Article appeared Friday, August 31st, 2018 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (537) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

For a loved one, what is one willing to do? As proof of love, would a person spend their entire
wealth or go even further, e.g., be willing to sacrifice their life? For a loved one, we generally do
things without asking questions or without any reservation. As we are prepared to do anything
for a loved one, would God, as proof of belief, want to test our love and adoration for Him?

Before we continue to discuss the test of love or loyalty, let us ask what has God done to give
us the life that we currently are living? We can also ask whether God has demonstrated His
Divine Love for His creation in doing so. So, what has God had to do to give us the current life
that we are living?

To answer this question, we would have to start at the beginning. Before the universe, was there
anything? God must have always existed, as, if nothing existed could nothing make something?
A similar logical analysis of the question of God’s existence is discussed in the Global Catholic
Network website article titled Questions and Answers on the Creation and the Fall of Man {1}
albeit from a Catholic point of view. To create life on earth, what would He have to do? For life to
exist on earth, first planets must exist. After making the planetary system, life sustaining
systems must be created. For example, air, water, water cycle, temperature control systems,
vegetation, fruits, growth systems, animals, systems/cycles for animals to exist, etc. We can
consult scientific publications to find out how these creations and systems support human life.
The New Scientist’s recent report “From ocean to ozone: Earth’s nine life support systems” {2}
discusses the current status of some of the well known life support systems. The point is that
God had to arrange these and other {3} systems prior to creating the humans that He was to
create. He finally designed the individual human genome {4} and gave each the potential of a
beautiful personality. It is our prerogative to use the intelligence given and persist to fully
develop this potential and enjoy the qualities given by God. The more we develop, the more we
benefit and enjoy both success and satisfaction – all arranged and given by God.

For this unique, blessed and supported existence, is it right for God to look for gratitude,
adoration and loyalty in return? How could He test our loyalty to Him? One test could be to
compare our preferences. For example, when we enjoy success, do we thank Him or feel
greatness within ourselves? Do we follow commandments or prefer to use our own emotional
logic? Do we prefer worldly pleasures and ignore thinking about our promised afterlife with Him?
A stronger test would be sacrificing things or objects we love or benefit from!

The purpose of the rituals of pilgrimage in Islam, i.e., Hajj, is to think about how Prophet
Abraham gave God the importance that He deserves and demonstrate our own preferences by
dedicating ourselves to the spirit of the rituals commanded.
“That (is the command). And whosoever magnifies the rituals of God, it surely has to
come from devotion of the hearts (to God). Benefits are provided for you for a term
appointed; and afterward they are brought for sacrifice to the Ancient House.” [22.32 –
22.33]

Let us examine the concepts of rituals, benefits, sacrifice as demonstration of loyalty to God at
the Ancient House as given in the subsequent Verses.

22.34 “To every community did We appoint rites (of sacrifice) that they might
mention the name of God over the sustenance (and benefits) He gave them from
animals (fit for food) but your God is one God: submit then your wills to Him (in
Islam) and give the Good News to those who humble themselves.”
The rite or ritual is a ceremony, i.e., a point in time when we are given the opportunity to
demonstrate our loyalty to God. We have the option to prefer our own logic and find an excuse
not to carry out the commandment or demonstrate loyalty by carrying out the sacrifice to the
best of our means with due humility and submissiveness for the sake of God, i.e., do as He has
asked. By carrying out the command, we sacrifice the benefits that we previously took from the
animal for the sake of demonstrating loyalty to God. Compare this with the sacrifice that Prophet
Abraham was asked to make to demonstrate his loyalty to God.
“Then when (the son) reached (the age of) (serious) work with him he (Abraham) said:
"O my son! I see in vision that I offer you in sacrifice: now decide your view!" (The son)
said, "O my father! Do as you are commanded: you will find me if God so wills one
practicing Patience and Constancy!" So when they had both submitted their wills (to
God) and He had laid Him prostrate on his forehead (for sacrifice).” [37.102 – 37.103]

Feel the nature of obedience, “I hear, I obey” of both the father and the son. The sacrifice of the
animal at Hajj commemorates this event while testing our own loyalty to God. How should a
person who has worked out the weight and significance of God as Lord and Maker react to the
mention of God’s name? Who should the Good News be announced to?

22.35 “To those whose hearts when God is mentioned are filled with fear who
show patient perseverance over their afflictions keep up regular prayer and
spend (in charity) out of what we have granted them.”

22.36 “The sacrificial camels we have made (and subjected to) you are among the
Symbols from God: in them is (much) good for you: then pronounce the name of
God over them as they line up (for sacrifice): when they are down on their sides
(after slaughter) eat and feed such as (beg not but) live in contentment and such
as beg with due humility: thus have we made animals subject to you that you may
be grateful.”
Among benefits are milk and milk products, transport and tilling of land. Compare these docile
animals to animals like bears and tigers. Can we derive similar benefit? So as we sacrifice
them, in response to God’s commandment, we should thank God for the benefits with due
humility. Can humility mean showing off the cost or size of animal? So, what is God looking for?

22.37 “It is not their meat or their blood that reaches God: it is your piety that
reaches Him: He has thus made them subject to you that you may glorify Allah for
His guidance to you: and proclaim the Good News to all who do right.”
His is looking for humility and gratitude. What is the Good News?
“The Day (of Judgment on which) We shall gather the righteous to (face) the Most
Gracious like a band presented before a king for honors.” [19.85]

22.38 “Verily God will defend those who believe: verily He loves not any that is a
traitor to faith or shows ingratitude.”
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{Notes}:
{1} https://www.ewtn.com/faith/teachings/goda42a.htm
{2} https://www.newscientist.com/round-up/ocean-to-ozone-earths-nine-life-support-systems/
{3} https://www.astrobio.net/biosphere/earths-life-support-systems/
{4} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_genome