How many things do we fear?
How many things do human beings fear in their day-to-day activities? How much power does the object that we fear actually have over our lives asks Yousuf Mahbubul Islam, PhD
Content
Article appeared Friday, October 11th, 2013 in The News Today, Bangladesh
The Revelation (298)
yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD
Do human beings have a true measure of their Creator? Who is He in relation to human beings? More appropriately, what should be the attitude towards Him? Before discussing our personal attitude towards Him and His Commandments, where can we find out about our Creator? Revealed scriptures guide us to His nature. Let us formulate questions and see what the most recent Revelation, the Qur’an, reveals. To begin with, can we see Him? “No vision can grasp Him but His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehension yet is acquainted with all things.” [6.130] We cannot “see” the Creator with our physical eyes! This is logical as both light and the ability to see have been created by Him. Besides, human beings can only comprehend what they see. As we cannot see Him, He is therefore above comprehension, i.e. He is unlike any object that we are able to see. On His part, He is fully acquainted with all that is going on every moment inside our heads, our bodies and in our surroundings. “To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth: how can He have a son when He has no consort? He created all things and He has full knowledge of all things.” [6.101] He created every single thing that we can comprehend out of nothing. Also, therefore, the companionship of male and female resulting in procreation does not apply to Him. “That is Allah your Lord! There is no god but He, the Creator of all things: then worship Him: and it is He that has the power to dispose of all affairs.” [6.102] Created things have no power by themselves. The result of any action rests solely in His Hands. It is He that decides and disposes all affairs. This is the meaning behind the adage: “Man proposes but God disposes!” {1} The question is do human beings fully comprehend the phrase, “There is no god but He, the Creator of all things”? How does the phrase apply to our day-to-day lives? How should the phrase guide our daily conduct? To understand, as a starting point, we may look at human fears. For example, do we fear other human beings, poverty and death? Do we panic when in trouble? Besides, are we afraid of the Creator as well? Can these multiple fears be analyzed against the meaning of the phrase there is no god but He? For the purpose of analysis, we may ask searching questions. Do things other than the Creator have power to dispose of our daily affairs? If so, do all things including the Creator have equal powers? However, believing that things other than the Creator have power over our lives is a proof of disbelief, as pointed out by the Qur’an. On the Day of Judgment, “(The answer will be:) "This is because when Allah was invoked as the only (object of worship) you rejected Faith but when partners were joined to Him you believed! The command is with Allah alone, the Most High, the Most Great!"” [40.12] It is human intelligence that is under scrutiny. The purpose of human faculties combined with special intelligence, i.e. analytical ability that human beings have, is also outlined: “It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affections: that you may give thanks (to Allah).” [16.78]
The purpose of intelligence is to work out what the Creator has done for each individual, be grateful and sincerely love and revere Him in return. “He it is Who shows you His Signs and sends down sustenance for you from the sky: but only those receive admonition who turn (to Allah). Call then upon Allah with sincere devotion to Him even though the Unbelievers may detest it.” [40.13 – 40.14] A demonstration of such devotion may isolate us from others around us. We may appear old fashioned and seem to lack in worldliness to others, however, we need to use our intelligence to work out whether we should love the Originator of our lives and Provider of all things more in preference to those around us and the things that we possess? “You shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves; and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve you from those who received the Book (previous scriptures) before you and from those who worship many gods. But if you persevere patiently and guard against evil then that will be a determining factor in all affairs.” [3.186] Riches are a test to see whether we prefer possessions over and above the Creator. “Nor strain your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to parties of them the splendor of the life of this world through which We test them: but the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring.” [20.131] The tests of possessions extend to the spoils and booty found when a battle has been won. The following Verse in the Qur’an was Revealed immediately after the Battle of Badr [see also Verse 3.130] fought during the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) time in 624 AD {2}.
8.1 “They ask you concerning (things taken as) spoils of war. Say: "(Such) spoils are at the disposal of Allah and the Apostle: so fear Allah and keep straight the relations between yourselves: obey Allah and His apostle if you do believe."”
To those who have doubts, Allah says: “Be quite sure that to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and on earth. Well does He know what you are intent upon:” [24.64] Allah points out that when spoils are grabbed indiscriminately it may become a cause of enmity amongst the victors. So He guides, keep straight the relations between yourselves! In addition, there may be other uses for the spoils, providing money to care for those who have lost the breadwinner of the family, caring for those wounded and also re-building damaged facilities. As a proof of belief, however, it is important that believers obey commandments without reservation.
8.2 “For, believers are those who, when Allah is mentioned feel a tremor in their hearts and when they hear His Signs (Verses) rehearsed find their faith strengthened and put (all) their trust in their Lord.”
Those who trust Allah are believers. In addition, believers are those,
8.3 “Who establish regular prayers and spend (freely) out of the gifts We have given them for sustenance:” 8.4 “Such in truth are the believers: they have grades of dignity with their Lord and forgiveness and generous sustenance.”
-----{Notes}: {1} http://www.age-of-the-sage.org/quotations/quotes/man_proposes_but_god_disposes.html {2} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Badr#Badr_in_the_Qur.27an
The Revelation (298)
yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD
Do human beings have a true measure of their Creator? Who is He in relation to human beings? More appropriately, what should be the attitude towards Him? Before discussing our personal attitude towards Him and His Commandments, where can we find out about our Creator? Revealed scriptures guide us to His nature. Let us formulate questions and see what the most recent Revelation, the Qur’an, reveals. To begin with, can we see Him? “No vision can grasp Him but His grasp is over all vision: He is above all comprehension yet is acquainted with all things.” [6.130] We cannot “see” the Creator with our physical eyes! This is logical as both light and the ability to see have been created by Him. Besides, human beings can only comprehend what they see. As we cannot see Him, He is therefore above comprehension, i.e. He is unlike any object that we are able to see. On His part, He is fully acquainted with all that is going on every moment inside our heads, our bodies and in our surroundings. “To Him is due the primal origin of the heavens and the earth: how can He have a son when He has no consort? He created all things and He has full knowledge of all things.” [6.101] He created every single thing that we can comprehend out of nothing. Also, therefore, the companionship of male and female resulting in procreation does not apply to Him. “That is Allah your Lord! There is no god but He, the Creator of all things: then worship Him: and it is He that has the power to dispose of all affairs.” [6.102] Created things have no power by themselves. The result of any action rests solely in His Hands. It is He that decides and disposes all affairs. This is the meaning behind the adage: “Man proposes but God disposes!” {1} The question is do human beings fully comprehend the phrase, “There is no god but He, the Creator of all things”? How does the phrase apply to our day-to-day lives? How should the phrase guide our daily conduct? To understand, as a starting point, we may look at human fears. For example, do we fear other human beings, poverty and death? Do we panic when in trouble? Besides, are we afraid of the Creator as well? Can these multiple fears be analyzed against the meaning of the phrase there is no god but He? For the purpose of analysis, we may ask searching questions. Do things other than the Creator have power to dispose of our daily affairs? If so, do all things including the Creator have equal powers? However, believing that things other than the Creator have power over our lives is a proof of disbelief, as pointed out by the Qur’an. On the Day of Judgment, “(The answer will be:) "This is because when Allah was invoked as the only (object of worship) you rejected Faith but when partners were joined to Him you believed! The command is with Allah alone, the Most High, the Most Great!"” [40.12] It is human intelligence that is under scrutiny. The purpose of human faculties combined with special intelligence, i.e. analytical ability that human beings have, is also outlined: “It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affections: that you may give thanks (to Allah).” [16.78]
The purpose of intelligence is to work out what the Creator has done for each individual, be grateful and sincerely love and revere Him in return. “He it is Who shows you His Signs and sends down sustenance for you from the sky: but only those receive admonition who turn (to Allah). Call then upon Allah with sincere devotion to Him even though the Unbelievers may detest it.” [40.13 – 40.14] A demonstration of such devotion may isolate us from others around us. We may appear old fashioned and seem to lack in worldliness to others, however, we need to use our intelligence to work out whether we should love the Originator of our lives and Provider of all things more in preference to those around us and the things that we possess? “You shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves; and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve you from those who received the Book (previous scriptures) before you and from those who worship many gods. But if you persevere patiently and guard against evil then that will be a determining factor in all affairs.” [3.186] Riches are a test to see whether we prefer possessions over and above the Creator. “Nor strain your eyes in longing for the things We have given for enjoyment to parties of them the splendor of the life of this world through which We test them: but the provision of your Lord is better and more enduring.” [20.131] The tests of possessions extend to the spoils and booty found when a battle has been won. The following Verse in the Qur’an was Revealed immediately after the Battle of Badr [see also Verse 3.130] fought during the Prophet Muhammad’s (pbuh) time in 624 AD {2}.
8.1 “They ask you concerning (things taken as) spoils of war. Say: "(Such) spoils are at the disposal of Allah and the Apostle: so fear Allah and keep straight the relations between yourselves: obey Allah and His apostle if you do believe."”
To those who have doubts, Allah says: “Be quite sure that to Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and on earth. Well does He know what you are intent upon:” [24.64] Allah points out that when spoils are grabbed indiscriminately it may become a cause of enmity amongst the victors. So He guides, keep straight the relations between yourselves! In addition, there may be other uses for the spoils, providing money to care for those who have lost the breadwinner of the family, caring for those wounded and also re-building damaged facilities. As a proof of belief, however, it is important that believers obey commandments without reservation.
8.2 “For, believers are those who, when Allah is mentioned feel a tremor in their hearts and when they hear His Signs (Verses) rehearsed find their faith strengthened and put (all) their trust in their Lord.”
Those who trust Allah are believers. In addition, believers are those,
8.3 “Who establish regular prayers and spend (freely) out of the gifts We have given them for sustenance:” 8.4 “Such in truth are the believers: they have grades of dignity with their Lord and forgiveness and generous sustenance.”
-----{Notes}: {1} http://www.age-of-the-sage.org/quotations/quotes/man_proposes_but_god_disposes.html {2} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Badr#Badr_in_the_Qur.27an
