Categories of Human Excellence

Abstract

An excellent human being, we have argued, first is one who distinguishes between that which is good and that which is bad; second, such person acts on the good and avoids the bad; and third, does so in relation to the self, as well as to all others. Qurānic exegeses reveal that what differentiates an excellent human being from others is not his/her wealth or his/her lineage, but rather his/her adab—that is, her capacity to enact just or right action, as made visible through acts of compassion, patience, forgiveness, empathy and generosity. Adab (just action) is considered the foundation and content of all human interaction, engagement with others, the environment and Allah. This chapter commences by considering what and how adab is constituted and why the Qurān places on it such a high premium. Following on this explication of adab, we delve into what it means to be excellent, how the Qurān conceives of excellent acts, and the centrality of performing acts of excellence for the sake of Allah alone. Next, we consider the various categories of excellence in relation to the seminal thoughts of al-Farābi and pose the question of whether excellence—as manifested in just and good action—is manifested in the ethical fulfilment of the responsibility of a trustee of Allah on earth (khalīfatullāh fī al-‘ard).