This is from the book that Norria posted on my old forum.
1. The Three Creative Principles Defined.- Three Stages of Human Relations
1. Adl - absolute justice
2. Ihsan – to grant someone more than his due
3. Ita’i Dhil-Qurba – to treat with such grace and overwhelming benevolence as one would treat one’s kindred.
The Quranic verse which I have chosen for today’s address is extremely vast and comprehensive.
quote:
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“Indeed Allah requires you to abide by justice, to treat with grace and to give like the giving of kin to kin.” Surah Al-Nahl 16:91
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Allah does not command us to exercise justice (Adl) alone, but He also desires us to voluntarily add benevolence (Ihsan) to the act of justice and to then move further to the third stage of human relationships, which is Ita’i Dhil-Qurba, a spontaneous expression of love and care as experienced by a mother for her child. When a mother loves her child she does so without any element of design and without any trace of affectation. It is but a natural flow which she does not generate, but one which she is carried away with. Spontaneity is always central to her expression of love for her dear ones. The above example illustrates fully the spirit of Ita’i Dhil-Qurba.
To recapitulate, the first part of this verse sets out three stages of human relations.
The least Allah expects from the believers is absolute justice. However they are not expected to stop short at justice. They are required to move on to the domain of benevolence. They will then not only be just towards mankind, but will also learn the art of returning more than other’s due; their generosity will benefit people without obligations.
This in Quranic terminology is called Ihsan or benevolence. It should be remembered however that the term Ihsan is not limited to one subject matter only, there are several underlying meanings. When this term is used in relation to God and His servants, a change in its application takes place accordingly. I will mention this aspect later, at the appropriate juncture.
The third term used in this verse is Ita’i Dhil-Qurba, i.e. kindness to one’s kindred. According to this, we are expected to extend our favours to others in such a way that no feeling of pride finds any place in this relationship. Our benevolence is extended in such a manner that we consider it to be our duty or obligation and not favour to others.
3. The Ecosystem
Balance between Earth and the Heavenly bodies.
The function of the atmospheric phenomena, which is operative between earth and the heavenly bodies, is also amazing. One is astonished to notice the complex scientific observations found in the Holy Quran revealed by Prophet Mohamed (sa) fourteen hundred years ago. Today’s scientists have spared no effort to discover the mysteries of the universe. Yet the Holy Quran is far ahead of them in the grasp and profound understanding of the laws of nature and its workings. The fruits that their efforts have borne are worthy of praise indeed, yet the human endeavours have their limitations.
The Earth’s Atmosphere
quote:
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So He completed them into seven heavens in two days, and He revealed to each heaven its function. And We adorned the lowest heaven with lamps for light and protection. That is the decree of the Mighty, the All-Knowing. (Surah Ha Mim Al-Sajdah - Chapter 41 Verse 13)
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God has perfected the heavens, and each one of them is functioning in accordance with purpose of its creation. Then the Holy Quran refers to the lowest atmospheric layer as the nearest heaven to earth, and points out that it is created for the protection of the earth. The most that the man of the age could understand was that heaven was somehow protecting them. No one ha