The search for the concept of human beings in the Qur'anic perspective undoubtedly leads to tracking the word "human" which has appeared dozens of times in various places within the verses of the Holy Qur'an. In fact, a whole chapter is dedicated to the name "Al-Insan" (The Human), which serves as a significant indication of the centrality of the human concept in how the Qur'an addresses this unique and complex being and how revelation interacts with human nature. It also illustrates divine guidance for human beings in light of their human traits to maximize the benefits derived from their strengths while overcoming and surpassing deficiencies and weaknesses. After all, the Creator is the most knowledgeable about this human being and the most capable of directing him toward his welfare and happiness.
Honor and Responsibility
The first appearance of humanity in the Holy Qur'an was indirectly indicated in verse thirty, which refers to God's divine honor for humans when He informed the angels: "Indeed, I am making upon the earth a successor" (Al-Baqarah: 30). In this verse, the Qur'an announces that humans are successors on earth, where they are honored with the trust and virtue of cultivating the universe and worshiping God. This reflects divine will that sees in this human the capability and competence to fulfill that role, despite the angels' skepticism. It establishes the Qur'anic vision of humanity as both honored and entrusted at the same time, as humans possess within themselves the qualities necessary to fulfill that trust and also the deterrents against it, as indicated in the Qur'anic guidance: "And by the soul and He who proportioned it. And inspired it with discernment of its wickedness and its righteousness" (Al-Shams: 7-8).
Human Beings and Their Deficiencies
Despite the honor that raised the status of humans to become masters of the universe, the term "human" has been mentioned more than seventy times in the Qur'an, often in the context of reminding about human deficiencies and criticizing the negative traits inherent within them. Humans are described as weak: "And mankind was created weak" (An-Nisa: 28), and incapable of adequately thanking divine blessings: "And if you count the blessings of Allah, you would not be able to number them. Indeed, mankind is ever an extreme wrongdoer, ungrateful" (Ibrahim: 34). Furthermore, this human being is quick to despair of God's mercy: "And if We should cause mankind to taste mercy and then take it away from them, indeed, they would despair and be ungrateful" (Hud: 9).
Regarding this Qur'anic focus on negative human attributes, the writer Al-Aqqad states that these faults emphasize that humans, as responsible beings, are prone to both deficiency and perfection simultaneously. However, they uniquely embody vices that no other creature possesses because both good and evil are not attributed to a creature that is not accountable. This accountable creature is described, unlike other beings, as one that may be ungrateful, unjust, tyrannical, lost, and heedless, because it is capable of faith, justice, excellence, and chastity. This describes the preparedness that makes it capable of rising to its finest stature or falling to its lowest extremes.
Sources of Deficiency
Based on this Qur'anic vision, the Qur'anic guidance in mentioning those human traits closely linked to its imperfect nature serves as a constant reminder for believers of human weaknesses to warn them against falling into their traps. Analyzing the Qur'anic discourse on these attributes reveals a focus on the following:
Weakness
This term is mentioned to remind humans of their need for divine guidance and submission to its revealed laws to achieve individual and communal perfection, along with happiness in both this life and the Hereafter. It serves as an important divine indication of human weakness in the face of divine mercy and forgiveness that overlooks human shortcomings resulting from their inherent fallibility.
Ungratefulness and Despair
These are interconnected phenomena, with one leading to the other; disbelief is regarded as a form of despair from God's mercy and denial of His blessings and favors upon His servants. "Injustice" is presented as both an individual and social phenomenon that leads humans to infringe upon their own rights by committing sins and transgressing the rights of others.
Impatience
The Qur'anic perspective addresses the tendency of humans to rush toward outcomes and fulfill their aspirations repeatedly, reinforcing the idea of certainty and reassurance in the souls of believers. It alerts them to their imperfect human nature which often drives many toward despair due to impatience. This serves as a constant reminder of the Day of Judgment, where the Qur'an often postpones the execution of divine justice, whereas many might feel that the delay of punishment justifies continued sinful behavior: "But a long period passed over them, and their hearts became hard" (Al-Hadid: 16).
Features of the Quranic Perception of Humanity
On the other hand, the Quran presents a human conception based on several key features, aiming to establish these characteristics and utilize them to guide humanity by reminding them of their nature and deficiencies. These Quranic features about humans revolve around three main principles:
Emphasis on Human Deficiency
The Quranic conception of humanity begins with a fundamental principle: "Indeed, mankind is in loss, except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience." (Al-Asr). This principle aims to affirm that human deficiency cannot be escaped except by following divine guidance, implementing His commands, and refraining from His prohibitions. The Creator, exalted be His name, has established His commandments in a manner that aligns with human deficiency and improves it in the best way. Therefore, there is no escape from loss if a person chooses another path.
Reminder of the Creation of Man
Consistent with the previously mentioned principle, the affirmation of human deficiency requires repeated reminders regarding the story of human creation, formation, and the direct divine order to reflect upon human creation: "Let man look at what he was created from" (Al-Tariq: 5). The Quranic responses appear in several places confirming the origin of human creation, which is made from clay, in another context from dried clay, in yet another from a drop of fluid, and in another from clay resembling pottery, among other verses that aim to affirm divine power over humanity and inform about the nature of creation, which is fraught with deficiency and weakness.
Establishment of the Principle of Just Reward
The Quranic conception, while tracing human deficiency, has also placed importance on establishing the principle of divine justice that acknowledges this weakness, overlooks its shortcomings, and promotes the principle of reward and punishment. In this regard, the Quran asserts, "And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives. And that his effort is going to be seen. Then he will be compensated for it in full" (An-Najm). Despite the frequent criticism of human shortcomings, in contrast, it affirms that these deficiencies do not prevent the believers and doers of good from receiving just rewards for their good deeds. Thus, this human deficiency in the Quranic perspective is not a stigma on human nature but a confirmation that this imperfect being is capable, by virtue of what God has created him with, of ascending to the highest levels of faith and spirituality, and that he is rewarded with the best reward for it.
Human Flaws and Weaknesses
Finally, the Quranic conception has sought to remind humanity of its deficiencies and faults as much as it has emphasized divine justice and divine ability in creating this human being. In addition to linking this human nature with honoring humanity as a unique being in the universe despite its abundant weaknesses and corruption, according to the Quranic perspective, it is capable of carrying the divine responsibility of cultivating the earth and worshiping God. This status has made him a vicegerent on earth and raised his rank above all other creatures. And if he is able to transcend his nature by following the Quranic guidance, he will be capable of fulfilling the trust placed upon him, elevating him to the ranks of angels, while he may fall to the lowest levels if he yields to his limited human nature.
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