Man’s personality in the quran
Man is a composition of body, spirit and mind and these are operationally inter-related.
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On his physical body, the Quran states that the creation of man was carried through the stages of dust, clay, muddiness and dryness.
“O people, if you should be in doubt about the Resurrection, then (consider that) indeed, We created you from dust…” Quran 22:5.
And in another text, the Quran mentions the stage of clay in the following words:
“It is He who created you from clay and then decreed a term…” Quran 6:2.
Finally, the physical body of man was carried through the stages of muddiness and dryness. The Quran thus states:
“and (mention, O Muhammad), when your Lord said to the angels, ‘I will create a human being out of clay from an altered black mud”.Quran 15:28.
An “altered black mud” is interpreted as a dry mud. On the component of spirit in man, the Quran also states that:
“And when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My (created) soul (spirit), then fall down to him in postration”.Quran 15:29.
On the component of the human mind, the Quran adopted two approaches. The two approaches are mentioning of the human mind indirectly or directly and mentioning of the key funtions of the human mind. On the human mind itself, the Quran states;
“And We have certainly honoured the children of Adam…” Quran 17:70.
And “honour” here is interpreted as possession of intellect which has enabled man to have some level of control over other creatures in this world. And on the key function of the human mind, the Quran indicates that it is for the key purpose of bringing reason and rationale to bear on every disposition of man. The Quran thus states:
“Do you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the scripture? Then will you reason? Quran 2:44.
“Know that Allah gives life to the earth after its lifelessness. We have made clear to you the signs’ perhaps you will understand”. Quran 57:17.
Struggle within the self
The human self possesses animal qualities that find expression in its quest for seeking satisfaction for its physical needs with the principal purpose of survival.
It also has angelic qualities represented in the pursuit of his spritual needs which manifest themselves in the unending quest to know the Creator and worship Him appropriately.
In an attempt to satisfy his physical and spiritual needs, man is sometimes caught in the middle of a struggle between the two needs. Sometimes his physical needs may try to dominate his spiritual needs and vice versa. The Quran mentions the above struggle when it states among other things:
“So as for he who transgressed And preferred the life of the world. Then, indeed, hellfire will be (his) refuge. But as for he who feared the position of his Lord and prevented the soul from (unlawful) inclination. Then, indeed, Paradise will be (his) refuge”. Quran 79:37-41.
Yes, that is the struggle between material dictates and spiritual dictates of the self that may either lead him/herself to Hell or Heaven.
A balancing act
The best remedy for addressing the struggle between physical and spiritual needs of the human self is to maintain a balancing act between the two forces. What I mean by a balancing act is that the self should not live totally as a physical being concerned solely with his bodily needs; and he should not live totally again as a spiritual being obsessed only by his spiritual needs. The Quran has pointed out this balancing act in the following words:
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“But seek, through that which Allah has given you, the home of the Hereafter; and (yet), do not forget your share of the world”. Quran 28:77.
Yes, that is how it goes. A real balancing act! The self is to seek the pleasure of the Creator which is a spiritual objective. But, he should not also forget of his share of this world. However, I would like to state in the pursuit of one’s share of this world that he should strongly be guided by the dictates of the Creator in respect of what is permissible and what is forbidden. Additionally, the believing self is to use his share in this world to attain the pleasure of the Almighty Allah through provison of support for those in need and for the service of Allah, the Almighty. In brief, a balancing act dictates that the believing self believes in Allah, the Almighty, offers prayers and other forms of raw worship and at the same time he satisfies his bodily needs within the confines of what Allah, the Almighty, has permitted. Consequently, for example, he eats, drinks, marries,… etc within the borders of what Allah, the Almighty, has made permissible.
The writer is a Theoloqian/Educationist [email protected]