Suppose we had no naqali (divinely conveyed statements) and had there been no arrival of all the Prophets and messengers who have informed us that a day will certainly come for taking account of human deeds and who told people that: You will have to, on one day, answer for all of your words and deeds, reason and logic itself is a very big proof and testimony indicating that this revolving of skies and the iniatiation of the creation of every being and everything is not without any aim or intention. Every wise and intelligent man, whenever he looks all around him, he observes that day and night come one after another and man eats and drinks and sleeps and goes in privacy and fulfils all of his desires; that a child grows up and turns into a youth and then an old man and then dies. Is all this huge and vast unending movements and happenings which all of us always observe with our own eyes aimed only at these movements and is it limited only upto here. Has it no aim or object? If it is so then it only means that man has been created just for creating dirt. This is merely a false and aim aimless business. There were animals to fulfil such deeds like eating and drinking and sleeping and gratifying passions. There was no need at all for the creation of man.

Deniers Of Hereafter Do Not understand God’s Wisdom

Those who do not believe in Aakherat (Qiyamat) of Hereafter, in fact, do not believe in the wisdom and intelligence of God Almighty. (May He forgive). This denial only means that all of this vast and huge universe has been created without any aim or object. “A Fa Hasibtum… (Surah Muminoon: 23, V: 115).

But to think so is the fault and error of their thinking. Whenever and wherever we look at anything we find that it has thousands of wisdoms (proper aims) and that man can hardly comprehend even a few of them. Even the most trifling and ordinary atom too is not without and wisdom behind its creation. Then what to talk about bigger and higher things!

Nail As A Support

This hair and nail too are not aimless. For example, take the case of nail. One of the wisdoms behind its creation is that, despite it's being a short and apparently insignificant part of human body, it serves as a support for fingers. Whenever man wants to pick up any thing, it is only this nail, due to which the finger can bear the pressure falling on it. Otherwise it was not possible to bear such crushing weight for the fleshy fingers. That is why; if nails are drawn out from its base it will be difficult to lift certain things. What would then have happened had there been no nails at all?

Moreover, these nails help us in scratching things or our bodies. Again, dirty and excessive matters within the body also go out through these nails. That is why it has been ordered that nails must be cut at least once in a weak (specially on Friday).

Exit Of Excessive Matter Through Hair

Not a single hair of our body too is without wisdom or aim or strategy. Imam Sadiq (a.s) tells Mafazzal bin Amr: Some ignorant people say it would have been better were hair not to grow on certain body parts. They do not know that those are the parts where excess and dirty (impure or unclean) body matter concentrates. Was that dirt not to be driven out through hair human body would become ill and sick. (For further detail please refer to Tawheed Mufazzail). That is why we have been commanded to remove this hair as soon as possible (within two weeks at the most).

If man ponders deeply he will realize that all the elements of the world of creation are full of wisdom and strategy.

Medicine Made From Cow Dung Beetle Proved Effective For Eye Trouble

It is said that the famous doctor Jaaleenoos (Galenus) once looked at the dirty insect cow dung beetle and expressed his opinion saying “I do not see any wisdom in the creation of this thing. Why, after all, had God created it? After some time he developed severe pain in his eyes. Despite using all medicines in his expert knowledge no remedy worked on that trouble. Other doctors also tried by in vain. At last their came an old woman and said: sI have a pill. It is very effective for the illness of eyes. When Hakim Jaalinoos used it he became alights. He asked how the pill was prepared. She said it was a paste with the cow dung beetle as one of its ingredients.

Is The World Existence Void Of Wisdom

Not even a single particle in the world of existence is created without any wise aim. Can then the entire universe be aimless at all? In the human body, even a nail and a hair are without its utility. Can then the whole human body have been created without any aim and intention? Never. All modern day scientists are unanimous in their opinion that they have not been able to comprehend all the wisdoms and strategies behind all the things in this world. Only God knows how many new and astonishing things will come to light in future. About half a century ago, people in Europe were of the opinion that in our body at the end of intestines there is an extension called appendicitis; that it is of no use. So, many healthy persons got it removed. But soon thereafter they were to realize that they were wrong. So, they announced that healthy persons should not remove it because now they had come to understand that the said extension was a sign of alarm. When much impurities pile up in intestines, this extension gives pain thus cautioning them before the impurities could havoc. So, the patient becomes alerted and resorts to remedy. It is also possible that it may have others benefits too which have not yet come to our notice despite research and about which we may know in the days and years to come.

Not A Single Tooth Is Without Wisdom

In human mouth not a single tooth is void of usefulness. The grinding gum's job cannot be done by the pointed teeth. Not a single bone out of the 248 in human body is useless, that is, even one of them is missing, it renders the whole body defective. Similar is the case with veins, nerves and fats etc. Can then the entire body be ever void of utility and wisdom behind it?

After recognizing the creator of the universe as most wise and after realizing that even the tieniest atom is not useless here, it is now our duty to try to understand the wisdom and aim behind the great creation. We see how many benefits do we derive from various kinds of innumerable stones, vegetables and animals.

Abro Baado…Baree meaning: The clouds, wind, moon and sun all are busy in their duties so that, O Man! You may get and eat a bread. All these are moving and working round the cloud for you. Is it, then, not very unjust that you may not obey the commands of your Lord!

Creation Would Have Been Aimless Had There Been Only Happiness

Is the aim of the creation of man only this worldly and material life? Is there nothing after death? Are we do be totally and suddenly annihilated? If it is taken for granted that the only aim of human life in this universe is eating, drinking, resting and pleasure-hunting to gratify passion lust and greed and desires and had it been so that man would not ever test what is pain and trouble and difficulty and grief and sorrow throughout his life then, in that case, also the creation would have been aimless. The reason for this conclusion is that even though the said life is full of pleasure and happiness it is yet unreliable and untrustworthy because, after all, it is passing and it is bound to end one day. So it is unthinkable that such a wide and huge universe should be for anything which is to perish while human life is, from it's beginning to end, full of different kinds of difficulties and troubles and pains and sorrows.

As the poet Aasoodeh has said: Yak Tane…Bood meaning: I have seen in this world only one aasoodeh (happy) person. But then, it was only his penname that was Aasoodeh).

Another poet says: -

Dile Begam…Baashad meaning: You will not find any man in this world who has no worries. If he has no worry then he is not the son of Adam).

Every Gulp After Thousands Of Stings

The fact is that, if man is to perish after his death and if his life is limited only to this world of matter which is made up of various kinds of sorrows, physical and spiritual and mental troubles, sufferings, mischiefs, fornications, usurpations, illness of children, death of progeny, separation from friends then this life is totally senseless and void of wisdom. This is against the divine attribute like the Just, the Kind, the Most Merciful, the Most Wise etc. In that case the creation of human world beings in the world would be like an example in which, suppose, a generous man invites guests in a house which is full of all kinds of harmful animals like tigers, leopards, wolves snakes, scorpions and wasps. Then when that guest arrives therein he may be served with eatables in that very horrible house and then any morsel taken by him is accompanied by the stings of several troubles some and poisonous insects. Not only this, there also may be some attackers with swords in their hands ready to attack that guest even before the completes his feast (and thereafter nothing at all)! Just tell, is there any use of such feat? Is it not a futile endeavour?

For The Sake Of A Joy Which Will Be Without Sorrow Or Pain

What can be surmised from the above discussion is that, for man, another life or world will surely arrive in which all of his happiness and joys will be available. It is absolutely essential that he (a good man or woman) must get a joy and relief and comfort which has no pain with it and also an everlasting happiness which must not be followed by any trouble and grief or sorrow. The deserving persons must get comforts which should never end.

Khurram Aan Rooz…Bi Ravam meaning: Very happy will be the day when I will walk away from the passing world for finding out peace to soul and to meet the beloved.

So it has been established from viewpoint of logic and reason and it is now realized that God Almighty has created man for eternal and everlasting happiness. He has detained man for a little temporary period so that he may prepare to be eligible for the sure and permanent life which is full of joys and bounties. God has given him two wings of knowledge and action with which he may fly high to gain extreme heights in the eternal realm.

Qiyamat Cannot Be Doubted

The fact is that if man turns towards his God given mind and nature and thinks deeply he will very soon find that there can be a doubt in each and every possible thing but there is no room for any doubt at all in the belief in God, His creation and the Hereafter. Eternal life after death and reward or punishment in the everlasting Hereafter (Aakherat).

Wa Annas… (Surah Hajj: 22, V: 7). Of course, some people, because of their drowning in desires and constant engagement in material affairs and continuous commitment to sins have disfigured their nature thereby falling in doubt about the above-mentioned doubtless matters.

Bal Yuree Doon…Amaamah (Surah Qiyamah: 75, V: 5) meaning: But man desires that he should go on doing evil things henceforth too).

So the verdict of reason has established that there is an aim and utility and wisdom behind the creation of the earth, the sky and each and every part of the human body which will be known to him on the day when he will have to leave this material world. On the basis of all this, the coming of another world or realm is a must after the end of this world.

Divine Justice Demands A Day Of Judgement

While describing the attributes of the Lord Almighty during the discussion of the Oneness of the Creator of the Universe, we have said that God is Just and so He has provided each and every essential thing for every thing and every being, without demand:

Maa Adam…Shanvad meaning: We were nothing, we never demanded to come our as living things. How kind is the Most Merciful Lord Who hears without anyone says or speaks anything.

One of the demands of God's justice is to give reward to those good people who, as we see, passed their whole lives in obedience and worship and piety but, in this world of ours, they got no reward in proportion with their labours and hardships. Likewise, the Just Lord's attribute of Justice also demands that He should give punishment to offenders who, as we see, have indulged in various mischiefs and conspiracies and devastating corruption but no punishment is or has been given to them in this world. They pass away from this world continuing their offences and sins. Often it also happens that mischievous offenders live easy and luxurious lives whereas good people live in trouble. We also see how much cruelty man shows towards man. They loot one another's property; kill one another and trample others honor under their feet. Since God Almighty is Just, certainly a day will come when every one will get his due based on his good or bad deeds. Right of every one will be restored to him or her. Those who had oppressed others will, surely be thrown into fire on that Day as was promised: Innaa…Suraadiquhaa (Surah Kahf: 18, V: 29) meaning: We have prepared fire for the oppressors the flames of which encircle them. The poor person who was unjustly killed will be able to take revenge from the evil oppressor.

Wa Izal…Qutilat (Surah Takveer: 81, V: 8-9) meaning: And God may give reward/compensation to the oppressed victim. Good people may get rewards and evil ones may get chastisement so that His justice may become manifest.

True People Have Informed About Qiyamat

All the Messengers and Prophets who were most true in the entire universe and whose word is an argument (Hujjat) for us (as has been discussed at length in the chapter about Prophethood) have given the news that Qiyamat will come. Pious and religious minded people belonging to every religion and sect were believing in becoming alive after death. In fact religion is based only on two principles: Mabdaa (beginning) and Ma'aad (returning to life). In most of the verses of the Holy Quran mentioning faith in God have also at the same time, is a demand for faith in Aakherat (Hereafter or Ressrection).

Yoominoona…Aakhir. (Surah Aal-e-Imraan: 3, V: 14) meaning: And all the religions and faiths are unanimous about the aforesaid two principles of Mabdaa and Ma'aad.

In short, nor one or two but thousands of true announcers have given the news of the arrival of the Day of Judgement. (So also) logic demands that this thing must be accepted and it must be understood and believed that the Day will certainly come.

The Best Proof OF Resurrection Is The Possibility Of Its Coming

As has been said earlier, the issue of resurrection is not against logic. Whenever mind thinks about it, it says that it is a 'possible or likely' thing. Moreover, all the true informers whose number is one lakh twenty-four thousand (Messengers and Prophets) and so also all of their legatees have said so and the word of each and every one of them is sufficient for the brain to accept.

Some ill informed persons have tried to create a doubt that Iaadat…meaning: Coming back of a perished thing is impossible. They say how is it appeared again! But they have no proof (argument) in support of this claim. The only word which they have with them is 'necessity'. Taking support of this word they say our argument in this matter is the said Iaadat. In case, any body puts forth a logical argument, our reply is as has been given earlier.

There Is No Rearrival Of A Perished Thing In Qiyamat

First, we put forth the word of Khwaja Naseeruddin Toosi. He says: In Qiyamat, there is no returning of a perished thing. It is, rather, the reconnection of separated and scattered elements. The explanation of this word is that the body was a mixture and collection of many atoms and elements. After death it got scattered in different particles. When Qiyamat will occur, all of these scattered particles will, by the Command of God, rejoin one another. Thus the meaning of Maad is the rejoining of scattered particles and the joining of soul with body after their separation. Thus it is understood that Resurrection is not the return of perished things. (A part from this, this issue is also not an agreed one).

The Strongest Argument (Proof) Is The Possibility Of Its Occurance

Secondly, for the existence of any thing, the possibility of the existence of something similar to it is the best and biggest argument or proof. Every man should think over the earlier condition of his body. He will know that in the beginning there were many innumerable particles including dust, air, and some were mixed with air in atmosphere. With God's imperative power they came together, and took the forms of various different things like food articles, vegetables, seeds, grains, fruits and animals etc. All these things, after getting down the throat of a father entered his stomach and, for a second time, scattered in the forms of the limbs of the father. Then at the time of passion or sexual arousal the substance which was made up of all digested materials and which contained the essence of all useful eatables and had taken the form of semen, got dragged from all parts of the body and jumped out of his penis and settled in the womb of a mother. (This is why it is obligatory to wash each and every part of the human body while taking the post-intercourse bath). It is because the semen was drawn from all body parts.

In short, everybody had, in the beginning, remanded in to different forms of separate elements. God collected them in one substance, first in the hearts of earth (dust), water and air (Inna…Turaab; Surah Hajj: 22, V: 5) secondly, it remained scattered in the body parts or organs of a father's body.

He Will Recollect Them For The Third Time Too

After seeing and knowing about the said separation and recollection on two occasions, is there anything which cannot be believed if it is said that in the grave, for the third time, after the decomposing of body and scattering of body particles, the said elements will be recollected for the third time too? Wa Laqad…Tazakkaroon (Surah Waaqiah: 56, V; 62). You have known about the first worldly creation and the first birth, then why do you not, O man! Recollect that you were dust, Our Hand of Power collected you, that you became a part of the father's body in the form eatable matter, then, after these parts were scattered in the father's different body organs, We recollected you, that is, after making you ejected in the form of semen made you enter in your mother's womb. You have already seen this scattering and recollection in the worldly life. Now, even after this observation, why do you get astonished when you are told that We will after the scattering your body particles throughout the universe, recollect them for the third time too!

Dead Coming To Life In The World

On several occasions the dead do come to life in this world also. Just look at the vegetable world. You observe in the spring season that the trees become alive after their death due to drying up. They once again get a fresh rooh or life. The earth which had died also becomes alive. Fa Yh Yee…Mautihaa (Surah Room: 30, V: 24)

On a number of occasions a dead man has also become alive again. People who had died had come to life through Isa (Jesus a.s.) and also impeccable Imams (a.s.). Some such events have been recorded in history and biography books we present here two events mentioned in the Holy Quran.

Hazrat Uzair (a.s.) Remained Dead For A Hundred Years

The Lord of the Universe has, in verse 259 of Surah Al-Baqarah, mentioned the story of Hazrat Uzair (a.s.). Av Kal…Baa Sah.

The summary, cause of revelation and explanation of these verses is that Hazrat Uzair was one of the Prophets in Bani Israel. He had memorized the whole Torah by heart and also was a leader and teacher of Jews in Jerusalem. Once he was traveling on his donkey. He had some loaf (bread) and few grapes with him. When he reached a village wherein all its residents had died years ago and there was no sign of their life except their worn and torn bones. Hazrat Uzair threw a glance full of gloom and astonishment at those bones and exclaimed: Anna… meaning: How will God turn these torn and worn bones into living beings again? (This statement of Hazrat Uzair was only by way of wonder. He never doubted God's might and never denied Resurrection).

The Lord of the Universe, in order to make Hazrat Uzair (a.s.) understand that Resurrection might be an astonishing thing for him but for Him it is nothing strange or difficult, made him die instantly. So Hazrat Uzair (a.s.) remained in the condition of death for one hundred years. The bones of his donkey Ulaag (himaar) decayed. Of course what was wonderful to human eye was that grapes were fresh and sweet despite passing of such a long time. There was no change even in its colour!

God made Hazrat Uzair (a.s.) alive after one hundred years. An angel came to him in human form and asked him: How long have you remained here? He replied: For one day or a part of it. The angel: No, but you have stayed for a full period of a hundred years. Just look at your food. It has not at all decayed or deteriorated. (But) look at your donkey. Its bones have become rotten. Now you see what happens before your eyes and realize the Might of your Lord.

Hazrat Uzair (a.s.) saw that the particles of the decayed body of the ass began to move and instantly joined with one another, restructuring its legs and head and eyes and ears etc etc. The donkey soon got up. Then Almighty Lord said: See how We are able to recollect and reassemble the particles of the body of the donkey and to give it a new life. So understand that God is able to do everything.

When Hazrat Uzair (a.s.) returned to Bail Al Muqaddas (Jerusalem), there also he found a totally different scene. The city had been totally altered. None of the people known to him was found there. In a very astonished state of mind he knocked at the door of his house. People inside asked: Who is it? He said: It is I, Uzair. People rushed out and said: Are you joking? There is no trace of Uzair for the last one hundred years. Have you any of his signs of identification? (Hazrat Uzair was one of those whose prayer was answered by Almighty God). An old lady stepped further and said: If you are Uzair, then I am his aunt and I have become blind. Pray to God so that I may regain my eyesight.

Hazrat Uzair (a.s.) prayed to God Almighty and that lady could see again. Then both described what had happened during the past years. All understood what had happened and the story became a reminder for all.

Four Birds Whom God Made Alive After Dissection

Another event mentioned in the Holy Quran concerns Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.). Once he submitted to Almighty God: My Lord! I want to see how do You make the dead alive, so that my heart may get satisfaction. Came the Command: Take four birds (four kinds viz. a crow, a cock, a dove, and a peacock). Slaughter them and dissect their bodies into pieces and mix up the pieces of all of them with one another. Then make four heaps of the said mixed up meat and put one heap each on four different hills. Then call up each one of the birds by their names. Every one of them will fly fast and come to you within no time. Waiz…Tair (Surah Baqarah: 2, V: 260).

It is mentioned in the commentry that Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) had held the heads of all the four birds in his hands and he was calling them one by one. Then he saw that the body particles (dissected portion) began to join with one another and to reform the bodies as they were re-assembled the head-less birds flew speedly towards their heads in the hands of Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.). In order to check the accuracy, Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) tried to make the body of one bird join with the head of another but he could not succeed as every body was rushing towards its own head and finally got joined. All the four birds thus became alive.

 

Source: The Hereafter - Ma'ad
By: Ayatullah Dastghaib Shiraazi (q.s.)