A creature worthy of regard by angels [38:72]

Let us continue our discussion on the potential within the human being by reflecting on the following verse:

فَإِذَا سَوَّيْتُهُ وَنَفَخْتُ فِيهِ مِن رُّوحِي فَقَعُوا لَهُ سَاجِدِينَ 

[38:72] So when I have proportioned him and breathed into him of My spirit, then fall down before him prostrating.

In Sura Saad, Allah describes the creation of the human being in two stages. He says that he perfectly fashioned Adam from clay and then breathed into him His Spirit. The breathing of Allah [swt]’s Ruh into Adam was followed by the command to the angels: Fall down before him prostrating yourselves. 

Islamic scholars explain that the phrase “breathing into him of My Ruh” does not mean that the human being carries a piece of God. Allah [swt] is utterly transcendent and there is nothing and none other like Him. Allah [swt]’s attribution to breathing His spirit into Adam is an honour bestowed on Adam. A declaration of dignity for this creation of the All Mighty. It is like calling the Ka‘bah “My House”, though Allah has cannot be restricted to a place. It is like calling the Prophet [saw] “My Friend”, though He is needless. Attributions such as these serve to elevate that which is spoken of. 

In other words, it is a way of saying: This creation is noble.

This verse is a reminder that being the progeny of Adam (as), human beings are not just animated clay. Like Adam (as) we are clay infused with consciousness, with intellect, with the capacity to know right from wrong and importantly, with the capacity to reflect God’s attributes. 

But of course, since our base material is clay, we also have the capacity to pull ourselves down to the earthly realm while also having the capacity to ascend to the heavens. Our essence is elevated and yet our impulses are earthly. And it is by the training of these impulses that we can rise and live up to the nobility with which we are created. 

Imam Ali (as) explains this and says: “Allah created the angels with intellect without desire, and He created animals with desire without intellect, and He created human beings with both.” In other words, human beings are divinely chosen and guided with the ability to balance their desires with guidance from the intellect. 

And this requires daily struggle.  Allama Iqbal the poet-philosopher talks about this struggle very beautifully: 

فرشتوں سے بہتر ہے انسان بننا
مگر اس میں لگتی ہے محنت زیادہ

“It is better to become human than to be an angel —but it requires far greater effort.”

Can you see why? The angels obey Him without struggle. Animals on the hand, follow their instinct without moral burden. The human being has the earthly instincts as well as the capacity for obedience. The obedience of the human being requires struggle. The human being must choose elevation and that choice requires effort, discipline, and self-refinement. And this is exactly what makes the status of the human being so elevated – because he has the capacity to fall and can choose to rise instead. 

So today let us practice pausing and choosing to respond by honouring the Spirit that God has places within us. When we are faced with a choice of action, let us ask:

• Am I reacting from my clay — or responding from my spirit?
• In this moment, what would my higher-self choose?
• What decision would reflect the dignity Allah has placed within me?