Page 196 - Quranic Wisdom - New.indd

The Gist of the Quran

makes things impure. Man must know his limitations. Any move
to pollute nature is like a suicidal act.
The most crucial aspect of this issue is that, in terms of
creation, man is completely helpless; he cannot of his own create
a single particle. He cannot even create a single leaf of a tree, nor
can he create a single drop of water. This being the situation,
man must become fully aware of his shortcomings and try to live
in this world as a responsible member of society.

The Gist of the Quran

he first verse of the Quran tells us what the gist of the
TQuran is. All other parts of the Quran are only details of this
first verse either directly or indirectly. It is the first verse of the
chapter Al-Fatiha. The translation of this verse is like this:
All praise is due to God, the Lord of the Universe
(1:2)
Here the Quranic word used for praise is hamd. Hamd is a very
comprehensive word in the Arabic language. It includes praise,
gratefulness, and acknowledgment with a sense of awe. According
to the Quran, hamd is a universal culture. All the creatures of the
universe, living and non-living both present hamd toward their
Creator. Hamd is their daily worship. Thus the whole universe
acknowledges the glory of God Almighty.
Man and other creatures acknowledge the glory of God,
but there is a difference, the hamd of the other creatures is a
programmed hamd: it is inculcated in them by the angels of God.
This fact is given the Quran:
Do you not see that all those who are in the heavens
and on earth praise God, as do the birds with wings

195