Article appeared Friday, November 2nd, 2018 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (545) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

The Creator has given each an intelligent and unique life full of opportunities. If we are
motivated, we can use these opportunities to live our personality, develop our skills, do things to
achieve success and gain a status and standing in society. Enjoying and benefitting from all of
this, are we grateful? Do then, those who believe, have duties and responsibilities towards Him?

As we start discussing this question, it may be relevant to first examine the concept of “belief”.
What is belief? Is it simply about asking God Almighty for the things that we need, things that we
want and seeking Him out when in trouble, i.e., can belief just be recognition of God as the One
who gives, protects and saves? To understand this concept, let us compare having God as our
Benefactor versus having a boss in a company. How do we deal with the boss? Does our
interaction involve only asking for things and asking for a solution to problems that we cannot
solve? Or do we also have duties and responsibilities towards the boss of the company?

Needless to say, the boss has hired/given us an existence in the company for a purpose. If we
do not fulfill this purpose, or do things as required, what might he do? If we choose to ignore
what the boss wants, he may remove us! So, basically one has to find out why he/she has been
hired and carry out the required duties and responsibilities. The boss who can hire can also fire
the employees. We must therefore give priority to the boss’s purpose and wishes, i.e., if we
understand the concept of having a boss. Can this appreciation of the importance of the boss be
classified as a belief? Can fulfilling the purpose of being hired be a part of such a belief system?

A boss gives existence in his/her company and provides the resources to carry out duties and
responsibilities. Compared to the boss, what has the Almighty Creator given each of us? How
should we define belief in this case? Can He do away with us if He wanted? He has created a
unique personality from nothing and arranged for all our opportunities. How, then, should belief
be defined in this case? Should we ask the question, why has He taken the trouble to give us an
existence? Is it just for repeatedly asking Him for things we want/need and when in trouble? If
we understand the concept of being created, could belief be defined as appreciating Him as our
Creator, demonstrating gratitude, taking the trouble not only to find out the purpose of being
created, but also fulfilling this purpose? Would fulfilling His purpose consist of carrying out our
duties and responsibilities as His creation?

Holy Scriptures warn us of the consequences of not fulfilling our duties and responsibilities. If
we, as His creation, fail to please Him, we find the following Verse in the Al-Qur’an. Not only can
He remove an individual from the face of the earth, He can replace entire nations.
“If He so pleased He can blot you out and bring in a New Creation; nor is this difficult for
God.” [35.16 – 35.17]

Elsewhere in the Al-Qur’an God confirms that indeed He has completely destroyed
nations/generations before us – even nations who were better in technology and had better
things that pleased the eye.
“But how many (countless) generations before them have We destroyed who were even
better in equipment and in glitter to the eye?” [19.74]

The Verse 19.74 frames a question – it is therefore an invitation to look up history and find out
the manner in which many nations were completely destroyed, leaving behind no descendents.
Accordingly, another Verse additionally asks whether we can hear any sound from them.
“And how many a generation before them have We destroyed? Can you see a single
man of them, or hear from them the slightest sound?” [19.98]
So, what would we rather do – ignore our Benefactor’s purpose? Or at least check out what our
duties and responsibilities could be towards Him? Chapter 23 of the Al-Qur’an, titled The
Believers opens with the desired characteristics of believers. Let us examine the opening
Verses of this Chapter.

23.1 “The Believers must (eventually) win through”

A believer is one who believes that he/she has been created for a purpose and makes various
efforts to fulfill this purpose. God therefore asks the following question.
“Do you then think that We have created you in jest and that you would not be brought
back to Us (for account)?” [23.115]

The job of a believer is to find the truth about our own creation, acknowledge God with gratitude
and share the truth with others.
“Among those whom We have created, there are some people who guide others with
the truth and establish justice therewith.” [7.181]

23.2 “Those who humble themselves in their prayers;”

In prayer, a believer stands before His Lord, the Master and Owner of the Universe, in an
appropriately pious and humble frame of mind – they also rush to pray often, as it is an activity
that pleases the heart.

23.3 “Who avoid vain talk;”

“And when they hear vain talk they turn away from there and say, "To us our deeds and
to you yours; peace be to you: we seek not the ignorant."” [28.55]

Whatever skills, qualities and successes we have are given by God. Therefore God compares
those who indulge boastful talk with the braying of an ass.
“And swell not your cheek (for pride) at men nor walk in insolence through the earth; for
Allah loves not any arrogant boaster. And be moderate in your pace and lower your
voice; for the harshest of sounds without doubt is the braying of the ass.” [31.18 – 31.19]

23.4 “Who are active in deeds of charity;”

A believer spends both time and resources in the active service of others. Regarding payment of
alms, there are some special rules laid down, e.g., those given in Verses 9.60 and 6.141.

23.5 “Who abstain from sex”

23.6 “Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond or those (e.g.,
captives) whom their right hands possess for (in their case) they are free from
blame”
Avoid sexual relations from other than those on whom a believer has a right through marriage or
by rightful means.

23.7 “But those whose desires exceed those limits are transgressors”

23.8 “Those who faithfully observe their trust and their covenants;”
Believers make promises to keep, and execute their trust in their role as trustees.

23.9 “And who (strictly) guard their prayers”