Article appeared Friday, September 3rd, 2010 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (146) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Is it possible to list the things from which human beings derive satisfaction? What feelings does
a child have when he/she first starts walking? What feelings does an artist have when his/her
painting is appreciated or understood? What feeling does a reader have when the plot of a book
he/she is reading suddenly becomes clear? Are things organized in such a way so that after a
degree of effort one is given success and satisfaction or are these things in life just random or
automatic?

Why do so many people pray before exams or before an event in which they wish to succeed?
Could it be that one instinctively knows that it is the Creator Who grants success? In the most
recent Revelation, the Qur’an, the Creator reminds us that we forget to thank Him after being
successful:
“It is We Who have placed you with authority on earth and provided you therein with
means for the fulfillment of your life: small are the thanks that you give!” [7.10]

So what should be the rightful or correct attitude towards the Creator after one gains success?
“O you people! Adore your Guardian-Lord, (the One) who created you and those who
came before you (so) that you may have the chance to learn righteousness.” [2.21]

If success is not followed with a heart full of gratefulness towards the Creator, what does it
imply? Success is deserved; credit belongs to self or credit belongs to some other power?
“Who has made the earth your couch and the heaven your canopy; and sent down rain
from the heavens; and brought forth therewith fruits for your sustenance; then set not up
rivals against Allah when you know (the truth).” [2.22]

By not thanking the Creator, has one set up rivals? Incidentally, is this the same message given
to mankind through all messengers from the Creator?
“Not an apostle did We send before thee without this inspiration sent by Us to him: that
there is no god but I; therefore worship and serve Me (alone).” [21.25]

Is Allah therefore justified in repeatedly warning mankind against rivals? Could attaching family
to the Creator be another example of setting up rivals?
“And they say: "(Allah) Most Gracious has begotten offspring." Glory to Him! They are
(but) servants raised to honor.” [21.26]

Like all other prophets, Jesus was an honored human being:

“Behold! The angels said "O Mary! Allah Gives you glad tidings of a Word from Him: his
name will be Christ Jesus the son of Mary held in honor in this world and the Hereafter
and of (the company of) those nearest to Allah.” [3.45]

3.48 “And Allah will teach him the Book and Wisdom, the Law and the Gospel.”

3.49 “And (appoint him) an Apostle to the Children of Israel (with this message): I
have come to you with a Sign from your Lord in that I make for you out of clay as
it were the figure of a bird and breathe into it and it becomes a bird by Allah's
leave; and I heal those born blind and the lepers and I quicken the dead by
Allah's leave; and I declare to you what you eat and what you store in your
houses. Surely therein is a Sign for you if you did believe.”
With whose support did Jesus perform miracles? What was the purpose of the miracles?

3.50 “(I have come) to attest the Law which was before me and to make lawful to
you part of what was (before) forbidden to you; I have come to you with a Sign
from your Lord. So fear Allah and obey me.”
So like all messengers, Jesus came to reconfirm the Law sent earlier by the Creator.
Additionally, the Creator gave him miracles so that it would help people believe in the message
that he brought.

Did Jesus introduce any new concepts? On the Day of Judgment, Allah will ask this:
“And behold! Allah will ask, "O Jesus, the son of Mary! Did you say unto men `worship
me and my mother as gods in derogation of Allah"? He will say: "Glory to You! Never
could I say what I had no right (to say). Had I said such a thing You would indeed have
known it. You know what is in my heart though I know not what is in Yours. For You
know completely all that is hidden.” [5.116]

“Never said I to them anything except what You did command me to say; except
`Worship Allah my Lord and your Lord'; and I was a witness over them while I stayed
amongst them; when You did take me up You were the Watcher over them and You are
a Witness to all things.” [5.117]

On the Day of Judgment, Jesus will confirm what is also reported in John 20.17 (NLT) {1}.
“"Don't cling to me," Jesus said, "for I haven't yet ascended to the Father. But go find my
brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and
your God.'” {John 20.17}

Jesus gave this message to confirm that indeed, the One he was calling Father was indeed their
‘Father’ as well, same as his God and their God, implying that the relationship between him and
God was the same as that between them and God, i.e. that he was equally a created human
being, just like them {2}.
“It is not befitting to (the majesty of) Allah that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him!
When He determines a matter He only says to it "Be" and it is.” [19.36]

3.51 “It is Allah who is my Lord and your Lord; then worship Him (alone). This is a
way that is straight.”
Similarly, the purpose of the most recent Revelation, the Qur’an, is to confirm previous
Revelations:
“To you We sent the Scripture in truth confirming the scripture that came before it and
guarding it in safety; …but (His plan is) to test you in what He has given you: so strive as
in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah; it is He that will show you the truth
of the matters in which you dispute.” [5.48]
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{Notes}:
{1} http://bible.cc/john/20-17.htm
{2} http://www.mostmerciful.com/myfather.htm