Article appeared Friday, November 17th, 2017 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (500) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

As created beings we normally examine matters from a personal point of view. However, for the
sake of trying to understand our created environment, could it help to look upon our self or what
we see around us from the Creators point of view? If so how? One way would be to ask
questions from His point of view. For example, why has God created everything or rather before
creating, why would He want to create? How can this question be answered?

As we start looking for answers, we might want to first look at why we ourselves craft
something. Lets, for example, examine the craft of an artist/painter. Why does a painter paint?
Could it be that he/she wants to be known and valued as a painter? Or could it be the personal
satisfaction of using the given ability to craft different types of art work? On the other hand, what
about those who appreciate art? Do viewers have the opportunity to appreciate the qualities of
the painter? For example, how the artist interprets life, or expresses an idea through his/her art?
Consider the painting Mona Lisa. Who is it that has made the painter famous and established
Leonardo da Vinci as one of the greatest painters of all time? Is it those who have written
articles or books on the qualities and uniqueness of Leonardos paintings? Those who study,
document and disseminate their appreciation have established the qualities or truth of
Leonardos artwork. On the contrary, if no one appreciated Leonardos work, would he be the
famous painter that he is today?

Going back to the main question under review, are we now in a better position to discuss why
He would want to create? Thinking from His point of view, before God created, what was He?
He possessed all His Qualities; however, was there anyone to witness these Qualities He was
all alone. Now, to establish Himself as the Creator, for example, what would He need to do?
Before starting to create would it be an idea to document what He wants to do? In the case of a
painter, would it be an idea to draw an outline before starting to paint? Would Holy Scriptures
confirm this idea? In the Al-Quran, we find the following Verse.
Nor is there aught of the Unseen in heaven or earth but is (recorded) in a clear record.
[27.75]

Could this clear record be the design specification and master plan of creation? Would He
design a part of His creation to witness/appreciate and thereby establish the truth of His
Attributes to create? If there were no viewers of a painters art work, could the truth of the quality
of the painter be established? In comparison, of His creation, there are essentially two types.
There are those who can ask questions to investigate and establish the truth and those who do
not have such ability. Can the viewers, or those who have the free-will to appreciate be the
human beings and rest of creation be like the artists art work?

Could it be then, that He has created us to establish His reality and witness the truth of His
Qualities? In addition, to demonstrate the qualities of His Mercy He has given each of us a
personality to feel, skills to derive satisfaction, companions to aid each other and share
challenges, parents and children to form a community, and above all the questioning ability to
evaluate, appreciate, be grateful and adore Him for what He has given and who He is. Again, to
confirm, we find the following Verse in the Al-Quran.
So direct your face (i.e., yourself) towards Faith, inclining to the Truth: (Establish)
Allah's handiwork according to the nature in which He has made mankind: there is no
altering the creation of God: that is the standard Religion: but most among mankind
understand not. [30.30]
Just like any art work, by its very existence, bears witness to the qualities of the painter, the
entire creation (everything in the universe) is proof of the Qualities of God. In addition, mankind
is required to use their intelligence, i.e., their natural built-in inquisitive questioning/research
ability to witness and establish the truth of God. This is the purpose of making mankind different
and the right or just religion [21.92].

What about those who do not use their natural abilities to establish the truth, on the contrary are
busy utilizing God given skills and establishing their own greatness denying Gods right to be
credited with the truth. Being Merciful, how would God look upon such people? Would He
arrange for such people to be warned, i.e., made aware of the truth and then of consequences?

Why did God send Moses and Aaron to Pharaoh? Moses presented signs of God and spoke the
truth about God and consequences. Did Pharaoh accept the truth? How did Pharaoh respond?

20.58 But we can surely produce magic to match yours! So make an

appointment between us that we shall not fail to keep neither we nor will you, in a
place where both shall have even chances.
Pharaohs natural instincts could not deny the truth presented by Moses. However, as he did not
want to be belittled in a land where he had declared himself as god, he instead labeled the
miracles as magic and challenged Moses that he could produce much better magic.

20.59 Moses said: "Your appointed time is the Day of the Festival and let the
people be assembled when the sun is well up."

20.60 So Pharaoh withdrew: he concerted his plan and then came (back).
Having lost the first round, Pharaoh quickly retired. He planned how to defeat Moses and came
back.

20.61 Moses said to him: "Woe to you! Forge not a lie against God lest He
destroy you (at once) utterly by chastisement: the forger must suffer
frustration!"
To God, each of us individually is a created being no more, no less. Moses understood
Pharaohs intention and therefore warned him.

20.62 So they disputed one with another over their affair but they kept their talk
secret.
Having received the warning from Moses, the assembled courtiers talked amongst themselves
thinking and planning what to do.

20.63 They said: "These two are certainly (expert) magicians: their object is to
drive you out from your land with their magic and to do away with your Most
cherished institutions.
Moses had challenged their current methods of worship. They planned amongst themselves to
defeat Moses.

20.64 Therefore finalize your plan. And then assemble in ranks: he wins (all
along) today who gains the upper hand.
All the magicians in the land would assemble and line up according to their skills. This would all
be an attempt to match and discredit Moses miracles as cheap magic.