Article appeared Friday, January 5th, 2018 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (507) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

How do we use knowledge? Does knowledge have a purpose? For example, when we need to
know about something, we may use Search Engines (SE) such as Google in search of the
knowledge we need. The SE finds and lists umpteen websites. Each website contains some
knowledge – be it right or wrong. Do we accept all the websites as containing the right
knowledge or information? Or do we analyze the contents of each to find the knowledge that
best fits our requirements. Can the best fit knowledge be called the truth?

Do researchers or scientists seek the truth? Why? And what do they do to arrive at the truth?
They may conduct many trials or experiments till they arrive at what they are looking for. How do
innovators find the innovation that works or best fits the requirements? Can the best fit be called
the truth? Why?

So, is finding the knowledge that best fits the facts; or finding what works best or finding the
truth important? Can the Holy Scriptures be classified as books of knowledge? What would be
the purpose of such knowledge? The Qur’an, a Holy Scripture, claims that it has been sent
down as a Book of Guidance.
“Thus have we sent down an Arabic Qur'an and explained in detail some of the warnings
in order that they may fear God or that it may cause their remembrance (of Him).”
[20.113]

What does the Qur’an warn mankind about? Other than running after daily pursuits mankind
has been created for a definite purpose. It is to use knowledge to discover and bear witness to
the reality and truth of God.

20.114 “High above all is God the King the Truth! Be not in haste with the Qur'an
before its revelation to you is completed but say, "O my Lord! Advance me in
knowledge."”
So, should we analyze the knowledge given in the Qur’an to personally decide on its truth?
Beginning from Adam, the job of each human being has been to testify to the truth. To do this
each individual human has to use their given faculties and resources to identify the truth and
subsequently bear witness. The fact that each soul has already agreed to testify is given in the
Qur’an.
“When your Lord took the children of Adam, from their loins, their descendants and
made them testify concerning themselves (asking): "Am I not your Lord (who cherishes
and sustains you)?" They said: "Yes! We do testify!" (This) lest you should say on the
Day of Judgment: "of this we were unaware."” [7.172]

What does it mean to testify? Is it to study and analyze knowledge in and around us and that
given in the Holy Scriptures to come to a conclusion about the reality of God and disseminate
the truth? If we do not testify, we in effect break our promise to God made when we were
individually created. This agreement was also taken from Adam.

20.115 “We had already beforehand taken the covenant of Adam but he forgot:
and We found on his part no firm resolve.”
Adam did not question his own behavior and the weight of his own promise made to God. He
did not question himself to understand the weight of the instruction/commandment given by
God. As such he became prey to the deception of Satan/Iblis. The following Verse describes
how he disobeyed the instruction/command of God.
20.116 “When We said to the angels, "Prostrate yourselves to Adam", they
prostrated themselves but not Iblis: he refused.”
Angels and Iblis, who was also present, were asked to bow down to the superior ability of Adam
(humans) to be able to testify to the truth. Iblis did not like the idea of a superior creation, i.e.,
superior to him and therefore he refused.

20.117 “Then We said: "O Adam! Verily this is an enemy to you and your wife: so
let him not get you both out of the Garden so that you land in misery.”
The Garden is a place full of blessings of God.

20.118 “There is there (enough provision) for you not to go hungry nor for you to
go naked.”

20.119 “Not to suffer from thirst nor from the heat of the sun.”

20.120 “But Satan whispered evil to him: he said, "O Adam! Shall I lead you to the
Tree of Eternity and to a kingdom that never decays?"”
Satan led Adam to the only tree which God had forbidden to eat from. Adam had either forgotten
about God’s instruction or did not ask himself about the weight of God’s commandment. Given
his superior abilities to get at the truth Adam could have asked himself any number of questions
regarding God’s instruction. For example, why did God instruct him? Could it be to deprive him?

20.121 “The result is they both ate of the tree and so their nakedness appeared to
them: they began to sew together for their covering leaves from the Garden: thus
did Adam disobey His Lord and allow himself to be seduced.”
Adam allowed himself to be deceived by Satan. He and Eve harmed themselves by eating from
the tree. He did not use his special abilities to investigate and arrive at the truth about God’s
instructions. God did not want Adam or Eve to be harmed by the bad effects of the fruit of the
tree.

20.122 “But his Lord chose him (for His Grace): He turned to him and gave him
guidance.”
God forgave Adam and Eve and guided them on His purpose and how to ask for forgiveness.

20.123 “He said: "Get down both of you all together from the Garden with enmity
one to another; but if as is sure there comes to you guidance from Me whosoever
follows My guidance will not lose his way nor fall into misery.”
Guidance is now available in the form of Holy Scriptures – for those who seek guidance and
wish to get at the truth. The Qur’an is the most recent and updated version of such guidance.
How should we treat this Book of Guidance?

20.124 “But whosoever turns away from My Message verily for him is a life
narrowed down and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Judgment.”
Not wanting to get at the truth, despite having the ability, is in effect choosing to be blind to the
reality of God and His Purpose. This warning is delivered as part of His Mercy.
“And thus do We reward him who transgresses beyond bounds and believes not in the
Signs of his Lord: and the Penalty of the Hereafter is far more grievous and more
enduring.” [20.127]