Islam's Response to Contemporary Issues — Page 264
264 islam’s response to contemporary issues This is not a simple objective and needs a separate full discussion, which would be beyond the scope of today’s address. The relevant part, to put it simply, is that the ultimate purpose of creation was to create a conscious being of the highest order who would not only voluntarily submit to the most consummate beauty of God as reflected in His creation directly, but would also lead fellow creation of the highest order (i. e. mankind) to this ultimate goal of creation, or at least, make it possible for those among them who desire to follow Him. Hypothetically, remove the ultimate object of creation for a while, and suddenly the entire raison d’etre for the creation and maintenance of this universe would collapse. In its simplified example, the reason for the planting of a seedling and nurturing, irrigating, pruning and maintenance of a fruit tree is the fruit itself. If there was to be no fruit, there would be no tree. All the effort in planting, nursing and maintaining the fruit tree without the concept of a fruit as the end product would be totally vain and meaningless. As such, the entire fruit tree, inclusive of its roots, stalk, stem, twigs, leaves and buds virtually remain obliged to the fruit. Though preceding in time, all parts of the tree remain obliged to their ultimate purpose. It is the beneficence of the purpose, which creates the instrument of creation itself. In light of this relationship between the supreme object of creation and the rest of the universe, when one studies the teachings of Islam, one would be surprised to realise that Islam encompasses not only the relationship between man and God and God and man, but also man’s relationship with the animal kingdom and the inanimate world around him.