Article appeared Friday, September 29th, 2017 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (494) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Is it possible to meet God? What might happen if we do? Could a conversation take place
between the Creator and a created human being? Would He tell us why He created us? Would
we have any questions for Him?

Lets examine the merits of each question in turn. Is it possible to meet God? To work out
whether this is possible, lets consider some more questions. What would the meeting look like?
Would it be like two persons meeting each other or would it be like a computer meeting its
manufacturer? The computer and its manufacturer are of totally different natures. How would
two entities of different natures meet? For reference, let us find the nature of God as revealed in
the Al-Quran.
It is He Who begins (the process of) creation; then repeats it; and for Him it is most
easy. To Him belongs the loftiest similitude (that We can think of) in the heavens and the
earth: for He is Exalted in Might Full of Wisdom. [30.27]

So, it is He who has created us individually with His divine Mercy and He will raise us again
after death, i.e., repeat the process of creation. When we compare, what could be a loftiest
similitude? God has given humans the ability to make so many things, e.g., the finest computers
have manufacturers, and it is God who has made the manufacturers and given them the ability
to manufacture computers so how much more capable is God? As the Creator of each and
everything from nothing, He asks the following logical questions.
Is it not (therefore the case) that to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and on the
earth? Is it not (the case) that Allah's promise is assuredly true? Yet most of them
understand not. [10.55]

Regarding the characteristics of God, we find the following Verse in the Al-Quran,
Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The parable of His Light is as if there
were a Niche and within it a lamp: the Lamp enclosed in Glass: the glass as it were a
brilliant star: lit from a blessed Tree an Olive neither of the East nor of the West whose
Oil is well-nigh luminous though fire scarce touched it: Light upon Light! Allah guides
whom He will to His Light. Allah sets forth Parables for men: and Allah knows all things.
[24.35]

Allah calls Himself the Light of the heavens and the earth. As we are not in a position to
understand the nature of this Light, He gives a parable or analogy. So, is it possible to directly
meet the Light of the heavens and the earth? Now, let us look at the next two questions. What
might happen if we do? Could a conversation take place between the Creator and a created
human being? Again, as an analogy, if humans wanted to speak to machines like computers,
what would a human have to do? The human would have to convert what he/she wanted to say
to the language of computers, i.e., binary. So, by comparison, what would God have to do?
Would He have to arrange words to be spoken so that our ear drums could hear words in the
language that we understand?

If God did want to speak to us, what is He likely to say? Could the purpose of our creation be a
topic? Being Merciful, would He want to warn us about our attitude towards Him so that we do
not get into trouble? During such a conversation, would there be anything we would want to ask
or say?
Now let us look at the story of a prophet who had a direct conversation [4.164] with God. For
those who doubt that such a conversation took place, the Al-Quran gives us the following
Verse.
And We certainly gave Moses the Scripture, so do not be in doubt over his meeting.
And we made it (the Scripture given) guidance for the Children of Israel. [32.23]

So for those who want to work out the reality of God and want to know His Purpose, He asks,

20.9 Has the story of Moses reached you?

Why does God want us to contemplate on the incidents that took place with Moses? Could it be
to establish His Reality in our hearts? To describe how Moses first met God, the story below
picks up just before the first meeting. Moses perceived something that appeared to be like a fire
to him.

20.10 Behold he saw a fire: so he said to his family, "Wait here; I perceive a fire;
perhaps I can bring you a burning torch or find some guidance at the fire."

20.11 But when he came to the fire a voice was heard: "O Moses!
So, God arranged for Moses to hear a voice using words that Moses could understand.

20.12 "Indeed, I am your Lord! Therefore (in My presence) remove your sandals.
Indeed, you are in the sacred valley of Tuwa.
As a sign of respect and acknowledgement, Moses was asked to remove his sandals.

20.13 "I have chosen you: listen then to what is revealed to you.
Chosen for what purpose? Chosen to carry His Message to his people? How could an initial
conversation with God start? Who would have to speak first? Would God introduce Himself and
His Purpose?

20.14 "Indeed, I am Allah: there is no god but I: so serve only me and establish
regular prayer for celebrating My praise.
God has created the opportunity for man to know Him, to understand His Merciful nature and
acknowledge the fact. So, mans purpose is to work out the fact of his own creation, work out
who God is and spread His truth.

20.15 "Indeed, the Hour is coming My design is to keep it hidden so that every
soul would receive its reward by the measure of its endeavor.
At the Hour, i.e., on the Day of Judgment our individual response to His Mercy will be evaluated.
After enjoying the pleasures of an intelligent existence, whether we have turned to Him in
gratitude, adoration and spread this Truth among fellow mankind? Or have we just satisfied our
lusts and egos?

20.16 Therefore let not such as believes not, but follow their own lusts, divert
you, lest you perish!
Moses is asked not to be side tracked by those who simply pursue the path of satisfying their
egos and desires.
And on the Day that the Unbelievers will be placed before the Fire (it will be said to
them): "You received your good things in the life of the world and you took your pleasure
out of them: but today shall you be recompensed with a Penalty of humiliation: for that
you were arrogant on earth without just cause and that you (ever) transgressed."
[46.20]