Prophets of Allah. their personal behavior corruption in the land and orphans, and the needy, and the
29) Islamic values cover all the neces- 2. Help them to achieve what 6. Protect those who are neu- wayfarer, and the beggars, and for
is required tral and non-combatants the freeing of human beings from
from them ac- 7. Promote good neighborly bondage; and is constant in prayer,
cording to the relations and international con- and renders the purifying dues; and
Shari’ah. tacts in the spirit of justice and [truly pious are] they who keep their
3. Give a peace. promises whenever they promise,

person a sense In conflict situation Islam and are patient in misfortune and
of security with has also given us some rules and hardship and in time of peril: it is
oneself in fac- directions: they that have proved themselves
ing the chal- 1. Do not begin hostilities true, and it is they, they who are con-
lenges of life 2. Respect the sacred time scious of God.
4. Give the and places

possibilities of 3. Protect the non-combat- Chapter 2, Al-Baqarah (The
self-improve- ants and civilians in general Cow) Verse 186
ment 4. Observe the treaties and And if My servants ask thee
5. Give the agreements about Me – behold, I am near; I re-

possibilities of 5. Fulfill all commitments to spond to the call of him who calls,
s e lf-ex- the other party whenever he calls unto Me: let them,
pression 6. Consider human relations then, respond unto Me, and believe
6. Con- 7. Be patient and steadfast in in Me, so that they might follow the

trol a person’s the face of difficulties. right way.
whims and In summary, we can say that

lusts the objective of Islam is that hu- Chapter 2, Al-Baqarah (The
7. Raise man beings should know what is Cow),Verse 190
the individual’s good, do what is good, become And fight in God’s cause against

behavior over good and generate good among those who wage war against you, but
selfi shness and themselves and in the world. GEMS, P28
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