There is a story in the Quran which bears a great lesson for man. Adam was the first man. Abel and Cain were the two sons of Adam. There arose a dispute between the two on some issue, and finally Cain killed Abel. The other part of the story has been narrated in the Quran in these words, “His soul persuaded him to kill his brother, and he killed him and became one of the lost. Then God sent a crow, which scratched the earth, so that He might show him how to bury the corpse of his brother. ‘Alas!’ he cried, ‘Am I not able even to be like this crow, so that I may bury the corpse of my brother?’ And he repented.” (5:30-31)
This story is not an isolated story. It gives us a comprehensive lesson, that is, in nature there are examples for man to draw lesson from. If he contemplates on these lessons, he may find wisdom for his life. The fact is that except man, the whole world follows the strict laws of nature–the material and plant world follow natural laws, while animals are governed by their instinct. These have no freedom of choice. They are managed by angels. Due to this, the material world, plant world and animal world are guaranteed of not deviating from the right path.
In this state of affairs, the best way for man is to follow the examples of the world around him. What the other part of the world is doing under compulsion, he must do by choice.
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is an Islamic spiritual scholar who has authored over 200 books on Islam, spirituality, and peaceful coexistence in a multi-ethnic society.
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