Article appeared Friday, December 9th, 2011 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (206)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Being created, is there a purpose to our individual lives? For the existence that we are personally enjoying on earth, are we accountable? Having taken the trouble to create us, is it likely that our Creator would leave us in the dark? Fortunately, for those who seek guidance, our Creator has sent Revelation throughout the ages. Recent Revelations are the Torah, the Psalms, the New Testament and the most recent one is the Quran. Let us find out what the Quran says about our individual existence. Man We did create from a quintessence (of clay); then We placed him as (a drop of) sperm in a place of rest firmly fixed; then We made the sperm into a clot of congealed blood; then out of that clot We made a (fetus) lump; then We made out of that lump bones and clothed the bones with flesh; then We developed out of it another creature: so blessed be Allah the Best to create! After that at length you will die. Again, on the Day of Judgment will you be raised up. [23.12 23.16] Each of us has been uniquely created in stages. We are destined to die one day and to be raised for accountability on the Day of Judgment. What will be decided on the Day of Judgment? For those who believe and work righteousness is (every) blessedness and a beautiful place of (final) return. [13.29] What kind of behavior should our Creator expect from a created being enjoying existence? Is it right and just that a created being be humble adore its Creator and tries to do things that may please Him? Or, should a created being concoct logic or alternatives to avoid being humble? Our Creator asks in the Quran: Is then He Who stands over every soul (and knows) all that it does (like any else)? And yet they ascribe partners to Allah. Ask: "But name them! Is it that you will inform Him of something He knows not on earth or is it (just) a show of words?" Nay! To those who believe not their pretence seems pleasing and therefore are kept back from the Path (of belief): and those whom Allah leaves to stray no one can guide. [13.33] Any logic that dilutes the uniqueness, authority or divides the power of the Creator is disbelief. Together with the Creator, one can assume that luck, lucky charms, stones, idols, special days, special people, astrology, occult, etc., have power. For example, trust in the Creator becomes diluted by believing in luck at the same time! So what will be the fate of those, who add alternatives, be on the Day of Judgment? The sentence will be: "Throw into hell every stubborn disbeliever, every opponent of good, and every doubting transgressor who set up other gods besides Allah... [50.24 50.26] As accountability is individual, disbelief does not hurt anyone except the disbeliever. It is He Who has made you vicegerent on the earth. Whoever disbelieves bears the burden of his disbelief; and for the disbelievers their disbelief does not increase anything except the wrath of their Creator and the disbelievers do not gain anything except an increase in their loss. [35.39] To give the warning of accountability and help us understand the approach to our Creator, Revelation has always been sent through selected believers selected from among those who earnestly adored their Creator. Having selected Muhammad (pbuh), our Creator informs him of his purpose.

O Muhammad! We have sent you among a nation before whom other nations have passed away (without Revelation); so that you may recite to them Our Revelations which We have sent down to you; yet they are rejecting the Compassionate (Allah). Say: "He is my Lord! There is no god but Him. In Him I have put my trust and to Him shall I return." [13.30] Throughout the ages, the purpose of each bearer of Revelation was not only to deliver Revelation but also to demonstrate the attitude of the one who follows the guidance given. Each messenger demonstrated how our Creator should be adored and trusted. In addition to defining the highest sin of joining gods, i.e. assuming other things have power to grant wishes, other sins for which we would be held accountable on the Day of Judgment are also given. Regarding sins, it is important to realize that, And if anyone earns sin he earns it against his own soul:... [4.111] As sin is a personal choice, no one other than the person himself/herself can be accountable. On the contrary, Let them bear on the Day of Judgment their own burdens in full and also (something) of the burdens of thosewhom they misled. Alas, how grievous the burdens they will bear! [16.25] In addition, ones sin will be doubled if one attempts to transfer the blame of a sin on another.

4.112 But if anyone earns a fault or a sin and throws it on to one that is innocent he carries (on himself) (both) a falsehood and a flagrant sin.
Those who wish to disbelieve often plot to convince others of their logic. This practice continues today as it did at the time of Prophet Muhammad.

4.113 But for the Grace of Allah to you and His Mercy a party of them would certainly have plotted to lead you astray. But (in fact) they will only lead their own souls astray and to you they can do no harm in the least. For Allah has sent down to you the Book and wisdom and taught you what you knew not (before); and great is the Grace of Allah to you. 4.114 In most of their secret talks there is no good: but if one exhorts to a deed of charity or justice or conciliation between men (secrecy is permissible): to him who does this, seeking the good pleasure of Allah We shall soon give a reward of the highest (value). 4.115 And whoever opposes the Messenger after the Guidance (of Allah) has been manifested to him, and follows other than a believer's way, We appoint for him that to which he himself has turned, and expose him to hell a hapless journey's end! 4.116 Allah forgives not (the sin of) joining other gods with Him: but He Forgives whom He Pleases other sins than this: one who joins other gods with Allah has strayed far, far away (from justice).