Title: What makes us special Question/Comments: Salaam, I just thought I might add that there would have been no purpose in creating humans if they were simply to be programmed with virtue and nothing else. We would then be no different than the angels, who have no free will. Since we have the ability to choose between good and evil, our willful travel on the path of good renders us deserving of a huge reward. Why should something that is programmed to be only good deserve any kind of reward? Virtue, if programmed, is not true virtue as we understand it, but something less. We can program a computer to be always correct, but we wouldn't describe it as a 'truthful' computer, much less think about rewarding it. We do not consider a stethoscope to be merciful even though it helps the ill. So, in my opinion, virtue cannot really exist in a being at high levels if it is not willfully chosen. We have free will, intellect and suffering and hardship to undergo so that we may grow in virtue. This capacity is what makes us special and distinct from the rest of creation. Answer: Dear Omar Sarwar, Thank you for your invaluable contribution. I hope that we shall continue to benefit from your excellent ideas. Moiz Amjad