Article appeared Friday, June 29th, 2018 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (530) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Do we attach meaning to the words in the Holy Scriptures? Or do we doubt what is written as a
warning of what will happen in the future? For example, have we considered what will happen
on the Day of Accountability better known as the Day of Judgment? There are four aspects that
need to be taken into consideration for the time after death – our own personal resurrection,
changing of the Heavens and the Earth, our individual account or judgment and finally eternal
afterlife. Let us consider each aspect in turn. Before looking at how the Scriptures enlighten us,
it would be an idea to consider logic, scientific possibility and then finally analyze references
from the Books.

The first question is, can we be raised or reconstructed after death? To answer this question, we
need to logically examine the overall concepts and then the possibility. The first logical question
could be would God, the Ever-Living Eternal Being make the effort of designing each human
being individually for only a short period of time? If everything ended with death, who would He
have as His subjects for the rest of eternity? Next question – could humans be resurrected –
based on current scientific knowledge? Scientists have been toying with the idea of using age-
old genomes for remaking/cloning {1} extinct animals similar to what was done in the movie
Jurassic Park using dinosaur DNAs. So would it be possible for God to bring back a human after
death from scratch? God questions the possible doubt and therefore confirms in the Al-Qur’an,
“Does man think that We cannot assemble his bones? Nay, We are able to put together
in perfect order the very tips of his fingers.” [75.3 – 75.4]

In Verses 17.49 – 17.51, God reaffirms that this would be just as He constructed you the first
time and in the Verse below even mentions when this will happen.
“It will be on a Day when He will call you and you will answer (His call) with (words of)
His praise and you will think that you had not remained (in the grave) except for a little
while!” [17.52]

We should also remind ourselves that God raised the Companions of the Cave after more than
three hundred years [18.12] while on earth. Should there be any doubt left in our minds
regarding God’s ability to resurrect any one of us? Next, would the earth and the heavens
remain as they are or would they change?

21.104 “The Day that we roll up the heavens like a scroll rolled up for books
(completed) even as We produced the first Creation so shall We produce a new
one: a promise We have undertaken: truly shall We fulfill it.”
What could roll up the heavens like a scroll mean? If we consider the expanding universe as
books being rolled out, rolled up could mean the reversal of this expansion. Books would imply
records of everything that has taken place during the expansion – so this would mean journey
and purpose complete of the expansion. This could also mean reversal of time {2} so that our
deeds can be replayed and every nation/generation facing God on the Day of Judgment –
perhaps in reverse order. The rolling up could mean the reversal of everything that has so long
gone out, away from the sun, would now come back in – this includes light emanating from the
sun would now reverse and come back, the expanding universe with the stars moving out would
all now move back in. This would explain the characteristics described for Black Holes {3}. The
revealed Verses of the Al-Qur’an have confirmed what was already written in the Bible.
“All the stars in the sky will be dissolved and the heavens rolled up like a scroll;…”
[Isaiah 34:4] {4}
Since science has identified the characteristics of Black Holes, is there any reason we should
doubt what is written in the Holy Scriptures? For whom will the new creation be?

21.105 “Before this We wrote in the Psalms after the Message (given to Moses):
My servants the righteous shall inherit the earth."”
Who can the righteous possibly be – those who have discovered the truth of God, have adored
Him in return and testified to His truth? In the Psalms given in the Bible we find,
“The righteous will inherit the land and dwell in it forever.” [Psalms 37:29] {5}

Can the righteous be those who are arrogant, use God and religion to further their own greed
and oppress others, give priority to wealth, status and ego? To whom belongs credit for all that
we have? Now, in the Al-Qur’an, as was given in the previous Holy Scriptures, God has had
Revelation recorded and protected from deviation for all mankind.

21.106 “Verily in this is a Message for people who would (truly) worship God.”
There is only One God who created the entire universe. The same God revealed Scriptures in
various ages. To help us understand this concept, in the Al-Qur’an, God has confirmed what He
revealed to the earlier prophets.
“We have revealed to you (O Muhammad) as We revealed to Noah and the Prophets
after him; We revealed to Abraham, Ismail, Isaac, Jacob and the Tribes (descended from
him), to Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron and Solomon and to David We gave the Psalms.”
[4.163]

21.107 “We sent you (O, Muhammad) not but as a mercy for all creatures.”

21.108 “Say: "What has come to me by revelation is that your God is One God:
will you therefore bow to His Will (as a Muslim)?"”
What does having one Creator, one God mean? Is it like having one boss of the universe, who
has conceptualized, designed, created and maintains every atom in the entire universe.

21.109 “But if they turn back, say: "I have proclaimed the Message to you all alike
and in truth; but I know not whether that which you are promised is near or far.”
The job of messengers is like that of a postman, delivering the message of Mercy and warning
from the Creator. The prophets do not know the date and time of the Day of Accountability. The
prophets, through their lifestyle, also provided examples of how to approach and please God.

21.110 “"It is He Who knows what is open in speech and what you hide (in your
hearts).”
Every intention is monitored by God and recorded. We will be asked about our intentions and
attitude towards God on the Day of Judgment. The time period of the trial on earth is unknown.

21.111 “"I know not but that it may be a trial for you and a grant of (worldly)
livelihood (to you) for a time.”
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{Notes}:
{1} http://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/could-scientists-bring-dinosaurs-back.html
{2} https://www.ummah.com/forum/forum/library/islamic-lectures-reminders/500066-research-
the-physics-of-day-of-judgement-science-proves-qiyamah-acc-to-qur-an
{3} https://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/5-8/features/nasa-knows/what-is-a-black-hole-
58.html
{4} http://biblehub.com/isaiah/34-4.htm
{5} http://biblehub.com/psalms/37-29.htm