ANTHROPOLOGY, the study of human beings, has delved deeply into the nature of humanity, revealing that the concept of God is intricately woven into human existence. Every person, regardless of background, is born with an inherent awareness of God. This concept is not just an abstract idea; it is a fundamental part of human consciousness, driving people to seek meaning and purpose in life. This innate awareness compels humans to search for explanations for their existence and the world around them. However, due to human limitations, this search often leads to a sense of helplessness. This helplessness can only be alleviated by recognizing a Being greater than themselves—God. Experience shows that every human life is filled with unfulfilled desires, and it is God alone who provides hope for their fulfillment. The Quran reassures us of this divine support: When My servants ask you about Me, say that I am near. I respond to the call of one who calls, whenever he calls to Me. (2: 186) Human beings, by their nature, seek conviction in their lives, a sense of certainty that can only be fully realized through a relationship with God. Without this divine connection, life’s journey can feel aimless and unfulfilled. The Quran emphasizes the importance of remembering God in all aspects of life: Surely in the remembrance of God hearts can find comfort. (13: 28) Studies show that belief in God is universal. Even those who claim to be atheists often call out to God in moments of crisis. This universal tendency suggests that belief in God is not merely a cultural artifact but a deeply ingrained part of human nature. However, the question arises:

Human beings, by their nature, seek conviction in their lives, a sense of certainty that can only be fully realized through a relationship with God. Without this divine connection, life’s journey can feel aimless and unfulfilled.

Why do so many who profess belief in God still feel disconnected from divine blessings? Why do they lack peace of mind despite their faith? The answer lies in the distinction between true belief in God and the ritualistic belief that is bereft of heart and soul. One such scholar was the Bengali doctor Nishikant Chattopadhyay, who addressed this issue in a 1904 lecture in Hyderabad, later published as a booklet. He argued that all religions revealed before the 7th century AD initially presented the concept of one God, but over time, their original texts were altered by followers. As a result, the true concept of God became distorted and could not be preserved. Many people may say they believe in God, but in practice, they associate other entities with Him. Whether it is the deification of historical figures, the worship of natural phenomena like the sun or moon, or the elevation of human reasoning above divine revelation, these practices divert true devotion from God. One should embark on a journey to discover the Creator of the universe, a quest that leads to profound understanding and purpose. As a guide on this path, we consult the Quran, the divine revelation that has been preserved in its original form for over 1400 years. God says: It is We who have sent down the Reminder and We will, most surely, safeguard it. (15:9) This preservation is a testament to the Quran’s authenticity and its role as a timeless source of guidance.According to the Quran, God is one, the Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. He is a living, personal God who is fully aware of human needs and responds to them. God’s guidance is provided through His prophets, culminating in the final revelation of the Quran. The Quran is not just a book of laws but a guide to understanding the divine nature and establishing a relationship with God. Many people, through their own experiences, have testified that the Quran provided them with the concept of God they had been seeking all their lives. They found in the Quran God who fulfils the deepest needs of the human heart—God who is compassionate, just, and allpowerful. The Quran affirms: This is the Book; there is no doubt in it. It is a guide for those who are mindful of God. (2: 2)

Many people, through their own experiences, have testified that the Quran provided them with the concept of God they had been seeking all their lives. They found in the Quran God who fulfils the deepest needs of the human heart—God who is compassionate, just, and all-powerful.

In every age, humanity has sought knowledge of God to satisfy the natural inclination toward the divine. The Quran, revealed in the 7th century, has been preserved perfectly, providing a reliable source for seekers of truth. As the Quran itself testifies: Do they not ponder on the Quran? If it had been from anyone other than God, they would have found much inconsistency in it. (4: 82) The concept of God, as presented in the Quran, provides the answers to what our earthly life is all about, the creation plan of our Creator for us and what awaits us in the life after death.

“I made a mistake” is only a sentence of four words. However, it is difficult in the present world to find even four people who may utter this line. The only words that exist in the dictionary of the people are “You are at fault”. Their dictionary is empty with the words “I am at fault”. People do not accept their own fault at any cost, even at the cost of truth. Therefore, in trying not to acknowledge their single mistake, they continue to commit lots of mistakes. The beginning of developing a positive personality is acknowledging one’s mistakes. -Excerpt from the book, ‘The Secret of Success’ by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan

THE CAUSE OF EXTREMISM IS DISCONTENTMENT

In this regard, a mother should instill in her children the quality of maturity, ensuring they do not enter society with an immature mindset. Let’s clarify this with a few examples. Nancy Alva Edison, an American woman, had a son named Thomas Alva Edison (d. 1931). Edison was born with hearing difficulties. His schoolteacher noticed that he couldn’t hear properly in class and wasn’t able to do his schoolwork well. The teacher became frustrated and labeled Edison as a “retarded boy,” expelling him from school. However, Edison’s mother played a constructive role here. She instilled in Edison the belief that he was not a disabled child but that his disability was a challenge he could overcome by using his natural abilities. She made his education her mission. As a result, Edison’s name is recorded in history as a great scientist. It is commonly believed that a person born into a wealthy family is fortunate, while someone born into a poor family is unfortunate. A mother’s role here is to teach her child, if born into a poor family, that being poor is not a deprivation. Such a mother should teach her child that while a wealthy child may have money, a poor child has an increased incentive to strive, which becomes a source of strength: If a rich person is born with a silver spoon in his mouth, the poor person is born with an incentive spoon in his mouth. A mother should tell her child that every wealthy person’s father or grandfather was once poor but became rich through hard work. Similarly, the child can achieve anything through hard work. Another misconception is the division of society into the “haves” and the “have-nots.” This is a false dichotomy. We often see that a person who belongs to the “have-not” category in childhood later becomes a member of the “haves.” For example, individuals like C.V. Raman, G.D. Birla, Mr Oberoi, Dhirubhai Ambani, and Dr Abdul Kalam were seemingly from deprived backgrounds in their childhood but later became prominent members of society. Therefore, the true dichotomy in this world is not between the “haves” and the “have-nots” but between the “potential haves” and the “actual haves.”

A MIRAGE OF SUCCESS

WILL I be raised again after I die and turn to dust or ashes? This question, though not often explicitly asked, lingers in the minds of those who doubt the existence of life after death. A person who shows no concern for the afterlife in their daily life may be demonstrating an underlying uncertainty about what comes after death, whether they consciously think about it or not. The Quran says: ‘What!’ they say, ‘When we are turned to bones and dust, shall we be restored to life?’ Say, ‘[yes] even if you turned to stones or iron, or any other substance which you think unlikely to be given life.’ Then they will ask, ‘Who is it that shall restore us to life?’ Answer them, ‘He who created you the first time.’ They will then shake their heads at you and say, ‘When will that be?’ Say, ‘It may well be very soon.’ (17: 49-51) However, if we take a moment to reflect deeply on this matter, the reality of life after death becomes more evident. While God has kept the specifics of the afterlife hidden from us as part of our test, countless signs in the world around us hint at these truths. The universe itself serves as a mirror reflecting the reality of the world to come. We were not always in our current form. Human life begins as a formless, lowly substance in the womb, gradually developing into a fully-formed human being. This miraculous transformation of an unseen, insignificant substance into a six-foot-tall person is a phenomenon we witness daily. So, why should it be difficult to believe that the particles of our bodies, once dispersed into the earth, could come together again to form a complete human being? Every human being is composed of countless atoms that were once scattered across the Earth and atmosphere. These atoms, brought together by air, water, and food, now form a living person. After death, the elements of our bodies will disperse again, only to be reassembled at God’s command, just as they were in the beginning. If something has happened once, why should it be surprising if it happens again?

The body, made up of tiny cells, is in a constant state of renewal. Over time, every cell in our body is replaced, so much that after about ten years, we have an entirely new body

The material world itself offers examples that life can be renewed. Each year, during the rainy season, the earth turns green, only to dry up again in the summer. Yet, when the rain returns, the dead land springs back to life. In the same way, humans will be resurrected after death. Doubt about life after death often arises because we think of ourselves only in terms of our physical bodies. We see a person moving, speaking, and functioning, and we believe that when the body decays, it marks the end of that person. We witness the end of a living being daily when someone dies and their body disintegrates. But our true existence is not in the physical body that we see; it is in the inner self that gives life to the body. When the soul departs, the body remains, but life is gone. The body, made up of tiny cells, is in a constant state of renewal. Over time, every cell in our body is replaced, so much that after about ten years, we have an entirely new body. Yet, despite this complete physical renewal, our sense of self remains unchanged. If you made a contract ten years ago, you would still recognize that it was “you” who made it, even though your body is entirely different now. This inner self, the soul, does not change with the body; it remains constant. This demonstrates that we are not defined by our physical bodies, which are temporary, but by our souls, which are eternal. Some argue that life and death are merely the gathering and dispersal of material elements. But if life were simply “the appearance of order in the elements,” it should persist as long as those elements remain ordered, and it should be possible for scientists to create life by assembling those elements. Yet, we know this is not the case. People of all ages and conditions die, sometimes without any apparent cause. A healthy person may suddenly pass away, with no doctor able to explain why. Even though the body remains intact, life has departed. This shows that life is not merely the result of an orderly arrangement of elements but something distinct that continues to exist. Scientists acknowledge that while they know the human body is composed of specific material elements, they cannot create life by simply assembling these elements. The body of a living person is more than just a collection of inanimate atoms; it is both atoms and life. After death, the atoms remain, but life moves on to another world.

Scientists acknowledge that while they know the human body is composed of specific material elements, they cannot create life by simply assembling these elements. The body of a living person is more than just a collection of inanimate atoms.

This understanding makes it clear that life is not something that perishes. It is something that endures. Thus, the concept of life after death is both rational and natural. It suggests that life cannot be limited to what we experience before death; it must continue beyond it. Our intellect recognizes that this world and its lifespan are temporary, but human life, in its essence, endures. Death is not the end; it is the beginning of a new chapter in a continuous existence. This life is just a brief phase in our eternal journey.

Wise people rely entirely on themselves, while foolish people depend on others for everything.

ALEXANDER the Great (356–323 BC), the son of King Philip of Macedonia, is often remembered for his incredible conquests and the vast empire he built. The city of Alexandria in Egypt still stands as a testament to his victory there. However, despite all his successes, Alexander met his end in a palace in the ancient city of Babylon, dying in the same helplessness as any ordinary person in a humble hut. Though he had achieved everything he desired in life, he left this world empty-handed. His vast empire was divided among his generals after his death, as his only heir had already been killed. In his final moments, he confessed, “I wanted to conquer the world, but death conquered me.” He lamented that he could not achieve the peace in life that an ordinary person might attain. The greatness of Alexander was so profound that even Julius Caesar, upon passing by a statue of Alexander in Spain, wept uncontrollably, lamenting that he had not been able to achieve even a tenth of the conquests Alexander had accomplished in just ten years. Similarly, Napoleon Bonaparte, a man of immense power, expressed deep despair at the end of his life. His final words were, “Disappointment was a crime to me, but today no one in the world is more disappointed than I am. I hungered for two things: power and love. I attained neither power nor love. I searched extensively for love, but I never found it. If this is all that human life has to offer me, then surely human life is a meaningless thing, because its end is nothing but despair and destruction.” Harun al-Rashid, a ruler of a great empire, admitted in his old age, “I have spent my entire life trying to avoid sorrow, yet I could not avoid it. I have lived a life of boundless sorrow and worry; there is not a single day of my life that I have spent without worry. Now, I am on the brink of death; soon the grave will swallow my body. This is the final fate of every human, but every human remains unaware of their end.” When Caliph Mansur al-Abbasi faced death, he realized the futility of his worldly pursuits. He said, “If I were to live a few more days, I would set fire to the kingdom that repeatedly led me astray from the truth. The truth is that one act of goodness is better than this entire kingdom. But I realized this only when death took me into its embrace.”

These historical figures, who once stood as the epitome of success and power, faced death with the realization that their achievements were ultimately meaningless. Most of the world’s most successful individuals have died with the feeling that they were the most unsuccessful people in the world. The truth is that if the insights that come to a person near death had come to them earlier, their lives would have been completely different. When a person stands on the edge of death, all the glories of the world seem more futile than a pile of ashes. In those final moments, they are often consumed by regret, unable to think about anything else. Behind them lies a world they have lost, and ahead is a world for which they have done nothing. There is no point in remembering death when it comes; the time to remember death is before it arrives. When a person is in a position of power, capable of oppressing others, and justifying their cruel actions, they are often unwilling to think about the consequences. At that time, they do everything they should not do to satisfy their ego. But when their strength diminishes, when their actions start to haunt them, and when they realize they are in the clutches of the merciless angel of death, that’s when they remember their mistakes. The time to remember, however, was when they were making those mistakes and refusing to heed any advice. Mao Zedong (1893–1976), after ruling over a great nation with nearly 800 million people for almost 30 years, finally departed from this world. In 1965, he told Edgar Snow during an interview, “A thousand years from now, all of us—even Marx, Engels, and Lenin—will look rather ridiculous.” Although he said this in the context of political and economic theories, perhaps death would reveal within just ten years that this statement holds true in another sense as well. What a person does before death to create their personality becomes completely meaningless in life after death. They suddenly realize that those things considered most important, and for which they dedicated their entire life, hold no value here

When a person stands on the edge of death, all the glories of the world seem more futile than a pile of ashes. Behind them lies a world they have lost, and ahead is a world for which they have done nothing