MIDTERM

A STORY OF MANUNGS 2030

SECTION 14

Group List:

Raimi Fariz Bin Nasrudin 1416895

Muhammad Amer Afqar Bin Mohd Nor 141

A STORY OF MAN

Where is man really comes from? Without doubt, this is one of the most challenging, and yet one of the most fundamental, questions the mind can consider. Since Aristotle had summed up the prevailing theories in his age relating to the creation of the embryo, controversy continued among the supporters of the theory of the full dwarf embryo existing in man’s sperm and those of the theory of the full dwarf embryo created out of the woman’s menstrual blood coagulation (thickening). Most of them believed that man was reduced into that sperm drop, and they drew a figure in which they imagined the embryo as a full creature in the sperm drop, which then grew up in the womb as a small tree.

We are living in an era of information explosion in which data, news and knowledge of all kinds stream into our lives 24/7 via multiple media inlets, so much so that now it has become a challenge to pick and choose that input which we want to receive; which we deem relevant. Pregnancy, childbirth, infant care and parenting topics are no exception. From detailed pregnancy books to 3D-animated videos; subscriptions that facilitate personalized, week-by-week email pregnancy updates, to extensive online obstetric resources and pediatric websites, an expectant mother nowadays is amply aware of every change that is going on inside her body, as it happens or even beforehand.

The Qur'an revealed the process of the creation of man long before science gave every part of his anatomy, down to the inner contents of his individual cells, a unique name and pictorial description. In fact, in the Qur'an, Allah described the chronological phases of fetal growth and development 14 centuries ago, long before any ultrasound machine existed:

"Read! In the Name of your Lord Who has created (all that exists). He has created man from a clot (a piece of thick coagulated blood). " [Surat Al-'Alaq:1-2]. Those two ayahs appear at the beginning of Surat Al-'Alaq (the Clot). It consists of 19 ayahs and was revealed in Makkah. The surah has one recitation prostration, which is the last recitation prostration in the Ever-Glorious Qur'an. This surah was named Al-Alaq because it points to one of the stages of the human creation, in which the embryo resembles the leech worm, that is called in Arabic al 'alaq worm, in appearance and its way of feeding.

 “Verily We created man from a product of wet earth; then placed him as a drop (of seed) in a safe lodging; then We fashioned the drop into a clot, then We fashioned the clot into a little lump, then We fashioned the little lump into bones, then clothed the bones with flesh, and then produced it another creation. So blessed be Allah, the Best of Creators!” [23:12-14]

“It is He Who has created you from dust then from a sperm-drop, then from a leech-like clot; then does he get you out (into the light) as a child: then lets you (grow and) reach your age of full strength; then lets you become old,- though of you there are some who die before;- and lets you reach a term appointed; in order that you may learn wisdom.” [40:67]

According to Tafsir Ibn Kathir, this reference to man's creation from “تَُراٍب”, or dust, implies the origin of mankind viz. the creation of the first human being, Prophet Adam [ عليه from dust: “[“And Allah did create you from dust, then from Nutfah”], means, He ,[السالمinitiated the creation of your father Adam from dust, then He created his offspring from semen of worthless water.”

Modern science has, by now, explained the entire process of the creation of a human being, down to those minute, microscopic intricacies that were invisible to the human eye centuries ago. Many times in the Qur'an, Allah draws our attention to the way we were created. It is interesting to remember though, that at the time when these verses were revealed, human beings had limited knowledge about the process of human birth, unlike now. Why would Allah then invite us to ponder on the origin of our creation?

Those who believe in the Creator can answer the questions: where from? And where to? They know that they have come into existence by being created by the Creator and they also know that there is an eternal life after death. But what about the answer to the third question, that is: why have we been created? If we had been created by the Creator, shouldn’t we expect that He would tell us the purpose of our creation? Shouldn’t He tell us on what basis He is going to judge us on the Day of Judgment?

If we acknowledge our Creator, and that He created humankind to serve Him, the next question is, ‘How? How do we serve Him?’ No doubt, this question is best answered by the One who made us. If He created us to serve Him, then He expects us to function in a particular manner, if we are to achieve our purpose. But how can we know what that manner is? How can we know what God expects from us?

Well, consider this: God gave us light, by which we can find our way. Even at night, we have the moon for light and the stars for navigation. God gave other animals guidance systems best suited for their conditions and needs. Migrating birds can navigate, even on overcast days, by how light is polarized as it passes through the clouds. Whales migrate by 'reading' the Earth's magnetic fields. Salmon return from the open ocean to spawn at the exact spot of their birth by smell, if that can be imagined. Fish sense distant movements through pressure receptors that line their bodies. Bats and blind river dolphins 'see' by sonar.

Certain marine organisms (the electric eel being a high-voltage example) generate and 'read' magnetic fields, allowing them to 'see' in muddy waters, or in the blackness of ocean depths. Insects communicate by pheromones. Plants sense sunlight and grow towards it (phototrophism); their roots sense gravity and grow into the earth (geotrophism).In short, God has gifted every element of His creation with guidance. Can we seriously believe he would not give us guidance on the one most important aspect of our existence, namely ourraison d'etreour reason for being? That he would not give us the tools by which to achieve salvation?

Allah has already mentioned about our purposes in this world in the Quran. There are several verses and versions about how Allah explained about it. The first one is Surah Al Baqarah verse 30-37. Related vision of life in the world. God set man as caliph. Among their tasks is the prosperity of the earth, upholding the Al-Haq (truth of God) and justice in the midst of human beings. Therefore, God Arm man with a wide range of knowledge through revelation to His Apostles. This Khilafah only God has given to man and not given to His creatures the other, although the angel though.

It shows that human beings are the most precious yamg that God commanded the angels bow down to Adam. The glory inherent in human beings only as long as they carry out the vision of life that God has set. The human toughest challenge in implementing the vision of the caliphate on earth are demons who always seek to mislead people from the path of Allah. Satan deceived Adam and Eve when they are in heaven. Therefore, always was-padalah and if one day the devil deceived, then immediately repent to God.

The surah was revealed back then in Makkah before Prophet Muhammad SAW migration to Madinah. The theme of the surah is to inform us to mankind, our true position and purpose in the world besides to tell us that if we really understood our true position rightly. From the contents of the surah, if we adopted the attitude of gratefulness, we would meet with such good end in the hereafter. Some amazing facts about jannah are mentioned in this surah. And the people who will not be grateful for them awaits a great punishment.

In this surah, first of all man has been reminded that there was a time when they were nothing then a humble beginning of them were made with a mixed drop of sperm and ovum of which even their mother was not aware of this situation. It is not merely a question but a pledge is being sought that there has indeed passed on such a period of time when man was not even worth mentioning. Many women do not share it with others when they are in the stage of conception. A pregnant woman never points towards her belly. Hence, at this stage man is nothing to be mentioned about.

Unlike the other creatures like trees, birds and animals, man was not created to beautify this world but he has a purpose to fulfill. Once he has fulfilled his appointed role in this world he will die and then resurrected to give an account of his deeds. The world is neither a place of rewards and punishments for him nor a place of entertainment and enjoyment.

One day he will be resurrected and his deeds will be measured for what he had done in the world. His success in the hereafter is fully depends on how he conducted himself in the worldly life. Therefore, he should take this world as a place of test and trial and always bear in mind of the consequences of what his deeds. He had been given the faculties of hearing and seeing as a medium to conduct towards the good deeds in worldly life. The ability of hearing or seeing is not limited to being able to hear and see but in the same time it means to be able to process the information that he gathers by these means and then making a wise choice of well and adverse. It was clearly mentioned in the third verse when Allah highlighted that the right path was shown and made clear for man to follow.

On the previous surah also has been explained about the life after dead. Every living things has a beginning and an ending and so does man. What happens after someone dies?

According to the Quran, is not entirely clear. The event of death is something every human being will experience according to Islam. On the Day of Judgment, people will be paid full recompense. The experience for the faithful Muslim is different than the non-Muslim. The exact process of death is not clear, but the events at death are peppered throughout the Quran. First, the soul of a dying person comes to his throat, which is based on the surah 56:83. This is then followed by the angels, who come and remove the soul from the body which in the surah 6:93.

When the revelation of the Qur’an began, the Arabs who were known for their poetry and articulacy could not beat the eloquence of the Qur’anic ayaat. Feeling defeated, they intensified their criticism and opposition. Therefore, we see that the Surah’s revealed during the Makkan period are stern and repetitively warn about the tremors of the Final Day. In Surah Al Qiyamah verses 20-40, Allah addressing the deniers of the Hereafter, replies have been given to each of their doubts and objections, strong arguments have been given to prove the possibility, occurrence and necessity of the Resurrection and Hereafter.

It has been clearly pointed out that the actual reason of the people’s denying the Hereafter is not that they regard it as impossible but because their selfish motives do not allow them to affirm it. At the same time, the people have been warned, as if to say: The event, the occurrence of which you deny, will inevitably come: all your deeds will be brought and placed before you. As a matter of fact, even before any of you sees his record, you will be fully aware of what you have done in the world, for no man is unaware of himself, no matter what excuses and pretenses he may offer to deceive the world and deceive himself in respect of his misdeeds.

Many humans live the life of this world, seeking the best that it has to offer, while ignoring what lies ahead of them upon death. Death is a harsh and fearful reality faced by everyone who lives. No one has the power to avoid it, nor does anyone around the dying person have the ability to prevent it. It is something, which happens every moment and is encountered by the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the strong and the weak. They are all the same because there is no plan or means of escaping it, no power, no means of intercession, no way to prevent it, nor to delay it, which shows that indeed it comes from One having tremendous power - so that the human is helpless in this regard and can only submit to it. That is how it works. Man was created to have certain purposes in this life and the purposes itself are a test and also as a preparation to the life after, which is going to be judged.