Article appeared Friday, September 27th, 2013 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (296)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Does a believer have any particular characteristics? Or, in other words what is it that separates a believer from a disbeliever? How can one work out the answer to this question? One way may be to ask another related question. For example, for a believer, is it simply sufficient to say that I believe there is a Creator? What makes a believer say this? Is this assertion based on some certain knowledge that the believer has? Has the believer actually analyzed this knowledge? Should the believer need to comprehend this knowledge and work out what it practically means for him/her? For example, to comprehend this knowledge, the following statements, logic and questions could be applied. - If I believe in the fact that I have been created, this means that - The Creator has created an individual existence for me. Therefore, questions could be: - Do I enjoy having intelligence, feelings, status, satisfaction and a unique existence? - If I do, should I be pleased with the opportunity at life that He has given me? - If I am pleased, should I try to please the Creator in return? - If I do not want to please the Creator, what else have I given the Creator in return for giving me the opportunity at life? So how should the Creator look upon the soul that is pleased with its intelligent existence and works to please the Creator in return? The Quran, the most recent Revelation, foretells the welcome the Creator will give to such a soul upon death: (To the righteous soul it will be said,) "O soul in (complete) rest and satisfaction! Come back to your Lord well pleased (with yourself) and well-pleasing to Him! Enter then among my Devotees! Yes, enter my Heaven! " [89.27 89.30] So a believer would be given recognition and a reward for her/his attitude towards the Creator. A person who has knowledge but does not actively acknowledge the contribution of the Creator is classified as a disbeliever. Such a person is ungrateful for the life given and may also demonstrate arrogance. So in contrast, on the Day of Judgment, what will the situation be with a soul that is ungrateful and demonstrates arrogance? And on the Day that the Unbelievers will be placed before the Fire (it will be said to them): "You received your good things in the life of the world and you took your pleasure out of them: but today shall you be recompensed with a Penalty of humiliation: for that you were arrogant on earth without just cause and that you (ever) transgressed." [46.20] The job of individual human knowledge and intelligence is to recognize the Creators contribution to his/her life, consequently be grateful to Him and look for ways to please Him. The Creator therefore clearly explains: If you reject (Allah) truly Allah has no need of you; but He likes not ingratitude from His servants: if you are grateful He is Pleased with you. No bearer of burdens can bear the burden of another. In the end to your Lord is your return when He will tell you the truth of all that you did (in this life). For He knows well all that is in (men's) hearts. [39.7] How does the Creator find out what is in our hearts?

Do men think that they will be left alone on saying "We believe" and that they will not be tested? We did test those before them and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false. [29.2 29.3] He tests each human being with multiple tests to find out how our hearts respond to the tests. With what does the Creator test each individual? Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Who say when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah we belong and to Him is our return." [2.155 2.156] The problems we face in our lives are tests given by the Creator. Our job is to use our intelligence to recognize that the test is from the Creator, be patient and continue to trust Him. It is only He that can alleviate the problem nothing else has any power. However, if we panic or are impatient, we leave ourselves open to suggestions from Satan. For example, The Evil One threatens you with poverty and bids you to conduct unseemly. Allah promises you His Forgiveness and Bounties and Allah cares for all and He knows all things. [2.268] However, while suffering, if we trust Allah and patiently bear the suffering, we will have proven our belief and faith in Him and And if you fear poverty soon will Allah enrich you if He wills out of His Bounty for Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise. [9.28] We should realize that having created us out of love and affection, He will not abandon us there is no one else to look after us. All other things that we apparently rely on are also created and therefore are under His complete control. So what should we do if we are in a situation where we become afraid, have failed in a venture or exam, or have prospects of going hungry? We should realize that the Creator is temporarily testing our hearts and just wants to see whether we rely and trust Him. So if the wrong types of ideas enter into our heads, we should use our intelligence and seek the Creator.

7.200 If a suggestion from Satan assail your (mind) seek refuge with Allah; for He Hears and Knows (all things). 7.201 Those who fear Allah when a thought of evil from Satan assaults them bring Allah to remembrance when lo! They see (i.e. they realize that it is only a test)!
Satan does not relax till he is able to create vulnerable followers or brothers among human beings.

7.202 But their brethren (the evil ones) plunge them deeper into error and never relax (their efforts).
The job of Satan is to constantly provide alternatives to those who do not trust the Creator and are arrogant. By following the suggested alternatives, one proves their disbelief. To those who do not fear Allah, He asks a rational question: Ask them: "Just think, if Allah takes away your hearing and your sight and seals up your hearts, is there any deity other than Allah who could restore them to you?" See how We present Our Revelations over and over again and yet they turn away. [6.46]