The Search for Man and his Real Substance

1. Question: Conceptually, why are the descendants of Adam called Insan?

Answer: Insan is an exaggeration noun. It is derived from the word Onss, which means easily adjusting or adapting to everything. It even applies to lodging, property, animals and other objects in the environment. After a while, man becomes so attached to these things that, if separated from them, he would suffer as much as if he were inwardly attached to them, leading to all happiness turn into agony. About his separation from the Presence of His Glorious Supreme Being, however, he does not feel unhappy. He does not even sense it.

2. Question: Who is man?

Answer: Man is the two-footed being for whom this entire universe has been created, and he himself has been created so as to acquire Insight into and become acquainted with Almighty God. So that he may wisely establish the struggling path against the covert and overt opponents of Almighty God and of His Almighty's obedient servants; starting from himself up to whatever extremes he may encounter. He may make efforts up until the end, for the peace of God's creatures, in order to attain God's happiness and for the purpose of establishing justice in the light of Monotheism.

Sa'dee, God's mercy be upon him, has stated:

"The clouds, the wind, the moon, the sun, and the firmament are deployed So that you may find a piece of bread and not eat it heedlessly, They all are involved and obey commands for your sake It would be unfair, if you do not obey."

3. Question: Who is man?

Answer: Man is the being who possesses exploring perception. From his contacts with living and non-living things, he well understands and sees that there will be affection created within him for those things. As a result of these contacts, he does not learn that if he were to persistently repeat the Names of Glorious God as well, then God's affection would also be created in him within the easiest of ways. Hence, he would be one of the devout servants.

4. Question: Who is man?

Answer: Man is the being who often likes to have special attachments to his Almighty God. Enslaved by his own thoughts, he wanted to reach this fortune through a variety of hardships. Whereas in our age, the shorter and more effective way is the Remembrance of God everywhere, observing the things, and hence finding His Glorious Artificer's Perfection and Magnificence.

5. Question: Who is man?

Answer: Man is the being who is created for the purpose of observing the various secrets of things and for utilizing these objects. He is created thus so that he may better and more truly know the Creator of this entire open and hidden land and ocean, with all His Perfection and Glory. Man should still make requests for more favors by presenting humbleness and by pleading. He should make the necessary efforts to ensure peace for God's creatures in order to please Him, so that he may find higher and more valuable grants and favors.

6. Question: Who is man?

Answer: Man is the being who has rarely raised the question: for what reason, due to what mastery, and for what purpose, are all things given to him?

Verily! All things are granted and accessible to him for the purpose of acquainting himself with Glorious God, the Almighty Creator, the Exalted Most Great, Almighty Artificer and the Perfectioner and Completer of this entire Order, Glorified and Exalted be He.

7. Question: Who is man?

Answer: Man is the being who, upon observing someone's accomplishment, gives out thousands of compliments and rewards. However, on seeing this Exhibition (the Universe) created by His Holiness, Glorified and Exalted be He, he makes no acknowledgement to His Greatness and makes no effort to find the truth of Insight with Exalted Him. Man has rarely paid any attention to seek this virtue.

8. Question: Who is man?

Answer: Man is the being who exerts effort, if accessible, toward getting acquainted and establishing a friendship with heads of companies and high authorities of society. But he makes no effort to get acquainted with or find out the Creator and Artificer of this entire open and hidden order Who is Almighty Great God of the land and the ocean in this world and in other worlds, and the rest of the universe. He does not make the effort of acquiring the least of Insight into Him.

9. Question: Who is man?

Answer: Man is the being who, the more he becomes enlightened, the more he tries to fully establish relationships and get acquainted with enlightened people, even great statesmen. Unfortunately, concerning the establishment of a relationship with his Creator and Artificer, man, save for a few exceptions, has not accomplished this act. He did not even create such ambition and love in himself towards this goal.

10. Question: Who is man?

Answer: Man is such a being to whom Glorious God has given the ability and the perception to successfully invoke and contemplate scientific and spiritual secrets.

Where man strives to delve, Glorious and Exalted God makes him discover the secrets and mysteries. But man never asks himself if all these successes originated from his own brain alone. There are billions likewise endowed with brains better and more efficient in every aspect.

One can say that all man's efforts are merely a pretext and that the truth is the gift and grace of the most Gracious Almighty God. By making this thanksgiving, of course, more success will be bestowed upon the person and, given constancy, this will increase the person's relationship with the Almighty.

11. Question: Who is man?

Answer: Man is the being who gets angry with his inferiors, whoever they may be, should they appear to disobey his commands. Furthermore, he even beats and metes out other punishments as a tool for reform. But he himself is not obedient in front of those permitted and prohibited commands of His Almighty, which were created and established to the benefit of the social life. He does not believe in punishment from the Glorious Lord of the open and hidden.

12. Question: Who is man?

Answer: Man is the being who admits that there should be punishment meted out from high authorities to those who oppose them, but from the Great God Who has created him, Who has brought him into existence out of non-existence, Who provides him annually, wherever he may be, with life, and prescribes sustenance and other favors, he, being narrow-minded, still does not accept a law. He does not think of any punishment in cases of violation against Him Almighty, and he continues to disobey.

13. Question: Who is man?

Answer: Man is the weak being who, in spite of all his self-importance and pride of wealth and capital, is vanquished by the smallest microbe.

14. Question: Who is man?

Answer: Man is the being of whom everything is afraid but who fears not his own self, even though all the harm to man, humanity and to others comes from man.

15. Question: Who is man?

Answer: Man is the being whom every creature trusts. However, men themselves rarely trust one another without ulterior motives.

16. Question: Who is man?

Answer: Man is the model by which most of the characteristics and secrets of the animate and inanimate things of the firmament and earth are revealed. Therefore, some of the philosophers have called him the "Small Universe."

"Then outwardly you are the small universe

Then inwardly you are the great universe." Rumi.

Now we are somewhat introduced to the value of humanity's eminent position and we understand it. Basically, to some extent we have been ungrateful and have behaved in such a manner. By observing everything, we have appreciated its maker, but by observing all these gifts and rewards, and the variety of creation in the world, we have not felt any responsibility towards the Greatness of the Great God. At most, we have tried to establish relationships with people of high authority, rank, and position; however, we have not wished to establish any relationship with the Creator and Artificer of this entire universe, though our creation has existed and exists for seeking this truth in this small, trial world.

It is a question of demonstrating to His Almighty's All-Seeing Knowledge, whether we are to be so amazed by His handiworks that we forget Him Almighty altogether. Or that, during our involvement, we would behave in the Presence of the Exalted Evolver, revealing our own pull and attraction while doing good deeds and refraining from evil actions, or the opposite. In the end we conclude the following:

Are we trying to establish a relationship with and develop love and affection for Almighty God, or with someone or something other than Him, whatsoever and whosoever it may be?

Regarding the question of how to establish this relationship, here we shall draw your attention to some topics concerning the "Secret of Union." Afterward, we shall draw your attention to the human narrow-mindedness and weakness of knowledge, which, in spite of the Presence of Almighty God, still cause the denial of His Existence. After that, we will focus your attention on the study of objects, which are expressive of the Greatness of the Glorious and Exalted Supremacy.        

"Man is the being who gets angry with his inferiors, whoever they may be, should they appear to disobey his commands. Furthermore, he even beats and metes out other punishments as a tool for reform. But he himself is not obedient in front of those permitted and prohibited commands of His Almighty, which were created and established to the benefit of the social life. He does not believe in punishment from the Glorious Lord of the open and hidden."