Author: Abdul Hai Lay'yan
Religious Needs Assessment of Human Beings in the Light of Islamic Teachings (Part 15)
Human Responsibility and the Necessity of Divine Judgment (Continued)
– Third Principle: The Perfection of Allah’s Wisdom and Justice
Allah the Almighty says: “وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا لَاعِبِينَ” [1] Translation: “We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them in play (without purpose). Indeed, this world is a passageway to the immense and eternal Hereafter that lies beyond it.”
Allah Almighty informs us of His perfect power and complete wisdom, and that He did not create the heavens and the earth for amusement, vainly, or without purpose. Rather, He created them “in truth”, meaning both their creation is based on truth, and they encompass truth. He brought them into existence so that He alone would be worshiped without partners, and so that He might command and forbid, reward and punish His servants. [2]
He also says: “وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاءَ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَاطِلًا ذَٰلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنَ النَّارِ” [3] Translation: “We did not create the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in vain; that is the assumption of those who disbelieve. So, woe to those who disbelieve from the Fire.”
And He says: “أَيَحْسَبُ الْإِنسَانُ أَنْ يُتْرَكَ سُدًى” [4] Translation: “Does man think that he will be left neglected (without purpose and accountability)?”
Allah the Almighty also says: “وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَإِنَّ السَّاعَةَ لَآتِيَةٌ فَاصْفَحِ الصَّفْحَ الْجَمِيلَ * إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ الْخَلَّاقُ الْعَلِيمُ” [5] Translation: “We did not create the heavens and the earth and what is between them except in truth. Indeed, the Hour is surely coming, so forgive graciously. Verily, your Lord is the Supreme Creator, the All-Knowing.”
The Need for Judgment and Recompense
The justice of the Almighty Creator necessitates that He judge among His creation concerning what they differed in, and that He reward or punish them according to their deeds. Allah says: “وَالْوَزْنُ يَوْمَئِذٍ الْحَقُّ فَمَنْ ثَقُلَتْ مَوَازِينُهُ فَأُولَئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ * وَمَنْ خَفَّتْ مَوَازِينُهُ فَأُولَئِكَ الَّذِينَ خَسِرُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ بِمَا كَانُوا بِآيَاتِنَا يَظْلِمُونَ” [6] Translation: “The weighing on that Day will be true and just. So those whose scales are heavy (with good deeds) — they are the successful. But those whose scales are light — they are the ones who have lost their souls for they wronged Our verses.”
And He says: “وَنَضَعُ الْمَوَازِينَ الْقِسْطَ لِيَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ فَلَا تُظْلَمُ نَفْسٌ شَيْئًا وَإِنْ كَانَ مِثْقَالَ حَبَّةٍ مِنْ خَرْدَلٍ أَتَيْنَا بِهَا وَكَفَى بِنَا حَاسِبِينَ” [7] Translation: “We shall set up the scales of justice on the Day of Resurrection, so no soul will be wronged in anything. And even if it be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it forth. And sufficient are We as Reckoners.”
Therefore, it is evident that the Resurrection (al-Ma‘ād) can be affirmed not only through revelation but also through reason. The perfection of Allah the Almighty and the perfection of His Names and Attributes logically require and justify its occurrence. He is exalted far above what the deniers say, just as His perfection is far above any deficiency or flaw.
Reviving the Dead Earth: A Proof of Resurrection
Among the clear evidence that Allah the Almighty presents for the Resurrection, besides rational proofs and the perfection of His divine attributes (knowledge, power, and wisdom), is the observable phenomenon of reviving the dead earth after its barrenness. Allah says in Surah Fussilat, Verse 39: “وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنَّكَ تَرَى الْأَرْضَ خَاشِعَةً فَإِذَا أَنْزَلْنَا عَلَيْهَا الْمَاءَ اهْتَزَّتْ وَرَبَتْ إِنَّ الَّذِي أَحْيَاهَا لَمُحْيِي الْمَوْتَى إِنَّهُ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ” [8] Translation: “And among His signs is that you see the earth dry and lifeless, but when We send down water upon it, it stirs and swells. Indeed, He who gives life to it is surely the One who gives life to the dead. Verily, He is over all things capable.”
The Rational Argument in This Proof
Through this reasoning, Allah directs His servants’ attention to something they can witness and affirm — the revival of the dead earth — so that they may use it as a standard for believing in what they find difficult to imagine — the revival of the dead. This is a comparison between two acts of giving life, using one observable example to affirm another unseen truth.
The essential cause that makes this analogy possible is the absolute power of Allah and the perfection of His wisdom. [9]
Continues…
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References:
[1] Ad-Dukhān: 38
[2] As-Sa‘di, Tafsir Tayseer al-Karim ar-Rahman, p. 774
[3] Sād: 27
[4] Al-Qiyāmah: 36
[5] Al-Hijr: 85–86
[6] Al-A‘rāf: 8–9
[7] Al-Anbiyā’: 47
[8] Fussilat: 39
[9] Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah, I‘lam al-Muwaqqi‘in ‘an Rabb al-‘Alamin, Beirut: Dar al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyyah, 1411 AH, vol. 1, p. 139.
