Article appeared Friday, January 6th, 2012 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (210)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Do we make things for ourselves? When we do, who does the thing belong to? For example, does ownership belong to the thing itself? How much power does the person have over the thing made? For example, if he/she wished, could the person destroy the thing and make a new one? Should there be a difference between the things we make and the things the Creator has made? If the Creator has made us, who should we belong to? Also, what level of powers would He have over us? Being part of creation, should we fear these Powers? For example, should we be careful not to annoy Him? And would it be wise to attempt to please Him? What do Revelations prior to the Quran say about this concept? The following Verses, taken from the Torah (Old Testament), Psalms and the New Testament of the Bible, confirm this concept. You alone are the LORD. You made the skies and the heavens and all the stars. You made the earth and the seas and everything in them. You preserve them all, and the angels of heaven worship you. [Nehemiah 9:6, NLT] {1} The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted. [Psalm 47:9, NIV] {2} For by Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by Him and for Him. [Colossians 1:16, NIV] {3} In addition, the most recent Revelation, the Quran, corroborates previous Revelations and again confirms this concept. To God belong all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. We have indeed enjoined those who were granted Revelations before your time, as well as yourselves, to always be God-fearing. If you disbelieve, know that to God belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. God is Self-Sufficient, Praiseworthy. [4.131] If we are created, is it illogical to fear our Creator? On the other hand, would it be sensible to attempt to please our Creator? Why? Qutb (1999), p.283, comments on mans attitude in his tafseer of the Quran: It is indeed stupid and highly unbecoming of man to confine himself and his ambitions to this life only when he is able to seek and look forward to Gods grace in both this life and the life to come. {4} Why? As an analogy, if it is foolish for people not to try to please their bosses, in a similar manner if our Creator is the source of everything and He holds the keys to our birth, our life on earth, death and future life would it be stupid not to please Him? Having given each individual a personality and free-will it is to test this sense and our behavior towards Him that our Creator has created us. It is to test our justice towards Him and our fellow human beings as well as rest of creation that our Creator has created us. O you 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]

For those who have questions or doubt accountability on the Day of Judgment, Allah responds: Does not man see that it is We Who created Him from sperm? Yet behold! He (stands forth) as an open adversary! And he makes comparisons for us and forgets his own (Origin and) Creation: He says, "Who can give life to (dry) bones and decomposed ones (at that)?" Say, "He will give them life Who created them for the first time! For, He, is well versed in every kind of creation! [36.77 36.79] How can one create comparisons? By demonstrating parallel belief in ourselves, money, prophets, religious leaders, luck, political power, lucky charms, etc., what message do we send to our Creator? If we do not want to demonstrate belief and exclusive trust in our Creator, what options does He have?

4.133 If He so Wills, He can take you, mankind, and replace you by others. This He surely has the Power to do.
If we annoy or continue to annoy Him, He may surely get rid of us, for use of such power is easy for Him. If one prefers the pursuit of worldly riches to pleasing our Creator, Allah Guides:

4.134 If anyone desires the rewards of this world, let him remember that with God are the rewards of this world and those of the life to come. God is indeed AllHearing, All-Seeing.
Nor can a soul die except by Allah's leave the term being fixed as by writing. If any do desire a reward in this life We shall give it to him; and if any do desire a reward in the hereafter We shall give it to him. And swiftly shall We reward those that (serve Us with) gratitude. [3.145] So, what challenges do suffering, fear, illness, loss of life, loss of wealth, etc. hold for us? If a wound has touched you be sure a similar wound has touched the others. Such days (of varying fortunes) We give to men and men by turns: (so) that Allah may know those that believe and that He may take to Himself from your ranks martyr-witnesses (to Truth). And Allah loves not those that do wrong. Allah's object also is to purge those that are true in faith and to deprive of blessing those that resist faith. Did you think that you would enter heaven without Allah testing those of you who fought hard (in His cause) and remained steadfast? [3.140 3.142] What can we do for our Creator? If we want, how can we please Him?

4.135 Believers! Be ever steadfast in upholding equity, bearing witness to the truth for the sake of God, even though it be against yourselves, or your parents and kin. Whether the person concerned be rich or poor, Gods claim takes precedence over (the claims of) either of them. Do not, then, follow your own desires, lest you swerve from justice. If you distort (the truth) or decline to do justice, then (know that) God is indeed aware of all that you do.
-----{Notes}: {1} http://bible.cc/nehemiah/9-6.htm {2} http://bible.cc/psalms/47-9.htm {3} http://bible.cc/colossians/1-16.htm {4} Qutb, S. (1999). In the Shade of the Quran. Vol 3.The Islamic Foundation, United Kingdom