First published on: The Role of Religion in Man’s Life by  Abd El-Khaliq Al-Sayed


Religion is the only way for man to know his Lord in a complete and comprehensive way.


1- Religion lets man know what he should and shouldn’t do as God commands. It is also the only way through which man can know and identify his origin, his destiny, the aim of creating him and what the relation with his Lord is like. This is called “religion” or “faith“; to believe in facts without which life can’t go on.


2- Religion assigns and marks jurisprudence for man. There is a code of rules and laws that organizes his life and his relation with others and the surrounding environment. Allah, who created him, knows his secrets and his hidden things “caches.”


 3- Man has his spiritual side. He is looking forward to the unseen, “The Invisible”. In the modern Western civilization man is trying to satisfy that desire by referring to fortune-tellers, soothsayers or to legends or superstitions and etc….. “such as “Devil’s worshippers” or the “pilgrims to the Pyramids of Giza” in Egypt”.


Relation between Religion, Man & Science in Islam


 4- Islam mixes religion, mind or reason and science in one web. This mixture has no equivalent in any other course or approach. Islam encourages and exhorts man to call for knowledge and science that deal with the physical and material sides of man. It also directs the intellect in its philosophical research to satisfy its intellectual and psychological needs. That’s what Allah ‘the Almighty, the Exalted” said in the Glorious Qur’an:


We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. But is it not sufficient concerning your Lord that He is, over all things, a Witness?” [41:53] (1) 


The Glorious Qur’an is full of verses that call for consideration and pondering. Many verses end with “so that you may consider”, “so that you may understand”.


5-The true religion is the leader (maestro) that directs and conducts


the musicians (Scientists, thinkers, scholars and philosophers are the musicians). Each one plays its role in its specific position; that’s the role of science and that’s the role of the intellect and that’s the domain of the metaphysical concepts. For example, man should not linger or lag behind to take and adopt the methods of science for no reason but to wait for the supply and support of the Heavens.


Importance of Reflection in Religion


6-  Man is not able to witness “the Unseen” through his senses or even through his imagination. It’s only through his Fitra (his innate nature or instinct) and using his ability to think, reflect, consider and meditate on the Ayat.


(signs) of Allah  (guided by the messages of Allah’s Prophets and Messengers). He sees this world in which he lives as a single reality because it is a fabulous handicraft of God. Man can perceive it as beautiful and attractive ornamentation in itself and as a sign of God’s perfection.

Man should reflect on Ayat of Allah such as the creation of the fly, the mosquito, the spider, the ant, the bees, the camels and on top of those Ayat the creation of the heavens and the earth. (All these are but few examples of so many that we read in the Glorious Qur’an) 


Allah says in the Glorious Qur’an:


…and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], “Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]…” [3:191] (2) 


 


What about the Soul in Religion?


7- Religion gives due care to the soul. Religion represents the soul that runs in science(automatism) and philosophy represents (the unseen). Without the soul, man becomes a dead body, a carcass running on two feet that spreads rottenness and decay everywhere. When the soul departed from and left science and philosophy, destruction and devastation befell man everywher……Why?


Because science set off without any restrictions or regulations, man invented the atomic bomb which killed millions of human beings and corrupted and damaged the environment. He also invented the drugs that kill millions of people every year, or at least get them away from the course of life. These drugs also disturb and spoil the life of people who live with the drug-addict and make them displeased and distressed. Man also generated destructive species of germs and viruses.


As for philosophy, it isolated itself away from religious concepts. That’s why it couldn’t answer man’s inquiries. Moreover, it caused him to be confused and embarrassed. For example, lllia Abu-Madhi, the famous Arab poet said in one of his well-known poems (l don’t know) (لا أدري)


 I came to this life, wherefrom? I don’t know, then I saw a way in front of me, so I took it,


I’ll be walking on it forever, whether I want it or not, how did I come, how did I see my way? I don’t know.


If he had tried but once to have a look at Islam or the Glorious Qur’an, he would have found the answer in this verse in the Glorious Qur’an


And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me” [51:56] (3) 


Then he would know that this world life is but a short trip and death is but a start for eternal life in the hereafter. On the Day of Judgment, we will be exposed before our Lord to account for our deeds. If our deeds are good, it will be good for us and we will have the recompense; Paradise. If we have evil deeds, it will be bad and hell is the punishment, wretched will be that destiny.


Intellect & Science


 8- Intellect and science have their role in promoting and uplifting man’s piety. First learns about God by birth. Then he comes to learn about Him in school. That is the “intellectual convincing”. Then comes that phase of certainty and at last to the phase of fear of Allah. In the Glorious Qur’an Allah said:


And among people and moving creatures and grazing livestock are various colors similarly. Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Forgiving.” [35:28] (4)


Conclusion


In conclusion, religion is a comprehensive course for everything on earth. Religion gives great care and concern to faith, Jurisprudence and spiritual issues. It also has its role through intellect and science.


________________________________________


References:


(1) Verse (41:53) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).


(2) Verse (3:191) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).


(3) Verse (51:56) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).


(4) Verse (35:28) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).