Article appeared Friday, August 30th, 2013 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (292)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

We are alive and living a life that most of us enjoy. Have we ever thought what the Creator has had to do to allow us to enjoy life and derive pleasure as we do? What systems has the Creator had to create and sustain? Let us consider, for example, the system of food consumption growing/creation of raw food (vegetables, fruits, animals, fish, birds, milk, etc.), system of food preparation (heating, grilling, boiling, pickling, baking, marinating, etc.), the act of eating (biting chewing, swallowing, ingesting, etc.), drinking, tasting, digestion, conversion to energy and finally outputting waste. From the long list of sub-systems allowing us to consume and enjoy food, let us consider just one tasting. To initiate the system of taste first of all each type of food must have its individual taste or flavor. Second, to be able to recognize existing types of flavors, our individual brain must be pre-programmed with all possible types of different flavors. Thirdly, receptors on the tongue should be able to recognize not only all types of flavors but also combinations of flavors. Finally, receptors should be connected to the brain for matching and recognition to take place as well as realization of what we are eating. Just imagine our Creator has made all this effort to just to allow us to relish and enjoy the food that we eat. Did the Creator need to do all of this if the purpose was just to put energy into our bodies? In contrast, when we ourselves make a petrol or diesel engine, do we think of putting a tasting mechanism in the engine so that it can enjoy drinking the fuel? Our Creator has not only put in a tasting mechanism the tongue, He has created a huge supporting system just so that we enjoy what we do. Why? Could it be that He simply wants us to use our intelligence to work out what He has done for us thereby adore Him in return? When we think about the planning, building and sustaining of the tasting system, what qualities of the Creator come to light? What qualities or attributes of the Creator become apparent? For example, having thought up and given us this ability could we say that not only is He Most Intelligent/Wise but also Most Loving and Kind? Since knowledge itself must be a created entity, scriptures Revealed by the Creator indeed enlighten us as to His Attributes. Hambrick {1} delves into some of these Attributes in his recent book Gods Attributes: Rest for Lifes Struggles. The most recent Revelation, the Quran, reveals ninety-nine names/attributes of the Creator {2, 3}. Looking through this list, we may try working backwards, i.e. for the sub-system of tasting, which are the attributes (from the translations given in English) that would fit what the Creator has done/is doing for us? Here is an attempt. The numbers in the brackets indicate the serial number given in reference {2}. Compassionate (1) because He wanted mankind to enjoy the food and created a huge variety of food in Arabic we would call Him by the name Ar-Rahman for this quality. The Creator (11) because He brought the entire tasting system into existence in Arabic: Al-Khaliq. The Fashioner (13) because He fashioned the tongue, variety of tastes/flavors and variety of food in Arabic: Al-Musawwir. The Bestower (16) or the Generous One (#17 in reference 3) the One who has given variety of foods without measure in Arabic: Al-Wahhab. The Provider (17) as He provides and sustains (#18 in reference 3) us with all types of food in Arabic: Al-Razzaq. The Subtly Kind (30) as He has granted the entire system silently without showing Himself in Arabic: Al-Latif. The Nourisher (39) as He grants nourishment through food in Arabic: Al-Muquit.

The Loving (47) as He has lovingly thought up the system of tasting and wants each human being to taste and enjoy the food eaten in Arabic: Al-Wadud. The All Praiseworthy (56) for the huge engineering that has gone into setting up and implementing the entire sub-system of tasting in Arabic: Al-Hamid. In Arabic we can say Alhamdulillah when we want to praise the Creator. The Producer (58) as He produces all the different varieties of foods for us to enjoy in Arabic: Al-Mubdi.

The list is only partial. Other general attributes such as All-Powerful (69), i.e. One who is able to do anything He wants, may also be applied. The question is, however, should we reason out what the Creator has done for us, acknowledge His Contribution to our lives and love Him in return? As the American Christian pastor Tozer (1897 1963) {4} pointed out in his book The Knowledge of the Holy: What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. {5} What is Tozer trying to imply when he says that our thoughts about God are the most important thing about a human being? The higher purpose of human existence is to think about God if we do not think about God human existence has no meaning, i.e. it becomes purely mechanical. Using our intelligence when we reason about the Creator, i.e. think about His Signs, adore and praise Him we are actually fulfilling the purpose of our individual creation. Accordingly, we are guided in the Quran:

7.180 The most beautiful names belong to Allah: so call on Him by them; but shun such men as use profanity in His Names: for what they do they will soon be requited.
Another place in the Quran gives a few attributes, He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Forms (or colors). To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names: whatever is in the heavens and on earth declares His Praises and Glory: and He is the exalted in Might, the Wise. [59.24] The beautiful names are the attributes of the Creator through which we know Him. All credit belongs to Him. By working out what the Creator has done for us and acknowledging Him in our day-to-day lives, we establish the truth of the Creator and fulfill the purpose of our individual creation. When a person does this, he/she is being just and righteous.

7.181 Of those We have created are people who direct (others) with the truth and thereby dispense justice.
Allah warns that those who ignore Him will have lost their souls: And be not like those who forget Allah; and He made them forget their own souls! Such are the rebellious transgressors! [59.19]

7.182 Those who reject Our Signs We shall gradually visit with punishment in ways they perceive not. 7.183 Respite will I grant to them: but My scheme is strong (and unfailing).
----------{Notes}: {1} http://www.bradhambrick.com/booklet-preview-gods-attributes/ {2} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Names_of_God_in_Islam {3} http://www.faizani.com/articles/names.html {4} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A._W._Tozer {5} http://www.goodreads.com/author/quotes/1082290.A_W_Tozer