Transliteration Table

A Few Words About This Book by Ayatullah Al-Uzma Makarim Shirazi

Biography of the Author

Introduction

1. What is the purpose of mankind’s creation?

2. Why did Allah (s.w.t.) not create mankind perfect from the onset?

3. What is the purpose of the perfection of man?

4. Why does Allah (s.w.t.) test people?

5. Is the ‘prosperity’ or ‘wretchedness’ of mankind, inherent?

6. What is the difference between Islam and Iman?

7. What is meant by ‘Shaytan’ in the Noble Qur’an?

8. What is the reality of the Jinn?

9. What is the reality of Angels?

10. What is ‘Raj'at (the Return)? Is its occurrence possible?

11. What is the philosophy of Raj'at?

12. What is the reality of Tawakkul and what is its philosophy?

13. What is the philosophy behind Du'a and Invocations?

14. Why is it that our Supplications Occasionally Remain Unanswered?

15. What is Islam’s perspective with regards to Jabr (compulsion) and Ikhtiyar (free-choice)?

16. Is the theory of evolution inconsistent with theism?

17. Is the theory of evolution of species inconsistent with the viewpoint of the Noble Qur’an with regards to the creation of Prophet Adam (a.s.)?

18. What is the Reality of Dreams?

19. What is meant by ‘The Courses’ (Sunnat) of Allah’?

20. Does ‘Injury by an Evil Eye’ Possess any Reality?

21. Does ‘Good Omen’ and ‘Evil Omen’ Possess any Reality?

22. Is Qisas (the Law of Retaliation) against the Norms of Intellect and Human Sentiments?

23. Is the Punishment of Amputation of the Hands, Rough and Violent?

24. Were all the Companions of the Noble Prophet (S) Upright and Righteous?

25. Why is it that some of the Oppressors and Sinners are Drowned in Comfort and Bounties and do not Witness any Punishment?

26. Why is it that Nations, Devoid of Faith and Belief, Possess a Life of Ease and Comfort?

27. If Every Person’s Sustenance has been Decreed, then why are Some (found to be) Hungry?

28. What are the reasons for the backwardness of the Muslims?

29. What is the incident of Fadak?

30. Was Abu Talib a Muslim?

31. What is the Criterion with regards to the Greater Sins?

32. Why is it Necessary to Utter Allah’s Name at the Time of Slaughtering (Animals)?

33. How does Islam view Monasticism?

34. What do ‘Spiritual Vision’ and ‘Mystical Intuition’ Mean?

35. How can ‘Allotment of Sustenance on the Part of Allah’ and ‘Working for One’s Livelihood’ be Consistent with one Another?

36. Is Naskh (Abrogation) Permitted in the Religious Laws?

37. Is it Correct to Label Days as Auspicious and Inauspicious?

38. Is the Incident of the ‘People of the Cave’ Corroborated by Present-Day Science?

39. What is Intended by the Seven Heavens?

40. Is the Annihilation of the Solar System during the Countdown towards the Day of Judgment Consistent with our Present-Day Knowledge?

41. What is Magic and how does Islam view it?

42. What is the aim of Taqiyyah (Dissimulation)?

43. What is the Myth of Gharaniq or ‘The Satanic Verses’?

The second of three volumes containing detailed answers to inquiries
about the philosophical and historical aspects of certain rules in Islam
and prominent events that occurred during the life of the Prophet. These
inquiries were answered by Ayatullah al-'Uzma Hajj Shaykh Nasir Makarim
Shirazi, and translated into English by Shahnawaz Mahdavi.


180 Questions Enquiries About Islam Volume Two: Various issues

3. What is the purpose of the perfection of man?
================================================

Some ask that although the aim of our creation is human perfection, what
is the purpose of this goal?  
 The answer to this question shall become clear by considering the fact
that perfection is the final aim or in other words, it is:

<blockquote dir="rtl">
  <p>
غَايَةُ الْغَايَاتِ.
  </p>
</blockquote>

Explanation
-----------

If we were to ask a student: Why do you study? He would say: So that I
can gain admission into a university.

If we ask: Why do you desire to get yourself admitted into a university?
He would answer: So that I can become an able doctor or an engineer (for
example).

If we ask again: Why do you desire to possess a medical or an
engineering degree? He shall say: So that I may engage myself in a
productive activity and also that I earn a good income.

If we were to persist and ask: Why do you need a good income? He would
say: So that I can lead a respectable and comfortable life.

Finally if we ask him: Why do you desire to lead a respectable and
comfortable life? At this juncture we shall notice that his tone changes
and he will say: Well, so that I can lead a respectable and comfortable
life.

He repeats his previous answer.

This proves that he has reached his final answer and, technically
speaking, he has reached the **غَايَةُ الْغاَياَت** - the final aim of
his efforts beyond which there exists no answer and which constitutes
his final aim and objective. This is with regard to the material life.

The case is similar in respect to the spiritual life too. When it is
said: What was the purpose of the prophets, the revelation of the Divine
Books, the religious obligations, and the educative set-up? We say: For
achieving human perfection and attaining proximity to Allah (s.w.t.).

Now, if it is said: What is the purpose of achieving human perfection
and attaining proximity to Allah (s.w.t.)? We say: For proximity to
Allah (s.w.t.)!

This is the final aim. Expressing it differently, we desire everything
for the sake of perfection and attaining nearness to Allah (s.w.t.), but
we seek nearness to Allah (s.w.t.) for itself (i.e. nearness to Allah
(s.w.t.) ).[^1]

[^1]: Tafsir-e-Namuna, vol. 22, pg. 393


