Article appeared Friday, January 4th, 2013 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (260)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

If life forms are created, does each life form then have an owner? Logically, each life form belongs to the One who has carefully designed and put the living being together our Creator. Before this logic can be analyzed further, two questions need to be answered. The first question is: is each life form designed? The second question, do designs require a designer or can designs produce themselves randomly? Let us look at what scientists around the world are saying. Harun Yahya {1} in his article, The Scientific World is turning to God, discusses how scientists, who were once confirmed atheists, are now acknowledging the existence of a hugely Intelligent Designer without whom the complex life forms could not have come into existence. The discovery of coded information within DNA is mainly responsible for this turning point. Dr. Werner Gitt, a professor at the German Federal Institute of Physics and Technology, says regarding the coded information: A code system is always the result of a mental process It should be emphasized that matter itself is unable to generate any code. All experiences indicate that a thinking being voluntarily exercising his free will, cognition, and creativity, is required There is no known natural law through which matter can give rise to information, neither is any physical process or material phenomenon known that can do this. {2} The fact that information in living beings is coded using the same DNA base pairs suggests a uniform design language of the Creator. Does the language consistency also logically suggest that there is only One Supreme Being or Designer who has standardized the coding methodology? Regardless of whether the life form is an ant, a fly or a human being, each is equally designed and created. As such, each living form has a right to exist just as any other, by virtue of being created by the same Creator. Just as a painting stands witness to the ability or skill of its painter, each life form bears witness to the ability, skill and greatness of the Creator. In addition to the regular functionality of life forms in the animal kingdom (for example, eating for generation of energy and development) the Creator has given human beings knowledge and a means of transmitting that knowledge. He has also given intelligence a means to evaluate knowledge. Why has He done so? The Bible enlightens us, All you have made will praise you, O LORDThey will tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your might, so that all men may know of your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of your kingdomand your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful to all his promises and loving toward all he has made. [Psalm 145:10 145:13, NIV] {2} The purpose of knowledge is to intelligently work out what the Creator has done for man and bear witness to this fact. Beings that do not have knowledge are in darkness about the Creator. Human beings who have used knowledge to intelligently work out the existence of the Creator have independent understanding or light and have fulfilled the purpose of their creation. Returning to the question of ownership who owns each created being? As a parallel if you make something for yourself, who does the product belong to? Who holds all rights over the product? Equally, each ant, whale or human being therefore belongs to its Creator. As such, the right to take life solely belongs to the Creator. When slaughtering animals for food, we therefore need to demonstrate our understanding of the rights of the Owner by reciting the name of Creator during the time of slaughter. If we do not acknowledge the Creator, it is showing disrespect to the Creator and is a sin. The most recent Revelation, the Quran, commands,

6.118 So (only) eat of that meat on which the name of Allah has been pronounced (during slaughter) if you have faith in His Signs (Revelation). 6.119 Why should you not eat of (meats) on which Allah's name has been pronounced when He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you except under compulsion of necessity? But many do mislead (men) by their appetites unchecked by knowledge. Your Lord knows best those who transgress.
Except under compulsion, finding excuses for eating such meat is transgression, or a grievous sin. Our Creator, commands us to stop such practices that go against Him.

6.120 Eschew all sin open or secret: those who earn sin will get due recompense for their "earnings." 6.121 Eat not of (meats) on which Allah's name has not been pronounced: that would be impiety. But the evil ones ever inspire their friends to contend with you; if you were to obey them, you would indeed be pagans.
Eating of such meat demonstrates disrespect and disbelief.

6.122 Can he who was dead to whom We gave life and a Light whereby he can walk amongst men be like him who is in the depths of darkness from which he can never come out? Thus to those without faith their own deeds seem pleasing.
The whole purpose of creating human beings is that they recognize their Creator using their given knowledge and intelligence.

6.123 Thus have We placed leaders in every town its wicked men to plot (and burrow) therein: but they only plot against their own souls and they perceive it not.
As we have the ability to personally evaluate what others say, each is responsible for his/her own deeds.

6.124 When there comes to them a Sign (from Allah) they say: "We shall not believe until we receive one (exactly) like those received by Allah's apostles." Allah knows best where (and how) to carry out His mission. Soon will the wicked be overtaken by humiliation before Allah and a severe punishment for all their plots.
We should not allow arrogance to get the better of us.

6.125 Those whom Allah wishes to Guide He opens their breast to Islam (correct belief); those whom He wills to leave straying He makes their breast close and constricted as if they had to climb up to the skies: thus does Allah (heap) the penalty on those who refuse to believe. 6.126 This is the way of your Lord leading straight: We have detailed the Signs for those who receive admonition. 6.127 For them will be a Home of Peace in the presence of their Lord: He will be their Friend because they practiced (righteousness).
------{Notes}: {1} http://harunyahya.com/en/works/3345/the-scientific-world-is-turning {2} Werner Gitt, In the Beginning Was Information, CLV, Bielenfeld, Germany, pp. 64-7, 79 {3} http://bible.cc/psalms/145-10.htm