Article appeared Friday, March 4th, 2016 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (417)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Does the world we live in make sense? We see all types of activities going on both good and
bad. Just as we are shocked by inhumane practices {1} we discover other practices {2} that
deny food equality, promote supremacy {3} and world domination. At the same time, we find
people {4} who fight for justice as well as those {5} who are devoted to activities that promote
the concept of the Creator, i.e., promote the reality of an omnipotent god to whom we are all
accountable.
So essentially, if we attempt to analyze the focus behind the activities, we may find three broad
categories of motivation, i.e., activities that promote self or are against others, activities that
help others and activities that promote the purpose of the Creator. Given the range of activities
we would realize that, other than oppressed and confined persons, each person has the
opportunity to freely exercise his or her own free-will. As we utilize the opportunities, we provide
proof of our character we demonstrate our preferences and thereby intention and the focus
behind each activity. Life on earth therefore provides an opportunity to demonstrate our chosen
personal preferences.
However, life on earth is brief our opportunities are only open till death. At death, the personal
benefits of wealth, power and demonstration of egos come to an abrupt end. If we have done
good things for others, we may be remembered. A question to ask here is that, can the memory
of a dead person be of any benefit to the person who is dead? The only thing that can be of
benefit and bring benefit is the work done for God, i.e., if we meet God after death. If God did
not exist, even working for Him would be futile. It is only if He exists, that He can evaluate and
reward our attitude towards Him and also what we have done for others. This is one of the
concepts the Rick Warren explains in his book, Purpose Driven Life: What on earth are we here
for? To provoke thought, here are some quotes from the book,
Without God life makes no sense. {6}
Point to Ponder: If there were no God, and everything was a result of random chance,
there would be no purpose to your life. It all starts with God. {6}
Every day is an important day, and every second is a growth opportunity to deepen
your character, to demonstrate love, or to depend on God. {6}
And therefore,
It is only in God that we discover our origin, our identity, our meaning, our purpose, our
significance, and our destiny. Every other path leads to a dead end. {6}
Hence, the focal point of the entire creation is God the existence of the universe and incredibly
complex human beings are proof of His Abilities and Qualities. It is only the analytical ability of
human beings that can independently witness the Qualities of God. As examples, it is only
analytical intelligence that can work out whether He is Merciful, whether He is the MasterCreator, whether He is Patient, whether He is best to Protect us from calamities, etc. As He has
created everything from nothing, He must have also created knowledge and the human ability to
draw logical conclusions from day to day experiences. Can we run away from the fact that the
primary purpose of creating analytical processing would have to be the ability to work out and
witness His Qualities and Attributes? To help understand this purpose, He has also Revealed
knowledge in the form of Holy Scriptures. We need to process this Revealed Knowledge to fulfill
our purpose and derive benefit from our existence. As an example of what the Holy Scriptures
say, a discussion of Verse 87 in Chapter 15, i.e., Sura Al-Hijr of the Al-Quran is presented.

15.87 And We have given you the Seven Oft-Repeated (verses) and the Grand
Qur'an.
This Verse from the Quran separates the seven Verses of the opening chapter of the Quran
and puts it on an equal footing, i.e., giving it an equal value to the rest of the Quran.
Collectively, the seven Verses could therefore represent the essence or a summary of the entire
Quran. The rest of the Quran {7} consists of 113 chapters containing over 6000 verses. As
such, would it be worth processing and drawing conclusions from the knowledge given in these
seven Verses of the Opening Chapter, i.e., Sura Fatiha of the Quran?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. [1.1]
As the job of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was to relay the Revealed message to mankind, he
would have to do so with the authority given by Allah, by reciting In the name of Allah. The
Verse ends indicating the two most important qualities or attributes of Allah the Most Gracious
and the Most Merciful. Our intelligent existence with an ability to exercise free will and derive
satisfaction from the joys of life reflects these two attributes.
All Praise due to Allah the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds. [1.2]
To allow us to appreciate the joys of life, He has conceptualized, designed and created the
entire universe and each individual human being therefore all Credit is entirely and exclusively
His. Having created everything, both the current world and the world to come (Hereafter) it is He
who has to look after and sustain every moment of our existence and enable success. Why is
He doing this? As He is,
Most Gracious, Most Merciful. [1.3]
Having designed and given each of us an intelligent existence, a personality, free will with
abilities and opportunities to enjoy and derive satisfaction, He will judge what we individually do
in return, whether we are grateful and do work for Him and the others that He has created or
whether we rebel against His Purpose.
Master of the Day of Judgment. [1.4]
He will finally evaluate our motivation and activities on the Day of Judgment a Day between
the two Worlds, the current world and the world afterwards, i.e., after we leave the current world.
It is You we worship and You we ask for help. [1.5]
In the current world, we need to demonstrate our intelligent allegiance to Him, our belief in the
Hereafter and constantly seek His help to develop our faith and character.
Guide us to the straight path. [1.6]
The purpose of the current life is to prove our preferences and character, i.e., learn about Him
and do what is needed for Him and the others that He has created.
The path of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not of those who have
evoked Your anger and who go astray. [1.7]
As a book of guidance, the Quran also contains stories of former nations and how they angered
Him. We seek his help and guidance to be and remain on the path that pleases Him.
------{Notes}:
{1} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Female_genital_mutilation
{2} http://arvindguptatoys.com/arvindgupta/susan-george-hunger.pdf
{3} http://forum.prisonplanet.com/index.php?topic=28485.0
{4} http://www.biographyonline.net/people/famous/human-rights.html
{5} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrahamic_religions
{6} http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2265235-the-purpose-driven-life-what-on-earth-ami-here-for?page=4
{7} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quran