Article appeared Friday, April 6th, 2018 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (519) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Will God protect those who do things to establish the truth about Him? A strange and complex
question indeed! Would it be worthwhile analyzing the question and trying to work out what the
answer could be?

One way to analyze the question would be to convert the key-phrases into sub-questions. For
example, what could the truth about God be? Why would the truth need to be established? Who
should establish the truth? How? And finally, would God protect such persons? Another question
may be why would such persons need protection?

Let’s now look for possible answers to each individual question. So, how do we tackle the first
question, what could the truth about God be? As we cannot visually see God, it is not possible
for humans to describe Him. However, it can be asked, is it possible to know the truth about Him
through what He has done for us? For example, we realize that before we were born, we could
not have existed. So, from nothing, we now not only exist, but have a unique and individual
personality. How did we suddenly come into existence – complete with an individually designed
DNA blueprint? The following Verses from the Holy Scripture Al-Qur’an answers this question.
“It is We (= Royal I) Who have created you: why will you not witness the Truth? Do you
then (not) see that (human seed) which you throw out? Is it you who create it or am I the
Creator?” [56.57 – 56.59]

As we did not exist at a point in time could we have created ourselves from nothing? Can an
individually designed DNA be produced without a Supremely Intelligent Designer? Who other
than God could be the Designer and Creator? If we can logically work out our origin, should it be
difficult to work out that we owe our existence and everything we posses to God? Should we
acknowledge and testify to this fact or the truth?

How can the next question, why would the truth need to be established, be answered? A point to
note here is that the descendants of Adam, i.e., the current human race are exclusively the only
beings who can analyze knowledge to discover, acknowledge and witness the reality of God
and transmit their understanding through the spoken or written word. What does the Al-Qur’an
say about those who have been given this special ability?
“There is no god but He: that is the witness of Allah, His angels and those endued with
knowledge standing firm on justice. There is no god but He, the Exalted in Power, the
Wise.” [3.18]

Verse 3.18 points out that those who are just and righteous among humans would voluntarily
witness the truth, i.e., God is the originator of everything in the universe and therefore the right
to be acknowledged as such is exclusively His. Having enjoyed the pleasures of existence who
among humans would care to explore and share the reality of his/her benefactor? Should this
be each and every human being who has derived pleasure and has benefitted from existence?
Therefore, the Al-Qur’an addresses those who believe that they have been created.
“O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice as witnesses to Allah even as against
yourselves or your parents or your kin and whether it be (against) rich or poor: for Allah
can best protect both. Follow not the lusts (of your hearts) lest you swerve (from justice)
and if you distort (justice) or decline to do justice verily Allah is well-acquainted with all
that you do.” [4.135]
Our ancestor and prophet, Abraham (pbuh) stood up for justice towards God. The Al-Qur’an
therefore calls him a model to be followed while confirming what previous Holy Scriptures also
inform {1}, the fact that he was righteous.
 “Abraham was indeed a model devoutly obedient to Allah (and) true in faith and he
joined not gods with Allah: He showed his gratitude for the favors of Allah Who chose
him and guided him to a straight way.” [16.120 – 16.121]

Having logically worked out and discovered God, our Creator, Abraham stood up for justice
towards Him. How did he do this?
“(Abraham logically posed a) question, "Do you then worship besides God things that
can neither be of any good to you nor do you any harm?” [21.66]

Who did he ask this question to – to people around him, including his father who approached
multiple objects including God for divine help and intervention? The Al-Qur’an includes self
importance and ego as an example of another god.
“Then see such a one as takes as his god his own vain desire?...” [45.23]

After posing logical questions [21.66], Abraham tried other methods and finally tried to shame
them by questioning their sense of understanding.

21.67 “Fie upon you and upon the things that you worship besides God! Have you
no sense?”
However, their egos did not allow them to examine the logic of what Abraham was saying.
Instead,

21.68 “They said, "Burn him and protect your gods if you do (anything at all)!"”
So, was Abraham in trouble? They build a fire and put Abraham in it. At this point, would God
protect those who stand up for Him?

21.69 “We (= Royal I) said, "O fire! Become cool and (a means of) safety for
Abraham!"”
Being the Originator of the heavens and the earth, it is God who gives every object its form and
power. To protect Abraham, He withdrew the power of the fire to burn. At the same time, while in
the fire, the village people did not venture to do him any further harm.

21.70 “Then they sought a stratagem against him: but We made them the ones
that lost most!”
In the final analysis and result, who is likely to lose most – the righteous person or, the one that
denies the basic rights of the Originator of the heavens and the earth?

21.71 “But We delivered him and (his nephew) Lut (and directed them) to the land
which We have blessed for the nations.”
After this incident, Abraham was instructed to move to a different land. This corroborates the
instruction given in the Bible, Genesis 12
“Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will
show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name
great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses
you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” {2}

Can a greater emphasis be placed as warned in the Al-Qur’an - to follow the ways of Abraham?
“And who turns away from the religion of Abraham but such as debase their souls with
folly? Him We chose and rendered pure in this world: and he will be in the Hereafter in
the ranks of the righteous.” [2.130]
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{Notes}:
{1} https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+15%3A6&version=ESV
{2} https://www.biblestudytools.com/esv/genesis/passage/?q=genesis+12:1-3