Article appeared Friday, April 5th, 2013 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (272)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Generation after generation of human beings has passed away since the creation of the first human Adam. Each unique individual has had the opportunity to taste life and enjoy the benefits of being intelligent. No other creature other than human is able to read and, in addition, evaluate the purpose of intelligent life. For example, should one be grateful for being given life and its countless benefits? The following Verse from the Quran, the most recent Revelation, elaborates the Creators point-of-view: We have honored the sons of Adam; provided them with transport on land and sea; given them for sustenance things good and pure; and conferred on them special favors above a great part of Our Creation. [17.70, YA] As intelligent beings, various questions could be formulated to evaluate the various parts of the Verse. For example, * Should every Revelation and Verse be evaluated? If yes why? * In particular, for this Verse, how have sons of Adam been honored? * Man is able to easily and quickly move around the entire globe. Where have the knowledge, materials, technology and ability to manufacture the means of transport come from? From where have the means for navigation come about? For example, how did Noah know how to build a large boat in the middle of the land? * How did the varieties of things we eat all come about to provide the body the nourishment and energy it needs? * Can we think of any other special favors? No other creation is able to look for answers, for the purpose of confirming belief in the Signs of the Creator, let alone ask questions or even understand the purpose of questions. Man has thus been honored with this special ability. Why? Again, turning to the Quran for answers, we find: O people! Adore your Guardian-Lord who created you and those who came before you that you may have the chance to learn righteousness. [2.21, YA] What could righteousness be, other than looking for Signs of the Creator and adoring Him for the life and blessings He has Given? It is He Who Gave you life will Cause you to die and will again Give you life: truly man is a most ungrateful creature! [22.66, YA] What is life again? Why? To Him will be the return of all of you. The promise of Allah is true and sure. It is He Who began the process of Creation and will repeat it that He may reward with justice those who believe and work righteousness but those who reject Him will have nothing but draughts of boiling fluids and a Penalty grievous: because they did reject Him. [10.4, YA] When will this happen? On the appointed Day Allah will raise them all up (from graves) and show them the truth (and meaning) of their conduct. Allah has reckoned (the value of each persons conduct) though they may have forgotten it: for Allah is Witness to all things. [58.6] There is a Day set aside where and when judgment will be delivered. The purpose of Revelation and the Messengers is to warn of this Day and the need to be wary. (To preach thus) Seek the forgiveness of your Lord and turn to Him in repentance; that He may Grant you enjoyment good (and true) for a term appointed (in this life) and

bestow His abounding grace (in the afterlife) on all who are abound in merit! But if you turn away then I fear for you the Penalty of a Great Day. [11.3, YA] As a warning for such people, to help man visualize what will happen on and after the Day of Judgment, the Creator portrays scenes from the life after.

7.38 He will say: "Enter in the company of the peoples who passed away before you men and Jinns into the Fire. Every time a new people enter it curses its ancestors until they follow each other all into the Fire. Will say the subsequent people about the one before: "Our Lord! It is these people that misled us: so give them a double penalty in the Fire." He will say: "doubled for all": but this you do not understand.
Both men [55.14] and Jinn [55.15] who do not fulfill the purpose of their creation, i.e. turn away from adoring the Creator and do not avail of the given opportunities to be righteous (e.g. to be grateful) will be pushed into the Fire of Hell. Each group will curse the previous generation for misleading them about the Creator. The begging question is however, given the intelligence each of us has, should we allow ourselves to be misled?

7.39 Then the first will say to the last: "See then! No advantage have you over us; so taste of the penalty for all that you did!" 7.40 To those who reject Our Signs and treat them with arrogance no opening will there be of the gates of heaven nor will they enter the garden until the camel can pass through the eye of the needle: such is Our reward for those in sin.
The inflated ego of a person or arrogance plays a large part behind ignoring the reality of the Creator. Just as Satans arrogance [7.13] got the better of him, arrogance will get the better of us it is indeed harmful.

7.41 For them there is Hell as a couch (below) and folds and folds of covering above: such is Our requital of those who do wrong. 7.42 But those who believe and work righteousness no burden do We place on any soul but that which it can bear; they will be Companions of the Garden therein to dwell (for ever).
Belief can be established by visualizing the Day of Judgment and the Afterlife and adjusting ones deeds accordingly seeking the Creator, being grateful and doing deeds to please the Creator.

7.43 And We shall remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury; beneath them will be rivers flowing; and they shall say: "Praise be to Allah Who has Guided us to this (felicity): never could we have found guidance had it not been for the Guidance of Allah: indeed it was the truth that the apostles of our Lord brought to us." And they shall hear the cry: "Behold, the Garden before you! You have been made its inheritors for your deeds (of righteousness)." 7.44 The Companions of the Garden will call out to the Companions of the Fire: "We have indeed found the promises of our Lord true: have you also found your Lord's promises true?" They shall say "yes"; but a crier shall proclaim between them: "the curse of Allah is on the wrong-doers; 7.45 "Those who would hinder (men) from the path of Allah and would seek in it something crooked: they were those who denied the Hereafter."