THREE STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT

THREE STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT For Eternal Success The people are like mines of metal—gold and silver; the more excellent of them in the 'the days of ignorance' are the more excellent of them in Islam if they attain knowledge and develop understanding—The prophet of Islam. T HIS Hadith refers to the stages of intellectual development in man. The first stage is the nascent stage on which one is born. The second stage is that in which man develops his intellect by dint of his own efforts. The third stage is that of the realization of God (ma’rifat). On reaching the stage of mar’ifat, one arrives at the final destination of one’s intellectual development—that is, the stage that is called ‘Islam’. In this context, human beings can be likened to metal. Iron is extracted from the ore in the mines. After this, it is smelted in furnaces where the impurities are removed and it is transformed into steel. Finally, after undergoing a number of industrial processes, it is converted into a functioning machine. It thus goes through three stages. The first stage is that of iron ore; the second stage is when it becomes steel; and the third and final stage is when it turns into a machine. The same is true of man. When man is born, it is as if he comes out of nature’s mine—in a pristine, natural and unrefined state. Then he grows up in the world, and learns to use his powers of reasoning as he receives his education and training. This considerably refines him in intellect and spirit. Then he reaches the age of maturity. After this if he uses his powers of reasoning to the best of his ability, he can arrive at the stage of ma’rifat or realization of the truth. This is the summit of human perfection, or the stage of being a person who has realized God. These three stages of development may be categorized as follows: Born personality Developed personality Realized personality Each and every negative experience should teach man a valuable lesson. He should, under no circumstances, become the victim of despair.