Article appeared Friday, November 29th, 2019 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (598) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

When people say they believe in God, what do they actually mean? When surveyed,
regardless of religious background, most people profess to believe in God, or at least
say they believe in a higher spiritual power. As for example, a recent Pew Research
Center survey {1} collected data from over 4700 Americans to discover the nature of
their belief. The results of the survey, which, of course, included questions on the Bible,
were published in an article called, When Americans say they believe in God, what do
they mean?
“…it is clear from questions in the survey that Americans who say they believe in
God “as described in the Bible” generally envision an all-powerful, all-knowing,
loving deity who determines most or all of what happens in their lives. By
contrast, people who say they believe in a “higher power or spiritual force” –
but not in God as described in the Bible – are much less likely to believe in a
deity who is omnipotent, omniscient, benevolent and active in human affairs.” {1}

Here we see that people of the same religion have different personal views about belief.
So, is proper belief a factor that will determine our future, or is it okay to imagine belief in
God in whatever way we like? How can we decide what proper belief means? To launch
our thinking, let us first consider the question, “Who is God as described in the Bible?”
From the quote {1} above, the answer is “an all-powerful, all-knowing, loving deity who
determines most or all of what happens in our lives.” What significance do the qualities
mentioned carry? For example, what does all-knowing mean and what significance does
it hold for a human being?

Can and do mobile phones and devices like Assistant Alexa listen to all conversations
going on in a house? If such devices all over the world can listen, should it be difficult for
God to arrange to know not only what we say but also what is in our hearts and also
what we think/feel about Him? He can hear our reservations, sorrows, sadness and
troubles and therefore it is only He that can come to our rescue – being loving and all-
powerful. Is there object including Jesus (pbuh), wealth, politicians or social networking
that have such capabilities? It is only He that has this capacity and therefore only He that
deserves our adoration, reverence and gratitude – we need Him. Could this be why He
has created humans – to discover Him and bear testimony to His Reality?

How is God likely to respond if an individual imagines that other things or persons have
power over human life? And accordingly give God equal or secondary priority? Is He
likely to be annoyed? As He is loving and kind, would He warn us about what annoys
Him and be the object of His Wrath? How? In the Qur’an we find:

26.210 “No evil ones have brought down this (Revelation):”

Similar to revealed Verses in the Bible, the Qur’an is a compilation of Verses revealed by
God from time to time, as and when the situation demanded or when questions were
asked to the Messenger of God at the time. Authentic Revelation carries its own
testimony and cannot be transmitted by Satan or those who follow him.

26.211 “It would neither suit them nor would they be able (to produce it).”
Bringing down Revelation is neither their job nor do they have the capacity to do so.
26.212 “Indeed they have been removed far from even (a chance of) hearing
it.”
They have no access to the Words of the Qur’an. What is the Qur’an? What does it
consist of?
“There is in their stories instruction for men endued with understanding. It is not
a tale invented but a confirmation of what went before it (previous revelations), a
detailed exposition of all things and a Guide and a Mercy to any such as
believe.” [12.111]

Only human beings have been given the capacity to raise questions and find answers in
the form of guidance in the Qur’an.

26.213 “So call not on any other god with God or you will be among those
punished.”

26.214 “And warn your nearest kinsmen”

God must be given priority that is His due. We should all share the teachings of the
Qur’an with all those that we can.

26.215 “And lower your wing (i.e., show kindness) to those who follow you
of the believers.”
Believers should help other believers to discover God’s reality and give testimony to His
Truth.

26.216 “Then if they disobey you say, "I am free (of responsibility) for what
you do!"”
No one should be forced to believe. Enjoying God’s blessings of an intelligent life, if one
does not appreciate and turn to Him, it is they that will suffer from a severe punishment
that will not be short of eternity.

26.217 “And put your trust on the Exalted in Might, the Merciful”
As God can hear all things, is Merciful and is the only One who has the capacity to help
in any situation.

26.218 “Who sees you when you arise (for prayer)”

26.219 “And your movements among those who prostrate themselves.”

It is God who appreciates those who adore Him during both the night prayer which is
generally said alone and when we get together people for prayer in congregation.

26.220 “For it is He Who hears and knows all things.”

26.221 “Shall I inform you (O people!) on whom it is that the evil ones
descend?”

26.222 “They descend on every lying wicked person”

Who is a wicked person? Anyone that does not appreciate the blessings of God, is
ungrateful and bears false witness to his/her own greatness.
26.223 “They pass on what is heard, i.e., hearsay, vanities and most of
them are liars.”
Satan and his followers spread false stories of the greatness of men and of things other
than God.

26.224 “And the Poets it is those straying in Evil who follow them:”
Satan has a following among men, particularly those who indulge in poetry, writings,
songs or speech that promote the greatness of man or of things other than God.

26.225 “Do you not see that they wander distracted in every valley?”
Such people will be found in many places.

26.226 “And that they say what they practice not?”

They are those who do not themselves practice what they say or recommend.

26.227 “Except those who believe, work righteousness, engage much in the
remembrance of God and defend themselves only after they are unjustly
attacked. And soon will the unjust assailants know what return their affairs
will gain!”
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{Notes}:
{1} https://www.pewforum.org/2018/04/25/when-americans-say-they-believe-in-god-what-do-they-mean/