Article appeared Friday, October 14th, 2016 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (446)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

On birthdays, what do we do? We celebrate the number of years completed on earth. Do we

realize that with each birthday we have one less year remaining? We obviously do not know
exactly how many years remain, but the idea is whether it is important to remind ourselves and
address the fact that we have a limited and a constantly diminishing time remaining?
In our regular pursuits and multiple efforts to improve our lives through the accumulation of
wealth, power and status, the fact that we have a limited time remaining can easily be
overlooked. To decide whether it is important to consider time remaining, from where can we
collect data or knowledge? Let us look at the knowledge from two different sources quotes
from intelligent and successful people and verses from the Holy Scriptures. The following quote
from Steve Jobs {1} shows how consciousness of time remaining made his life more
meaningful.
Remembering that Ill be dead soon is the most important tool Ive ever encountered to
help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything all external
expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure these things just fall away
in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are
going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to
lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. {1}
Where, indeed, does the satisfaction of ones heart lie? In the final analysis, what is, in fact, truly
important? What is the essence of what Steve Jobs is trying to say? Is he saying that life on
earth is a limited time opportunity to do what is truly important to our hearts or souls? So, what
is or what should be truly important to a person? What are the alternatives? Could it be:
to use the opportunities to accumulate wealth, gain power and status? Or
to please the One who has given the opportunities to enjoy and be at peace with Him?
Would being the richest man in the cemetery {1} be of more long lasting value than trying to
please the Giver of opportunities? While we delve on the preferred option, let us review some
verses from the Holy Quran.
You will indeed find them of all people most greedy of life even more than the idolaters;
each one of them wishes he could be given a life of a thousand years; but the grant of
such life will not save him from (due) punishment for Allah sees well all that they do.
[2.96]
Who is Allah referring to in Verse 2.96? Can other than idolaters be those who claim to be
believers? The point here is by the time one has accumulated wealth, how much time is left to
enjoy the wealth? Why punishment? To find the answer to this question, let us look at some
more verses.
Say, "The Angel of Death put in charge of you will (duly) take your souls: then shall you
be brought back to your Lord." [32.11]
Upon dying, the Angel of Death will take us back to the Supreme Being who has created the
opportunity of an individual life on earth. Subsequently, on the Day of Judgment, it will be said,
Taste (the punishment) then, for you forgot the meeting of this Day and We too will
forget you, taste the Penalty of Eternity for your (evil) deeds! [32.14]
Why or what evil deeds?
Only those believe in Our Verses, who, when they are recited, to them, fall down in
adoration and celebrate the praises of their Lord; nor are they (ever) puffed up with

pride. Their limbs do forsake their beds of sleep the while they call on their Lord in Fear
and Hope: and they spend (in charity) out of the sustenance which We have bestowed
on them. [32.15 32.16]
Verses 32.15 32.16 define the qualities or characteristics of a righteous person or actual
believer (among those who claim that they are believers). A believer is one who has recognized
the Giver of the opportunities to gain wealth, status and power. When a believer reads or listens
to such verses he/she recognizes the opportunities as personal gifts and falls down in prayer
acknowledging the greatness of the Allah in humble gratitude. As such people recognize that
everything is a gift, they have no reason to feel pride. They recognize that the gifts are also
opportunities to demonstrate their personal character; they therefore spend regularly in charity
from the wealth given by Allah. They can never lose as the Giver of sustenance is Allah Himself.
He only tests by way of gifts. What will happen to those who succeed in pleasing Him?
Now no person knows what delights of the eye are kept hidden (in reserve) for them as
a reward for their (good) Deeds. Is then the man who believes no better than the man
who is rebellious and wicked? Not equal are they. For those who believe and do
righteous deeds are Gardens as hospitable homes for their (good) deeds. [32.17
32.19]
What is the purpose of the Holy Quran?
Verily this Qur'an guides to that which is most right (or stable) and gives the glad tidings
to the Believers who work deeds of righteousness that they shall have a magnificent
reward; And to those who believe not in the Hereafter (it is announced) that We have
prepared for them a Penalty grievous (indeed). [17.9 17.10]
Prayers should be prayers of gratitude and for receiving guidance on how to please Allah. In
contrast, most pray for more worldly things, i.e., wealth, status and power. Therefore, Allah
reveals,

17.11 The prayer that man should make for good he makes for evil: for man is
given to hasty (deeds).
Allah creates the opportunity and grants success to those who put in the effort. Allah is not
denying the opportunity or the success, He is the Benefactor. He simply wants to see who is
righteous by showing gratitude and demonstrates appropriate ways of acknowledging Him. For
carrying out the opportunities, Allah has created the Night and the Day.

17.12 We have made the Night and the Day as two (of Our) Signs: the Sign of the
Night have We obscured while the Sign of the day We have made to enlighten
you; that you may seek the Bounty from your Lord and that you may know the
number and count of the years: all things have We explained in detail.
The conversion of night into a day also indicates the passage of time and the reduction in the
time left on earth. So that proper accounting can be done on the Day of Judgment, all our
individual activities during the day and the night are recorded in detail.

17.13 Every man's fate We have fastened on his own neck: on the Day of
Judgment We shall bring out for him a scroll which he will see spread open.
17.14 (It will be said to him:) "Read your (own) record: sufficient is your soul this
day to make out an account against you."
------{Notes}:
{1} http://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/your-time-is-limited-dontwaste-it-living-someone-elses-life-ten-quotes-that-defined-steve-jobs/