Text of the post: Dr Salman al-Awdah said: “Succession on earth means developing the earth in accordance with God’s system.”
Comment:
1. In Surat al-Baqarah, in the account of Adam’s creation, God states that He made Adam and his descendants successors on earth. God did not explain the wisdom in this. Rather, He told the angels, “I know what you do not know,” in answer to their words, “Will You place there someone who will cause corruption and shed blood, while we glorify You with praise and proclaim Your holiness?” (al-Baqarah 2:30).
The purpose of creating Adam and his descendants is therefore learned from other verses. It is stated explicitly and decisively in Surat al-Dhariyat: “I created jinn and human beings only to worship Me. I seek no provision from them, nor do I ask them to feed Me. Indeed, God is the Provider, the Possessor of Power, the Strong” (51:56–58). It is also stated in the many verses explaining the commands given to humanity to affirm God’s oneness, worship Him and obey Him, the messengers’ call to this, peace and blessings be upon them, and the reward or punishment in the hereafter that follows from it.
2. Thus, if “succession on earth” may be interpreted as God’s commissioning of humanity, Islamic law necessarily requires that it be understood as the duty to worship God and submit to His law, sincerely for His sake and in pursuit of salvation in the hereafter.
3. Interpreting “succession on earth” as “developing the earth,” however, follows the doctrine of extreme philosophers such as al-Farabi and Ibn Sina. They regarded the prophetic message, including its obligations of worship devoted exclusively to God, as a “social system” and a means of reforming people’s conduct and morals to achieve the aim of developing the earth and establishing the virtuous society. This is a false philosophical doctrine that contradicts Muslim belief in both its general principles and its details.