Article appeared Friday, July 12th, 2019 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (578) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Is it relevant or important to reflect on our own life – the life that we find ourselves living?
For example, at one point in time we did not exist. Now that we individually exist, is it
possible that we created our self from nothing? Or did evolution design and create each
unique being? Or did a Being, much more intelligent than us, incrementally create us to
enjoy the life that we are living?

Just like the fact that a painting is living proof of the quality and skills of the painter can
our entire individual existence be proof of the quality of whoever put us together? So, for
example, if “nothing” put us together, our creation witnesses the qualities of “nothing”, if
randomness put us together, our intelligence and qualities represent the skills of
randomness, or if evolution put us together, we represent the skills of evolution and if
God, the Almighty put us together, we stand as proof of the Greatness and Qualities of
the Creator! If the truth is important, which is true? To decide, we can look at other
analogies, for example, have computerized models of cars “evolved” from fully
mechanical models? Or is every car/model made individually from scratch with all its
integrated parts? Having made previous models, we of course can learn from the
experience gained and can add improved and new features in the design of the later
models. Just as the later model cars cannot practically “evolve” or gradually change
shape from previous models each human being must also have been created
individually from scratch.

Be that as it may, can we run away from the fact that we stand pleasantly surprised
when we realize that we are alive, living and have the benefits of an intelligent life? Just
as we are grateful when given a surprise gift, should we be grateful for the life that we
find ourselves in? Being the beneficiary of an intelligent life, whether we are grateful or
not is ultimately a personal decision. A grateful person would want to know who to be
grateful to and how to demonstrate gratitude. A reflective person may have other
questions like what is the purpose of my creation; does my Creator want anything from
me? The person would then want to find answers. Where can answers be found?

On the other hand, there may be persons who have feelings of greatness and live their
life essentially to please themselves. They approach God only when they need, for
example, when in trouble, in sickness or when in need of something badly. They
however do not look for the Almighty to be grateful to Him. What would such persons do
when they are invited to turn to Him? Such may mock those who invite to God and feel
that they lack understanding. But do they?

In the following Verse from the Holy Scripture, Al-Qur’an, God guides His Messenger
Prophet Muhammad regarding the attitude of ungrateful and arrogant persons.
“When they see you (O, Muhammad) they take you not except in ridicule
(saying), "Is this the one whom God has sent as a messenger?"” [25.41]

Such persons not only approach God when they need, but approach anything only to
serve their needs. For example, the pursuit of money, status, fame and power may
preoccupy their lives. These things enjoy a high priority in their lives to such an extent
that these have replaced the need for God in their lives.
25.42 “”He almost would have misled us from our gods had we not been
steadfast (in worship) of them!” But no, they will know when they see the
punishment, who is it that is most misled in the Path!”
God created the Universe as proof of who He is and created human beings so that they
would study His creation and bear witness to His Qualities. The path that leads to God
is, in effect, doing things in such a way that may please Him, as opposed to pleasing
oneself. Therefore God asks,

25.43 “Have you seen the one who takes as his god his own desire? Then
would you be over him a guardian?”
Desire to please self has replaced the need to look for God and please Him! Self desire
have become an overriding priority and therefore classified as a “god” for these persons.

25.44 “Or do you think that most of them listen or understand? They are
only like cattle; nay they are more astray in the Path.”
These people have committed themselves so much that they do not care to reflect on
the opportunities of life that God has given them. They turn a blind eye to Holy
Scriptures and do not care to listen to those who invite them towards God. God calls
such people worse than animals as they do not use the thinking and reflecting abilities
given as blessings by Him. God furnishes another analogy to help us understand.
“Their similitude is that of a man who kindled a fire; when it lighted all around him
God took away their light and left them in utter darkness so they could not see.”
[2.17]

Being Most Merciful, as a reminder, God again invites us all to observe and reflect on
how He creates and maintains everything.

25.45 “Have you not turned your vision to your Lord? (For example) how
He extends the shadow? And if He willed He could have made it stationary!
Then do We make the sun its guide:”
In a cartoon sequence, how would a cartoonist draw and extend a shadow, for example,
in a scene where the sun is rising and then setting? The shadow would have to be
redrawn and extended with every movement of the sun! As God has created everything
from nothing, He has to do the same thing, however, He has created physical laws for
the shadow to follow as the sun moves, e.g., light from the sun is to travel in straight
lines.

25.46 “Then We withdraw it towards Ourselves in easy stages.”

Finally, He makes the shadow disappear once the sun sets and He makes the darkness
of the night takeover.

25.47 “And He it is Who makes the Night as a covering for you; and Sleep
(as a means) for rest and has made the Day (as it were) a Resurrection.”
All these things He creates, sustains and maintains as blessings for human beings and
other creation. Will we turn to Him, acknowledge Him as the source of everything and be
grateful for His gifts and blessings?