Article appeared Friday, March 18th, 2011 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (171) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Imagine a town of man-made intellectual robots, each with an individual personality. Each robot
carries out a variety of intelligent activities each day. One day a robot wants to know why he
was made. He poses this question to robots who call themselves philosophers. All philosophers
get together and speculate on possible answers. A robot passing by listens to the conversations
and asks logically, ‘Is it not better to ask our manufacturer this question?’

Similarly, if a human being wonders why he/she was made, logically, who would best know?
Would it be inappropriate for our Creator give us the answer? Words revealed by the Creator,
through messengers, recorded in books of revelation provide the answer. The most recent
Revelation, the Qur’an confirms that the Creator has indeed sent Guidance,
“No just estimate of Allah do they make when they say: "Nothing does Allah send down
to man (by way of Revelation)": Ask: "Who then sent down the Book which Moses
brought? A light and guidance to man...” [6.91]

“And this is a Book which We have (subsequently) Revealed bringing blessings and
confirming (the previous revelations) that came before it: that you may warn the Mother
of Cities and all around her. Those who believe in the Hereafter believe in this (the
message given in this book) and they are constant in guarding their prayers.” [6.92]

To answer the question on the purpose of creation, the New Testament in the Bible, a previous
Revelation, reveals that the Creator created us for Himself,
“For by Him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and
invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things
were created by Him, and for Him.” [Colossians 1:16, KJV] {1}

What does “for Him” mean? The more recent Revelation, the Qur’an completes the picture,
“O you people! Adore your Guardian-Lord who created you and those who came before
you that you may have the chance to learn righteousness.” [2.21]

If we enjoy existing, is it right and proper that we find ways to adore the Being who has given
us existence and all that we have? The purpose of all messengers who brought Revelation from
the Creator was one and the same,
“Not an apostle did We send before you without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that
there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me (alone).” [21.25]

By equating the Creator with messengers, i.e. those through whom the Creator’s Message was
delivered, or by equating with any other thing, and calling them god as well, we do the Creator
injustice, i.e. we do not fulfill the purpose for which we were made – we do not credit the One
who went to all the trouble of making everything. Our ancestor, Abraham (pbuh), fought against
such injustice.
“Behold! Abraham said to his father and his people: "I do indeed clear myself of what
you worship: "(I worship) only Him Who made me and He will certainly guide me."”
[43.26 – 43.27]

To help understand this doctrine, the followers of all descendants of Abraham are asked to
follow this example, i.e. the attitude of Abraham towards the Creator. The Bible guides:
“"Our father is Abraham!" they declared. "No," Jesus replied, "for if you were really the
children of Abraham, you would follow his example.” [John 8.39, NLT] {2}

Likewise, the Qur’an guides,

 “…"Follow the ways of Abraham the true in faith as he joined not gods with Allah."”
[16.123]

When Abraham left Hagar and Ishmael (his first born son) {3} behind in the barren valley of
Mecca, he prayed to the Creator to send an apostle locally to instruct the inhabitants of Mecca
in scripture and wisdom, in their own language.
“Our Lord! Send amongst them an Apostle of their own who shall rehearse Your Signs
to them and instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom and sanctify them; for You are
exalted in Might, the Wise.” [2.129]

In response to Abraham’s prayer, the Creator selected Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) a

descendent of Ishmael to instruct the Arabs regarding the purpose of life.

3.164 “Allah did confer a great favor on the believers when He sent among them
an Apostle from among themselves rehearsing unto them the Signs of Allah
sanctifying them and instructing them in Scripture and Wisdom while before that
they had been in manifest error.”
The message of Muhammad was the same as that of Abraham. Muhammad fulfilled his
purpose as the latest role model to mankind – just like Abraham, Moses, Jesus and all prophets
from our Lord. The Qur’an summarizes belief for mankind,
“Say: "We believe in Allah and the Revelation given to us and to Abraham, Ishmael,
Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes and that given to Moses and Jesus and that given to (all)
Prophets from their Lord; we make no difference between one and another of them and
we bow to Allah (our Creator)."” [2.136]

For those who follow previous Revelations but do not wish to believe in the Qur’an, Allah says:
“Or do you say that Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes were Jews or
Christians? Ask: Do you know better than Allah? Ah! Who is more unjust than those who
conceal the testimony they have from Allah? But Allah is not unmindful of what you do!”
[2.140]

For those who feel that things have changed since the first Revelation, the Old Testament of the
Bible clarifies the nature of our Creator:
“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] {4}

In our daily activities, then, how can one fulfill their purpose in life? Warren (2002) has written a
whole book, “The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth am I here for?” using over 1200 Verses
from the Bible on this subject. If we seek the Creator’s blessings in each activity and praise Him,
we may please Him. Warren (2002) explains this on page 74 of his book:
“Every human activity, except sin, can be done for God's pleasure if you do it with an
attitude of praise. You can wash dishes, repair a machine, sell a product, write a
computer program, grow a crop, and raise a family for the glory of God. Like a proud
parent, God especially enjoys watching you use the talents and abilities he has given
you.” {5}
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{Notes}:
{1} http://bible.cc/colossians/1-16.htm
{2} http://bible.cc/john/8-39.htm
{3} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham
{4} http://bible.cc/numbers/23-19.htm
{5} Warren, R. (2002). The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth am I Here for? Zondervan,
Michigan.