Article appeared Friday, September 6th, 2013 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (293)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Is it important to contemplate or reflect on our existence? If yes, should one come up with questions and look for the answers? What kind of questions? Or perhaps one could start with some observations or both? For example, an observation could be that each human being is unique. There is no one exactly the same as you in the entire human race. So a question to oneself could be, How do I happen to be unique? Other personal observations could be that, I have a unique personality, a unique set of skills, individual likes and dislikes, etc. I enjoy a unique existence! The same is true for every individual human on earth. So, how do I happen to be unique? Since no one is even accidentally the same, it implies that each human being has been made different purposely. To avoid accidental duplication, the design of each person has to be remembered or somehow documented and compared every time a new baby comes into existence. Does Mother Nature, randomness or evolution have the intelligence to make everyone unique? Should Mother Nature, randomness or evolution care about whether or not the next person is unique or the same? Will it make a difference to them? Approaching the question scientifically, we see that every living being, even the earliest life forms {1} have the same basic DNA building blocks; it is only the individual codes that vary this is like saying the same programmer or designer wrote the code, but designed a different code for each individual. Can Mother Nature, randomness or evolution deliberately design each life form uniquely? Obviously not! So there must be an Intelligent Designer to whom we must credit every deliberate unique design. A follow on question could be why? Why has the Intelligent Designer or in other words, why has the Creator gone to this length to design and make everything? Also, it is only human beings that have the ability to read and write or read and reflect for what purpose? Faced with such strong evidence of the existence of the Creator, should we look for a purpose? Where can we find the answer? The Holy Scriptures revealed by the Creator and prophets nominated by Him have enlightened us on the purpose. However, do we regard the scriptures seriously and how have we treated the prophets who acted as deputies of the Creator? The most recent scripture or Revelation, the Quran, enlightens us on our attitude: Then the Apostle will say: "O my Lord! Truly my people took this Qur'an for just foolish nonsense." [25.30] Again, having a purpose is meaningless without accountability. So, on the Day of Accountability or Judgment, the apostles will report not only how we treated the Words sent down by the Creator but how we treated the prophets as well. And never came there a prophet to them but they mocked him. [43.7] Human intelligence logically asserts that there must be a purpose behind such a meticulous creation and that accountability would go hand-in-hand with the purpose. Instead of searching for the purpose, we ridicule the prophets who act as messengers of the Creator and enlighten us on the purpose. The Quran therefore inquires:

7.184 Do they not reflect (their own minds)? Their companion is not seized with madness: he is but a perspicuous warner.
The job of any prophet (or apostle) including the most recent Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was simply to elaborate the purpose and the importance of its fulfillment. Not an apostle did We send before you (O, Muhammad) without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me. [21.25]

How can one worship and serve the Creator? It is by reflecting on what the Creator has done for human beings, praising Him and loving Him in return. For example, Behold! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of night and day there are indeed Signs for men who reflect (and thereby understand). [3.190] One who reflects should notice that the night and day system specially benefits human beings. He it is that has made for you the night that you may rest therein and the day to make things visible (to you) [10.67] People, who reflect on the creation and accordingly credit the Creator for all the myriad blessings, establish belief and fear accountability and punishment. The subsequent Verse enlightens us: Men who celebrate the praises of Allah standing, sitting and lying down on their sides and contemplate the wonders of the creation in the heavens and the earth (realize and say): "Our Lord! Not without purpose have You created (all) this! Glory to You! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire. [3.191] For those who reflect, but do not subsequently credit the Creator:

7.185 Do they see nothing in the governance of the heavens, the earth and in all that Allah has created and that it may well be that their term is near, drawing to an end? In what message after this will they then believe?
If scientists only find laws that govern the movement of the planets and the earth, but do not believe that there is a Law Giver, then all their research is of little use. It is not permitted to the Sun to catch up to the Moon nor can the Night outstrip the Day: each (just) swims along in (its own) orbit (according to Law). [36.40] Say: "Behold all that is in the heavens and on earth"; but neither Signs nor Warners profit those who believe not. [10.101] Allah will not forcefully guide those who do not wish to believe as our time on earth is a test to separate those who establish belief from those do not. As part of the test, He has also hidden from man the timing of the Day of Judgment.

7.186 To such people as Allah rejects His Guidance there will be no guide; He will leave them in their trespasses wandering in distraction.
Is one whose heart Allah has opened to Islam so that he has received enlightenment from Allah no better than one hard-hearted? Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against celebrating the praises of Allah! They are manifestly wandering (in error). [39.22]

7.187 They ask you (O, Prophet) about the (final) hour when will be its appointed time? Say: "The knowledge of the time is with my Lord (alone): none but He can Reveal as to when it will occur. Heavy were its burden through the heavens and the earth. Only all of a sudden will it come to you. They ask you (O, Prophet) as if you were eager in search of when it will happen: Say: "The knowledge of the last hour is with Allah (alone) but most men know not."
-------{Notes}: {1} http://euro-med.dk/?p=30629