Article appeared Friday, June 9th, 2017 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (479) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

God has given each one of us a status and sufficient abilities. He has raised some in status
above others, i.e., they are established as rulers, leaders, owners of establishments or big
businessmen. In such cases He has given power over the lives of other people. In these
situations, what should we do with the gifts of power that He has given? How should we behave
towards those under us? And what should the attitude towards God be?

How did Pharaoh use the gifts of wealth and power given to Him? As reported in the Holy
Quran, he oppressed, tortured and killed people,
Truly Pharaoh elated himself in the land and broke up its people into sections
depressing a small group among them: their sons he slew but he kept alive their
females: for he was indeed a maker of mischief. [28.4]

He practiced a policy of divide and rule. He did not want any new leadership to be born from
among those He ruled. Together with him, there were others (hosts) who supported his cruelty.
(Remember also) Qarun, Pharaoh and Haman: Moses came to them with Clear Signs
but they behaved with insolence on the earth; yet they could not escape (Us). [29.39]

In his arrogance, Pharaoh declared himself as god!

Pharaoh said: "O Chiefs! No god do I know for you but myself: therefore O Haman!
Light me a (kiln to bake bricks) out of clay and build me a lofty palace that I may mount
up to the god of Moses: but as far as I am concerned I think (Moses) is a liar!" [28.38]

So, Pharaoh used the gifts given by God to declare himself a god, oppress and kill his people.
How should God react to such use of His Gifts?
And he was arrogant and insolent in the land beyond reason he and his hosts: they
thought that they would not have to return to Us! So We seized him and his hosts and
We flung them into the sea: now behold what was the end of those who did wrong!
[28.39 28.40]

To consider and contrast, God gives the example of Dhul-Qarnayn who gratefully used the Gifts
given to deliver justice, constantly acknowledging and referring back to God in all his activities.

18.83 They ask you (O Muhammad) about Dhul-Qarnayn. Say, "I will rehearse to
you something of his story."
God gave him powers greater than Pharaoh. Three instances of his use of his powers is given
in the Verses that follow.

18.84 Verily We established his power on earth and We gave him the ways and
the means to achieve all ends.
He was given the power to do both right or wrong. However, it was left to him to decide.

18.85 One (such) way he followed

So, on his journeys what judgment and attitude towards the people and God did he display?

18.86 Until when he reached the setting of the sun he found it set in a spring of
murky water: near it he found a People. We said: "O Dhul-Qarnayn, (you have the
authority) either to punish them or to treat them with kindness."
Dhul-Qarnayn was given complete authority over the people he found at the lands end in the
west (where the sun could be seen setting in the water). Having been granted the authority, how
should one who is constantly aware of God and His Purpose use his power?
18.87 He said, "We shall certainly punish him who does wrong; then shall he be
sent back to his Lord; and He will punish him with a punishment unheard-of
(before).

18.88 "But whoever believes and works righteousness he shall be amply

rewarded and easy will be his task as we shall facilitate it by our command."
He decided to separate those who believe in God and those who do not believe, i.e., those who
do wrong. While delivering his judgment, he was fully aware that this was only a punishment or
reward for the present life. Each would have to face God on the Day of Judgment and be given
a punishment unheard of on earth! For those who believe, he would make a recommendation to
God through prayer to make their present life easy and be rewarded on the Day of Judgment.
He never, for a moment, forgot Gods Grace, His Supporting Role and His Purpose for sending
man to earth. His attitude in everything was to please His Maker doing right by Him.

18.89 Then followed he (another) way.

This is now at the geographically opposite direction, i.e., the east.

18.90 Until when he came to the rising of the sun he found it rising on a people for
whom We had provided no covering protection against the sun.
The people he found here lived simply with no arrangements for shelter. Most likely, he
delivered the message of God and after sharing the necessity of belief, he left them alone to
lead their peaceful lives as they were.

18.91 (He left them) as they were. We completely understood what was before
him.

18.92 Then followed he (another) way

Again, in another direction, he came to a new foreign land,

18.93 Until when he reached (a tract) between two mountains he found besides a
people who scarcely understood a word (of his language).

18.94 They said, "O Dhul-Qarnayn, the Gog and Magog (savage tribes) do great
mischief on earth: shall we then pay you in order that you might erect a barrier
between us and them?"
The people wanted a means of protection from the savage tribes who regularly invaded them.

18.95 He said, "(The power) which my Lord has given me is better (than what you
offer); help me therefore with strength (and labor): I will erect a strong barrier
between you and them:
To do this good deed, he declined any sort of favor. As a ruler, he wanted to be of good service
to the people under him and build for them a means of protection again to please God who
had gifted him the power that he had. Having built the barrier, he credited God (not himself) for
being merciful and reminded them of the Day of Judgment when all will disappear.

18.96 "Bring me blocks of iron." At length when he had filled up the space
between the two steep mountain sides he said, "Blow (with your bellows)." Then
when he had made it (red) as fire he said, "Bring me that I may pour over it molten
lead."

18.97 Thus they (Gog & Magog) were made powerless to scale it or to dig
through it.

18.98 He said, "This is a mercy from my Lord: but when the promise of my Lord
comes to pass He will make it into dust; and the promise of My Lord is true."