Article appeared Friday, February 18th, 2011 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (167) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Is it possible that we instinctively know the reality of our Creator? Who do many people pray to when in
trouble, when ill, when all else fails or simply have an upcoming test? To help us understand, the French
poet, playwright, novelist and statesman Victor Hugo (1802 – 1885) wrote in his famous novel, Les
Misérables,
“Certain thoughts are prayers. There are moments when, whatever be the attitude of the body, the
soul is on its knees.” {1}

When in need, who is it that the soul seeks out or bows to? The American president Abraham Lincoln (1809
– 1865) admitted turning to the Creator when he had nowhere else to go:
“I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere
else to go.” {1}

The most recent Revelation, the Qur’an confirms that regardless of religious inclination, many approach the
Creator directly when in trouble or need:
“When trouble touches a man he cries to Us (in all postures) lying down on his side or sitting or
standing...” [10.12a]

Does this imply that we instinctively know who can and may get us out of trouble or protect us and the fact
that there is no one else to turn to? How do we know the truth? The Qur’an Reveals how our souls already
know about the Creator. When created, our souls testified to the truth of and dependence on the Creator:
“When your Lord drew from the children of Adam their descendants, He made them testify
concerning themselves (asking): "Am I not your Lord who cherishes and sustains you?" They
responded: "Yes! We do testify!" (This) lest you should say on the Day of Judgment: "of this we
were never mindful."” [7.172]

Regardless of our ancestry, each created soul has given this testimony. We therefore instinctively know the
reality of our Creator. On the Day of Judgment, therefore, no one will have an excuse claiming that he/she
was unaware of the truth.
“Or lest you should say: "Our fathers before us may have taken false gods but we are (their)
descendants after them: will You then destroy us because of the deeds of men who were futile?"”
[7.173]

When our Creator has solved our problem and the trouble has passed what should we do? Should we get
down on our knees again and thank the Creator? Do we equally get emotional and thank the Creator for
getting us out of trouble or solving the problem? How should the Creator feel if we do not thank Him
directly afterwards? To help us understand the feelings of the Creator, the American evangelical Christian
Billy Graham Dienert (b. 1918) is known to have said:
“Many people pray as if God were a big aspirin pill; they come only when they hurt.” {1}

The Scottish Protestant Christian minister Oswald J Chambers (1874 – 1917) elaborates on this saying that
a troubled person prays because of the importance of the problem, not because one is seeking the Creator.
Thus when the trouble is gone, there is no need for further medicine or prayer.
“We have to pray with our eyes on God, not on the difficulties.” {1}

How should the Creator feel if people treat Him like an aspirin pill? The political activist Margaret Gibb
(1892 – 1984) therefore astutely pointed to the feelings of our Creator:
“We must move from asking God to take care of the things that are breaking our hearts, to praying
about the things that are breaking His heart. ” {1}

How should the Creator feel, after personally having taken care of the trouble, if we do not thank Him
equally and to add salt to the wound instead give credit our own skills, religious sages (pirs), lucky charms,
stone rings, amulets, prophets, ancestors, astrology, occult or just plain luck? The Qur’an gives a severe
warning regarding ignoring the Creator after trouble passes:
“…But when We have solved his trouble he passes on his way as if he had never cried to Us for a
trouble that had touched him! Thus do the deeds of transgressors seem fair in their (own)
eyes!” [10.12b]

The purpose of prophets or messengers throughout the ages was to warn exactly against such unrighteous
behavior. By not thanking the Creator directly, one not only demonstrates ungratefulness but also shows a
lack of understanding of who the Creator is, i.e. disbelief.
“Generations before you We destroyed when they did wrong: their Apostles came to them with
Clear Signs but they would not believe! Thus do We requite those who sin!” [10.13]

Examples from previous Revelations, i.e. the Psalms, the Old Testament and the New Testament likewise
demonstrate a need for understanding who the Creator really is, i.e. completely trust the power of the
Creator and exclusively honor or thank Him when out of trouble.
“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.” [Psalm, 50.15] {2}

“The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him.” [Nahum, 1.7]
{3}

“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” [Romans, 12.12] {4}

“But why not call on these (other) gods you have made? When trouble comes, let them save you if
they can!...” [Jeremiah, 2.28] {5}

Jeremiah 2.28 provides an acid test for Christians themselves to check whether Jesus is god. For any being
or thing that we feel is god or has power, we should check whether the being or thing can bring us out of
trouble. Not only do all Revelation throughout the ages repeatedly warn against creating gods other than
the Creator, history stands witness to the fact that there is no Power except that of the Creator! During the
time of the prophets people who understood this important truth demonstrated complete trust exclusively
in the Creator and fought alongside the prophets to establish this truth!

3.146 “How many of the Prophets fought (in Allah's way) and with them (fought) large
bands of godly men? But they never lost heart if they met with disaster in Allah's way nor
did they weaken (in will) nor give in. And Allah loves those who are firm and steadfast.”

3.147 “All that they said was: "Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and anything we may have
done that transgressed our duty; establish our feet firmly and help us against those that
resist faith."”

3.148 “And Allah gave them a reward in this world and the excellent reward of the Hereafter.
For Allah loves those who do good.”

3.149 “O you who believe! If you obey the unbelievers they will drive you back on your
heels and you will turn back (from faith) to your own loss.”

3.150 “Nay Allah is your Protector and He is the best of Helpers.”

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{Notes}:
{1} http://www.quotegarden.com/prayer.html
{2} http://bible.cc/psalms/50-15.htm
{3} http://bible.cc/nahum/1-7.htm
{4} http://bible.cc/romans/12-12.htm
{5} http://bible.cc/jeremiah/2-28.htm