Be of Use to Others

The desirable human being in this universe is one who is of avail to others. One who does not do so will find no place in the map of nature.

One of the laws of nature is described thus in the Quran: “He sends down water from the sky that fills riverbeds to overflowing, each according to its measure. The torrent carries along swelling foam, akin to what rises from smelted ore from which man makes ornaments and tools. God thus depicts truth and falsehood. The scum is cast away, but whatever is of use to man remains behind. God thus speaks in parables.” (13:17)

In this verse of the Quran two natural phenomena are mentioned. One is that when there is rainfall, the water flows and reaches rivers and streams. At that time a great deal of foam surfaces on it. In the same way when silver and other minerals are heated in order to clean them, their impurities appear in the shape of foam, but immediately thereafter the foam, which is are of no use, evaporates into space and the water and minerals which are useful for mankind, remain intact.

These are the events of nature through which God shows symbolically what principles He has laid down for success or failure in life. One principle is that, in this world, only that person has a place who proves useful to others. The individual who has lost his capacity to benefit others has no place in this world created by God.

Living for one’s own self is against the scheme of nature. A person ought whenever necessary, to be a help to others while fulfilling his own personal needs. One who does not do so will find no place in the map of nature.

The desirable human being in this universe is one who is of avail to others.