Who is the Law Maker?

Islam: The Universal Legislation for Mankind

From our aforementioned general and all-embracing look at the beings, including man, the following important facts of this vast universe and life can be inferred:

• Unity of Origin- Allah, the Exalted.

• Unity of Creation- comprising numerous parts.

• Unity of Order- governing the Universe.

• Unity of Goal- direction towards Allah.

Through this vision of unity and oneness, we come to realize the necessity of man's submission and connection to this principle, the principle of the unity of Origin, Creation, Order and Goal. Man has but to enter the circle embracing the whole existence, and he will be in harmony with the Divine Religion which forms the Order and the Goal in the shape of laws which take into consideration all his existence and diverse activities:

[45:18] Then We have made you follow a course in the affair, therefore follow it, and do not follow the low desires of those who do not know.

While discussing universal unity and the need for a natural canon for man to govern his activities, organize his relations and give shape to his personal contents in behavior and action, we should make distinction between a voluntary adherence to that canon, and a compulsory and material submission to it.

Man is completely free, and has full power but in order to organize his social life he has to submit to this universal canon based on the nature of his existence. By accepting and following this Divine Order, man would be expressing his contents and the possibilities, activities, innovations, perfection and other symptoms of animation in ways adapted to his own free will.

In other words, man can formulate his activities, by voluntary practice of this sound legislative plan and undertake an orderly construction of the framework of his life by charting its welfare and high objectives, among other things in the world.

This legislative plan should be a canon which coincides, in its principles and goals, with man's inborn nature, feelings and needs, encompassing and organizing them all and providing him with prosperity and happiness.

The Islamic canon is thus a legislative molding of the laws of life and human nature. It consequently becomes:

[30:30] Then set your face upright for religion in the right state-- the nature made by Allah in which He has made men; there is no altering of Allah's creation; that is the right religion, but most people do not know—

[42:13] He has made plain to you of the religion what He enjoined upon Nuh and that which We have revealed to you and that which We enjoined upon Ibrahim and Musa and Isa that keep to obedience and be not divided therein; hard to the unbelievers is that which you call them to; Allah chooses for Himself whom He pleases, and guides to Himself him who turns (to Him), frequently.

[6:153] And (know) that this is My path, the right one therefore follow it, and follow not (other) ways, for they will lead you away from His way; this He has enjoined you with that you may guard (against evil).