Have you ever wondered what would happen if all human beings were alike and had no differences?
Abdul Azim Hasani[1], a loyal companion of Imam Jawad (peace be upon him), came to him and asked that the Imam narrate a hadith from his noble ancestors. The Imam responded by sharing a wise statement from his forefathers. Abdul Azim repeatedly made this request, and each time Imam Jawad (peace be upon him) shared valuable teachings from his ancestors. One of these teachings answers our question. The Imam narrated from his grandfather, from his noble forefathers, and from Amir al-Mu’minin (peace be upon him) who said: “The best of humanity lies in their differences and diversity of traits, and their destruction lies in uniformity and sameness of attributes.”[2] Indeed, the diversity in the creation of human beings is one of the wonders of creation. Allah says in the Qur’an: “What is the matter with you that you do not attribute greatness to Allah, when it is He who has created you in diverse forms and situations?” [3]
No two people are exactly alike in terms of their physical and psychological traits. Humanity has discovered that these differences are so precise that even the fingerprints of two people are never identical.[4]
If all humans were created alike, the social system would be disrupted. Everyone would pursue the same occupation, as their tastes and preferences would all lead them to engage in the same tasks, ignoring other work. As a result, many of humanity’s essential needs would remain unmet, and people would face difficulties in managing their lives, making existence bitter and unpleasant. Therefore, God’s wisdom has decreed that people differ in their talents and inclinations, so that each person focuses on a specific task, and society is managed according to the prescribed order and system.
Ultimately, each person is tested by Allah according to the abilities and talents that the Creator has bestowed upon them, based on the wisdom of creation.
(Adapted from the book “Divine Justice,” written by Martyr Morteza Motahari, with some modifications and additions)
Footnotes:
[1] Descendant of Imam Hassan (peace be upon him), whose shrine is currently located in the city of Ray, near Tehran. He was also a companion of Imam Hadi (peace be upon him). For an example that illustrates his correct beliefs, refer to this study.
[2] (Amali al-Saduq, p. 446)
[3] (Surah Nuh, verses 13 and 14)
[4] Allah says in the Qur’an: “Yes, We are capable of re-matching his fingertips as they were before” (Surah Qiyamah, verse 4). This verse presents a scientific point that humanity has only recently discovered: despite the fine nature of fingerprints, which are distinct and different from each other and from the fingerprints of all humans, we are capable of restoring them to the exact same distinctiveness and precision.