Article appeared Friday, June 22nd, 2012 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (233)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

What do scriptures say about the nature of the Creator? Let us look at the attributes of the Creator in ancient scriptures as well as in the more recent scriptures. For example, Vasudeva Rao provides a commentary in the website The True Knowledge {1} citing references from the ancient Vedas saying, The Vedas reject the multiplicity of Gods in the clearest possible terms and speak about One God, who is Omnipresent, Omnipotent and Omniscient and absolutely and absolutely formless, who is ever unmanifest and who never assumes human forms or never descends on earth in any form-human or otherwise. Rig-Veda says Vishwarkya vimana advihaya meaning who he is not entangled by mind, omnipresent Lord is the Creator. He is both sustainer and protector too. The God oversees the insensate and conscious world in a unique way. The entire world rests with him. He is Yeshah yekah i.e. only one. He is conscious, indivisible. He is Yekah yevah Only one. {1} The Vedas are the oldest known scriptures {2} of Hinduism. Composed in the language of Vedic Sanskrit, the term veda itself means knowledge. The Vedas are supposed to have been directly revealed, and thus are called ruti ("what is heard"), distinguishing them from the other religious texts of the Hindu religion, which are called smiti ("what is remembered"). All subsequently revealed scriptures of other religions resonate similar concepts about our Creator. For example, God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: when He has said, will He not do it? Or when He has spoken, will He not make it good? [Numbers 23:19] {3} Numbers or Bamidbar in Hebrew is from the earliest five scriptures of the Jewish Bible called The Torah. In the Hebrew language Torah means Instruction or Teaching {4}. According to the Jewish tradition, all the Laws found in the Torah were given by our Creator to Prophet Moses (pbuh). The Christians, in turn, have incorporated the Torah in their own scriptures and call it the Old Testament. The same Verse above appears in the Christian Bible as, God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? [Numbers 23:19, NIV] {5} Again, for the Christians, Prophet Jesus (pbuh) clarified that his relationship with the Creator was the same as everybody else, i.e. that he is a created human being like everybody else; just before he was taken up by our Creator. Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" [John 20:17, NIV] {6} After the rumored crucifixion, Jesus (pbuh) reassured those who thought him dead that he was definitely not a ghost, i.e. he was not dead and that there were no signs of crucifixion on his hands and feet: He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." [Luke 24:38-39, NIV] {7} As time was nigh for Jesus to be lifted by our Creator, he reassured his disciples that he would plead to the Creator to send another Comforter to strengthen the hearts of those who believe. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; [John 14:16, KJV] {8}

Accordingly, Saint Paul enlightens Christians about a special prayer of his own, to the Creator of Jesus, I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. [Ephesians 1:17, NIV] {9} Realizing his own lack of knowledge, Paul requests our Creator to send down the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation. Consequently, the most recent Revelation, the Quran (literally meaning the Recitation) confirms that indeed the Holy Spirit, i.e. Angel Gabriel [2.97] has brought down or recited the Revelation to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Say the Holy Spirit has brought the revelation from your Lord in truth in order to strengthen those who believe and as a guide and Glad Tidings to Muslims. [16.102] The Quran [21.106] confirms that it the same Holy Spirit who supported Jesus: to Jesus, the son of Mary, We gave clear (Signs) and strengthened him with the Holy Spirit [2.253] So, a believer, i.e. Muslim believes in all Revealed Verses or Books, as he/she does in the absolute nature of the Creator, His Messengers (Apostles) and the Day of Judgment [5.69, 2.285 and 3.84]. However, we are reminded about mankinds attitude towards Revelation.

5.70 We took the Covenant of the Children of Israel and sent them Apostles. Every time there came to them an apostle with what they themselves desired not some (of these) they called impostors and some they (go so far as to) slay. 5.71 They thought there would be no trial (or punishment); so they became blind and deaf: yet Allah (in mercy) turned to them: yet again many of them became blind and deaf. But Allah sees well all that they do.
While declaring His Own Nature in all Revealed Scriptures, is it likely that the Creator suddenly changes His Mind, multiplies or becomes one-of-three?

5.72 They do blaspheme who say: "Allah is Christ the son of Mary." 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. 5.73 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.
Our Creator asks those who believe,

5.74 Why turn they not to Allah and seek His forgiveness? For Allah is Oftforgiving Most Merciful.
-------{Notes}: {1} http://www.satyavidya.org/component/content/article/53-vedic-vitamins/126-there-is-onlyone-god {2} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vedas {3} http://www.mechon-mamre.org/e/et/et0423.htm {4} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah {5} http://bible.cc/numbers/23-19.htm {6} http://bible.cc/john/20-17.htm {7} http://bible.cc/luke/24-38.htm {8} http://bible.cc/john/14-16.htm {9} http://bible.cc/ephesians/1-17.htm