Man vicegerent of Allah

Man vicegerent of Allah:

The different religions define the universe and mankind/humans as under:

Buddhism it states that “the world is full of contaminates and the mankind too”.

Jew states that “only Bani Israeel is a superior nation”.

Christianity states that “Man is innate sinner”.

Hindu states that “Everything is God and the humans are bad and the inferior (Neecha) think of this universe”.

Islam: Islam is the only religion that gives most respect to the all human being. It states that “Everything belongs to God”. Human are created by Allah. God is superior. Man is answerable to Creator. Man is responsible for his own act. The human being, in the Islamic world view is considered a vicegerent of Allah. This vicegerency is declared before the creation of the first human being, as Quran states, Surah Baqarah V:30 “Behold, your Lord said to the angels: ‘I will create a vicegerent on earth’. They said: ‘Will place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood? While we do celebrate Your praises and glorify Your holy (names)? ‘He said: ‘I know what you know not”.

As above stated Ayat, the angels said to God that why he made man His vicegerent, this may be granted to them as they always glorified Him. Allah replied that they do not know the matters of the world/earth. As God taught all the names of all things to Adam, he then tested Adam with angels by asking some earthly questions. Adam being human and made/created of clay and teaching of Allah he (Adam) answered the Allah’s Question correctly. Thus Allah established that in spite of all weaknesses man alone was most suitable for managing the world/earth.

In this capacity as a vicegerent, the human being is perceived as the trustee of the earth. He is supposed to safeguard the earth in every sense. Life on earth has great responsibility. Being an embodiment of good and evil, he can choose the way of his choice. It is followed by either reward or punishment. As Quran said, Surah Al-Anam V:165 “It is He who has made you (His) vicegerent, of the earth: He has raised you in ranks, some above others; that He may try you in the gifts He has given you for your Lord is quick in punishment: yet He is indeed oft: forgiving, most merciful”.

It is rather clear, now, that the Islamic world view indicates that vicegerent on earth forms a test includes how human being fulfill the duties for themselves and each other. So, as a vicegerent and representative of the earth has a duty to follow the instructions of his master. His personality and precepts should reflect the values of his master. We have been taught that qualities and attributes of Allah include knowledge, mercy, appreciativeness, administrative ability, forgiveness, justice, love and power to protect and punish etc. In spite of inherent limitation, man can on the limited human scale develop in himself attributes of Allah. He can never be God, but he can exhibit Allah’s attributes in his character as Allah’s vicegerent. One can imagine if human can role really as vicegerent of Allah and perform his duties as a vicegerent is responsible, how high he can be rise as a human and the world too.