God created people, gave them wisdom العقل, and guidance دايه ه, and appointed each one of them, male or female, rich or poor, to be His trustee خليفه on earth and to serve Him by implementing His commands احكامات in managing their affairs معامالت , in order to build a just human society اجتماعی العدل in this world. The Qur’an has been revealed for the guidance of humanity. It contains the instructions هدايات, if followed will help people to establish a prosperous and peaceful human society based on justice العدل and mutual respect المتبادل االحترام. Life in this world is a test so that people may prove who can utilize one’s life to its best purpose غرض and potential قدرة This requires that one should know one’s duties and responsibilities مسؤوليات و واجبات and should live accordingly to the divine laws االلهيه القوانين God has provided the required guidance for the fulfillment of one’s duties as God’s trustee خليفة on earth. This guidance has been given within the human gene البشري الجين in the form of human conscience البشري الضمير and it has been taught and implemented by His messengers االنبياء who lived their lives as human role models االنسان قدوة . The commands given in the Qur’an encompass all moral, economic, and sociopolitical areas of human activity that are required to be implemented to develop and protect human character البشرية شخصية and society االجتماعية. Before implementation, one has to know what is required. This can be learned from the Qur’an.

EACH INDIVIDUAL IS GOD’S TRUSTEE ON EARTH

1.1 People should serve God as His Trustee on Earth
A long time ago in the past, “Behold, your Lord said to the angels: ‘I will create a vicegerent on earth.’ They said: ‘Will You place therein one who will make mischief therein and shed blood, while we do celebrate Your praises and glorify Your holy (name)?’ He said: ‘I know what you know not’ (Qur’an 2:30).” What the angels did not know at that time was that God will provide His trustees the needed guidance to discharge their duties properly. Since God created us, He expects that we should only serve Him: “He has commanded that you worship none but Him: that is the right religion, but most men understand not (Qur’an 12:40).”

1.2 Trustees Need Guidance to perform their Duties
After the initial orientation, “He (God) taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels and said: ‘Tell me the names of these if you are right (Qur’an 2:31).’” God provided guidance to people for the fulfillment of their duties as His trustees on earth. This guidance has been provided within the human gene in the form of human conscience, and His messengers have reminded humanity of this guidance throughout history. The teaching of the Qur’an is from God, and it is the very demand of His mercy that He should provide guidance to humankind through this teaching, for it is He Who has created man as a rational and intelligent being: “(Allah) Most Gracious! It is He Who has taught the Qur’an. He has created man. He has taught him speech (and intelligence) (Qur’an 55:1-4).”

1.3 The Guidance is there only for those who Desire
God created humankind with conscience and free will. Only those people who believe in God with all of His attributes, who have respect for Him, and who are sure about the accountability for their deeds desire His guidance. Realizing this, they say, “In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds; Most Gracious, Most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgment (Qur’an 1:1-4).” It is not blind faith but their rational thinking and understanding that motivate such people to declare, “You do we worship, and Your aid we seek. Show us the straightway (Qur’an 1:5-6).” These people are genuine candidates for guidance. Peoples’ desire for help and guidance after the realization of their relationship with their Creator has been fulfilled in the revelations of the Qur’an and in their elaboration in the Sunnah of the Messenger. This guidance when implemented individually and socially will lead to, “the way of those on whom You (Allah) have bestowed Your grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray (Qur’an 1:7).”

UNIVERSE HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED ON JUSTICE

2.1 People may not transgress the Balance
God has established the entire universe on justice, precisely and equitably, and the nature of this system requires that those who dwell in it should adhere to justice within the bounds of their authority and should not disturb the balance. Humankind has been warned of the dire consequences of disobeying God, and they have been made aware that the best results, both in this world and the Hereafter, come from obeying Him. God tells people in Surah Ar-Rahman: “The sun and the moon follow courses (exactly) computed, and the herbs and the trees both prostrate in adoration. And the sky has He raised high, and He has set up the balance (of justice) in order that you may not transgress the balance. So establish weight with justice, and fall not short in the balance (Qur’an 55:5-9).”

God expects that people should not transgress the balance; otherwise, they will have to face the consequences of injustice in this world and in the Hereafter. God warns hypocrites and unbelievers in Surah Al-Ahzab: “Truly, if the hypocrites, and those in whose hearts is a disease, and those who stir up sedition in the city desist not, We shall certainly stir you up against them. Then will they not be able to stay in it as your neighbors for any length of time. They shall have a curse on them; whenever they are found, they shall be seized and slain. (Such was) the practice (approved) by Allah among those who lived aforetime. No change will you find in the practice of Allah (Qur’an 33:60- 62).”

2.2 Injustice has Adverse Consequences
The universal truths or the laws of nature given in the Qur’an encompass all moral, economic, and sociopolitical areas of The Mission and Destiny of Humankind: These laws are required to be followed and implemented to develop and protect human character and society.

THE QUR’AN IS THE GUIDANCE FOR HUMANKIND

3.1 The Divine Commandments or the Laws of Nature
Individuals and society benefit from Islamic laws in this world to the extent that these laws are implemented, irrespective of whether one believes in God and the Hereafter or not. However, those who believe in God and the accountability for their deeds and are motivated by their belief will be successful in the Hereafter. 3.3 Unbelievers Benefit from their Deeds in the World Unbelievers typically do not believe in life after death. They may think that they came into existence by an evolutionary process set in place by time and the environment and that they will die and disintegrate without facing any accountability for their deeds. As such, they may not benefit in the Hereafter from their good deeds on earth. However, each person will have to account for his behavior and deeds regardless of what he believes.

3.2 Both Believers and Unbelievers Benefit from Laws

THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE UNIVERSAL LAWS

4.1 Implementation of the Divine Laws
Islam, i.e., correct belief and behavior as taught in the Qur’an, is not just about accumulating rewards and going to Paradise in the Hereafter. Before this can happen, one has to know how to implement God’s commands, and one must then try to complete one’s assignment as God’s trustee on earth by implementing His commands. People have to follow God’s commands in managing their personal and social affairs. This will then lead to establishing a just human society and welfare community in this world. God assures us, “…those who believe and work righteousness— no burden do We place on any soul, but that which it can bear— they will be Companions of the Garden, therein to dwell (Qur’an 7:42).” The Qur’an also states: “Allah has promised to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land inheritance (of power), as He The Mission and Destiny of Humankind: An Exercise in Understanding The Qur’an granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion—the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: ‘They will worship Me and associate none with Me.’ If any do reject faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked (Qur’an 24:55).”

4.2 Transgressions of the Divine Laws
As God’s trustee, humankind should know its duties in this world. There are consequences for one’s behavior and deeds. Although the evil consequences of unbelief are there for sure in the Hereafter, there are also consequences in this world for transgressing universal laws. There can be two types of evil consequences that one may face in this world, i.e., the evil consequences of upsetting the balance of justice and of allowing corruption to flourish. Disregarding moral, economic, and sociopolitical laws has its consequences, regardless of whether it is done by a believing or unbelieving individual and society. For example, anarchy or lack of security is directly proportional to the magnitude of injustice in society. If we desire to build a prosperous and peaceful community, we have to establish justice. Human society should be built on hard work, truth, justice, and charity. Such a society is almost free of corruption, discrimination, exploitation, and oppression. Our actions determine our present and our future. It is the choice one makes, knowing that all actions, either good or bad, have appropriate consequences. If most people in a society are corrupt, and if no one is trying to improve, the society will eventually be destroyed from within. Since God has discontinued sending messengers, corrupt people and communities may not be completely destroyed as happened in the past. Still God commands us to guard against and, “…fear the oppression, which affects not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong: and know that Allah is strict in punishment (Qur’an 8:25).”