The vice-regent
Haroon Ur Rasheed
The ideological foundation of Islam is the concept of Tauhid (oneness of Allah). Similarly the concept of Man’s vice-regency (Khilafah) is the operational framework of the Islamic foundation. The human race began from one man called Adam (AS). It was from him and his wife Eve (Hawwa in Arabic) that the family of man grew and the human race multiplied.
Further the status of man (vice-regency) is mentioned in detail in the Quran. In its chapter number two (Al Bakara), Allah declared His intention to send a vice-regent (khalifah) to the earth. He created Adam and Hawwa. They were destined to play this role of vice-regency and were endowed with the ‘knowledge of the things’ to do the job well.
Then they were put to a test and were asked not to approach a certain tree. They fell victim to the evil persuasions of Shaitan and committed sin. But immediately after sinning they repented their mistakes, sought Allah’s forgiveness and were forgiven. It was after that repentance they were forgiven and redeemed that they were sent down to the earth to play their role as vice-regents’ of Allah. They were promised Divine Guidance and were assured that those who followed that guidance would be successful. Adam was the first man to receive this guidance and convey it to his progeny.
It is an important to mention that it was not the original sin spoken about in Christian traditions. The descendants of Adam are not being punished for the sins of their original parents. It was a mistake, and Allah, in His infinite wisdom and Mercy, forgave them both.
Adam (AS) had seen the arrogance of Shaitan; he knew that Shaitan was his enemy but had no familiarity with how to resist Shaitan’s tricks and schemes. Allah tested Adam (AS) so that he could learn and gain experience. In this way Allah prepared Adam (AS) for his role on earth as a caretaker and a Prophet of Allah.
From this experience, Adam (AS) learned the great lesson that Shaitan is cunning, ungrateful and the avowed enemy of mankind. Adam (AS), Hawwa (AS)and their descendants learned that Shaitan caused their expulsion from heaven. Obedience to Allah and enmity towards Shaitan is the only path back to Heaven.
From the above discussion it clears that Man was created for the purpose of acting as vice-regent on the earth and he came to the world to fulfill this mission. The role and status of vice-regent is conferred upon the human being as such, and it is shared by man and woman alike.
This lays the foundations of their essential equality as human beings, as vice-regents of Allah on the earth, whatever their different roles in society may be. Man has been given freedom of choice. He is free to accept or deny the reality. He is responsible for his actions. The dangers of misuse of freedom continue to confront man throughout his life on the earth.
The challenge from Shaitan is unceasing. To safeguard man against this, divine guidance is provided. His life on the earth begins with the consciousness of a mission, not through groping in darkness. The ideal was set before him through divine revelation. The criterion for success has been laid down in clear terms. The signposts of the right path have been made manifest. Man’s life on earth is in the nature of a trial. It is time bound.
This life will be followed by an eternal life wherein man shall reap the rewards of his actions in this life. And in this lifelong trial, men and women are equal participants and will be judged as such. Neither is a mere shadow of the other, but both are active co-partners. The Qur’an explicitly states that man and woman will get what they strive for and that the same standard is set for them both as the ultimate criterion for their success.
(The author is perusing a degree in Law at KU)
