The Analysis of Man as Theomorphic Creature

creator. Love believed as the universal force is becoming the power moving the universe. 18

B. The Analysis of Man as Theomorphic Creature

Man is basically a theomorphic that means, behind his weakness and limitation, a man has a “thing” inside himself then we know it as the divine attributes. This case does not mean that a man is same with God physically, 19 because His essence is eternal and constant. It is different from man’s that is mortal and changing. According to Sayyed Hossein Nasr, in the tradition of God creating Adam, that first man became the mirror reflecting names and attribute of God consciously. There is something sacred malakuti inside man, which that man’s condition permits him to be holier than angels. Even, reaching the particular borders of having the divine attributes in high amount. 20 The man who has the divine attribute is called in Islamic thought as the universal man insan kamil. 21 The universal man level indicates the position of this species in the universe that is as the mirror of God. According to Sufis, the universe is not but the manifestation of God’s attributes, therefore every aspect of this universe is to manifest and reflect the God’s attributes that is 18 Jalaluddin Rumi, The Mathnawi of Jalaluddin Rumi, vol. v, trans. Nicholson, London: Luzac Co Ltd, 1977 p. 231 19 The ideology that creates God resembling man’s attributes in order to make God more easy understood and conceived. This ism describe God like man such having hand, face, leg, anger, head, wife, family and other. In other word the ism treats God as man alike. See. Lorens Bagus, Op. Cit. p. 59 20 Sayyed Hossein Nasr, Islam Dalam Cita dan Fakta, Jakarta: Lappenas, 1981 p. 4 21 ……………………..., Suffi Essays, London: George Allen and Unwin Ltd. 1973 p. 43 11 along with each level of creature existence. The higher level the more God’s attributes are reflected and manifested. The mineral things such stones are also reflecting God’s attribute, but it matches with its level. A dust contains millions of atom, and every atom consists of incredible nuclear force reflecting the greatness of God jalal. 22 If we get back to our discussion about the man concept that he consist of all aspect of the universe, this is easily to comprehend that he can reflect and manifest all God attributes in contrast with other creature that enable only reflecting some few of God’s attributes. 23 This is not all man can be in that level, only what is called as the universal man can do it. The concept of universal man, according to al-Jilli, is a theme relating to God who is absolute. The absolute is believed to have the perfect and kind characteristics. This perfectness has to be copied properly by man. The more man resembles God’s perfectness, the more perfect level man can obtain. This ability of reflecting and manifesting God’s attribute makes man being called as the theomorphic. The next question arises for the previous facts are, what is the main goal of God creating man is the ultimate creation? Al-Qur’an pronounces the creation of man is to be vice-gerent khalifah of God on earth. God expects man to conduct His will on earth as His representation. To make man success runs his role as the khalifah, God bestows man the epistemological instruments; these instruments are to obtain knowledge of everything. Senses are the first instrument to grasp object in the physical word, intellect aql is 22 Mulyadi, Menembus….Op Cit. p. 53 23 Ibid. p. 54 12 the second to grasp in the ideal and conceptual world non-physical and the last is intelligence qalb is to grasp the presentational knowledge. The Alchemist teaches us that the heart is the most important thing bestowed to man. It the instrument that is never being deceived, the instrument always tells the truth and the instrument that will lead us to the eternal life.

C. The Analysis of Man and His Freedom