Sunday, July 25, 2010

Are humans the best of creations?

Question: http://www.damninteresting.com/amoebic-morality
Have a read through this article and tell me if your belief in us being ashraf-ul-makhlooqat(the best of creation) is not shaken.
Answer: Amazing, subhanAllah (Glory to God) for sharing.
The more one looks around, the more one discovers wondorous organization in nature, things which can't just be attributed to Natural Selection alone. There has to be a power, a directing force, who has created Natural Selection and enabled creatures to choose it.
As far as 'ashraf-ul-makhlooqat' is concerned, its a popular though inaccurate belief. Allah says in the Quran, Chapter 17 Verse 70:
Yusuf Ali 70: We have honoured the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favours, above a great part of our creation.
Shakir 70: And surely We have honored the children of Adam, and We carry them in the land and the sea, and We have given them of the good things, and We have made them to excel by an appropriate excellence over most of those whom We have created.
Pickthal 70: Verily we have honoured the Children of Adam. We carry them on the land and the sea, and have made provision of good things for them, and have preferred them above many of those whom We created with a marked preferment.
Mohsin Khan: 70: And indeed We have honoured the Children of Adam, and We have carried them on land and sea, and have provided them with At-Tayyibat (lawful good things), and have preferred them above many of those whom We have created with a marked preferment.

Notice that all four translators have translated it as over or above many... a relative/comparative term, not the absolute 'best'. We have much to be grateful for, but we are certainly not the best of creations.

Also, thank you for this article. I had read in the Quran(6:38) that all creatures were organized in colonies, and often wondered how amoebas fit in. This article was really helpful.
The Holy Quran, Chapter:6 Verse:38
Yusuf Ali 38: There is not an animal (that lives) on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but (forms part of) communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they (all) shall be gathered to their Lord in the end.
Shakir 38: And there is no animal that walks upon the earth nor a bird that flies with its two wings but (they are) genera like yourselves; We have not neglected anything in the Book, then to their Lord shall they be gathered.
Pickthal 38: There is not an animal in the earth, nor a flying creature flying on two wings, but they are peoples like unto you. We have neglected nothing in the Book (of Our decrees). Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.
Mohsin Khan: 38: There is not a moving (living) creature on earth, nor a bird that flies with its two wings, but are communities like you. We have neglected nothing in the Book, then unto their Lord they (all) shall be gathered.
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