DIFFERENCE BETWEEN “BASHAR” AND “INSAAN”
By Dr. Tanveer Hussain

Two commonly used Arabic terms in the Quran, to refer to human beings are: al-bashar and al-insaan.
The term al-bashar is often used to refer to the physical characteristics or appearance of human beings.
The term ‘al-insaan’ is used when reference is to be made towards human behaviour or conduct.
All of Allah’s Messengers were apparently human beings with respect to their physical characteristics.
So the Quran used the term ‘al-bashar’, when physical aspect of human beings was under discussion.

Hence, the Prophet (s.a.) was commanded by GOD to declare: “Say, ‘I am a human being (al-bashar) like you, to whom has been revealed that your god is one God…” (Al-Quran Surah 18: Verse 110).

The Quran has used the term ‘al-insaan’, when reference is made to his behavior or conduct.

See the following verse:

وَخُلِقَ الْاِنْسَانُ ضَعِيْفًا

And man has been created weak

(lacking firmness to control his vain desires and passions).

اِنَّ الْاِنْسَانَ خُلِقَ هَلُوْعًا

Indeed, man has been created impatient and anxious.

خُلِقَ الْاِنْسَانُ مِنْ عَجَلٍ

Man has been created hasty.

وَكَانَ الْاِنْسَانُ عَجُوْلًا

And man is very hasty.

اِنَّ الْاِنْسَانَ لَظَلُوْمٌ كَفَّارٌ

Surely, man is very unjust and ungrateful

وَكَانَ الْاِنْسَانُ كَفُوْرًا

And man in ever ungrateful.

اِنَّ الْاِنْسَانَ لَكَفُوْرٌ

Surely, man is ever ungrateful.

اِنَّ الْاِنْسَانَ لَكَفُوْرٌ مُّبِيْنٌ

Surely, man in evidently ever ungrateful.

اِنَّ الْاِنْسَانَ لِرَبِّهٖ لَكَنُوْدٌ

Surely, man is ever thankless to his Sustainer (denying the reality of His Grace).

وَكَانَ الْاِنْسَانُ قَتُوْرًا

And man is every miserly

وَكَانَ الْاِنْسَانُ اَكْثَرَ شَيْءٍ جَدَلًا

And man, in most cases, is contentious and quarrelsome.

اِنَّهٗ كَانَ ظَلُوْمًا جَهُوْلًا

Surely, he is very unjust and ignorant (lacking thought and deliberation).