Article appeared Friday, November 24th, 2017 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (501) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

We observe many things and happenings each day. Sometimes what we observe may be called
a Sign a signal or reminder from God! While watching we might have the feeling that a
miracle is happening! What are the thoughts that race in our mind when we observe such
Signs? Are they really from God? Why is He giving a Sign? Is He reminding us of something
that is very important? How should we respond?

Before we discuss possible answers to these questions, let us step back a little and ask
ourselves questions about God Himself. For example, who is God? Searching through the net, a
website The Awakening {1}, suggests the following about God.
The true living God is omnipotent, omniscient, perfectly free, perfectly good, eternal by
nature, and creator of all things: The heavens declare the glory of God; And the
firmament shows His handiwork (Psalm 19: 1); In the beginning God created the
heavens and the earth (Genesis 1: 1). All things depend on God. He depends on
nothing outside himself. He is necessarily the terminus and ultimate principle of
complete explanation of all phenomena. Gods existence and power do not depend on
the laws of the operation of the physical world. God had designed, created and
established the natural laws, and keeps the behavior of the universe and everything
therein conforming to them. The true almighty God is not a mere word in a book on a
dusty shelf. He is alive and all-powerful. He intervenes in the created natural order with
miracles from time to time for a variety of reasons. {1}

From the above reference, can we derive ideas about the nature of the all-powerful God? For
example, how many creator of all things can there be? Following up on this line of thought, can
we conclude that, for the universe and the entire humanity, there can only be one all-powerful
Almighty God, who is very real and the only One that can intervene in the created natural order
if He pleases?

So, if there is only one Almighty, who is it that can care for, sustain and guide humanity? How
would He care, sustain and guide? Would He help us in daily affairs and tasks? Would He get
us out of trouble? Would He grant success? Would He make the seemingly impossible,
possible? Why does He do such things? The following Verse from the Al-Quran answers the
question:
It is He Who brought you from the wombs of your mothers when you knew nothing; and
He gave you the power of hearing and sight and intelligence and affections: that you
may give thanks (to Allah). [16.78]

So what is the purpose of giving humans hearing, sight, intelligence and emotions? Can we say:
to listen, observe and using our intelligence to work out the Signs of God? And subsequently
approaching God with heartfelt gratitude? How many of us have reacted thus having realized
Signs of God in our daily life?

Holy Scriptures relate the story where Moses (pbuh) was required to carry Signs of God to
Pharaoh. Like all of us, Pharaoh was also given hearing, sight, intelligence and affections to
respond to Signs of God observed throughout his life. However, being the arrogant person and
ruler that he was, he ignored the Signs. On the contrary, he proclaimed himself to be god to his
people! To give Pharaoh a last chance to establish belief in His Signs, God prepared and sent
Moses to him. Pharaoh however belittled the Signs and labeled them as cheap magic. To prove
his point, Pharaoh assembled professional magicians to compete with the Signs Moses had
brought. In this situation, how do you feel that God would react? In the Verses from the Al-
Quran below, we pick up the story when Moses and Pharaohs magicians meet for the
competition.

20.65 They said: "O Moses! Will you want to throw (first) or should we be the
first to throw?"
One of the Signs that God had given Moses is that his rod became a real snake when thrown on
the ground. The magicians, being confident practitioners, offered Moses the choice of going
first. However, Moses said,

20.66 He said, "Nay, you throw first!" Then behold their ropes and their rods so it
seemed to him on account of their magic began to be in lively motion!
The rods and ropes of the magicians appeared to move when thrown on the ground. As Moses
was unfamiliar with such magic, he became apprehensive. However, would God let Moses
lose?

20.67 So Moses conceived in his mind a (sort of) fear.

God reassured Moses through inspiration that he had nothing to fear and guided him on what to
do.

20.68 We said: "Fear not! For you indeed have the upper hand:

20.69 Throw that which is in your right hand: quickly will it swallow up that
which they have faked. What they have faked is but a magician's trick: and the
magician thrives not (no matter) where he goes.
Moses rod became a real snake and not only swallowed up the illusion that the magicians had
produced, but the entire rods and ropes on the ground. The magicians quickly realized what
they were seeing was not illusion, but real and thereby realized that it must be a Sign of God.

20.70 So the magicians were thrown down to prostration: they said "We believe
in the Lord of Aaron and Moses."
Observing the Signs of God, the magicians professed belief in God and the mission of Moses.
Seeing this, the arrogant Pharaoh reacted violently and warned his magicians with severe
punishment.

20.71 (Pharaoh) said: "Believe in Him before I give you permission? Surely he
must be your leader who has taught you magic! Be sure I will cut off your hands
and feet on opposite sides and I will have you crucified on trunks of palm-trees:
So shall you know for certain which of us can give the more severe and the more
lasting Punishment!"

20.72 They said: "Never shall we regard you as more than the Clear Signs that
have come to us or than Him Who created us! So decree whatever you desire to
decree: for you can only decree (touching) the life of this world.
The Signs of God engaged the magicians to be thoroughly convinced about the existence and
power of God. And they did not allow themselves to be intimidated by Pharaoh.

20.73 For us we have believed in our Lord: may He forgive us our sins and the
magic to which you compelled us to do: for God is Best and Most Enduring."
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{Notes}:
{1} http://3lotus.com/en/Christianity/miracles.htm