Faith Matters

Islamic perspective of life

Spirit of human being develops through stages

According to the Holy Quran, all creation -- animate and inanimate -- glorifies God. We humans may or may not be able to comprehend or even recognize their adoration and worship.

The seven heavens and the earth and those that are therein extol His glory; and there is not a thing but glorifies Him with His praise; but you understand not their glorification. Verily, He is Forbearing, Most Forgiving.

More information

What: Read Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam

Who: Author Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community

Where: alislam.org/library…

-- Holy Quran: chapter 17, verse 45

It is understood that following the laws of nature and their own natural instincts is an expression of creation's submission to the creator. For humans, there is something beyond. The physical evolution from the inanimate lifeless state to the living cellular creations, and then to the most complex life forms, points to a definite purpose of creation. Man, who sits on top of this tree of evolution, is endowed with powers that are manifested in his unique capabilities of comprehension and expression using language, his abilities to understand and control nature to his advantage, and his superior abilities to enhance the joys of rewards and to curtail the suffering of loss. The process of evolution one sees manifested all around does not come to a dead end with its ultimate creation -- the human being.

What is the matter with you that you expect not wisdom and solemnity from Allah, whereas He has, indeed, created you in stages? ... And Allah has caused you to grow as a good growth from the earth, then will He cause you to return thereto, and He will bring you forth as a New Creation.

-- Holy Quran: chapter 71, verses 14, 15, 18, 19

Allah says in the Holy Quran that he creates a spirit or soul from within every human being. It dwells within him as its inseparable self, which is his true essence. The spirit develops over a period of a lifetime through mindfulness, meditation, prayers, fasting and selfless service to humanity and other creatures. Suffering and hardship faced for the sake of God provide the necessary workout for the spirit to become strong and viable. Death of a person frees the spirit from the physical body. Thereafter, the spirit continues to develop in a spiritual depository until it is ready to be born again in an astral body.

Verily, We created man from an extract of clay. Then We placed him as a drop of sperm in a safe depository. Then We fashioned the sperm into a clot. Then We fashioned the clot into a shapeless lump. Then We fashioned bones out of this shapeless lump. Then We clothed the bones with flesh. Then We developed it into another creation. So, blessed be Allah, the best of creators. Then after that you must surely die. Then on the Day of Resurrection will you be raised up.

-- Holy Quran: chapter 23, verses 13-17

In other words, the evolution continues ...

Just as the fetus goes through different stages within the womb, so does the spirit within a human being develop from its nascent beginning into various stages through its deeds and actions during this life on earth. The Holy Quran describes three distinct stages in its development -- the self that incites to evil (Al-Nafs Al-Ammaratu Bil-Suoo'), the reproving self (Al-Nafs Al-Lawwamah), and the blissful self (Al-Nafs Al-Mutma'innah).

In the first stage of its development, the man is in his Natural State, not guided by reason and understanding, but controlled by his desires and passions for eating, drinking, sleeping, waking, anger and provocation -- like the animals. The next stage of development takes him to its Moral State, where he is endowed with the capacity to recognize good and evil. The reproving self manifests itself as the conscience of a person that tries to stop him from committing evil. The final stage of the development of the spirit takes him to the Spiritual State, where this struggle to keep out of evil is no more and the hand of God lifts one from the lower physical heaven into such spiritual heights that one soars effortlessly, lifting toward its beloved God, in a state of complete submission and fulfillment. That is the Everlasting Garden promised by Allah to all.

And thou, O soul at peace! Return to thy Lord well pleased with Him and He well pleased with thee. So, enter thou among My chosen servants, and enter thou My Garden.

-- Holy Quran: chapter 89, verses 28-31

NAN Religion on 04/22/2017

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