Article appeared Friday, March 25th, 2011 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (172) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

For a moment, let us step into the shoes of the Creator, i.e. look at creation and ourselves from
the Creator’s point-of-view, and answer a basic question. For what purpose would you create
mankind – for yourself or for mankind themselves? In other words, having gone into the trouble
of making mankind is there anything you would want in return or would you leave mankind to
their devices? The most recent Revelation, the Qur’an answers how the Creator has informed
mankind of His purpose.
“He has sent down His angels with inspiration of His Command to such of His servants
as Pleased Him (saying): "Warn (Man) that there is no god but I: so do your duty to
Me."” [16.2]

What is the duty mankind owes the Creator? The Creator clearly states the duty in the Qur’an:
“Not an apostle did We send before thee without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that
there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me.” [21.25]

The concept of “worship and serve Me” may be difficult to understand or even difficult to
accept. At this point, an analogy may help to better understand. The painting Mona Lisa by
Leonardo da Vinci is often classified as the most famous and valuable painting of the world.
When people study or look at the painting, what value do they place on Leonardo’s work? Are
they full of praise for Leonardo? Now, if the woman in the painting were able to feel, i.e. if
Leonardo were able to give her a personality and feelings how should she feel about Leonardo
for making her? Should she worship and adore him for giving her all she has? Likewise, how
should each individually crafted, beautifully put together human being look upon the Creator?

At the same time, how much love do you think Leonardo put into making Mona Lisa? The
analogy now boils down to a very important question, “How much love do you think the Creator
put into making you?” Is it right to give something in return for this Love? Let us now look at
how the Bible, containing previous Revelations, answers this question. The following Verse from
the New Testament asks us to submit or surrender our whole being to the Creator to do
righteous work:
“…Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have
new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of
God.” [Romans 6.13 NLT] {1}

Similarly, the more recent Revelation, the Qur’an gives the holistic view.
“O you people! Adore your Guardian-Lord who created you and those who came before
you that you may have the chance to learn righteousness.” [2.21]

On the other hand, how should the Creator feel, having repeatedly sent the same message
through various prophets, if a created being demonstrates disbelief and is hypocritical in his/her
attitude towards Him? To understand the impact of hypocrisy, many people have left behind
wise words. The English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist and author Francis
Bacon (1561 – 1626) is known to have said,
“Great hypocrites are the real atheists.” {2}

To help us understand why a hypocrite is an atheist or worse, the English churchman and
historian, Thomas Fuller (1608 – 1661) points to the duality in the nature of a hypocritical
person.
“He does not believe who does not live according to his belief.” {3}
The German priest and professor of theology, Martin Luther (1453 – 1546) sheds light on the
alternative preoccupations of hypocrites.
“Superstition, idolatry, and hypocrisy have ample wages, but truth goes a-begging.” {4}

as opposed to belief and faith,

“Faith is a living and unshakable confidence, a belief in the grace of God so assured that
a man would die a thousand deaths for its sake.” {4}

Instead of firmly acknowledging Leonardo as her maker, would it make sense for the person in
the painting to give weight to superstition, idolatry or even debate whether Leonardo has a son
who can be approached? In the case of our own creation what are our alternative
preoccupations while acknowledging the Creator at the same time? How much weight do we
give to superstition, idolatry, attaching family to the Creator? In such cases, how would a
Benevolent Creator root out hypocrisy among those who claim to be believers? The Battle of
Uhud {5}, fought in 625 AD is a case in point. After previously winning the Battle of Badr with a
small band of believers, hypocrisy had taken root in the army that had collected to fight the
subsequent Battle of Uhud. Out of the small band, 300 turned back before the battle giving lame
excuses. During the battle itself many left their positions disobeying the Prophet’s strict orders.
Some ran after the booty instead of paying attention to their duties. Allah therefore is asking
believers to consider the reasons behind the differences between resounding victory of the
Battle of Badr and the losses incurred in the Battle of Uhud.

3.165 “Why, when a calamity befell you, after you had inflicted twice as much (on
your enemy in the previous battle), did you exclaim, “How has this come about?”
Say: “It (the losses) has come from your own selves. Surely, God has the power
over all things.””
The believers are asked to consider the lessons taught by God.

3.166 “That which befell you, on the day when the two hosts met in battle,
happened by God’s leave, so that He may mark out the true believers.”

3.167 “And (He might) mark out the hypocrites. When they were told, “Come, fight
in God’s cause”, or “Defend yourselves”, they answered, “Had we known there
would be a fight, we would certainly have followed you.” On that day they were
nearer unbelief than faith, uttering with their mouths something different to what
was in their hearts, but God knew full well all that they tried to conceal.”
Hypocrites were preoccupied with giving lame excuses for not participating. In the next Verse,
God asks a logical question, in whose hand does the hypocrite think death lies?

3.168 “Such were they who, having themselves stayed behind, said of their
brothers: “If only they had listened to us, they would not have been slain.” Say to
them: “Ward off death from yourselves, then, if what you say be true.””

3.169 “Do not think of those who are slain in God’s cause as dead. They are alive,
and well provided for by their Lord.”
---------
{Notes}:
{1} http://bible.cc/romans/6-13.htm
{2} http://thinkexist.com/quotations/hypocrisy/3.html
{3} http://www.quotegarden.com/hypocrisy.html
{4} http://www.finestquotes.com/author_quotes-author-Martin%20Luther-page-0.htm
{5} http://www.islamic-truth.co.uk/islamicstore/pdf_files/uhud.pdf