The Social Evolution of Humanity

The Process of Creation
A Qur'anic Perspective

by Dr Israr Ahmad

The civilizational divide between the strong and arrogant exploiters and the weak oppressed class surfaced for the first time in history. Therefore, Prophet Lut  (pbuh) was sent to Sodom and Gomorrah where the men of these two places indulged in the worst sexual perversion of homosexuality. The religious career of Shoaib (pbuh) was concerned with morally reforming the malpractices of monetary plundering and looting rampant in and around Madain (Midyan).

Similarly, in its accounts of the Moses-Pharaoh confrontation, Musa (pbuh) preaches pure monotheism to the Pharaoh and to the Egyptians; his mission is not restricted to the Israelites alone. Musa (pbuh) (Moses) challenges and denies the divinity of the Fir'aun (Pharaoh). Pharaoh claimed himself to be God --- not only one god among many but the only god:

“I am your Lord Most High.” [79:24]

Apart from that, for a king or ruler to make invidious distinction between his subjects, and especially to depress or oppress any particular class of his subjects, is a dereliction of his kingly duties, for which he is responsible to Allah (swt). We read in verse 4 of Surah Al-Qasas:

“Surely, Fir'aun exalted himself in the land and divided its people in groups, weakening a group among them, slaying their sons and letting their daughters live. Indeed, he was one of the mischief makers.” [28:4]

Pharaoh elated himself in the land and broke up its people into sections. He terribly brutalized and victimized the Israelites, subjecting them to the worst persecution and humiliation. All three Prophets --- Lut, Shoaib and Musa (pbut) --- succeeded in their mission only in the sense that their opposing and recalcitrant people were eliminated completely from the surface of the earth. However, none of them met success in the sense of transforming them in favour of the true monotheistic faith and piety. Musa (pbuh), no doubt, went beyond the other two prophets in securing freedom and emancipation of his people (the Israelites) from the political yoke of Pharaoh and his savagery --- though it is a fact that Musa (pbuh) could accomplish all this only with special divine help and grace, through miracles and extra-natural events.

But then, with the passage of time, Israelites touched the lowest moral and spiritual ebb by distorting the teachings of their prophets and by assigning too much weight to formal aspects of law instead of sticking to its substantial essence or core. Their political and religious leadership, both scholars and devout ascetics, exhibited the worst type of perverted mentality in limiting themselves to soulless rituals’ formal precision without the least regard for the inner spiritual kernel of devotional religious practices and modes of worship.

Prophet 'Isa (pbuh) (Jesus) made stern criticisms of their religious hypocrisy and sensitivity to formalism and legalistic niceties at the cost of utter disregard for the real significance and spirit of those commandments. Instead of paying heed to Jesus (pbuh) admonitions, the Jews tortured him and wanted to kill him by putting him on the cross. And as far as they were concerned, they apparently succeeded but Allah’s decision prevailed over their planning as we read in the following verses:

“That they said (in boast): We killed Christ Jesus, the son of Mary (Maryam), the messenger of Allah. But they killed him not, nor crucified him. But so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjectures to follow. Surely they killed him not. Nay, Allah raised him up unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted in power, Wise.” [4:157-158]

The above lines vindicate that all prophets --- from Ibrahim (pbuh) down to Jesus (pbuh) --- fought against the social, economic and political iniquities, wayward and unscrupulous behaviour, wanton cruelty and oppression. But none attained concrete results in his prophetic career. It may be noted here parenthetically that Daud (pbuh) (David) and  Sulaiman (pbuh) (Solomon) were, firstly, not prophets in the full connotation of the word. They were only anbia or messengers. Secondly, their political leadership and monarchy in which justice and equity reigned supreme, was the result of divine grace and not at all the outcome of their prophetic missionary human endeavours.

Indeed, both of them were divinely appointed kings and their justice-based kingly governance and leadership was a special gift of Allah (swt), and not something achieved through human toil and labour. It was after a long break consisting of 600 years since Prophet Isa’s (Jesus) ascent to the heavens that the last of the prophets --- Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) --- was raised in Makkah and sent for the guidance of all humanity. Allama  Iqbal, in his moving poetic lines, has very rightly characterized him as the climax and culmination of a very long evolutionary process:

 Of this varied world

 Thou art the meaning long sought

 Long sought by multitudes of men

 From every corner of the earth

  (Ecstasy: Gabriel’s Wing)

Indeed, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was the goal and objective of the entire evolutionary process of creation involving the variegated stages or the levels of the divine creative activity, reaching its apex in the person of Muhammad (pbuh), who established a socio-political order in Arabian Peninsula based on the sovereignty of the One Almighty, the Sustainer of all and His universal providence. The Prophet (pbuh) thus fully externalized and reified the Islamic monotheistic belief in the form of a polity and government thus establishing the ideal and perfect Khilafah (vicegerency) of Allah (swt) on earth. And this historical fact in principle completes the sociological evolution of humanity to its climax. As a digression it may be noted here that Allama Iqbal’s couplet:

Your blessed appearance has realized the ideals of both inquisitive mind/reason and devotional love and anxiety-filled presence and togetherness.

May refer to the blessed Prophet (pbuh) through whom both:

i.   The potential of ordinary human beings; and

ii.   Prophethood (prophets coming in a long chain starting from Adam (pbuh) and culminating in Muhammad (pbuh) reached the last and highest pinnacle of evolution;

the latter in the sense that he fully realized and successfully accomplished a most balanced and just polity based on the sovereignty of Allah, thus exemplifying the divine attribute of “standing firm on justice” [3:18] and fully realizing the objective of prophecy and revelation described in the words

“… that mankind may uphold justice and equity” [57:25].

And the former in the sense that he established this system of social justice and equity through struggle on a purely human level employing the strategy of a determined revolutionary leader confronting all odds and obstacles and going through all ordeals. This in itself vindicated the highest spiritual status and dignity of human beings. The struggle, endurance, sacrifice and perseverance of the Holy Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions were really exemplary and proved beyond an iota of doubt that man is the apex and crème of Divine creation. Allah (swt) has imbued him with limitless potential and strength.

Summary

To sum up, the long chequered process of creation, passing through several stages of descent and evolution, finally reached its zenith in the form of “most perfect man” and “most perfect messenger” as exhibited in the person and prophetic career of Muhammad (pbuh). However, only one step in its full fruition yet remains to be taken. The Prophet (pbuh), fourteen centuries ago, had achieved a remarkable feat by establishing Islamic polity in the vast expanse of Arabian Peninsula: a great stride forward indeed in the socio-political evolution of humanity and indeed no mean achievement. But now this Arabian revolution has to be extended to encompass the entire globe so that the whole of humanity tastes the mercy and compassion of Islamic faith and weltanschauung (world-view). This, in fact, would be the last evolutionary stage towards which humanity is willy nilly moving slowly and gradually, because whatever gems of knowledge and wisdom and, in particular, positive goodness of higher social values it has, is due to the legacy of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). All these can be traced back to him, emanating from the Divine teachings enshrined in the Qur’an and the prophetic words of wisdom, coupled with his practical example. Humanity is engaged in seeking the ultimate realization of goodness in its search (though unawares!) of the Prophet’s guidance --- the climax of man’s long odyssey in search of truth and goodness. This was expressed beautifully in a couplet by Allama Iqbal thus:

Wherever you see in the world of colour and scent

 Out of whose soil springs the plant of desire

 Is either already illumined by the light of Prophet Muhammad

 Or is still seeking and moving towards him (and his guidance)

It is, therefore, absolutely certain that humanity will definitely attain this last stage or plenitude of psycho-social evolution and the entire globe will witness Pax-Islamica, the global Islamic system of justice and equity fully implemented --- a sure proof and manifestation of Prophet  Muhammad’s a universal mercy and compassion. There are strong and authentic Ahadiths in various collections of prophetic sayings which foretell the future corroborating this truth. I shall here mention two of these reports. Imam Muslim has narrated, on the authority of Thauban that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is reported to have said:

“Almighty Allah unfolded the whole earth for me (in a vision) so that I was able to see all the easts and all the wests, and surely the domination of my followers will be established over all those places that were shown to me by thus unfolding the earth”.

According to another tradition narrated by Imam Ahmad on the authority of Miqdad Ibn Aswad, Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is reported to have said: “There shall be no house on the entire earth, neither of bricks nor one made of camel’s skin, but Allah will cause the word of Islam to enter it, either with the honour of one who deserves honour, or with the subjugation of the one who is defeated. That is to say, Allah will confer honour on some and they will embrace Islam, and He will cause the others to give up fighting and they will surrender before the rule of Islam.” On hearing this, the reporter is on record to have uttered the words: “This will fulfil Allah’s assertion “… and religion be wholly Allah’s” [8:39]".

The Qur’anic word deen is, as is well known to all, a very comprehensive term. Its connotation implies the ideas of indebtedness, duty, obedience, judgment, justice, faith, religion, customary rites etc. So the real meaning is that everything (both individual probity and piety and collective socio-political behaviour) pays subservience to Allah’s commandments given in the Shariah, which is supreme.

Indeed, if we ponder deeply, the major and minor premises of the Qur’anic argument also ratifies the belief of global domination of Islam and appears to be an impeccably logical conclusion. The following assertion of the Qur’an appears at three places in absolutely identical wording in surah Taubah, Al-Fath and As-Saff:

“It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the deen of truth (Islam) so that He may make it prevail over all rivals…..” [9:33, 48:28, 61:9]

This verse clearly and unambiguously states that the objective of the calling and mission of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was to make Islam dominant over all man-made ideologies. Moreover, at five places in the Qur’an we read the statement that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has been sent to the whole of humanity. The most clear and emphatic wording in this context occurs in verse 28 of Surah Saba:

“And We have not sent you except as a bearer of good news and a warner to all mankind…..” [34:28]

The very fact that the Prophet (pbuh) is a divine messenger for all humanity till the end of time necessitates logically that his prophetic mission would attain its climax and final victory only when Islam reigns supreme across the globe, thus vindicating the truth of the two above-mentioned Ahadiths. In a line of ode from Gabriel’s Wing (excelling in sublimity of thought and its rapturous nature) Allama Iqbal’s piercing glances can ruffle the moulds in which He manifests Himself and thus as a visionary has divulged the future scenario that lay in the womb of time:

The sky will shine mirror-like with the morning’s light

And the night’s darkness will be speeding away!

The hearts will again recall the message of prostrations

The foreheads will become acquainted with the Harem’s dust

Whatever the eye is seeing cannot be described by the lips

I am lost in amazement as to what the world will become!

The night will eventually disappear by sun’s appearance

This garden will be filled with the light of Tawheed!

However, here two points should clearly be kept in mind. Firstly, the global domination of Islam will be possible only as a result of immense sacrifice, endurance, resilience and fortitude of the believers, having staunch Iman and commitment for executing the commands of Allah and His Messenger (pbuh). They will have to replicate the same enthusiasm and undertake similar gigantic struggle that the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions showed against all odds in establishing the supremacy of Islam in Arabia. Secondly, before the final global victory of Islamists, Muslim Ummah will face Allah’s wrath for its misdeeds and complacency. Deviation from the Right Path will incur terrible punishment from Allah (swt) the details of which are found in various chapters of Hadith collections, e.g. the chapters of “Fitan”, “Genocidal Wars” and “Signs of the Last Hour”. However, after this chastisement, the light of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) will shine in its full exuberance all over the globe. Neither Satan and his acolytes from amongst humans and jinn nor the most sophisticated and high-tech armament of the opposing Dajjali forces will be able to check and thwart its global ascendancy.

And this will be the last stage of the psycho-social evolution of humanity immediately prior to the end or Doomsday. The entire cosmic heavens, which started off with the primeval “Big Bang” and continued to expand ever after, will be rolled back and brought to a naught, as we read in Surah Al-Anbiya:

“The Day that We roll up the heavens like a scroll rolled up for books Even as We produced the first creation…..” [21:104]

The world --- the universe --- as we know it, will be folded up like a scroll of parchment, for it will have done its work. And may be --- who knows! --- The Creator Who every day is in a new splendour [55:29] will spread out and unfold a new chain of beings. All we know with absolute certainty is:

All that is on earth will perish: but will abide (forever) the countenance of thy Lord --- full of Majesty, Bounty and Honour. (55:26-27)

Source:  The Process of Creation

Did man come from monkeys !!!!