Document Type : Scientific research
Author
An assistant professor of Islamic studies group of Art and Architecture College at Azad Islamic University, Yadigar Imam Unit, Shahr Ray, Tehran, Iran.
Abstract
As a free being, man has an aim for any of his voluntary actions. Those aims are classified into two categories: aims for themselves and those as means to get other aims. In a sense, the former category constitutes man’s meaning of life. Viewing the limited resources of life to achieve our aims, it is necessary to have a plan in order to pursue our meaning of life. Choosing the aim (meaning) of life and how to achieve it which determine our lifestyle depend on our world-view. In His Glorious Qur’an, Allah Almighty has classified people into three groups: atheists, theists who want this life, and theists who want both this life and the next. The main question of this research is: “For the last group, what meaning of life and how to get it are specified by the Qur’an?” For programming, we have made use of SWOT strategy model. First, by analyzing the Qur’an and texts of traditions and exegesis, man’s aim who seeks for the hereafter is drawn out, and then his strong and weak points, opportunities and challenges in the course of achieving that aim are studied and programmed. For doing this, strategies, the long term and short term aims, and details of activities are specified respectively.
Findings show that he who seeks for the hereafter aims to reach the highest position of nearness to Allah Almighty or at least ascend to heaven. Man’s strongest points are: his innate nature which comprises his inclination toward position dignity sublimity eternity truth and his desire for beauty, intellect, love, fear and dread, imitation, expectation and hope, physical competence, shame and modesty, faith, knowledge, humility, and trust in Allah. His weak points are: love for this world, haste, ignorance, negligence, timidity, fanaticism and blindly following, laziness, despair, negative fear, rancor and jealousy, stinginess, hard-heartedness, grudge, hypocrisy, angst and grief, vanity and deviation from the path toward vanity, suspicion, blasphemy, turning away from the truth, telling lies, and negative self-confidence. Man’s opportunities are: life-time and youth, divine guidance, the Qur’an, Imamate, praying, invocation and worshipping Allah, repentance, intercession.
For programming, man is expected to know his strong and weak points and his opportunities and challenges so that he makes use of his strong points and opportunities to overcome the weak points and challenges. Thus, he may be among those brought near and the most purified. Man is to do his best lest he fall among those who have not any strong point, whom are mentioned in the Qur’an as those on whose hearts Allah has set a seal.
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