Man – in the Islamic philosophy of Peace through human submission to the Divine – is endowed with the highest position and honour in all creation, in asmuch as he is raised to the exalted pedestal of being the ‘Vicegerent of God’ on earth (Qur’an 2: 30).
By implication, therefore, man is not subservient to anything on earth. On the contrary, owing to his superior intelligence and industry, he is in control – indeed, holds sway – over almost everything else on earth.
The Divine having thus vouchsafed this honour on man, it is not befitting for him that he bows down in worship to any other than God Almighty Himself. Little wonder then that Islam’s creed is built on the rock-hard foundation of absolute Monotheism: the worship of One Supreme God that ascribes no partner to Him in His Divinity.
Interestingly enough, however, Islam’s espousal of strict Monotheism is an automatic declaration of the equality of man.
In the Islamic scheme, therefore, there can be no superiority of one individual over the other except in the matter of God-consciousness. No one can lay claim to being superior to anyone else on the basis of other subjective factors like race, colour, language and the like. In the words of the Qur’an: ‘O Mankind! We created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other.
Verily, the most honoured of you in the sight of God is (he who is) the most God-conscious among you. And God has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).’ (49: 13)
To be sure, while the Qur’an calls for due respect for men of God like the Prophets – the guides, the beacons of light, as it were, for a floundering sea of humanity – and urges upon the full acceptance of their guidance, the Qur’an also warns against such respect extending into their being venerated and worshipped. If such, indeed, is the eventual outcome, the Qur’an considers such veneration no less than blasphemy of the first order.
It is also a great honour for man that God deems it unnecessary that there be any intermediary between Himself and man. In fact, the Qur’an (50: 16) informs us that God is closer to man than his own jugular vein and that God urges man to call on Him directly.
Says the Qur’an: “If My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am, indeed, close (to them); I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me; let them also, with a will, listen to My call and believe in Me; that they may walk in the right way.” (2: 186)
Granted this singular honour, and this direct approach, which the Divine has bestowed upon humanity, man’s invoking and worshipping anything else, whatsoever, other than God is Islamically considered the greatest sin of all, and quite justly so.