At the very start of creation, it may seem contentious to state that there is neither existence nor non-existence. The definition of when all creation started is beyond human awareness and intellect. Where did we come from? Did Adam and Eve give birth to human civilization on this planet? In writing this blog, I am interested in exploring the purpose of our creation through Adam's story rather than proving that Adam represents the first human form.
Based on what I have mentioned in the first part of this blog (story of mankind part 1), the mainstream narrative in the Islamic faith claims that humans are here on this earth because Adam and Eve approached the forbidden tree.
Growing up, I sometimes doubted this narrative, which was strongly associated with religion, but I never dared to question it.
Is there a way to free myself from all the strings of thoughts that were attached to me? It was necessary for me to begin cutting them off one by one, string by string, in order to liberate myself from the preconceived notions that inhibited my progress as a human being. My own way will have to be paved in order to understand God's book, and this decision is not a simple one.
This means that I had to step outside my comfort zone, challenge what was considered to be the norms within my culture and my perceived religious belief, and navigate through a path of uncertainty. I have also been entrusted with the responsibility of raising two daughters. As a mother, how can I ensure that my daughters are guided and empowered to discover the truth of their own paths? In fact, it feels so overwhelming that the act of writing this now makes my chest feel heavy.
What if I choose a path that diverges from what I always believed in? How will I know if I’m moving towards the truth? I probably never will. Nevertheless, I have landed to the idea that the current mainstream religious narratives are not able to provide me with reasonable answers that will enable me to gain a deeper understanding of what it means to be human or to exist as a human being. Though I may never find any definite answers, I have decided to embrace uncertainty as a means of moving forward.
In the midst of all this contemplation, a friend of mine referred me to a YouTube video that caught my attention. The video was a lecture on the 'purpose of life', presented by an atheist mathematician who later converted to Islam. I was interested in his thought process and the process by which he came to realize the truth for himself. He impressed me with his ability to describe the creation of humans in the Quran without relying on religious figures, despite the fact that he did not have any background in Islam. For the first time, I felt like I have found something lost. Someone was making more sense to me about the God I have been searching for.
My purpose in writing this blog is to share some of my reflections and thoughts concerning the beginning of life from passages in the Quran. I would like to explore the truth to get a step closer to what it means to be human, and I do not proclaim that it is the only true conclusion. I understand this may be different from mainstream Islamic interpretations, yet I encourage you to continue reading with the intention of improving your understanding of God and the purpose of our creation. Don't feel compelled to agree or disagree, just recognize that, as humans, we often need to see things from different perspectives without fear of judgment.
After revisiting the Quranic verses, I am now able to make a very different conjecture than the one I once held. Below are excerpts from the Quran. (excerpts from the Quran will be in bold)
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَنْ يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ. سورة البقرة (30)
Behold thy Lord said to the angels: “I will create a vicegerent on earth.” They said “Wilt thou place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? Whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)?” He said: “I know what ye know not.” Al-Baqarah, verse 30
With reference to the story of Adam, which illustrates the story of mankind's beginning, the Quran employs an appealing chronological order to the story. It starts with, ‘Behold thy Lord said to the angels: “I will create a vicegerent on earth."
(وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً)
This verse appears before describing Adams's story. From this verse, it appears that God had already intended for humans to live on earth. It was this concept that profoundly changed how I perceived myself within the realm of existence. As far as I can tell, humans are not on this earth because Adam went astray from God, but rather because God intended us to be vicegerents. The purpose of bringing man to earth is to act as His representative, rather than as a relegation or a punishment.
The same verse continues: ‘They said: Wilt thou place there in one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? Whilst we do celebrate Thy praises and glorify Thy holy (name)? He said: I know what you don't know.’
(قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَنْ يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ)
The Angels question God about humans' motives, emphasizing mainly the force of evil. Yet God responds, ‘I know what you do not know’. This took me some time to conceptualize. What does God know about us that the Angels were unable to discern? Does the verse suggest that the Angels previously encountered humans in order to make a judgment about them? In the event that they had had some contact with humans, (perhaps pre-Adamites?), were these experiences negative? If Adam represents a humanized person, does that mean that pre-adamites were still developing humans? Were they intellectually unqualified to be vicegerents?
It is also clear from the verse that humans are capable of both good and evil at the same time. Initially, I found it difficult to understand why God created humans with the capacity for evil. Why weren't humans created to obey God and do good like the Angels? Could it be that the Creator of the universe has not permitted evil, but has made mankind capable of committing it? It is therefore imperative that our decisions to do good or evil serve a specific purpose.
It is essential to recognize this concept if we hope to foster a more humanized version of ourselves. Developing as a human involves cultivating life experiences, learning from them, and examining the consequences of the choices we are engaged in.
Perhaps a world with a possibility of evil is a better world than one without it? Consider this idea: if a man is capable of doing evil to reclaim his personal gains and powers chooses to be good, isn't that more virtuous than someone who is destined to be good? Is it possible to be virtuous if one is innately harmless? Will self-control have moral significance if humans were not a formidable force?
Everyone is capable of being dangerous and exercising the evil within, but not everyone does. To be a good man and to control all of one's evil powers voluntarily is more noble than to be an innately good individual. It is not easy to be virtuous. Being a humanized vicegerent on this earth is pointless if we were formed to be good by nature. Being non-violent does not become a virtue if we are incapable of perpetrating violence.
Angels were created innately to be good, to serve God and never go astray from His teachings. Does that make us more virtuous than the Angels? Is that why God asked the Angels to bow to humans?
In the next few verses of the Quran, Adam's story continues. I intend to continue writing my thoughts on this matter. To conclude this blog post, I would like to emphasize the importance of understanding and accepting the differences in the credence of why we are here, as they also form the foundation of our global modern human civilization.
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