Page 47 - Pure Life 28
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46 International Multi. J. of PURE LIFE. 8 (28): 39-64, Autumn 2021
(
However, in technical usage, reproduction, functional activity,
Carl Sagan defined life as: and continual change preceding
“any system capable of death.
performing a number of
such functions as eating, 3. Pure Life (Ḥayāt al-
metabolizing, excreting, Tayyibah)
breathing, moving, growing, The phrase 'Hayāt al-Tayyibah'
reproducing, and being is formed from two distinct
responsive to external Arabic words, that is, “Ḥayāt”
stimuli”. (Bedau, 2010: 303) (i.e., life) and “Tayyibah”. The
Arabic term Tayyib or
Similarly, according to Tayyibah has several meanings
Oxford Advanced Learner's which include: good; pleasant;
Dictionary, life is defined as agreeable; nice, pure; lawful,
“the ability to breathe, grow, (Ibn Manẓur, 1993: Vol. 1: 563;
reproduce, etc. which people, Ibad, 1993: Vol. 9: 227;
animals, and plants have Ba'albaki, 2010: 734) and it is
before they die and which used in the glorious Qur'an
objects do not have”. (Hornby, (both in the singular and plural
2000: 683) forms) to mean good; (such as
Meanwhile, from the above in Qur'an, 3: 38; 9: 72) pure or
definitions, one may conclude lawful. (such as in Qur'an, 2: 168;
that life (antonym of death) is 4: 43)
the condition that distinguishes Thus, the phrase Ḥayāt al-
living organisms (i.e., plants, Tayyibah literally means pure
animals, and human beings) life or a good life and it occurs
from inorganic matter, including just once in the glorious
the capacity for growth, Qur'an. (Ref to: Qur'an, 16: 97)
