Man’s Predicament

Man’s Predicament

1985 12 December 13 Man’s Predicament (439) There are plenty of people in the world today who voice concern over matters affecting the Muslims as a community, but their concern is for the most part directed towards matters of superficial import. As for the deep, meaningful side of religion, there is no one who pays any attention to it. A fundamental human weakness lies behind this tendency: man always sets his sights on things that he can see; as for things which do not meet his eye, he finds it extremely difficult to pay any attention to them.

Man worships things that he can see; he does not understand how he can worship something which cannot be seen. He is quick to engage himself in activities which he can perceive the results of, but he refrains from taking any part in tasks which do not appear to pay any dividends. He is fully conscious of the importance of something which he can actually see, in solid form, standing before him; as for that which is not present for him to see, he ignores it as if it did not exist.

This superficiality, the attachment to forms rather than meanings; is man’s greatest weakness. In its most extreme form, it manifests itself as worship of false gods. Even if one retains one’s faith in God, it prevents one from becoming close to God, and increasing in faith.

There are two main forms of transgression which come from man’s attachment to forms. One is polytheism, which is to worship some visible gods along with the invisible God. The other is atheism, which is denial of any God that cannot be seen. But sometimes this human weakness takes another form which, in effect, is no less serious; that is, to believe, but to be void of the radiance of faith. The radiance of faith enables one to see God, despite His invisibility. One who does not see with this divine light may express belief in God, but he cannot feel God’s presence; his heart remains attached to things which he can see and feel with his outward senses.

Discovery of God means that one has penetrated beyond the world of outward forms and delved into the world of hidden meanings. Those who do not make this discovery can only appreciate the worth of one who is surrounded by a wealth of worldly splendour. They remain blind to the merit of one who possesses in his soul a wealth of spiritual meaning. God is the source of all reality and meaning. One who fails to find Him fails to find the world of meanings. He remains forever transfixed to forms.