The End of Man and the Beginning of God

This paper argues that the modern age—shaped by secular humanism, technological absolutism, and hyper-individual autonomy—has reached an existential impasse in its attempt to place the human being as the final measure of truth, meaning, and morality. The “end of man” refers not to the disappearance of humanity, but to the collapse of the modern project that sought to define the human without transcendence, severing him from his Creator, his nature, and his purpose. Drawing from Islamic theology, Qur’anic anthropology, and critiques of modernity, the paper illustrates how the contemporary crisis of identity, morality, and spiritual emptiness stems from this dislocation.

In contrast, the “beginning of God” represents a necessary reorientation: a recovery of the divine as the central organizing reality of human life. By re-centering tawḥīd—the oneness and sovereignty of God—as the foundation of knowledge, ethics, and civilization, the paper proposes a framework for rebuilding the moral and metaphysical architecture of society. This reorientation restores the human being to his proper position: not as a self-authoring entity, but as a servant (‘abd) and vicegerent (khalīfah) whose dignity is derived from alignment with divine guidance.

The paper concludes by arguing that the future of human flourishing depends on transcending the modern human-centered worldview and returning to a God-centered ontology. Only through this realignment can individuals and societies regain coherence, moral clarity, and a sustainable vision of the human person.