Article appeared Friday, June 11th, 2010 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (134) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Is it important to read the manual before using a product? Why? How many people disbelieve
what the manual says about a product, for example, how many people would go against the
advice of a manual, argue about the contents or even exclude pages they don’t like? From the
manufacturers’ point-of-view, would it be wise to place a product in the market without a
manual? Also, what would a manufacturer do if parts of the manual were lost or if an update or
feedback was necessary given the performance of the product in the market?

Likewise, if human beings are manufactured or created, is it logical for a users’ manual to be
sent down? Would the Creator create humans without a complete specification and then put
humans on earth without a user’s guide? The Qur’an enlightens man:
“No just estimate of Allah do they make when they say: "Nothing does Allah send down
to man (by way of revelation)": Ask: "Who then sent down the Book which Moses
brought? A Light and Guidance to man: but you make it into (separate) sheets for show
while you conceal much (of its contents): therein were you taught that which you knew
not, neither you nor your fathers." Say: "Allah (sent it down)": then leave them to plunge
in vain discourse and trifling.” [6.91]

Would an updated manual situate itself, i.e. give the context and background? Regarding the
Qur’an itself,
“And this is a Book which We have Revealed bringing blessings and confirming (the
Revelations) that came before it: that you may warn the Mother of Cities all around (the
Globe). Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in this (the contents and purpose of
the Book) and they are constant in guarding their prayers.” [6.92]

Do published manuals come with instructions on distribution? The Qur’an correspondingly

Guides how it should be distributed – ‘warn the Mother of Cities all around (the Globe)’! Would a
manual give the qualification of the manufacturer? The Qur’an fittingly introduces the Creator:
“It is Allah Who causes the seed-grain and the date-stone to split and sprout. He causes
the living to issue from the dead and He is the One to cause the dead to issue from the
living. That is Allah; then how are you deluded away from the truth?” [6.95]

Not only does the Qur’an introduce the Creator, it gives feedback on the performance of human
beings – ‘then how are you deluded away from the truth’! To show authenticity, would a manual
refer to the original specification and mention where it is located? Accordingly, the Qur’an
mentions the source of its contents and location:
“We have made it a Qur'an in Arabic that you may be able to understand. And verily it is
in the Mother of the Book in Our Presence High (in Dignity) full of Wisdom.” [43.3 –
43.4]

“Nay this is a Glorious Qur'an (inscribed) in (and taken from) a Tablet Preserved!”
[85.21 – 85.22]

The Qur’an also gives a reason of why the current Revelation is in Arabic.
“We sent (not) an apostle except (to teach) in the language of his (own) people in order
to make (things) clear to them…” [14.4a]
 “Had We sent this as a Qur'an (in a language) other than Arabic they would have said:
"Why are not its verses explained in detail? What! (A Book) not in Arabic and (the
Messenger) an Arab?" Respond: "It is a guide and a healing to those who believe; and
for those who believe not there is a deafness in their ears and it is blindness in their
(eyes); they are (as it were) being called from a place far distant!” [41.44]

Who decides where and when a manual is published? Is it logical for a manufactured product to
have a say in where and when a manual is published? Or is it the manufacturer’s prerogative?
To those who argue about the details of Qur’anic Revelation and Publication, Allah states His
Privilege resulting from the natural advantage of being the Creator:
“…Now Allah leaves straying those whom He Pleases and Guides whom He Pleases:
and He is Exalted in Power, Full of Wisdom.” [14.4b]

It is up to the manufactured product or the human being to seek Guidance, in whatever

language it is and wherever available, i.e. if she/he believes that she/he is created and wishes
to get the best out of and for the created human being. Those who wish Guidance will find it in
the Qur’an. The most recent Prophet and Revelation were sent to the Arabs in response to the
prayer of Abraham:
“Our Lord! Send amongst them an Apostle of their own who shall rehearse Thy Signs to
them and instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom and sanctify them; for Thou art Exalted
in Might, the Wise.” [2.129]

Accordingly, Revelation was sent with feedback on the performance of those who were given
Revelation beforehand. ‘Sura Baquarah’ or Chapter 2 of the Qur’an derives its name ‘baquarah’,
i.e. cow in English, from the hypocrisy demonstrated when the people of Moses worshipped the
cow (hand-made out of ornaments) just after they were rescued from their plight and the
arrogant Pharaoh drowned in front of their very eyes by the Creator. Where did they place their
gratitude? In the Creator or in the cow? Or both? Or neither – just clutching at anything going?
Hypocrisy is demonstrated when multiple things are worshipped together. To help understand
hypocritical nature, Stendhal (1783 – 1842), a 19th-century French writer, wrote:
“Mathematics allows for no hypocrisy and no vagueness.” {1}

Should a manual refer to sections of the original? How can this be done? The next Sura, Al-
Imran opens with the same reference to the source, as used in Chapter 2.

3.1 “Alif Laam Meem”

How better to put a seal of authenticity than to give reference to the sections in the original
source? Having dealt with hypocritical belief in Chapter 2, Chapter 3 starts with introducing the
Creator again, reaffirming the first and most important commandment of all Revealed Religion:

3.2 “Allah! There is no god but He the Living, the Self-Subsisting, Eternal.”
And then continues to tell us the purpose of the Manual or Revelation.

3.3 “It is He Who sent down to thee (step-by-step) in truth the Book confirming
what went before it; and He sent down Law (Of Moses) and the Gospel (of Jesus)
before this as a Guide to mankind and He sent down the Criterion (of judgment
between right and wrong).”

{Notes}:
{1} http://thinkexist.com/quotation/mathematics_allows_for_no_hypocrisy_and_no/154131.html