The Example of the Universe
Al-Risala (English), May 1992, p. 4
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is named as the default author of the periodical; a piece that carries another writer’s byline is credited to that writer.
The Example of the Universe
1992 5 May 4 The Example of the Universe (379) According to Emerson, nature works on the principle of all for one and one for all. This is a succinct but correct description of the functioning of the universe, in which there are innumerable objects, all moving in perfect coordination with each other. Each acts in a manner which complements the actions of the others and is in complete harmony with the whole.
In this, an example for man has been set by the Creator of the Universe which he is obliged to follow. That is to say that man is expected to conduct himself on the same pattern in society, working harmony with others and for the benefit of all. Conversely, humanity as a whole should function in such a manner as to contribute to the progress and success of the individual. In short, the functioning of the individual should be in consonance with that of the community and vice versa.
The Universe, in the form set up by its Creator, is a living example of how the individual should behave and how, too, he should not behave. It shows which type of man will be exalted in the eyes of the Creator and which type will stand rejected.
Let us take the example of a tree and its relationship with the universe. In the latter, heat, gravity, air and water are ever present and each of these exists in exact accordance with the requirements of the plant. Right from the humble bacteria to the mighty sun, all things are, so to speak, spread out in the universe like a banquet for living things to feed on; all of these things provide those very elements which the tree by its very nature stands in need.
Moreover, the tree lives and grows in this world without coming into conflict with anything. Its wood, its leaves, its flowers, its fruits, its sap, in fact, its entire produce is useful to the rest of the world. One of its most important functions in this modern age of pollution is its inhalation of carbon dioxide and its exhalation of oxygen. A similar symbiotic relationship between a part and the whole, that is between the individual and society, is a most urgent necessity if humanity is not to bring about its own destruction.
