Article appeared Friday, January 23rd, 2015 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (363)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

What type of person would derive benefit from knowledge? For example, can knowledge benefit
a person who has no questions about life? Knowledge provides answers. Therefore, it can only
benefit a person who has questions. Without questions, knowledge by itself is valueless. The
value of knowledge can only exist as measured by the questions it answers.
Knowledge can only benefit human beings and that too, beings that have and/or can generate
questions. What kind of questions should human beings ask? One immediate question could be
how is it that only human beings have the ability to generate questions? Nowadays, with the
advent of the Internet and Google, one can pose questions in a browser. There are also
websites which elicit answers from the general public. One such website {1} touches briefly on
the importance of the ability of questioning in human life.
The whole history of philosophy, as well as that of science, hinges on the ability of the
human mind to ask questions. Indeed, when the word "question" is used as a verb
instead of a noun, it has the connotation of challenging a particular view of the universe,
of prevalent societal structures, ethical problems, and more transcendent matters. {1}
While the websites discuss the ability to question and the nature of questions asked by humans,
they do not directly answer the question of how the ability to question originated. Evolutionary
theories cannot begin to address the question as the ability to question requires a supporting
chain of matched qualities, e.g., inquisitiveness (a desire to know), knowledge (facts that exist),
meaning of words (words linked with objects, concepts and ideas), comprehension (linking
knowledge), and language use (putting words together to form questions). Also, could the first
person Adam function as a human being without these matched qualities to ask questions for
daily living? How did his ability to question originate? The Holy Scriptures have an answer to
this question. The final Revelation, the Quran has the following to say:
And He taught Adam the nature (including names) of all things;... [2.31a]
It is the Creator who created knowledge for human beings and taught Adam. Such knowledge
was a new creation. To demonstrate the difference between previously created angels and
Adam, He questioned the angels and subsequently questioned Adam.
then He placed them before the angels and said: "Tell Me the nature of these if you
are right." [2.31b]
They said: "Glory to You! Of knowledge we have none except what You have taught us:
in truth, it is You who are perfect in knowledge and wisdom." [2.32]
He said: "O Adam! Tell them their natures." [2.33]
So a question answer session took place to test Adam immediately after his creation! The
Quran has answers for those who have questions regarding their existence. The
answers/knowledge contained in the Quran is of no use to those who feel self-sufficient or selfmade and therefore do not have questions about their existence.
How did prophets use the opportunity of life given to them? For example, both Prophet Abraham
(pbuh) and Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) had questions about prevailing practices and a curiosity
to know the truth. Prophet Noah was also chosen to deliver the Words of the Creator. He said to
his people,

And my advice will not benefit you although I wished to advise you if Allah should
want to leave you in error. He is your Lord, and to Him you will be returned. [11.34]
It is Allah who arranged for the Guidance of the people of Noah. What kind of questions should
they have asked themselves? For example, why should a man, who is just a man like us all of a
sudden, start talking about the Creator? Also, would a man who is generally truthful and
trustworthy start lying? What possibly could the man gain by inventing a lie? Where would he
get such knowledge from? The knowledge was given to the people of Noah to consider whether
they were committing a crime against the One who created the opportunity of life for them.

11.35 Or do they say that He invented it? Say, If I have invented it, then upon
me is (the consequence of) my crime, but (understand that) I am innocent of any
crime that you commit.
Each person has been created individually to ask questions to filter out the truth from the
available knowledge. The difference between angels and human beings is that humans are
required to ask questions and link answers to the truth about their existence and the Creator.
The purpose of the questioning ability is to know the Creator and acknowledge Him for His
Qualities. However, those who do not question would not benefit from the messages/knowledge
delivered by the prophets and remain in the dark about their existence and their purpose
thereof.

11.36 And it was revealed to Noah that, No one will believe from your people
except those who have already believed, so do not be distressed by what they
have been doing.
Would the Creator have use for those humans who do not fulfill their primary purpose? Would
such people please the Creator or annoy Him?

11.37 And construct the ship under Our Observation and Our inspiration, and do
not address Me concerning those who have wronged; indeed, they are (to be)
drowned.
To the observers, a question that should have occurred is, How did Noah know how to
construct the Ark, where did He get the knowledge from?

11.38 And he constructed the ship, and wherever an assembly of the eminent of
his people passed by him, they ridiculed him. He responded, If you ridicule us,
then we will ridicule you (one day) just as you ridicule.
It would be a great shame if the Creator who has lovingly given each person a beautiful
existence, has to resort to punishing because of ingratitude and rebellion against Him? The
Creator has created human beings to know Him and His Qualities. The purpose of creation is
not to punish humans.

11.39 And you are going to know who will get a punishment that will disgrace
him (on earth) and upon whom will descend an enduring punishment (in the
Hereafter).
So how were the people of Noah punished while on earth? What is likely to happen to them on
and after the Day of Judgment?
-------{Notes}:
{1} http://askville.amazon.com/humans-compelling-questions/AnswerViewer.do?
requestId=11793298