Behold! The Human
Like any true believer in Allah, having good knowledge of the
Scriptures, Beruni regards the human race to be the foremost among
all God's creatures, being superior and having dignity and the most
honoured place in the universe. Humans are considered to be above the
beasts of the earth, and every thing or being that moves and lives
whether the birds of the air, the plants and vegetation, or the fishes of
the waters.
One important reason for man's superiority in creation, in addition
to the five senses, is the fact that mankind has the power of intellect.
Men and women have the gift of rationale, reasoning and good judgment. In the image of God, they were created. They were granted the
fear and the terror of all the creation. Although, sizewise, and in comparison to other creatures, man might be small, yet he had the power to
rule and to subdue all. He, therefore, in view of his intellect and in believing, can realise, see and observe God's wisdom, glory and greatness
to appreciate His honour, mercy, love and the beauty of His handiwork
and wonderful deeds. Indeed, the heavens declare His grandeur, the
sun, the moon and the stars, the marvel of their expanse, proclaim the
work of His hand. For it is said that since the creation of the world,
God's invisible attributes, His Eternal Power and His Divine Nature have
been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made in
positive knowledge by reason, and by faith.
Two other matters were further considered by the author: one is
the idea of becoming familiar, genial and friendly (isti'nas) and the
other is the notion and the stereotype of conformity, of becoming
similar, of like mind and homogeneous (al-tajanns). Such conceptions
are well defined and realised in the fiqh and Islamic law, and in the
Holy Qur'an: It is by God's Grace, Love and Tenderness that human
beings can be joined together, to become acquainted and to establish
friendly associations, relationships and brotherhood. Likewise, they
seek, through such neighbourly associations, safety and true security in
the face of danger, or against mishaps, dispersions and fears.
Being sociable by nature, humans generally leave the pastoral way
of life, and tend to learn to cooperate with each other, as long as law
and order are to be preserved and established in any newly founded
village, city and hamlet. Each person or a group shares together morally, physically and physiologically, no matter how different they are in
their dreams, habits, temperaments, character and ambitions. In open
competition, there will be envy, greed and dissatisfaction. Those who
will be vanquished will seek how to remove the injustices, overthrow
the yoke, undo the wrong, and strive for freedom and salvation. This
generally takes place, even if that means separation, and the abandon-
