What is the Covenant of Alast?
The meaning of ‘Ahd al-Alast is derived from verse 172 of Surah Al-A‘rāf in the Noble Qur’an, where Allah ﷻ addressed the souls at the time of their creation and asked:
"أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ ۖ قَالُوا۟ بَلَىٰ"
(Am I not your Lord? They replied: Indeed, yes!)
This is the covenant that every human soul made with Allah ﷻ at the moment of its creation. This acknowledgment became an inherent part of human existence and was “by default” embedded into the soul.
The Covenant of Alast and Human Consciousness
Matter of Memory:
This covenant is not an event linked to external memory or dependent on empirical knowledge. Rather, it is an essential part of human existence.
The Eternal State of Human Existence:
The awareness that “I am the creation of a Creator” is intrinsically tied to human creation. It cannot be erased or extinguished, as it is an inseparable aspect of the human heart and consciousness.
Presence of Divine Awareness:
The Qur’an clarifies that the awareness of the Creator's existence within the human heart is an eternal truth — an echo of the Covenant of Alast.
Religion and the Argument of the Covenant of Alast
According to religion, the reality of the Covenant of Alast remains permanently embedded in the heart and consciousness of every human being.
If someone denies this awareness, such denial is either due to ignorance or arrogance.
Interpretations by Social Sciences
View of Some Experts:
Some sociologists argue that the concept of God emerged from human helplessness before the forces of nature — that is, humans accepted the existence of a supreme being out of fear of natural phenomena.
Religious Response:
Religion rejects this view, asserting that the awareness of the Creator is a fundamental part of human nature — it was not invented but divinely instilled within the human being.
History, Civilization, and the Awareness of the Creator
Concept of God Across Civilizations:
No civilization or historical society can be found in which the concept of a Creator has been entirely denied.
Continuity of Divine Awareness:
This consistent presence across time is evidence that the consciousness of the Covenant of Alast exists within all human beings — though later civilizations may have distorted this concept.
Innate Human Nature and Awareness of the Creator
Every human being, even an atheist, possesses awareness regarding the question of a Creator’s existence.
✔ Presence of the Question: The very question “Who is my Creator?” itself proves that the awareness of the Creator resides in the human heart.
The Sending of Messengers After the Covenant
Why Were Messengers Sent Despite the Covenant?
Messengers were sent despite the Covenant of Alast in order to:
① Remind mankind of the covenant they made.
② Explain the practical requirements of that covenant.
③ Clarify details about the Creator, His attributes, and His commands.
The Covenant of Alast and Accountability on the Day of Judgment
✔ No Excuse for Denial: On the Day of Judgment, no person will have the excuse that they did not recognize Allah ﷻ.
✔ Greater Accountability Due to Prophets: Those who received the message of a Prophet will be held to a higher standard of accountability, whereas those who did not will be questioned on a more limited basis.
Difference Between Tawḥīd and Shirk
✔ Acknowledgment of Tawḥīd: Those who affirmed monotheism but made mistakes in understanding its details — their matter will be judged by Allah ﷻ with justice.
✔ Shirk and Denial of the Creator: Those who, despite the Covenant of Alast, engaged in polytheism or denied Allah’s existence — no excuse will be accepted for them.
Ethics, Divine Inspiration, and the Covenant of Alast
Moral Awareness and the Covenant:
Some argue that the Covenant of Alast is not an absolute proof for mankind, but rather a vague feeling.
Example from Moral Matters:
According to Javed Ahmad Ghamidi, just as man possesses an inspired awareness of the evil of murder, the Covenant of Alast is also an authoritative inner truth within human consciousness.
✔ If the evil of murder is accepted as self-evident and instinctively understood, why not the awareness of the Covenant of Alast?
Taqwa, Fajūr, and the Covenant:
The Qur’an states that within the human soul, both Taqwā (righteousness) and Fajūr (wickedness) have been inspired.
✔ If divinely inspired righteousness is a valid proof for mankind, then the awareness of the Covenant of Alast must also be accepted as a binding proof.
Summary: The Covenant of Alast and Its Significance
❖ The Covenant of Alast is a conscious reality embedded in the soul of every human being.
❖ Awareness of the Creator is part of human nature and does not require any external source to be acquired.
❖ The purpose of sending messengers was to remind mankind of this covenant and to clarify its practical implications.
❖ No denial of the Creator will be accepted as a valid excuse on the Day of Judgment.
❖ Like moral awareness and divine inspiration, the Covenant of Alast is a definitive proof for all mankind.
