The Expansion of Human Existence in the Islamic Perspective

Abstract

Different intellectual schools have each provided their own approach to understanding the human being. Materialistic schools define humans as physical and bodily beings, limiting their existence to material and natural dimensions. In contrast, divine schools consider humans as a complex combination of spiritual and physical, or innate and natural, dimensions, although they do not equate the value of the spiritual and physical aspects. These two interpretations of human existence have significant implications in all areas related to humans, such as psychology, sociology, education, cultural studies, and the study of civilization. This study aims to analyze and discuss various aspects of human existence from the Islamic perspective through a descriptive-analytical approach. In Islam, humans are considered beings with various dimensions, unlike angels and animals, who are singularly dimensional. Animals possess only the physical aspect, and angels possess only the intellectual aspect. According to Islam, human existence consists of various dimensions, including the physical, intellectual, moral, imaginary, ethical, and spiritual aspects, among others. Understanding each of these dimensions and making proper use of them plays a vital and key role in human individual, family, and social life.