Of all the species of living beings on earth, humans are considered as one of the most successful not only in remaining in existence but in developing ourselves as well. We did not go the way of the Dodo so to speak. We did not become extinct or endangered because of our ability to improvise, adapt and overcome.
Setting aside the human adverse effect on the environment and on each other, humans have populated most parts of the planet and prospered by developing shelter, clothing, and methods of mobility. Humans developed medicine to heal its sick and to keep itself healthy. Humans have cultivated food and livestock to feed its ever growing population and sustain it. Humans have invented machines to facilitate ease of daily tasks.
But none of this could ever be possible without the human’s ability to communicate with each other. Much more, all these could never be possible without the human’s ability to understand and make itself understood. Humans, of all the living creatures in this vast Earth, have a clearer sense of understanding of the things around him. Not only in understanding his fellow humans but also his surroundings and other species as well. Humans have developed Mathematics, Science, Humanities and other bodies of knowledge to their advantage. Humans have survived because of their ability to understand his surroundings and react accordingly.
This has been the nature of humans as they were created by Allah, the Almighty. The creator of Heaven and Earth. The Lord of the creations who created humans, animals and all that exists. The one true god who sent the prophets and messengers including Adam, Noah, Abraham, Jesus and Muhammad. As humans, we have this unique level of understanding the world around us compared to plants, animals or even the most powerful computers and artificial intelligence of our time.
Adam, the first human created by Allah and also the first prophet, was created by Allah with the cognitive ability to understand things. Allah said in Chapter 2 verses 31-33 of the Quran:
And He taught Adam the names – all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, “Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful.”
The angels said, “Exalted are You O Allah; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise.”
Allah said, “O Adam, inform them of their names.” And when he had informed them of their names, He said to the angels, “Did I not tell you that I know the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth? And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed.”
As we can see here, Humans have been given the ability to understand things through knowledge that even the angels do not have.
In other verses of the Quran, Allah said in Chapter 96 verses 3-5:
Recite, and your Lord is the most Generous –
Who taught by the pen –
Taught man that which he knew not.
It is clear here that this ability is a blessing from Allah and is something to thank Allah for.
In fact, these revelations from Allah have inspired many Muslim scientists during the Middle Ages to contribute to the modern sciences we have today. Scientists such as Muhammad Al Khwarizmi and Omar Khayyam have contributed much to the development of Algebra, Ismail Al Jazari in Physics, Abul Qasim Az Zahrawi in Surgery, Muhammad Al Razi in Chemistry and many others.
Even today, Muslims are open minded and prolific athletes, businessmen, politicians, scientists, writers and experts in many other different fields thanks to their knowledge and understanding that Allah have blessed them with. In fact, Allah has praised the believers often and addressed them as people of understanding.
This, my friend, is contrary to the stereotype of how Muslims are seen these days, at least by some of us. When Muslims are being seen and portrayed as counter-progress, antisocial or just plain evil. The way some news, movies and video games have typified the Muslims. When bigotry, racism and religious fanaticism have overtaken our ability and will to understand and be reasonable. This is sad because there are about 1.7 Billion Muslims in the world or 25% of the total population and yet we understand less of the Muslims than how we understand or pretend to understand aliens or other cosmic mysteries of the universe.
This is sad when actions are made against a people because of their religion or race and not because of what they did. And what makes this sadder is that we are not born this way. We were born neither to be bigots nor racist. We were born to understand and cherish reason.
So join me in understanding this great religion and its real teachings in this new column. Join me in understanding the real message of Islam. Neither the Islam that is portrayed by bandits or terrorist groups nor the Islam as portrayed by Hollywood and some media outlets. Let us use the blessing of Allah of knowledge, understanding, and reasoning for a common good.
Join me in learning about Muslim values and virtues that you will find surprising that propelled Muslims into superseding western countries in the development of human rights, even women’s, children’s and animal rights. How Muslims have developed urban planning, robotics and modern methods of surgery long before the Industrial Revolution or the Modern Era. How Islam have upheld current advocacies such as Environmentalism, Pacifism and others long before Greenpeace, Red Cross or Mahatma Gandhi.
And above all, join me in shedding light upon many of the misunderstandings that people have regarding this religion. See you next week in our new column, UNDERSTANDING ISLAM.
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Mensahe TV is the first Islamic TV Channel in the Philippines and our message is Mercy to Mankind.
