Humanity and Divine
Posted by in Justice as human creation on August 14, 2011
“The ‘spirit’ is a quality that makes us the intelligent and passionate beings that we are “
Spirit
Spirit gives meaning and purpose to the world through wisdom, growth, beauty, glory, and elegance; this is the knowledge that little has been communicated to us [17:85]. However, we are able to recognize the spirit by looking at the origin and purpose of life. Thus, first and foremost is to ask ourselves what the source of human life is and what its final end is. The Quran told us that spirit emanates directly from the Divine spirit. Hence, the affinity of the human to the Divine is defined as spiritual.
Human Body
Theory of Human Body can be derived from two sources which are between creation and evolution. The theory of creation can be simply said has been shared by Monotheistic follower. On the other hand, the Evolution theory is widely embraced by natural scientist. In summary, the human body is generally made of earthly matter and what sets human apart from animal are moral, intellectual and spiritual capacities [38:71-72].
Human Spirit
As human spirit is directly from the divine spirit it comprises of knowledge, justice, compassion, wisdom, peace, love, creativity, patience, gratefulness. These qualities empowered human being to assume the most honored mission as being Divine Vicegerent (Khalifah) on earth [2:30]. Nonetheless, human being is susceptible to committing excess by making mischief and shedding blood on earth as being claimed by angel, but Divine did not refute it but to reveal the human quality as the last intelligent creature to come to life in the universe [2: 31-33].
The Obvious enemy
Iblis is the first creature that objects to bow to Adam by mere saying his first racist argument ‘I am better than he’. He refused and was arrogant. Angel objection focus on human experience while Iblis’s objection was base exclusively on physical qualities. He neglected the elevated mission of humans that convince the angels to bow. Iblis is self-centered [38: 78-85].
Mission of human to serve the Divine became clear by the open enmity expressed by Iblis toward humanity. Thus, men have to applied his innate qualities to his earthly environment and use his acquired power in ways that improve the overall human condition and uplift the human spirit.
The Mission
Human being is a trustee of earthly domain – the moral agent to make the world a better place. Human has been granted a lot of the resources in the world [31:20]. However, humanity must keep in touch with its source and must commit itself to the universal principles of right, justice and compassion. Angel mission is taking care of, and maintaining the universal order. Jinns made of fire, capable of influencing human through whispering their ideas and thought but deprive any power to translate their wishes and hope without human agency. This capability led pledge to lure people to wrongdoing except those who are given to remembrance and obedience of God. Read the rest of this entry »
How Justice Finds a Foe
Posted by in Justice as divine command on August 14, 2011
We hold justice to be met over our enemy as a divine right.
Those who have transgressed will undoubtedly account for their wicked actions under righteousness….such is the belief in all faiths. Our revenge is anticipated with swiftness and vigor. Suggestions are eagerly offered to its form and content. This is being human.
As a child, our mother would run to us when we received a hard bump. Our pain was immediately attended and she would not depart us until all was better. Even as an adult we have EMTs and emergency rooms for express relief from physical harm. This rapid response is not the way for emotional harm even as a child.
So when we are hurt in spirit and heart we expect immediate compensation. The leaving of a spouse, the forced separation of a child from a parent, and even the abusive treatment by the tax department causes us to command compensation for our grievance at once.
Experience has shown that the justice provided under the laws of mankind is massively lacking. No form of even-handedness by human effort proceeds in a view without some prejudice. Hence it is truly best to leave such arbitration to divine law just as our spiritual leaders’ counsel. This option is not meant for enjoyment or participation. It is destined for proper fairness! Here in this process the offended is to be wholly excluded.
However there is good news! There is assurance that a fair punishment will be had for the evil done by our offender. No wrongdoing upon us shall be passed over. Indeed justice is to come albeit it later than sooner. Read the rest of this entry »
A Walk in History For Freedom, Justice, and Harmony
Posted by in Justice as harmony on August 14, 2011
Peter, Paul & Mary – a simple name for a group – their real names. And, as people, they were real too.
PBS presented two hours of the lives and times of Peter, Paul & Mary. The songs are so recognizable even today – Puff the Magic Dragon, If I Had a Hammer, Wedding Song, Jet Plane and so many, many others. Many generations have “sung along”! What struck me the most last night was the courage these artists had demonstrated throughout their careers – a courage that few people are willing to apply to their own.
They stood for justice, freedom and dignity. They stood for love and equality. They stood for what most people think of “ideals”. They lived them.
They walked alongside protesters on US streets, appeared in Washington at the rally where Martin Luther King, Jr delivered his famous speech, “I Have a Dream”, they composed and sang songs about places like El Salvador. All three had travelled purposely into El Salvador to talk to the people who experienced the effects of US Foreign Policy in that country at the time.
They were denounced as “un-American” for speaking out about what they saw and learned during their travel to El Salvador – they dared to exercise their right of freedom of speech! How many of us have that kind of courage? How many of us simply, “go along to get along” every day of our lives in our careers and our personal lives?
And that’s the point – most of us follow the latter route – for survival we say. But we know the difference, don’t we? Our apathy about what goes on in our own country and abroad allow the atrocities to continue even to this day. I can hardly believe my ears when I hear stories about racial discrimination in the US today and how poverty in my own country is still alive and well – why?
43 years they sang – the three of them loved to sing and loved to sing together. The three of them stood up for what they believed in. Millions of people around the world have admired them for 43 years as they openly and publicly “talked” about highly sensitive topics. They survived through momentous times – Elvis, the Beattles, Mick Jagger, civil rights movement, Vietnam War, the hippie movement – and, yet, to this day, their songs and messages are still important.
They protested! They sang! They stood up for ideals! To them “ideals” weren’t “ideals” but a way of life, not empty words.
When we write our “song” about our lives, will we be proud that we lived our “ideals”? Or were they just words… just thoughts… that had no backbone, so unimportant we gave them no time at all? Read the rest of this entry »