Article appeared Friday, April 29th, 2011 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (176) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Is the Creator poor? There are some websites that go to great lengths to show that a few
isolated countries with Muslim majorities have the poorest infant mortality rates as well as the
lowest per capita income. A particular website {1} is titled with a question, “Why did the
Muslim God make Muslim Countries so poor?” While on the surface this question can be
labeled as a disguised attack on Islam and Muslims, many who claim to be Muslim themselves
have such questions.

What could be the underlying logic behind such a question? A comment once made by the
managing director of a large humanitarian organization may help work out the underlying logic.
He said to me, “If there were a god, there wouldn’t be poor in the world!” In response to this
comment I asked, “If there were no poor, how would you practice or prove the goodness of your
heart to your Creator?”

There are other logical implications. Use of the proper noun ‘Muslim God’ implies that either the
Muslims have a separate god who is poor, i.e. there is at least a second god or that the Muslims
worship a false god. If the Muslim God does not exist then who has created the Muslims? The
resulting implication here is that either the Real God did not create the Muslims or perhaps the
Real God was partial or biased towards Muslims! The logical question therefore is where
exactly, then, did the “poor” Muslims come from? The title of the website, “Why did the Muslim
God make Muslim Countries so poor?” in effect proposes an unacceptable underlying concept
against the unity of the Creator as well as attacks the justice of the Creator. Accusing the
Muslims of having a “poor” God supports a concept of multiple gods, or a god who is partial or
that god did not create Muslims! Such concepts can be classified as disbelief as Jesus (pbuh)
categorically pointed out in the New Testament,
“Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Listen, O Israel! The LORD
our God is the one and only LORD.” [Mark 12:29, NLT] {2}

Jesus said this confirming the commandments given in the Old Testament and the Psalms:
“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.” [Deuteronomy 6:4, SEV] {3}

“For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.” [Psalms 86:10, SEV]
{4}
The most recent Revelation, the Qur’an again confirms what Jesus categorically said {5}
regarding his and our relationship with the Creator.
“...But said Christ: "O children of Israel! Worship Allah, my Lord and your Lord."
Whoever joins other gods with Allah, Allah will forbid him the garden and the Fire will be
his abode. There will for the wrong-doers be no one to help.” [5.72b]

Therefore, those who assume or suggest that there are gods other than the Creator disbelieve
or blaspheme against the Creator. As an example,
“They do blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ the son of Mary…” [5.72a]

The most recent Revelation, the Qur’an, asks mankind again to come to a right and just
conclusion regarding our Creator.
“Ask: Will you dispute with us about Allah seeing that He is our Lord and your Lord;
that we are responsible for our doings and you for yours; and that we are sincere (in our
faith) in Him?” [2.139]
As the Creator has created each individually, we all, regardless of caste, creed or color, belong
to Him. We are all individually accountable for use of the life and gifts given to us by Him. We
are all equally His creation [5.75]. Acceptance of this concept is the only religion.
“Or do you say that Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes were Jews or
Christians? Say: Do you know better than Allah? Ah! Who is more unjust than those who
conceal the testimony they have from Allah? But Allah is not unmindful of what you do!”
[2.140]

The testimony given by Jesus confirming previous testimonies of the unity of the Creator is
clear. Jesus never said that he was one-of-three or one-of-Trinity.
“They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god
except One Allah. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy) verily a grievous
penalty will befall the blasphemers among them.” [5.73]

Our Creator, Allah warns those who entertain concepts of multiple gods, one-of-three gods as
well as those who taunt Him, calling Him “poor”.

3.181 “Allah has heard the taunt of those who say: "Truly Allah is indigent and we
are rich!" We shall certainly record their word and (their act) of slaying the
Prophets in defiance of right and We shall say: "Taste the penalty of the
Scorching Fire!”

3.182 “This is because of the (unrighteous deeds) which your hands sent on
before you (have come to Me): for Allah never harms those who serve Him.”
It is more important that we examine how the poor or developing countries of the world have
become poor, whether the global economic, monetary and banking systems are set up to
perpetuate poverty and ask ourselves what we can do about it.
“That was a people that have passed away. They shall reap the fruit of what they did
and you of what you do! Of their merits there is no question in your case.” [2.141]

3.183 “They (also) said: "Allah took our promise not to believe in an Apostle
unless He showed us a sacrifice consumed by fire (from heaven)." Say: "There
came to you Apostles before me with clear signs and even with what you ask for:
why then did you slay them if you speak the truth?”

3.184 “Then if they reject you (O, Muhammad) so were rejected Apostles before
you who came with clear Signs, and the Scriptures from the Book of
Enlightenment (which is with Allah).”
It is better that we analyze our concepts of the Creator and
“Say: "We believe in Allah and the revelation given to us and to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac
Jacob and the Tribes and that given to Moses and Jesus and that given to (all) Prophets
from their Lord we make no difference between one and another of them and we bow to
Allah (our Creator)."” [2.136]
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{Notes}:
{1} http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/297829-why-did-muslim-god-make-muslim-
countries-so-poor/page__st__30
{2} http://bible.cc/mark/12-29.htm
{3} http://bible.cc/deuteronomy/6-4.htm
{4} http://bible.cc/psalms/86-10.htm
{5} http://bible.cc/john/20-17.htm