مجلة كلية الشريعة والدراسات الإسلامية (Jan 2021)
The Five Purposes of Creation and the Authentic Essence of Tarbiya (Education): A study in light of the Holy Qur’an
Abstract
Purpose: This research mainly studies the five purposes of creation: worship “ʿibāda”, viceroyship “khilāfa” on earth, developing “ʿimār” on earth, testing “ibtilāʾ”, and human differences “ikhtilāf”. It also analyzes their interrelationships as well as their relationships with the authentic essence of tarbiya (education), i.e., the eminent progression along the stairway to perfection, based on the researcher’s analysis of the authentic concept of tarbiya in a previous semantically authenticating study. Thus, this research is complementary to the previous study and was conducted in response to the latter’s recommendations. Methodology: The research follows a semantically analytical authenticating methodology in light of the Qur’an. It examines the Qur’anic verses that clearly convey the purposes of creation, studies them semantically, compares and contrasts them in light of their respective contexts, analyzes the relationship between each purpose and the connotations of the authentic essence of tarbiya, and then derives the key findings and their contributions. Findings: The key findings of the research reveal that, in as much as human beings commit to the requirements of the five purposes of their creation – to which their connotations point to, according to their analysis in light of the Qur’an - they fulfill their humanity and ascend comprehensively and nobly towards human perfection, which places them closer to their Lord, whose perfection is the loftiest. This ascension embodies the authentic essence of tarbiya. Originality: The originality of the research lies in the fact that it newly and authentically reveals the connotations of the five purposes of creation and their interrelationship, their relevance to the authentic essence of tarbiya, and the linkage between them and the notion of becoming closer to Allah, who has the ultimate perfection. This disclosure deepens our perception of the concept of tarbiya and its essence that can potentially fulfill a comprehensive and renewed human progression towards perfection.
