Weaknesses of Man
Human beings have weaknesses and these become apparent from the very first day after birth. Young ones of human beings require almost two years for standing without support on feet and for learning what is good or bad for themselves they take 15-20 years more and understanding about life is a lifelong process. However, babies of creatures other than human are capable to adjust themselves in this environment and maintain their lives by their own in a short period of time. Physically as well as mentally humans are created as weak. It is mentioned in Quran by God that:
“Man is created weak.” [Surah An-Nisa, verse 28]
Human is as weak as he cannot tolerate heat waves and freezing weather, neither competes with starvation nor with dehydration, even a single microbe can knock a giant body of man down to the ground. When he looks in past, memories of good times and pain of bad times make him depress and when thinks about future then he becomes anxious, his desires are infinite.
Here out of many other two main weaknesses are mentioned, which are considered as human characteristics, and the ways by which we can overcome them are also stated below.
Greediness and Meanness
Affection of money or fame is the greatest weakness of human beings. It is common assumption of everyone that by getting money we can achieve whatever we want and rich people are the happiest people in world. Such kind of thinking makes people greedy and selfish. That is how it gradually eliminates the kindness and helpful nature of man. The Holy Book Quran declares it as:
“Indeed, mankind was created anxious. When evil touches him, impatient, and when good touches him, withholding [of it].”
[Surah Al-Ma’arji, verse 19-21]
Allah loves and showers His blessings on those who give charity to needy people. The way of helping others is mentioned in hadith, that your right hand must not know what the left hand has given to innocent people.
Our Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said:
“Seven are (the persons) whom Allah would give protection with His Shade on the Day when there would be no shade but that of Him (i. e. on the Day of Judgment, and they are): a just ruler, a youth who grew up with the worship of Allah; a person whose heart is attached to the mosques; two persons who love and meet each other and depart from each other for the sake of Allah; a man whom a beautiful woman of high rank seduces (for illicit relation), but he (rejects this offer by saying):" I fear Allah" ; a person who gives charity and conceals it (to such an extent) that the right hand does not know what the left has given: and a person who remembered Allah in privacy and his eyes shed tears.”
[Sahih Muslim, Zakat, hadith 117]
This Hadith draws our attention to that particular human weakness, which is also observe in a little child, when we give something to children they immediately take it without wasting time but when their turn comes to spend money or distribute food on others, at that time they show greediness and meanness. Hence, we should learn Islamic teachings, and understand the benefits of helping others without greed or any personal need.
Forgetfulness
It is the habit of mankind to forget about things whether they are teachings, guidance, commands and everyone has experienced that in their life. The first man on earth Prophet Hazrat Adam is also experienced forgetfulness and that is mentioned in Quran.
And We said, “O Adam, dwell, you and your wife, in Paradise and eat therefrom in [ease and] abundance from wherever you will. But do not approach this tree, lest you be among the wrongdoers." But Satan caused them to slip out of it and removed them from that [condition] in which they had been. And We said, "Go down, [all of you], as enemies to one another, and you will have upon the earth a place of settlement and provision for a time." Then Adam received from his Lord [some] words, and He accepted his repentance. Indeed, it is He who is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.
[Surah Al-Baqarah, verse 35-37]
By nature we all humans are same, always forgets what God has commanded us and the worst of all is that when we do not remember the aim of our existence in this world. It proves us blind and in blindness we have done such sinful acts which later results in the form of regret or punishment. The creator of this world is the only one who directs us towards right path and prevents us from our weaknesses, therefore, always beg guidance and help from God.
Hence, it is concluded God declares that “Man is created weak” it means there are some qualities in human nature which makes them weak otherwise if they are capable to suppress those qualities with intelligence, then mankind is the strongest of all creatures. God blessed us with the ability to differentiate between right and wrong and gives us free will, now it is upon us how we can use our abilities and qualities.
