The Role of Verses Concerning "Divine Best Form" in the Concept of "Human Superiority"

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Associate Professor, Department of Islamic Studies, University of Gilan, Gilan, Iran.

Abstract

One of the significant hypotheses in the fields of anthropology, cosmology, and even ontology is the claim of human superiority over other beings. This assertion is primarily supported by certain Quranic verses and alignments in traditions. Among these verses, there are Surah Ghafir (40:64) and Surah Taghabun (64:3), where the phrase "وَ صَوَّرَکُمْ فَأَحْسَنَ صُوَرَکُمْ" (veَ seَvveَrakhomْ‏ feَaَheْsَnea ṣūvarakhomْ) refers to the beauty of the human form. Consequently, interpreters with various scholarly approaches have inferred in their works that since "أحسن" (Ahsan) is a comparative form suggesting the exclusivity of the divine best form concerning humans, humanity is thus deemed the noblest of creatures. The aim of this article is to investigate the foundational relationship between these two verses based the claim of "human superiority over other beings" and to uncover the underlying truth. Moreover, in these works, by referring to the narration of " الصورة الانسانیة اکبر حجج الله ..." (al suwrat al-iansanyh akbar hujaj allah) an effort has been made to strengthen the claim of human human superiority. However, this narration is not substantiated by the principles of Ilm al-Diraayah (science of understanding) and faces criticisms regarding its chain of document, implication and narrative integrity. The findings of this research indicate that "Ahsan" is not a comparative form, but rather a past tense verb. It appears that these two verses and the aforementioned narration cannot substantiate the intended claim. Therefore, this mystical, theological, and philosophical hypothesis, in terms of its reliance on these internal religious evidences, is inadequate and unfounded.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Researches of Quran and Hadith Sciences
Volume 21, Issue 3 - Serial Number 63
November 2024
Pages 219-243

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History

  • Receive Date: 16 January 2024
  • Revise Date: 24 February 2024
  • Accept Date: 08 June 2024
  • Publish Date: 21 November 2024

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