Abdul Razak, Mohd Abbas (2026) The jigsaw puzzle of life: an Islamic perspective. IslamiCity, NA (NA). pp. 1-5.
|
PDF
- Published Version
Download (3MB) | Preview |
Abstract
As an honoured creation, human beings stand on the highest pedestal in God’s hierarchy of creation. The moment the soul enters the developing human body, man is touched by the spark of life and endowed with intelligence, creativity, human emotions, angelic attributes, some evil inclinations, and divine attributes bestowed by God. Thus, human beings are created with qualities that enable them to rise above the ordinary and fulfil a higher purpose in life. Yet, human existence is not free from inner struggle. Born with mixed emotions, man is pulled throughout his existence by two conflicting desires: to be good or to be evil. The triumph of good elevates him to higher stations in the sight of God. But when evil overtakes him, he becomes a tyrant, an arrogant transgressor, unethical and cruel to his fellow human beings, and a destroyer of flora and fauna. Such behaviour is contrary to the ideal for which man was created and entrusted with the role of God’s vicegerent— the one who administers and preserves the Earth. Yet, instead of fulfilling this trust, man often creates chaos, engages in war and bloodshed, pollutes the environment, and causes destruction to the natural world. Despite the chaos in the world, the Islamic way of life calls humanity towards a philosophy that regards human life as meaningful, all-encompassing, and filled with compassion for fellow human beings and other forms of life on this planet. Islam teaches humanity to live a balanced life, giving due importance to both this world and the Hereafter. One’s time should be shared between performing religious duties, taking care of oneself and one’s family, and helping relatives and others in need. In this sense, the good life is not simply a life of worldly enjoyment, but a life guided by responsibility, balance, compassion, and a sense of purpose. At the heart of this philosophy lies man’s relationship with God. As a Muslim, man worships only God and not any other object in nature. The God of Islam is neither born nor does He have a family. He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. Allah is His proper name, and He is known by His beautiful names and attributes mentioned in the Qur’an. In contrast to the pantheist philosophy that says, “God is everything, and everything is God,” Islam teaches: “Everything belongs to God.” He is the First and the Last. He existed before everything else was created. Therefore, in the pursuit of a good life in this world, one should not neglect his relationship with his Creator. In the life of a Muslim, God occupies an important position. Muslims are taught to include God in their equation of success in all their dealings, whether mundane or spiritual. Simply put, God becomes the central piece of the jigsaw puzzle of life. Without God, life becomes meaningless and less fulfilling. The different aspects of human existence may appear as separate pieces of the puzzle. But it is their relationship with God that gives them coherence and meaning. Ultimately, the good life in Islam is all about maintaining a good relationship with God, nature, and fellow human beings. A Muslim should live a decent life, upholding fairness and justice, while avoiding all inhuman acts and corruption on God’s earth. In the jigsaw puzzle of life, God is not merely one piece among many. He is the central piece that gives meaning to all the other pieces. Without God, man would not be able to fully comprehend the meaning of his life. With a proper understanding of God, man is better prepared to face all the trials and tribulations of life. Rather than being distracted by the ephemeral things of this world, man comes to understand that his life here is a testing ground for the Hereafter. For whatever happens in life, whether good or bad, Muslims believe: “From God we came, and to Him is our eventual return.”
| Item Type: | Article (Bulletin) |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Jigsaw Puzzle, Life, Islamic Perspective, God, Man |
| Subjects: | B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > B Philosophy (General) B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BP Islam. Bahaism. Theosophy, etc > BP1 Islam L Education > L Education (General) |
| Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): | Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences > Department of Fundamental and Inter-Disciplinary Studies (Effective: 5th Feb 2014) |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Mohd Abbas Abdul Razak |
| Date Deposited: | 14 Oct 2026 09:28 |
| Last Update: | 14 Oct 2026 09:28 |
| Queue Number: | 2026-10-Q5592 |
| URI: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/131917 |
| Indexed In: | UNSPECIFIED |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |