Article appeared Friday, January 25th, 2019 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (557) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

What can our life on earth be about? Could it be an opportunity – an opportunity to prove
our character? To understand life, would it be an idea to stand back and analyze the
overall picture of creation? We would have to start our thinking at a point before the Big
Bang occurred, i.e., the point just before the universe started to come into existence.
There are a lot of theories {1} that try to reason the cause behind the Big Bang, i.e., why
and how did the Big Bang happen or originate? The fact remains, regardless of random
theories {1}, that, without a most powerful and highly intelligent Being time, matter,
space and the laws of physics could not have come into existence by themselves. In
addition, how would these entities know how to interact with each other without
guidance? If it is said that nothing existed before, we need to consider the following
logic. As “nothing” has no intelligence, no thought processes, no needs, no power, no
objective, for example, can it then workout what laws of physics are required to allow the
universe to expand? Would nothingness have a desire to create something?

Logically, a most powerful and highly intelligent Being (God, with a capital G) must have
always existed. If God created the universe, could He have done so without a purpose or
a reason? When there was no creation He was alone and unknown. Could He then have
created the universe to be known? To recognize and acknowledge Him as the Creator,
God would need to create an intelligent being that would identify His existence
independently through the use of knowledge. So, God created two distinct and separate
creations, humans and the rest of the universe. The job of humans would be to discover
and recognize God by observing and analyzing their own selves and the rest of creation.
The persons who discover and acknowledge Him would know God’s nature.

The primary purpose of intelligent human beings would then be to seek out God and
acknowledge His truth. Humans would share their experiences of God’s existence and
establish His truth. Truth can only be established by comparing it with falsehood – which
God would also have to create. Having done so, God gave humans free will, i.e., they
are free to fulfill their purpose of creation only if they want to or feel inclined to!

This is where opportunity comes in. God has given each of us the opportunity to get to
know Him through the abilities and blessings He has lavishly and thoughtfully given.
Using our options, we can ask questions to separate the truth from falsehood, find
answers by applying unbiased reasoning and logical analysis to establish the truth. How
many ways can the truth be manifested? Could we acknowledge the Creator by adoring
Him in return, demonstrating gratitude and by sharing the truth? Would such attitudes
demonstrate a righteous character? Those who do this would also be fulfilling the
purpose of their individual creation. Would such righteous behavior serve to please
God?

On the other hand, what is God likely to do with those who, using their free will, choose
to use God only to further their selfish needs and do not wish to acknowledge His role as
their Benefactor? Such persons may demonstrate arrogance, self-centeredness and
would not hesitate to use and oppress others to further their selfish desires. Without
seeking and studying the attributes of God, they may create imaginary gods and attach
family to God to serve their selfish needs.

To confirm the purpose of creation and deny false concepts, God has revealed Holy
Scriptures from time to time through persons selected from those who searched for the
truth about Him. In the created realm, there is no likeness to God. The following Verses
from the Holy Scripture the Al-Qur’an therefore clarify that He has no family nor are there
any other gods in addition to informing some other attributes.

23.91 “No son did God beget nor is there any god along with Him: (if there
were many gods) behold each god would have taken away what he had
created and some would have lorded it over others! Glory to God (He is
free) from the (sort of) things they attribute to Him!”
Can God, who has designed and originated every part of creation, be like what He has
created? God is singular and unique. If there were any other power or deity, such a deity
would lay ownership over anything that they created. To establish the truth, one of the
tasks of humans is to analyze and affirm the fact that there is no god but God Himself.
Previous Holy Scriptures {2} equally confirm this fact.

23.92 “He knows what is hidden and what is open: too high is He for the
partners they attribute to Him!”
There is nothing or no one that shares His Power. He knows what is in our hearts –
whether we sincerely adore and revere Him or we seek self-glory and fame. Therefore,
to help the prophet and us to see the truth, the following prayer is recommended,

23.93 “Say, "O my Lord! If You would show me (in my lifetime) that which
they are warned against.”
We all need to realize the consequences of using our free will to deny the purpose of our
creation, as well as demonstrating arrogance and self-centeredness. If we could see,
i.e., visualize the blaze of Hell, it would help us understand what fate awaits those who
deny their purpose.

23.94 “Then O my Lord! Put me not amongst the people who do wrong!”
We pray to Him to keep us in the company of those who do good. Bad company breeds
undesirable things.

23.95 “And We are certainly able to show you (in fulfillment) that against
which they are warned.”
If God wanted, He could certainly show us what our future after death holds – paradise
and hell. So, the recommendation is:

23.96 “Repel evil with that which is best: We are well-acquainted with the things
they say.”
Do not repel bad done with bad – respond with good. God carefully takes note of each
action and reaction. The following prayer is for seeking Protection from the negative
whisperings of evil Satan and those with him.

23.97 “And say, "O my Lord! I seek refuge in You from the suggestions of
the Evil Ones;”

23.98 “And I seek refuge in You O my Lord, lest they should come near
me.”
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{Notes}:
{1} https://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/space/stories/time-actually-existed-big-bang-
according-new-theory
{2} https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/don_stewart/don_stewart_322.cfm