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Living The Quran

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From Issue: 542 [Read full issue]

Al-Fatir (The Creator)
Chapter 35: Verse 39 (Partial)

Ultimate end of human existence
"He it is that has made you inheritors in the Earth (khalaif);"

Khilafah, man's essential assignment, means implementing Allah's intent on Earth and practicing His rules. This confers authority upon men and women to carry out their entrusted task: observe what Allah enjoins and refrain from what he prohibits.

The assignment of khilafah, considered the ultimate end of human existence, can be best understood in a lexical context. One derivative, khalafiyah, suggests that the main concern of the khalifah is to struggle for closeness to his or her master. Mustakhlif, another derivative, indicates the constant human struggle to attain the level of perfection.

It is through ibadah that human integrity and perfection can be achieved. Ibadah means subjugating oneself to Allah by implementing what He enjoins and refraining from what He forbids.

As man is composed of a spiritual element as well as a material one, his quest to be close to Allah involves both elements. The arena for this quest, the Earth, was prepared to fit this dual nature. To carry out khilafah, to promote oneself, and to perfect it through ibadah, man has to approach this Earth in a way that glorifies Allah, be subjugated to Him, and obtain His pleasure. This may be achieved through contemplating and reflecting upon Allah's perfect qualities, His all-encompassing power and mercy; through investing in the Earth, using its abundant riches, discovering its secrets and rules; and developing it in a way that leads to human control over it.

Men and women, by their very nature, are prepared to carry out the above function of khilafah, and to accomplish it.

Compiled From:
"The Vicegerency of Man" - Abd al Majid al Najjar, pp. 21-23

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