Taha Abd al-Rahman and the Trusteeship philosophy
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| The Trusteeship philosophy |
One of the Quranic verses that honor humans and demonstrates their ability to endure the responsibility that heavens, earth, and mountains declined to bear as Allah said: "Truly, We did offer Al-Amanah (the trustor moral responsibility or honesty and all the duties which Allah has ordained) to the heavens and the earth, and the mountains, but they declined to bear it and were afraid of it (i.e., afraid of Allah's Torment). But man bore it". (The Quran, 33:72).
Based on this noble verse and many similar ones, the Moroccan philosopher Taha Abd al-Rahman developed the concept of trusteeship in modern Islamic philosophy, which affirms that humans were courageous to bear what other creatures did not.
The mentioned philosophy comprises two dimensions, the unseen and the observed, the worship and the measurement; That is to say, even though humans seem to take and live in the observed dimension, they still retain in "memory" their spiritualties with the unseen world. (Taha Abdu Rahman, 2012).
The mentioned philosophy comprises two dimensions, the unseen and the observed, the worship and the measurement; That is to say, even though humans seem to take and live in the observed dimension, they still retain in "memory" their spiritualties with the unseen world. (Taha Abdu Rahman, 2012).
Additionally, scholars agreed in their interpretations that the responsibility humans accept to bear refers to the innate power that Allah Almighty distinguished humans with: Mind or the ability to think and choose. However, this privilege cannot function without the divine supervision of Allah. (Taha Abdu Rahman, 2000).
Moreover, humans' success in this great responsibility depends on their ability to challenge two tremendous traps: ignorance and iniquity.
Moreover, humans' success in this great responsibility depends on their ability to challenge two tremendous traps: ignorance and iniquity.
As stated in the noble verse, "Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results)." (The Quran, 33:72).
In other words, to move from the state of betrayal to the state of trust, it is necessary to abandon ignorance and iniquity through adopting knowledge, reason, and embracing justice.
The Valuable Science and Trusteeship
The creation of humans makes Angles suspicious about humans' ability to fulfill faithfulness and success in their responsibility mission on earth.
So they asked Allah, "Will You place therein those who will make mischief therein and shed blood" (The Quran, 2:30). God's answer was immediate, confirming humans' ability to bear the responsibility. Allah responded, "I know that which you do not know." (The Quran, 2:30).
Allah Almighty proves to the angels the wisdom behind preferring humans over other creatures.
1- Allah gives humans the privilege of knowledge
Allah Almighty proves to the angels the wisdom behind preferring humans over other creatures.
Allah gives humans the privilege of knowledge and mind.
Almighty said, "And He taught Adam all the names (of everything), then He showed them to the angels and said, "Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful." They (angels) said: "Glory be to You, we have no knowledge except what you have taught us. Verily, it is You, the All-Knower, the All-Wise." So he said: "O Adam! Inform them of their names," and when he had informed them of their names, He said: "Did I not tell you that I know the Ghaib (unseen) in the heavens and the earth, and I know what you reveal and what you have been concealing?" (The Quran, 2:31, 32, 33).
God Almighty knows that humans are qualified to perform their mission to the fullest, thanks to the innate capabilities that Allah the Almighty has entrusted to them.
God Almighty knows that humans are qualified to perform their mission to the fullest, thanks to the innate capabilities that Allah the Almighty has entrusted to them.
This explains the spontaneous aspiration of humans for knowledge and the strong desire to acquire more awareness.
Sheikh Muhammad Rashid Rida said in this regard: "human is born with no inspiration except crying and screaming, then he gradually starts feeling... and he is given another power that behaves based on his feeling... until he had some of the wonderful inventions, and he will have things that cannot be estimated and expected. The human with this power is not limited in willingness, desires, knowledge, or work." (Rida Rashid, 1947).
Most scholars agree that humans' passion for knowledge is part of their creation, highlighting the human instinct for discovery and learning.
Sheikh Muhammad Rashid Rida said in this regard: "human is born with no inspiration except crying and screaming, then he gradually starts feeling... and he is given another power that behaves based on his feeling... until he had some of the wonderful inventions, and he will have things that cannot be estimated and expected. The human with this power is not limited in willingness, desires, knowledge, or work." (Rida Rashid, 1947).
2- the human instinct for discovery and learning
Most scholars agree that humans' passion for knowledge is part of their creation, highlighting the human instinct for discovery and learning.
It offsets the ignorance that dominates their nature. Imam Al-Shafi'i mentioned, "My long experience showed to me that my mind is deficient, and the more I know, the more I know my ignorance." (Al-muqaddam, n.d)
Human beings will always find themselves knowing less than what exists due to the unlimited knowledge that Allah created, as articulated in the Quran: "And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little." (The Quran, 17:85).
Human beings will always find themselves knowing less than what exists due to the unlimited knowledge that Allah created, as articulated in the Quran: "And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given only a little." (The Quran, 17:85).
In other words, humanity must seek help from Allah, the source of everything; Dr. Taha Abdel Rahman refers to it as "the supported mind," which means "the moral mind" connected to the Almighty Creator.
This is because the function of the "mind" itself is an awareness of connections; it is a link between phenomena and God's signs and a relationship between the unseen and visible. (Taha Abdu Rahman, 2012).
The first Quranic verses that were sent to the Prophet Mohamed Peace upon him "Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists)," (The Quran, 96:1). Inviting humans to read in Allah's name indicates the necessity of combining the unseen with the visible. Any separation between the two dimensions will lead to corruption.
Accordingly, the relationship that binds humans to the Creator is ruled by a covenant between the Creator and the created.
3- The first Quranic verse command to learn
The first Quranic verses that were sent to the Prophet Mohamed Peace upon him "Read! In the Name of your Lord, Who has created (all that exists)," (The Quran, 96:1). Inviting humans to read in Allah's name indicates the necessity of combining the unseen with the visible. Any separation between the two dimensions will lead to corruption.
Accordingly, the relationship that binds humans to the Creator is ruled by a covenant between the Creator and the created.
It is a covenant embedded in human Innateness, "And (remember) when your Lord brought forth from the Children of Adam, from their loins, their seed (or from Adam's loin his offspring) and made them testify as to themselves (saying): "Am I not your Lord?" They said: "Yes! We testify," lest you should say on the Day of Resurrection: "Verily, we have been unaware of this.".(The Quran, 7:172).
Consequently, God prohibited breaking the eternal covenant because it led to misguidance and apparent loss. Therefore, Allah the Almighty said, "Those who break Allah's Covenant after ratifying it, and sever what Allah has ordered to be joined (as regards Allah's Religion of Islamic Monotheism, and to practice its legal laws on the earth and also as regards keeping good relations with kith and kin ), and make mischief on the earth, it is they who are the losers." (The Quran, 2:27). Muhammad Rashid Rida said: «Allah considers those who violate the covenant disobedient, which lead them to corruption on earth and make them suffer unless they revert to the divine covenant. (Rida Rashid, 1947). see more here
Consequently, God prohibited breaking the eternal covenant because it led to misguidance and apparent loss. Therefore, Allah the Almighty said, "Those who break Allah's Covenant after ratifying it, and sever what Allah has ordered to be joined (as regards Allah's Religion of Islamic Monotheism, and to practice its legal laws on the earth and also as regards keeping good relations with kith and kin ), and make mischief on the earth, it is they who are the losers." (The Quran, 2:27). Muhammad Rashid Rida said: «Allah considers those who violate the covenant disobedient, which lead them to corruption on earth and make them suffer unless they revert to the divine covenant. (Rida Rashid, 1947). see more here
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