Article appeared Friday, December 20th, 2019 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (601) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Do we individually have character traits and skills that make us different and unique from
other humans? While science has been busy {1, 2} looking for similarities between
chimpanzees and humans, the fact that humans have unique personalities, character
traits and skills finds much less attention {3}. Would it be more relevant to ask where did
we get individual personalities, character traits and skills from and why?

Can we run away from the fact that the popular Theory of Evolution cannot explain the
existence of the first DNA {4, 5} appearing on earth just as it cannot explain the origin of
feelings or emotional attachments that animals and humans have? The only plausible
explanation is that a Supreme Creator whose intelligence and power is beyond our
comprehension has made us deliberately as individual and unique human beings. If we
look for clues in the Holy Scripture, the Qur’an, we find the following Verse:
“Your creation and your resurrection will not be but as that of an individual soul:
for God is He Who hears and sees (all things).” [31.28]

So, scripture confirms the existence of God and His creation. He has made each person
separately as a unique individual with a designed personality and character. What could
be the purpose? One thing is for sure, if God did not create, could we know about His
Qualities? Humans are the only creation that can analyze the facts and know Him
through the qualities of His creation. Could this be why He created human beings with
analytical intelligence?

Possessing and enjoying individual skills and personality, how should a person respond
to his/her Creator? Using unique skills we are able to achieve satisfaction, name and
fame in the environment that we are born. What kind of skills and personality does God
give each person? What kind of skills, blessings and personality did He give the
prophets? And how did they respond?

27.15 “And We had certainly given to David and Solomon knowledge and
they both said, "Praise be to God Who has favored us above many of His
servants who believe!"”
They recognized God’s favors and openly acknowledged and demonstrated gratitude.
What kind of developed knowledge did God give them? Elsewhere in the Qur’an we find,
“And remember David and Solomon when they gave judgment in the matter of
the field into which the sheep of certain people had strayed by night: We did
witness their judgment. To Solomon We inspired the (right) understanding of the
matter: to each (of them) We gave Judgment and Knowledge; it was Our power
that made the hills and the birds celebrate Our praises with David: it was We
Who did (these things).” [21.78 – 21.79]

David’s method of gratitude is recorded in other scriptures {6} as well. If we love God,
are grateful and share His greatness with others, He increases His Blessings without
measure as He did in the case of David.
“…God will raise up to (suitable) ranks (and degrees) those of you who believe
and who have been granted Knowledge: and God is well-acquainted with all you
do.” [58.11]
According to the story {6}, God raised David to the status of king. The story of David
shows blessings, mercy and forgiveness of God to those who believe and love Him.

27.16 “And Solomon was David's heir. He said, "O people! We have been
taught the speech of Birds and on us has been bestowed (a little) of all
things: this is indeed Grace manifest (from God)."”
Solomon, David’s son was also grateful to God. He was granted other blessings – he
understood the language of birds as well as that of ants. He was also able to control the
spirit world of the Jinn and put them to work.

27.17 “And before Solomon were marshaled his soldiers of Jinns and men
and birds and they were all kept in order and ranks.”
Men, birds and the Jinn all worked for Solomon. God granted him this blessing. Who are
the Jinn? Elsewhere in the Qur’an we find the answer. God informs us how He created
both.
“We created man from sounding clay from mud molded into shape; And the Jinn
race We had created before from the fire of a scorching wind.” [15.26 – 15.27]

27.18 “At length when they came to a (lowly) valley of ants one of the ants
said, "O you ants get into your habitations lest Solomon and his soldiers
crush you (under foot) without knowing it."”
Having understood what the ant was saying, He was immediately grateful for being
given the knowledge of the language of the ants and prayed that he continue to be
grateful for all of God’s blessings and favors.

27.19 “So he smiled amused at her speech; and he said, "O my Lord! So
order me that I may be grateful for your favors which You hast bestowed on
me and on my parents and that I may work the righteousness that will
please You: and admit me, by Thy Grace, to the ranks of Thy righteous
Servants."”
What kind of prayer is this? He prayed to God to permit him and help him do deeds that
would please Him and that He admit him to the ranks of those who please God and are
acceptable to Him. Can we work out how both David and Solomon approached God?
Why did God give them so many blessings? What should our own approach to God be?

So, would it be appropriate for us, who are all lovingly made unique by God, work out the
favors and blessings given by Him and turn to Him in gratitude and love? What are the
special skills He has given us? What kind of special personality has He given us? Do we
love ourselves? If we do, what can be said of the nature and qualities of God?
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{Notes}:
{1} https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-makes-us-different/
{2} https://www.embl.de/aboutus/communication_outreach/media_relations/2010/100318_Heidelberg/
{3} https://www.edge.org/conversation/robert_plomin-why-were-different
{4} http://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20161026-the-secret-of-how-life-on-earth-began
{5} https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4705322/
{6} https://en.light-of-truth.org/Learn-Lessons-From-David%E2%80%99s-Failure-Know-God%E2%80%99s-Righteous-
Disposition.html