Let us now turn to the question of the relation of the human self
to the Divine Self which is, no doubt, the perfect self. “He alone is
the Eternal, the Living and the Self-Subsistent” (The Qur’an,
2:255).
The human self has the capacity to develop itself on the model
of the Divine attributes. It then rises higher and higher in the scale
of existence. It is a hard task and man should be perpetually on his
guard against all that threatens, from within or without, to weaken
and emasculate his self. Only the strong self can forge ahead
towards the goal of self-realisation. A weak self can easily deviate
from the right path. The restrictions which the Qur’an imposes on
the individual are not designed to curb his freedom but to
strengthen him and to stiffen his resistance to destructive forces, so
that he may form a strong character and build up an enduring
personality. Men of weak character often make good resolutions
but seldom carry them out. A man may resolve to get up early in the
morning; but when the time comes, he lacks the will to leave his
comfortable bed. Another man may be determined to keep an
appointment; but at the last moment his resolve weakens and he
fails to turn up. In both cases the men failed because of a fatal
weakness in their character. The discipline of the Qur’anic way of
life is intended to strengthen the self, so that it may successfully
resist all forces which threaten its integrity, and remain steadfast in
the pursuit of the good. The Qur’an is explicit on this point:
Verily, those who say: Our Rabb is Allah, and then keep straight on,
Malaa’ikah shall descend on them (41:30)
Discipline hardens the ego. Rebuffs and disappointments call
forth the best in it. Obstacles spur it on to more vigorous efforts.
Such strong personalities can never suffer dissolution. Iqbal has
expressed the idea in felicitous language:
Life is like unto a shell and the self is the pearl drop (concretion) therein:
What is the shell worth if it cannot transform the pearl drop into a pearl.
Through self-knowledge, self-control and self-development,
The self can even conquer death. (Darb-e-Kaleem, p. 25 ).
A weak and undeveloped personality, on the other hand,
succumbs to the slightest shock, It is in constant danger of
disintegration. A personality, hardened through self-discipline and
sustained by a steadfast purposes, remains identical with itself
Islam: A Challenge to Religion 77