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Article appeared Friday, April 13th, 2018 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (520) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD


As human beings, should we practice righteous behavior? To answer this question, would it be
useful to define the words righteous and behavior? Looking up the word in the web may help.
The Cambridge Dictionary {1} says that word righteous is an adjective meaning morally correct.
When the word behavior is prefixed with this word it would become morally correct manners or
actions. How would moral correctness of behavior be determined or judged? If righteous
behavior implies a moral response to another action, it may be easier to compare/judge the
quality of response. If the behavior is independent, it may be difficult to judge the quality, i.e.,
putting an independent scale of measurement on it. In this connection, it is interesting to note
that Wikipedia {2} has a page on righteousness.
“Righteousness is defined as "the quality of being morally correct and justifiable." It can
also be considered synonymous with "rightness". It is a concept that can be found in
Dharmic traditions and Abrahamic traditions as a theological concept. For example, from
various perspectives in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam it is considered an attribute that
implies that a person's actions are justified, and can have the connotation that the
person has been "judged" or "reckoned" as leading a life that is pleasing to God.” {2}

So, righteousness must be behavior that is pleasing to God. Before looking at what might be
pleasing to Him, let us examine situations that may be called analogous. Imagine that we land a
job. The employer gives many company facilities and benefits. What would “righteous” behavior
be towards the employer? Should we want to please the employer? If so why and how?

Working out the fact that we compulsorily say “thank you” when given even a small gift by
anyone, how should we respond to God? Is saying thank you morally correct? Has God given
us anything or any gifts? Is it possible to work out what God has given each of us? For example,
by creating us, has He given us an existence from nothing? Has He given each of us a unique
personality – a person that each of us love? That is, do we love ourselves? Has He made each
human beautiful? Has He given parents, companions, children, friends, a status, wealth, skills,
an environment and success?

If yes what would be the morally correct way to respond to God? By comparison, we need to
remind/ask ourselves that in case of an employer, what priority do we give our bosses? Do we
do the things that they ask? What level of importance or priority do we give our bosses or the
tasks set by them? Or do we simply give our bosses lip service? The Bible recommends, as
discussed in the website {3},
““Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5). This is
known as the Shema, taken from the first word “hear” in Hebrew. Modern Jews consider
the recital of the Shema both evening and morning to be one of their most sacred duties.
It was cited by Jesus as the “greatest commandment in the Law” (Matthew 22:36–37).”
{3}

Would being grateful for His Gifts, adoring Him and giving Him priority while obeying His
commandments be likely to please God? As human beings, is there anything else we can do?
Would He be pleased if we simply approach Him when we need Him – just like when in need,
one takes the appropriate medicine? To help us understand, the Al-Qur’an gives the following
Verse.
“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]
So our job is to study and discover the gifts given by God and respond to Him in a morally
correct way – this is righteousness. Regarding the gifts given by God, Chapter 55 of the Al-
Qur’an is devoted to asking which of the favors of your Lord would you deny; for example,
“It is He Who has spread out the earth for (His) creatures: Therein is fruit and date-
palms producing sheaths (of dates): Also corn with (its) leaves and stalk produced for
fodder as well as sweet-smelling plants. Then which of the favors of your Lord will you
deny?” [55.10 – 55.13]

As an example to follow in terms of righteousness, the Al-Qur’an says about Prophet Abraham.
“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. And We gave him good in this world and he will be
in the Hereafter in the ranks of the righteous. So We have taught you (Prophet
Muhammad) the inspired (message) "Follow the ways of Abraham the true in faith and
he joined not gods with Allah."” [16.120 – 16.123]

How can we join gods with Almighty God, our Creator? For example, if we feel that the salary
we earn or skills we have are our own doing and not a gift, we have made our own self a god!
During his time, Abraham tried to explain how to look upon God to those around him, as did Lut.
But the townspeople turned against them both.
“But We delivered him and (his nephew) Lut (and directed them) to the land which We
have blessed for the nations.” [21.71]

As both had fulfilled their purpose, God helped them by moving them to new lands and gave
them children who were also righteous – to help with the mission of spreading the attitude that
needs to be adopted towards God.

21.72 “And We bestowed on him Isaac and as an additional gift (a grandson)


Jacob and We made righteous men of every one (of them).”

21.73 “And We made them leaders guiding (men) by Our Command and We sent
them inspiration to do good deeds to establish regular prayers and to practice
regular charity; and they constantly served Us (and Us only).”
Once we righteously turn to God, we follow the commandments of establishing regular prayers
and giving regular charity to please Him.

21.74 “And to Lut too we gave Judgment and Knowledge and We saved him from
the town which practiced abominations: truly they were a people given to Evil a
rebellious people.”
In place of learning how to be righteous, the townspeople practiced their lusts by following “gay”
practices. So God saved Lut and his followers. Once they were safe, God destroyed the city.

21.75 “And We admitted him to Our Mercy: for he was one of the Righteous.”
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{Notes}:
{1} https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/righteous
{2} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Righteousness
{3} https://www.gotquestions.org/love-Lord-heart-soul-mind-strength.html

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