Article appeared Friday, February 9th, 2018 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (512) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Sometimes, in our conversations, we mention God. Do we, however, ever ask questions about
Him? What could be such questions? For example, would the following questions be relevant?
Who is God? What is our relationship with Him? Does He deserve any praise? Before analyzing
these questions to work out possible answers, let us consider everyday analogies that we
experience.

The world has many unique buildings designed by architects who have become famous
because of their building design. If not physically, we can see pictures of these buildings on the
Internet. When we see such a building do any questions come to mind? For example, do we
want to know the identity of the architect? Do we wonder how the person came up with such a
design? When we discover/identify a specific/smart aspect of the building, do we admire/praise
the architect? Why?

We sometimes label a product by the name of the manufacturer. We take pride in owning such a
product. People are proud owners of a “Merc”, i.e., a Mercedes-Benz car or a “Rolls”, i.e., a
Rolls Royce car. We carry this convention further while identifying famous paintings, e.g., it’s a
Picasso or it’s a da Vinci! Does this highest level of praise leave us in any doubt about the
identity of the artist?

Taking the analogy a step further – let us discuss da Vinci’s painting Mona Lisa. If it were
possible for Mona Lisa to have human like questioning intelligence, would it be logical (as she
has no hand in making herself) for her to be curious and ask questions like, how come I am so
famous? Who has given me this meaningful smile? Even if she is not able to see Leonardo,
what should be her attitude towards him? Should she be grateful to him and adore him for
making her what she is? Should she equally praise him for his skills in designing and crafting
her?

Turning these thoughts to the creation of human beings – is there any reason we should not
turn our thoughts to God? Do we have any reason not to praise our Creator? Not unlike the
unique painting Mona Lisa, each of us is one of a kind – a totally unique individual. And
compared to the value of Mona Lisa, what would be the cost of a human being?

Let us work out the nature of God’s qualities. For example, would the manufacturers’ of a Merc
think of including a tongue and say enjoy the diesel as you are fed? In contrast, God says in the
Holy Scripture Al-Qur’an,
“O you who believe! Eat of the good things that We have provided for you and be
grateful to God if it is Him you worship.” [2.172]

Which foods would be good? Those that are beneficial and palatable? Our tongues can test the
food as we taste it. Our tongues can taste multiple flavors {1}, e.g., sweet and sour tastes as we
eat sweet and sour prawn. How do our brains recognize a flavor? To recognize a flavor, our
brains must already know the nature of each flavor in order to match and recognize a particular
flavor! So, not only has God created the functions of tongue and brain, but also the foods with a
huge variety of flavors. So does God deserve gratitude and praise for creating a system for His
humans to enjoy? What about the rest of creation?
“They celebrate His praises night and day nor do they ever flag or slacken.” [21.20]
Just like the existence of the Mona Lisa painting is proof of the qualities of Leonardo, every
created thing/object is proof of the Skill and Greatness of God. So, how should a believer
respond to God? A believer should be convinced and say,
 “It would not be reasonable for me if I did not serve Him Who created me and to Whom
we shall (all) be brought back.” [36.22]

If we do question the fact of our existence and turn to God in humility and gratitude, He asks,

21.21 “Or have they taken (for worship) gods from the earth who can raise (the
dead)?”
There is only ONE supremely intelligent and powerful being. Everything else is created by Him.

21.22 “If there were in the heavens and the earth other gods besides Allah there
would have been confusion in both! But glory to Allah the Lord of the Throne:
(high is He) above what they attribute to Him!”

21.23 “He cannot be questioned for His acts but they will be questioned (for
theirs).”
On the Day of Judgment, each of us will have to account for how we responded to God, while
deriving pleasure out of the blessings given by Him.

21.24 “Or have they taken for worship (other) gods besides Him? Say "Bring your
convincing proof: this is the Message of those with me and the Message of those
before me." But most of them know not the Truth and so turn away”

21.25 “Not an apostle did I send before thee without this inspiration sent by Us to
him: that there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me.”
Logically, all revealed religions must carry the same message – only ONE powerful Deity to
whom we are accountable – ONE God, one humanity.

21.26 “And they say: "(Allah) Most Gracious has begotten offspring." Glory to
Him! They are (but) servants raised to honor.”
“O people of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of Allah aught but
truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an Apostle of Allah and His Word
which He bestowed on Mary and a Spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in Allah and
His Apostles. Say not "Trinity": desist: it will be better for you: for Allah is One Allah: glory
be to him: (for Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the
heavens and on earth. And enough is Allah as a Disposer of affairs.” [4.171]

21.27 “They speak not before He speaks and they act (in all things) by His
command.”
All abilities have been created by God – therefore His is the first word.

21.28 “He knows what is before them and what is behind them and they offer no
intercession except for those who are acceptable and they stand in awe and
reverence of His (glory).”
All situations and tests are created by Him.

21.29 “If any of them should say "I am a god besides Him" such a god I should
reward with Hell: thus do I reward those who do wrong.”
Can any prophet say anything but the truth?
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{Notes}:
{1} https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0072592/