Jan 2004 - Issue 1

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In Search of Human Excellence

Maintaining your creative drive is hard work, we know. So what happens when you run out of inspirational fuel? Whether you've hit a creative roadblock or simply want to haul your brain our of a rut, give us a month and we'll get your creative gears turning.

Allama Iqbal elaborates further:-

"When a Believer has his ego awakened
He becomes sharp and swift like a sword
His sharp vision looks deep
Into the secret of the energy which composes every atom~ II

The early Believers did present such examples. They lived in a state of purity, fearlessness and magnanimity. The Quran says:-

"God conferred a great favour on the Believers when He sent among them an Apostle from among themselves, rehearsing unto them the signs of God, purifying them and instructing them in scripture and wisdom, while before that they had been in manifest error."(3-164)

The Quran goes further:-

"Those who spend (freely in the way of God) whether in prosperity or in adversity, who restrain anger and pardon (all) men,
for God loves those who do good. “ (3-134)

Iqbal has concisely explained the human excellence when the ingredients, as mentioned in the foregoing paragraphs have been well mixed:-

"The hand of a true Believer is the Hand of God
It is dominant, skilful, creative and ensures success."

This is the exact stature of man. Other than this it is, being like the one, who stands in the wilderness which is open on all sides and leads nowhere. There are some additives also, which make the excellence even well defined. These are spontaneity, competence and Skillfulness.
Human nature and faith can't be separated. Faith offers the spiritual refuge. Man feels secure. Faith makes him self- reliant, even intellectually. He can rise to any heights and grapple any situation without fear. Faith Co-ordinates intellect and 'Will' for better function. With complete co-ordination the elements of nature are harnessed and put to service. When man fails in that co-ordination the losses multiply. Faith drives out fear and liberates man. Modern man needs more of faith because there is more of fear. The shell in which he is ensconced is becoming harder and harder, but doesn't guarantee him any security. Faith comes challenging all fears at the trumpet call, The excellence, therefore, has to be tied to faith. Human excellence in history of mankind came like that.

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