Man is the highest and most honoured creation of God. This has been confirmed by our accumulated knowledge and ever-expanding scientific discoveries.
First of all, there is no other creature like man in the whole known universe. Our spaceships and probes have failed to find out any life on any other planet. Man, inhabiting the earth, is the only being who has been given the gift of wisdom and understanding. Moreover, he has been given freedom of choice and sense to distinguish good from evil. His greatness lies in accepting good and rejecting evil. Allah confirms in His last testament, the Holy Qur’ān, that dignity and honour is the basic quality which has been bestowed upon man by God Himself. An Islamic philosopher, by way of explanation, adds, “Even if placed in the most wretched conditions, man retains this basic quality of dignity. This is something which is God-given and inherent in his very nature.”
Further, the Holy Qur’ān explains that man can achieve greater heights by exploring this dignity and making optimum possible use of this quality and become more elevated than angels. And, if he fails to do justice to his innate good nature and falls prey to his weaknesses, he is downgraded to the worst of creations.
Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him), the last and greatest of God’s Messengers, enthused and organised humanity to discover its inherent goodness, utilise it fully and become the best of the creation in the real sense of the term. History bears witness to the fact that there has never been any such great personality who lifted humanity to this height. “The best individuals, the best society and the best civilization,” these words sum up the contribution of the leadership of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be to him).
Today, in spite of all scientific achievements, the ungodly thinking, rampant materialism and exploitation of man by man has snatched this dignity from man. Precisely, the objective of Islam in the present day scenario is the rediscovery and restoration of this dignity. Muslims all over the world, in spite of their weaknesses and failings, have been trying hard to stand up and do their bid towards this noble objective.
On the occasion of the birth anniversary of the Great Benefactor of humanity, your magazine, in its own humble way, has tried to enlighten you by presenting certain aspects of this divinely conferred dignity, so that we may march ahead towards the objective of ushering in a God-oriented and humane civilization for the benefit of entire humanity.