THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HUMAN BEING AND ANIMAL: THE STUDY OF THE CONCEPTS OF HUMAN BEING AS KHALIFAH AND THE ANIMALS IN THE QUR'AN

Abstract

This purpose of this study is to explain the positions of animal against human being based on the concept of human duty as a khalifah (vicegerent of God or who inherit the earth) focused on the study of Qur'anic verses about khalifah and animals. This study is a library research using descriptive-inferential method with the purpose to explain the position of animal against human being based on the concept of human being as khalifah. The verses about khalifah and animals in the Qur`an have been collected using thematic interpretation method of al-Farmawi, then analyzed using philosophical and theological approaches to find the concept of khalifah and the position and the purpose of animal life. The result showed that God give rightful supremacy on earth to human beings for upholding God’s law and guiding the creatures to their purpose of creation, because of  their blessed potentials i.e. emotion, intelligence, and natural disposition for grasping the truth and goodness. Man have to treat animals in line with their objective of their creation, i.e. God’s creature, the Signs of God’s Power, viands for human being and the other creatures, ride, and the lesson of life.