Redefining the Creation of Man in Ali Shariati's Thought

Redefining the Creation of Man in Ali Shariati's Thought

If you are familiar with the story of the creation of man, you will understand that Adam was gifted with more privileges than other creatures. Although the creation of man 'only' from clay, but the first place he stepped on was the place that all creatures coveted, namely Heaven. The story of the creation of Adam has always been the narrative of the beginning of the creation of man in the monotheistic religious traditions. The teachings of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, until the Prophet Muhammad SAW, believe that Adam was given a mandate to carry out the task as God's representative in the world. A degree that has no equal except compared to God Himself.

So, what exactly is the reason for this privilege? It is important for us to reflect on the creation of man through the eyes of Ali Shariati , which he puts into his work entitled The Task of Muslim Intellectuals.

The Miracle of Human Creation

The creation of Adam (man) began with God, the Most Perfect, Creator of man and the universe, who told the angels that He wanted to create and appointed man as His representative on earth. This appointment is accompanied by the conferment of a spiritual mission, to carry out a sacred mission to spread God's grace in the world.

The special sanctity given to humans, creatures of this earth, made the angels wonder, "Will God create creatures that will shed blood, do evil, spread hatred and revenge?" But God replied that He knows everything that the angels do not know. Then God began to create man from the lowest form, from black clay or smelly clay. He breathed some of His own spirit into the clay, and the first man in the world was born.

In Ali Shariati's concept, humans are created from two different elements and natures; earth and holy spirit. Earth in this sense becomes a symbol of humility, humiliation and defilement. Nothing in this realm is lower than the land itself. Whereas God is the Most Perfect and Most Holy. In every being, the most perfect, purest and holiest part is the spirit or spirit. However, the most holy spirit is the most perfect spirit, the most holy among all spirits and among all entities in the universe, and it is humans who have the privilege of being breathed by the spirit of the most eternal and holy.

Then God taught man the names. What is the meaning and purpose of the study of the names? Each person proposes his own understanding according to his way of thinking and his views. But whatever the correct answer, there is not the slightest doubt that it refers to the notion of education and knowledge. Thus God taught man the name of all things, and thus man became the name-giver of his world, calling all things by their proper names.

Thus, according to Ali Shariati, God is man's first teacher. What's more special than this? Imagine that we are the first person to become a disciple of a great figure. Prophet Muhammad, for example. How happy and true we are to be someone who will carry on the values ​​that we have inherited from that person directly from the first hand.

Seeing that, being jealous of God's special treatment of humans, the angels protested. How can humans be created from soft and dirty soil, but humans are above them? Once again God said " I know all things that you do not know". Until then, God told the angels to pay respect to humans, bow before Adam, bow before this two-legged creature.

Privilege Named Will and Knowledge

In Islam, the human intellect is proven to be superior to the angels. And it is proven that humans are superior creatures among all creations. God tested the angels to mention the names, but none of them knew, while Adam could remember them all. Thus the angels have been defeated in that test, in the test of knowledge - which at the same time knowledge is the source of human natural superiority. The angel's prostration in front of Adam proves the fact that in the Islamic view, the nobility and essential superiority of man over the angels lies in his knowledge, not in consideration of any form, existence, or race.

Another unique and beautiful thing about human creation is that only humans are capable of being the holder and bearer of God's mandate. When God offers all His creatures – the heavens, the earth, the mountains, the oceans, rivers, fauna, flora and all phenomena in the universe – whether any of them are able to carry out God's mandate, then once again only humans are the ones who voluntarily accept. the mandate.

Therefore, humans have the confidence and ability to become the bearers of God's mandate, the guardians of His most precious gifts. It has been proven that humans are endowed with courage and virtue and wisdom in the universe. Likewise, humans are not just caliphs, or representatives of God on this earth. But also the bearer of His mandate.

So, what does this mandate look like? everyone can give their interpretation, as Jalaluddin Rumi said that the mandate means free will or human free- will . The most prominent virtue of man, which marks his superiority over other creatures is the strength of his will or his desire . It is the only creature that can act against instinctual urges, which neither animals nor plants can.

For example, animals never want to fast, nor can plants commit suicide or conspire to commit crimes. Animals and plants cannot act against their instinctual urges. Only man can fight against himself, against his essence, and rebel against his physical and spiritual needs. Only man can do anything against what is good and primary. He has irada (free choice) to be rational or irrational, pious or evil, like an angel or like a devil. Therefore, free will is the most important human trait and is the link between him and his creator.

Thus, according to Ali Shariati, basically humans are very close to God. Because humans are born from the spirit of God, chosen to be His vicegerents and holders of His mandate. In other words, what the human spirit and God's spirit have in common is free will. God, the only One with absolute will, who has the power to do whatever he wants, even in defiance of the laws of the universe. God has breathed the spirit into humans and brought humans to life, so that humans can manifest His attributes on earth. Even Ali Shariati said that humans can act "like God", although they clearly have limitations. Man can act like God, but he cannot be God. So that man's closeness to God stems from the same virtue – namely his free will.

What can we take home from here? From the explanation above, there is no longer any reason for us as humans to be low-key, pessimistic, or overthinking about the circumstances we face. Destiny and the story of human creation have chosen us, humans, to rule this world – as we please! For both good and evil. Then it would be ironic if we were defeated by the world. Believe me, we are able to carry out the mandate that God has given us. Believe that we are the right creatures and deserve to get that privilege. As caliphs on earth, with all this gift of knowledge and irada , how come we are still lying on earth?