Article appeared Friday, December 28th, 2012 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (259)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Educationists across the world distinguish between acquisition of knowledge and the evaluation of it. This is because knowledge, or facts, may simply be recalled without placing any value or attaching importance to its meaning. Being able to evaluate knowledge or concepts requires a degree of thinking or self-processing of ideas in our brains. Bloom (1956) {1} proposed a sixtiered taxonomy or classification of thinking levels or skills, namely, Knowledge, Comprehension, Application, Analysis, Synthesis and Evaluation. Apart from Knowledge, which is classified as an ability to recall facts, all other thinking levels require a certain degree of ownership and placing of personal judgment on the ideas or concepts. So, knowledge or even facts based on evidence carries no personal meaning unless it is comprehended, applied, analyzed, synthesized and/or evaluated. It is only when facts or the truth has personal meaning that one would want to become an advocate, supporter or witness verifying the truth. Otherwise, the truth carries no personal value or weight. When we claim that we believe in the Creator or when we read scriptures, what level of thinking do we apply? For example, when scriptures talk about the truth what level of thinking is expected? The New Testament of the Bible clarifies, But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light,... [John 3:21, NIV] {2} What value does a person who lives by the truth place on the truth? When a person evaluates the truth and has personal realization of it, he/she comes into the light and also walks by the light, i.e. one is motivated to become an advocate, supporter or a witness to the truth. So, how does one arrive at such a value for the truth? To help apply varying levels of thinking to a concept, various action verbs {3} are often suggested. Let us examine how such action verbs can be applied to the concept of the Creator and His creation. To self-process the truth of this concept, sample questions can be: * Knowledge list five man-made things and five things created by the Creator. * Comprehension explain the difference between man-made things and things created. * Application role-play to show the difference between a robot and a human being. * Analysis contrast the abilities of a robot with that of a human being. * Synthesis develop a plan to show how a robot can be converted to a human being. * Evaluation assess the difference between man-made things and those made by the Creator. Having done so, conclude the nature of the Creator and what role He plays in the lives of human beings. The more questions one asks, the better the quality of personal meaning. Accordingly, the Bible says: The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart [Psalm 19:8, NIV] {4} Once we begin to attach personal meaning to what the Creator has done for human beings, e.g. creating opportunities to do, feel and enjoy the things that we do, we begin to feel pleased with what He has done for us and are pleased with Him. We realize that He is constantly there for us, sustaining and protecting us every moment. The person who has evaluated the truth is therefore sincerely grateful and adores the Creator for creating the joy of existence and the joy of personally knowing the Creator, i.e. personally witnessing the truth. The individual who adores the Creator and proclaims the truth has fulfilled the purpose for which he/she was created. For such a person, the most recent Revelation, the Quran says: Come back you to your Lord well pleased (yourself) and well-pleasing to Him! [89.28]

So, on the Day of Judgment, the Creator will be Pleased with those who are pleased with Him and adore Him. For those who are in doubt, our Creator asks a pertinent question in the Quran: It is We Who have created you: why will you not witness the Truth? [56.57] As created human beings, our job is to evaluate the truth and bear witness to it, just as all the apostles from the Creator did. And those who believe in Allah and His apostles they are the sincere (lovers of truth) and the witnesses (who testify) in the eyes of their Lord: they shall have their Reward and their Light but those who reject Allah and deny His Signs are the Companions of Hell-Fire. [57.19] The purpose of Revelation throughout the ages is also to witness the truth and provide Guidance for the present life and the Hereafter. It was We who revealed the law (to Moses); therein was guidance and light. By its standard have been judged the Jews by the Prophet who bowed to Allah's will by the Rabbis and the doctors of Law: for to them was entrusted the protection of Allah's Book and they were witnesses [5.44] And in their footsteps We sent Jesus, the son of Mary, confirming the law that had come before him: We sent him the Gospel: therein was guidance and light and confirmation of the law that had come before him: a guidance and an admonition to those who fear Allah. [5.46] It is the Creator who has sent knowledge as Revelation and created for us the ability to evaluate. Who then, is the best source of knowledge?

6.114 Say: "Shall I seek for a judge other than Allah? When He it is Who has sent to you the Book explained in detail." They know full well to whom We have given the Book that it has been sent down from your Lord in (support of the) truth. Never be then of those who doubt.
Who is it that knows what is best for created human beings?

6.115 The Word of your Lord does find its fulfillment in truth and in justice: none can change His Words: for He is the one who hears and knows all. 6.116 Were you to follow the common run of those on earth they would lead you away from the Way of Allah. They follow nothing but conjecture: they do nothing but lie.
There can only be one truth the truth of the Supreme God or Allah, i.e. our Creator. As such all Revelations and Apostles must speak the same truth as well as corroborate the truth. Have we self-processed this fact?

6.117 Your Lord knows best who strays from His Way. He knows best who they are that receive His Guidance.
-------{Notes}: {1} Bloom, B. S. (1956). Taxonomy of Educational Objectives: Handbook 1,

Cognitive Domain. New York: David McKay Company, Inc.

{2} http://bible.cc/john/3-21.htm {3} http://www.teach-nology.com/worksheets/time_savers/bloom/ {4} http://bible.cc/psalms/19-8.htm