Uqdatul Kubra: Unraveling the Greatest Knot of Human Life
Every individual, society, and even a nation certainly desires revival (nahdhah). We all want to rise from decline, ignorance, poverty, and humiliation. However, history proves that true revival has never begun from the construction of skyscrapers, mere economic improvement, or technological advancement.
Sheikh Taqiyyuddin an-Nabhani in the opening sentence of the book Nizam al-Islam formulates a very sharp golden principle:
“The revival of man rests upon his thought about life, the universe, and man.”
Why thought? Because man’s behavior in his life is always closely related to the understanding (collection of thoughts) that he possesses. A person who understands that this world is a place of testing from his Lord will have behavior completely different from someone who understands that this world is merely a place of amusement before turning to dust.
To be able to change man’s behavior — which is an absolute condition for any revival — we must change his basic understanding first. And this basic understanding will never be formed firmly and correctly until man succeeds in solving a “Greatest Knot” that binds his intellect and soul. This greatest knot is what in Islamic tsaqafah is called Uqdatul Kubra.
Let us unravel this knot slowly with a clear intellect (mustanir), so that we can lay the first stone for our personal revival, and the revival of this ummah.
1. What is Uqdatul Kubra (The Greatest Knot)?
Every rational human being, whether he is a professor at a renowned university or a farmer in a remote village, at some point in his life will be faced with three fundamental questions. These questions will continue to haunt and “bind” man’s mind like a complicated knot, hence called Uqdatul Kubra (The Greatest Knot).
These three questions are:
- From where do man, life, and this universe come? (What existed before worldly life?)
- For what purpose do man, life, and this universe exist in the world? (What is the purpose of this worldly life?)
- To where will man, life, and this universe ultimately go? (What exists after worldly life?)
As long as these three questions have not been answered with a certain answer, one that satisfies the intellect and soothes the soul, man will continue to be in confusion (existential crisis). He may be able to eat, drink, work, and laugh, but deep in his heart he feels empty and lost.
Allah ﷻ censures those who live their lives without wanting to think about the answers to these fundamental questions:
أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ عَبَثًا وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا تُرْجَعُونَ
“Then did you think that We created you aimlessly and that to Us you would not be returned?” (QS. Al-Mu’minun: 115)
Without solving Uqdatul Kubra, man is like a chess pawn being moved here and there by circumstances, without knowing who is playing, what the rules are, and what the end of the game is.
Table 1: The Three Questions of Uqdatul Kubra
| Fundamental Question | Time Dimension Focus | Implication if Unanswered |
|---|---|---|
| From where do we come? | Past (Before the world) | Loss of basic identity, feeling that this life is merely a coincidence (cosmic accident). |
| Why are we here? | Present (Life in the world) | Loss of direction and meaning in life, tossed about by desires and momentary trends. |
| Where are we going? | Future (After the world) | Loss of motivation to do good, feeling that absolute justice does not exist because death ends everything. |
2. Fikrah Kulliyah: The Only Key to Untie the Knot
How to answer these three great questions? Is it enough to contemplate under a tree or perform meditation?
Islamic tsaqafah provides a very precise methodology: Uqdatul Kubra can only be solved by forming a Fikrah Kulliyah (Comprehensive Thought).
What is Fikrah Kulliyah? It is a comprehensive, fundamental, and all-encompassing thought about man, life, and the universe.
Why must it be comprehensive? Because these three entities (man, life, and the universe) are interrelated. You cannot explain the purpose of human life without explaining from where this universe comes. You cannot explain the laws of life without understanding who designed that life.
This comprehensive thought (Fikrah Kulliyah) demands that our intellect observe the reality of these three things. As has been discussed in the material Existence of the Creator, the observation of the intellect toward man, life, and the universe proves that all three are Mahdud (limited), ‘Ajiz (weak), and Muhtaj (interdependent).
Because all three are limited and weak, then it is impossible for all three to be Azali (eternal without beginning). Because they are not Azali, then all three must have been created by something else outside of themselves. That something else must be Azali, the Creator, and not needing anyone. That is Al-Khaliq (Allah ﷻ).
Through this Fikrah Kulliyah, we obtain the main key to open Uqdatul Kubra. Let us use this key to answer the three questions above thoroughly.
3. Answering “What Existed Before the World?”
The first question of Uqdatul Kubra is to find out the origin of our existence. What existed before the universe, life, and man existed?
Through Fikrah Kulliyah that relies on the intellect, we have proven that the limitation of the universe necessitates the existence of the Creator (Al-Khaliq). Thus, the certain answer to the first question is: Before this worldly life, what existed was Al-Khaliq (Allah ﷻ) who created everything from nothing.
اللَّهُ خَالِقُ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ ۖ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ وَكِيلٌ
“Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is, over all things, Disposer of affairs.” (QS. Az-Zumar: 62)
This answer provides an extraordinarily firm foundation for the human soul. We are not space dust formed by chance. We are not the result of random genetic mutations that have no meaning. We are creatures deliberately created by the Most Perfect Being. There is a “signature” of the Creator on every cell of our body.
This awareness breeds gratitude, humility, and simultaneously a sense of security. We know exactly from where we come, and to whom we owe gratitude for our existence.
4. Answering “What Exists After the World?”
The next question: After man dies, and after this universe is destroyed, what will happen? Where will we go?
An intellect that has acknowledged the existence of Al-Khaliq the Most Perfect will certainly realize that the Creator who is All-Wise and All-Just could not possibly create such a complex universe only to destroy it just like that without any accountability.
If this life ends in the grave, then how unjust is this world! A tyrant who massacres millions of people will die and become dust, with exactly the same fate as a hero who sacrifices his life for justice. If death is the end of everything, then absolute justice is merely an illusion.
But Allah ﷻ is Most Just. Our intellect demands the existence of a day when justice is established perfectly. And Allah through His revelation confirms the demand of the intellect: After this worldly life, there is the Day of Judgment (Yawm al-Qiyamah) as a day of recompense and accountability.
وَلِلَّهِ مَا فِي السَّمَاوَاتِ وَمَا فِي الْأَرْضِ لِيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسَاءُوا بِمَا عَمِلُوا وَيَجْزِيَ الَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا بِالْحُسْنَى
“And to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth — that He may recompense those who do evil with what they have done and recompense those who do good with the best [reward].” (QS. An-Najm: 31)
ثُمَّ إِنَّكُمْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ تُبْعَثُونَ
“Then indeed you, on the Day of Resurrection, will be resurrected.” (QS. Al-Mu’minun: 16)
With this answer, the future of man becomes very clear. Death is not a frightening black hole, but merely a gateway to the next phase of life — eternal life in which there is absolute justice in the form of Paradise and Hellfire.
5. Answering “Why Do We Live?”: The Relationship of the World with Before and After It
This is the most crucial part in solving Uqdatul Kubra. Merely affirming the existence of Allah (before the world) and the existence of the Day of Judgment (after the world) is not enough if we do not understand what its relationship is with our life in this world right now.
Many religious adherents (like the Deists) believe in the existence of a Creator, but they regard God like a “watchmaker” who after creating the watch leaves it to run on its own without interference. This understanding is gravely mistaken and will give birth to secularism (separating religion from life).
Islamic tsaqafah explains that there is a very strong bond (Silah) between worldly life and what exists before and after it:
A. Relationship with Before the World (Al-Khaliq)
The relationship of man in the world with Allah (the Being that existed before the world) is a relationship of Command and Prohibition (Awamir wa Nawahi).
Allah does not leave His creation in confusion. Allah sends Messengers and reveals Holy Books to explain the rules of the game in this world. These rules are called Islamic Shari’ah. Shari’ah regulates everything: how to worship, dress, trade, govern a state, up to social interaction.
وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ
“And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship (serve/submit to the rules of) Me.” (QS. Az-Zariyat: 56)
B. Relationship with After the World (Day of Judgment)
The relationship of man in the world with the Day of Judgment (the phase after the world) is a relationship of Accountability and Recompense (Hisab wa Jaza’).
Every obedience to Allah’s command in the world will be rewarded with reward (Paradise) in the Hereafter. Every violation of Allah’s prohibition in the world will be rewarded with punishment (Hellfire) in the Hereafter.
فَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ خَيْرًا يَرَهُ . وَمَنْ يَعْمَلْ مِثْقَالَ ذَرَّةٍ شَرًّا يَرَهُ
“So whoever does an atom’s weight of good will see it. And whoever does an atom’s weight of evil will see it.” (QS. Az-Zalzalah: 7-8)
Table 2: Time Dimension and the Concept of Silah (Connection)
| Time Dimension | Reality that Exists | Concept of Connection (Silah) with Worldly Life |
|---|---|---|
| Before the World | Al-Khaliq (Allah ﷻ) | Shari’ah (Commands and Prohibitions from the Creator) |
| Worldly Life | Man, Life, Universe | A place to act, a place of testing for obedience to Shari’ah. |
| After the World | Day of Judgment | Hisab (Accountability and Recompense for deeds in the world) |
By understanding this Silah, the second question of Uqdatul Kubra is answered: Why are we here? The answer is: We are here to carry out the commands and avoid the prohibitions of our Creator, in order to attain true happiness on the day of accountability later.
6. The Birth of Qaidah Fikriyyah (Intellectual Foundation)
When a person has succeeded in solving Uqdatul Kubra with thorough answers (acknowledging the existence of Allah, the Day of Judgment, and the connection of Shari’ah and Hisab), then he possesses a Creed (Akidah).
In Islamic terminology, the solution of Uqdatul Kubra gives birth to Aqidah Islamiyyah.
This Islamic Creed is not merely a passive conviction in the chest. It functions as a Qaidah Fikriyyah (Intellectual Foundation/Basis). Like the foundation of a skyscraper, this Qaidah Fikriyyah becomes the basis for the birth of all branch thoughts and solutions to all the problems of human life.
- If man faces economic problems (poverty, usury, wealth distribution), the solution must be dug from the basis of Islamic Creed (Islamic Economic System).
- If man faces governmental problems (tyranny, man-made laws), the solution must be built upon the basis of Islamic Creed (Khilafah System).
- If man faces social problems (fornication, moral decay), the solution must be returned to the basis of Islamic Creed (Social System).
This fundamental thought (Fikrah Kulliyah) that produces Creed (as Qaidah Fikriyyah), which then radiates a system of life rules (Nizam), is what is called Mabda’ (Ideology).
Therefore, Islam is not merely a ritual religion (like Christianity or Buddhism), but rather a perfect Mabda’ (Ideology).
7. Sharp Comparison: How Do Other Ideologies Answer Uqdatul Kubra?
To prove the superiority of the Islamic Mabda’, we must compare it with the way other ideologies (Capitalism and Socialism/Communism) answer Uqdatul Kubra.
Socialist-Communist Ideology
- Answer to Uqdatul Kubra: They answer by denying the existence of a Creator. They believe that this universe consists of matter that is azali (eternal/without beginning). There is no God, and there is no Day of Judgment.
- Fatal Weakness: This answer contradicts common sense and sensory facts. The intellect has proven that matter in this universe is limited and constantly changing, so it is impossible to be azali. Because its basis (the solution of Uqdatul Kubra) is wrong and contradicts the fitrah, the system born from it (Communism) is full of defects, oppression, and eventually collapses on its own on the stage of history.
Capitalist-Secular Ideology
- Answer to Uqdatul Kubra: They are gray. Some of them acknowledge the existence of God, some reject it. However, their main agreement is Secularism (separating religion from life). This means, they cut the connection (Silah) between worldly life and God. God may exist in the church/mosque, but God may not regulate economic, political, and state affairs.
- Fatal Weakness: This is an illogical compromise. If they acknowledge God as the Creator of the universe, isn’t it logical that the Creator knows better what rules are best for His creation? Separating God’s rules from life means degrading God and deifying the limited human intellect. The result? Capitalism gives birth to greed, colonialism (imperialism), environmental destruction, and acute spiritual emptiness.
Islamic Ideology
- Answer to Uqdatul Kubra: Answers thoroughly and in accordance with the intellect. Acknowledges the existence of Al-Khaliq, the Day of Judgment, and establishes the existence of Silah (connection) in the form of the obligation to apply Islamic Shari’ah in all aspects of life.
- Superiority: Its answer satisfies the intellect (muqni’un lil-‘aql) and soothes the soul (muwafiqun lil-fithrah). The system born from it is capable of balancing man’s physical and spiritual needs, and has once proven successful in leading world civilization for more than 13 centuries.
Table 3: Comparison of Three Ideologies in Solving Uqdatul Kubra
| Aspect | Socialism/Communism | Capitalism/Secularism | ISLAM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Creator (Before the World) | Denies (Atheism) | Acknowledges/Doesn’t care | Acknowledges Absolutely (Al-Khaliq) |
| Day of Judgment (After the World) | Denies | Considered a private matter | Acknowledges Absolutely (Hisab) |
| Connection (Silah) in the World | Does not exist | Secularism (Cut/Separated) | Shari’ah (Submissive to Allah’s rules) |
| Lawmaker | State/Communist Party | Man (Democracy/Intellect) | Allah ﷻ (Sovereignty of Shari’ah) |
| Compatibility with Intellect & Fitrah | Contradicts both | Contradicts the intellect | Satisfies the intellect, soothes the fitrah |
8. The Impact of Solving Uqdatul Kubra on Personality
When Uqdatul Kubra has been unraveled through Islamic Creed, this not only changes the structure of the state, but first and foremost will revolutionarily change the structure of the individual’s personality. It will give birth to Shakhsiyyah Islamiyyah (Islamic Personality).
A person who has solved Uqdatul Kubra with Islam will possess:
- Aqliyyah Islamiyyah (Islamic Intellect): He no longer judges good and evil, right and wrong, based on material profit or desire. His standard of truth is now Halal and Haram according to Allah’s Shari’ah.
- Nafsiyyah Islamiyyah (Islamic Disposition): He directs all his instincts and physical needs only to attain the pleasure of Allah. He works not merely to pile up wealth, but as worship. He marries to preserve honor according to shari’ah.
His life becomes very focused and directed. He is not easily depressed when struck by disaster, because he knows this world is only a place of testing. He is not arrogant when successful, because he knows everything will be held accountable.
قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
“Say, ‘Indeed, my prayer, my rites of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds.’” (QS. Al-An’am: 162)
These are the truly free human beings. They are free from servitude to desire, wealth, and other human beings, because they have surrendered their submission absolutely only to the Creator.
9. Conclusion: From Creed to the Application of Shari’ah
Let us return to our initial premise: The revival of man rests upon his thought.
Now we understand why the Muslim Ummah is currently in decline. The Muslim Ummah is in decline not because of a lack of wealth or intelligence. The Muslim Ummah is in decline because Islamic Creed no longer functions as a Qaidah Fikriyyah (Intellectual Foundation) in social and state life.
Many Muslims still believe in Allah and the Last Day (have answered 2 questions of Uqdatul Kubra), but they cut the connection (Silah) in worldly life. They pray in the mosque, but use the Capitalist-Usury economic system in the market. They fast in the month of Ramadan, but use the inheritance laws of the colonialists in court. They have been infected by the virus of Secularism.
To rise (Nahdhah), the Muslim Ummah must re-weave that cut knot. The ummah must be re-awakened to the complete solution of Uqdatul Kubra: that faith in Allah and the Last Day obligates us to apply His Shari’ah comprehensively (kaffah) on the face of this earth, under the umbrella of the political institution ordained by Him, namely the Khilafah.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ادْخُلُوا فِي السِّلْمِ كَافَّةً وَلَا تَتَّبِعُوا خُطُوَاتِ الشَّيْطَانِ ۚ إِنَّهُ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ مُبِينٌ
“O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.” (QS. Al-Baqarah: 208)
Unraveling Uqdatul Kubra is the first step. Building Islamic civilization upon the result of that unraveling is our next step of struggle.
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