Article appeared Friday, August 31st, 2012 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (242)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Why do we sometimes use the term own or belong for things that we make? What does the word ownership imply? For example, if we are not pleased or dissatisfied with the thing made, what might we do? Could we throw the thing away or even burn it with other trash? Essentially, can we do whatever we please with the things that we own? On the other hand, can the thing own itself? That is, can ownership be transferred to the thing we have made? Now, equally, let us look at things around us and more importantly at ourselves. Is everything made or created? Are we made or created? If so, whom does the ownership belong to? And, who is the owner? Looking for an answer in the Old Testament of the Bible, we find: Behold, to the LORD your God belong heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth with all that is in it. [Deuteronomy 10:14, ESV] {1} The New Testament of the Bible further qualifies that: The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, [Acts 17:24, ESV] {2} The most recent Revelation, the Quran, confirms the ownership of the Creator: To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and on earth and to Him is the religion always: then will you fear other than Allah? [16.52] In addition, the Quran confirms that we intuitively know about our Creator and directly pray to Him. and moreover when you are touched by distress to Him you cry with groans; [16.53] So, whenever in distress, regardless of religious background, each human being directly cries to the Creator. The Quran also speaks of our subsequent insensitivity and ingratitude towards Him. Yet when He removes the distress from you, behold! Some of you turn to other gods to join with their Lord, (As if) to show ingratitude for the favors bestowed on them! Then enjoy (your brief day); but soon will you know (your folly)!... By Allah, you shall certainly be called to account for your false inventions. [16.54 16.56] Not acknowledging the Creators blessing subsequently is a grave sin. Our Creator solves our problems, and we are accountable to Him alone. Any other thing that we may credit or fear is a false feeling. Imagining other beings or things as having power to give us anything or relieve our suffering is a false imagination. There is, therefore, only one religion gratitude, humility and service to our Creator. On the other hand, does our Creator deserve praise for making us, giving us a life to live and enjoy created opportunities; sustaining us and protecting us? For those in doubt, our Creator asks in the Quran: Ask: "Who is it that sustains you (in life) from the sky and from the earth? Or who is it that has power over hearing and sight? And who is it that brings out the living from the dead and the dead from the living? And who is it that rules and regulates all affairs?" They will soon say "Allah." Say "Will you not then show piety (to Him)?" [10.31] Piety and deepest sense of gratitude are due to our Creator alone. The credit for everything belongs to our Creator alone as all other things are part of His Blessings. Such is Allah your real Cherisher and Sustainer: apart from Truth what (remains) but error? How then, are you turned away? [10.32]

6.1 Praise be to Allah Who created the heavens and the earth and made the darkness and the light. Yet those who reject Faith hold (others) as equal with their Guardian-Lord.
Is it easy to equate others with our Guardian-Lord? The Old Testament in the Bible warns, beware, lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves, in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female. [Deuteronomy 4:16, ESV] {3} Is the cross that hangs from the neck, a lucky charm or the ring on the finger that is bought to give luck an image? Not only are we not allowed images that resemble humans, the next Verses in Deuteronomy clarify the absolute meaning of image: the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water under the earth. [Deuteronomy 4:17 4:18, ESV] {4} Why? Our Creator wants us to clearly understand that there is only ONE power in the universe, and we owe subservience to Him and Him alone as it is He who has created us and looks after all our needs. Say: "Of your `partners' can any originate creation and repeat it?" Say: "It is Allah Who originates creation and repeats it: then how are you deluded away (from the truth)?" [10.34]

6.2 He it is who created you from clay and then decreed a stated term (for you). And there is in His Presence another determined term; yet you doubt within yourselves!
Our Creator knows of doubts deep within our thoughts regarding the existence of the Hereafter, i.e. the life after death and its relationship with our present attitudes towards our Creator.

6.3 And He is Allah in the heavens and on earth. He knows what you hide and what you reveal and He knows the (recompense) which you earn (by your deeds).
Unfortunately, however,

6.4 But never did a single one of the Signs of their Lord reach them but they turned away from it. 6.5 And now they reject the truth when it reaches them: but soon shall they learn the reality of what they used to mock at.
This Qur'an is not such as can be produced by other than Allah; on the contrary it is a confirmation of (revelations) that went before it and a fuller explanation of the Book (with Allah) in which there is no doubt from the Lord of (both) the Worlds. [10.37]

6.6 See they not how many of those before them We did destroy? Generations We had established on the earth in strength such as We have not given to you for whom We poured out rain from the skies in abundance and gave (fertile) streams flowing beneath their (feet): yet for their sins We destroyed them and raised in their wake fresh generations (to succeed them).
---------{Notes}: {1} http://bible.cc/deuteronomy/10-14.htm {2} http://bible.cc/acts/17-24.htm {3} http://bible.cc/deuteronomy/4-16.htm {4} http://bible.cc/deuteronomy/4-17.htm