Article appeared Friday, April 20th, 2012 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (225)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Should there be a debate about whether or not we are created? Or by what name we should call the Creator as long as it is the Creator we directly address? Even reputed scientists {1} {2} scientifically show that the complexity and regularity of the universe and living matter is best explained as the artistry of an Intelligent Designer. So much so that some scientists have started a movement called the Intelligent Design Movement {3}. Knowledge of the Creators existence is therefore available even to those who would wish to deny the fact. Ultimately, therefore, the existence of our Creator is not the question; the question is how we personally apply this knowledge. This is the caution raised in the most recent Revelation, the Quran. The following Verses enlighten mankind of the Creators existence and the attitude of man. The Lord of the heavens and the earth and all (that is) between them, if you (but) have faith. There is no god but He: it is He Who gives life and gives death, the Lord and Cherisher to you and your earliest ancestors. Yet they play about in doubt. [44.79] What is the problem with playing about in doubt? The fact that we have been made spells purpose and accountability. The message given in the Quran is not new. If we turn to the New Testament of the Bible, we find: For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. [Philippians 2:13, NLT] {4} If God, the Creator, has created us, it must be the result of a personal choice. He created us because He wanted to. Why? He has given us intelligence, feelings and a free-will to do things to please Him in return. He has created each uniquely with a lot of love and affection just as Jesus (pbuh) clearly pointed out that the uniqueness his birth had a purpose and that he did things only to please his Creator. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. [1 Corinthians 15:10, NIV] {5} The mission of Jesus was to provide examples of how to please the Creator, as was also the mission of all messengers from the Creator. They collectively show us the purpose of the life to find ways to please our Maker and Sustainer, individually, with the given intelligence, personality, feelings, skills and environment. For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe. [1 Timothy 4:10, ESV] {6} Belief is therefore demonstrated by our personal desire to please our Creator and efforts towards this end this is in return for existence, a beautiful personality and countless blessings He has bestowed on us. In contrast, if ones purpose is personal glory and simply advancement of worldly wealth, the most recent Revelation, the Quran, gives an analogy to explain the situation: Know that the life of this world is but play and amusement, pomp and mutual boasting and multiplying (in rivalry) among yourselves riches and children: Here is a similitude: How rain and the growth which it brings forth delight (the hearts of) the tillers; soon it withers; you will see it grow yellow; then it becomes dry and crumbles away. But in the Hereafter is a Penalty severe (for the devotees of wrong) and Forgiveness from Allah and (His) Good Pleasure (for the devotees of Allah). And what is the life of this world but goods and chattels of deception? [57.20]

So just like plush vegetation one day will wither away, the earth and all its wealth that pleases its owners will one day be gone. On that Day we will face our Creator to account for our attitude towards Him. Thus do We (royal singular I) explain the signs in detail perchance they may turn (to the Creator). [7.174] In case one fails to turn to the Creator, after all the knowledge given, the Quran helps with another analogy: Relate to them the story of the man to whom We sent our Signs but he passed them by: so Satan followed him up and he went astray. If it had been Our Will We should have elevated him with Our Signs; but he inclined to the earth and followed his own vain desires. His similitude is that of a dog: if you attack him he sticks out his tongue or if you leave him alone he (still) sticks out his tongue. That is the similitude of those who reject our Signs; so relate the story; perchance they may reflect. [7.175 7.176]

5.36 As to those who reject faith if they had everything on earth and twice repeated to give as ransom for the penalty of the Day of Judgment it would never be accepted of them. Theirs would be a grievous penalty. 5.37 Their wish will be to get out of the fire but never will they get out from there: their penalty will be one that endures.
Our Creator therefore recommends to each individual, Be you foremost (in seeking) forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden (of Bliss) the width of which is as the width of heaven and earth prepared for those who believe in Allah and His Apostles: that is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He pleases: and Allah is the Lord of Grace abounding. [57.21] As our Creator wants the best for His creation, He also prescribes earthly punishment that would ultimately benefit the sinner. For example, the nature of the punishment for theft is explained in the Bible. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. [Matthew 5:30, NIV] {7} This punishment is confirmed in the most recent Revelation, the Quran.

5.38 As to the thief male or female cut off his or her hands: a punishment by way of example from Allah for their crime: and Allah is Exalted in Power. 5.39 But if the thief repents after his crime and amends his conduct Allah turns to him in Forgiveness; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful. 5.40 Know you not that to Allah (alone) belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth? He Punishes whom He Pleases and He Forgives whom He Pleases: and Allah has power over all things.
------{Notes}: {1} Signs of Gods Existence. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS1x-6al2pE {2} Meyer, S.C. (2009). Signature in the Cell: DNA Evidence for Intelligent Design. HarperOne {3} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intelligent_design_movement {4} http://bible.cc/philippians/2-13.htm {5} http://bible.cc/1_corinthians/15-10.htm {6} http://bible.cc/1_timothy/4-10.htm {7} http://bible.cc/matthew/5-30.htm