Q333 :In a recent discussion with a number of
non-Muslim colleagues, certain questions were raised on which I hope
you can provide us with some information. How did life begin? What is
the original substance of life? How and when was man made? How was the
universe formed? What is the end of the world? What is the position of
man in the whole system of creation?
A333 : As human beings, our knowledge is either
derived from our experience, which includes the experience of our past
generations as recorded and passed on to us, or the exercise of our
mental and physical power, or from what Allah has chosen to tell us. It
is important to realize that our knowledge is neither perfect nor
netplete. Since much of it is the result of experience, it is subject
to numerous factors which could limit, modify or distort it. The domain
within which we can exercise our power is vast indeed, and the result
is that our knowledge can be right and extensive. Nevertheless, it
cannot attain perfection. Perfection belongs only to Allah. In the
Qur’an, references abound to what is termed as “ghaib”. This is an
Arabic term which refers to what is withheld from human beings. It
covers a vast area of existence, as well as the working of numerous
forces in the universe. It also includes the world which we feel to be
definitely in existence, although we cannot perceive it. As believers,
we realize that Allah has chosen not to let us into the secrets of this
‘ghaib’ because the knowledge of such secrets will not help us in the
fulfillment of the role Allah has assigned to us when He created us and
gave us the earth as our field of operation. Hence, when we find
ourselves facing something that we cannot fathom, we do not try to
provide for it an explanation for which we have no solid basis. We
accept that it belongs to what has been withheld from us. We recognize
that it is fully known to Allah and that He has kept its knowledge
[away] from us because it is not necessary for us in the carrying out
of our task. Some of the points you raise belong to that realm. As
such, I am not one to venture any hypothetical explanation for them. I
simply tell you what Allah has chosen to tell us about them. Besides
that, I have nothing to say. What we can say about the beginning of
life is that life is part of Allah’s creation. The whole universe is
also created by Allah. It is, then, conceivable that there was a time
when the universe did not exist, because Allah had not created it yet.
Allah Himself has existed all along, even before the beginning of time.
All His essential attributes, including creation, have also been in
existence with Him. As He existed, He has been the Creator. He might
have created a different universe before the one that exists now. All
that is something that we cannot know for certain. All that we need to
know is that when Allah wishes to create something, He only need to
give His netmand for it to be, and it exists. This applies to any small
matter, in the same degree as it applies to the universe as a whole. I
simply do not know how the universe was formed. Scientists may have
their theories, some of which may be nearer to the truth than others.
From the Islamic point of view, we simply say that the universe was
formed by Allah’s will and according to His netmands. Similarly, life
began when Allah willed that it should begin. You ask about the
original substance of life. If your question relates to human beings,
we take what the Qur’an says about this. The first human being to nete
into existence was Prophet Adam (peace be upon him). Allah tells us in
the Qur’an that He made Adam of clay and then He breathed into him of
His own spirit. Human life is, then, made of the netbination of the
clay and the spirit. Scientists say that human existence on earth is a
recent development. It may be so. There might have been some other
creatures of men living on earth, and these could have been of a
primitive variety of men. That does not contradict what I have just
mentioned about the netbination of clay and spirit in the making of
man. We simply cannot specify a date for the beginning of human
existence. Nor can we say anything about the timing when the clay was
netbined with the spirit by Allah’s order. Allah tells us in the
Qur’an that we will be raised for a second life after we have died.
Therefore, we have no doubt that there will be another life after this
one. It only stands to reason that human beings, who have been given
the ability to choose what they do and provided with guidance to show
them the right path, should be held to account for what they do in this
life. That will entail punishment or reward. This will take place in
our second life. You ask about the end of the world. There are
references in the Qur’an to the heavens being rent asunder, or breaking
up. That may be a reference to the end of the world. There is also a
surah in the Qur’an which speaks of a particular quake which will shake
up the whole earth and to bring out into the open all that it is
burdened with. But the life will certainly nete to an end when a
particular event shall take place. The Qur’an tells us that this takes
place at the blowing of a particular trumpet. Knowledge of that trumpet
and how and when it is blown is part of what Allah has chosen to
withhold from us. What we know, because Allah tells us of it, is that
when the trumpet is sounded, all living creatures on and in the earth
will be stunned and benete lifeless. When the trumpet is sounded again,
they will be raised back to life. According to the Qur’an, man is made
the master of the earth. Human beings form a species different from
animals, jinn and angels. While Satans are disobedient to Allah, angels
do His bidding without any hesitation. Man can choose to do either.
Hence, he is accountable for what he chooses to do. He has been placed
in charge of the earth and required to build it. By building the earth,
we mean building a happy human life, following Allah’s guidance as
explained by the prophets and messengers sent by Allah. I realize that
my answer may not satisfy your non-Muslim friends. However, in these
matters, we cannot go beyond what Allah has chosen to reveal to us. If
we do, we run the risk of being grossly mistaken.
Our Dialogue ( Source : Arab News – Jeddah )