Article appeared Friday, October 23rd, 2015 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (398)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

In todays world the use of brand products is quite popular. To some, use of a brand is a status
symbol. People proudly display a brand logo and label. Such a display gives recognition, serves
as praise, promotes and establishes the brand. Proud display acts as a testimony, encourages
others to try the brand thereby furthering the cause of the manufacturer!
Some brand users go as far as forming user forums and clubs. Brand manufacturers also offer
memberships to users. Members enjoy privileges and have access to the manufacturers news
through newsletters. Why do brand users go to such lengths? Is it because they enjoy the
benefits of a brand product and trust the quality and dependability of the brand name?
Lets now turn this chain of thought to look at our nature as humans. For the purpose of
analysis, can we start by imagining ourselves as a human product? Can we then think of
qualities of this brand that makes it different from all other living products? The fact that we can
eat, sleep, do the toilet, mate, have children, shout, fight and kill does not make us different it
is the ability to ask questions, analyze knowledge to find answers and, decide what is right to
give testimony to the truth just as we establish the truth of a brand product. It is this ability that
sets humans apart from the rest of the living beings.
It is the ability to ask questions that allows humans to differentiate between things that may be
projected as right and what is actually right the difference between falsehood and the truth.
In our day-to-day life, we are faced with dilemmas where understanding the real truth would
help. For example, when we are in dire need of a job, what or, who is it that can ensure that we
land a job? After doing our best to prepare for the interview, who do we feel can support us to
get the job? Would it be the members of the interview board, political muscle, a religious sage, a
stone ring or, the Creator? The Holy Scriptures narrate how Abraham had similar questions in
his mind. He went through a rigorous analysis to distinguish the power of the Creator from all
powers including the Creator imagined and served by his father. In the Holy Quran we are
asked to reflect on how Abraham asked questions.
(Mention, when Abraham) said to his father, O, my father, why do you worship that
which does not hear and, does not see and, will not benefit you at all? [19.42]
Once Abraham had established the truth about the Creator for himself, to help others
understand, he offered logical arguments.
Have you ever reflected upon the one (Namrud), to whom Allah had given a kingdom,
who (instead of turning to Allah and being grateful) argued with Ibrahim (Abraham) about
Allah. When Ibrahim said, "My Lord is He Who has power to give life and to cause
death." He arrogantly replied, "I too have the power to give life and to cause death."
Ibrahim then said, "Indeed, Allah causes the sun to rise from the east, so make it rise
from the west." Thus the unbeliever was confounded; Allah does not guide the
evildoers. [2.258]
Returning to the chain of thought about brand products, are humans products, in effect, or, can
be thought of as living brand ambassadors {1} of the One who has created them?
Behold! Your Lord said to the angels, "I will create a vicegerent on earth." [2.30]
A vicegerent {2} is an earthly representative of the Creator, i.e., each human product has been
created as a vicegerent of the Creator! However, the question is, whether or not the individual
accepts this honor and does things worthy of a vicegerent or, a brand ambassador?

14.11 Their messengers said to them, "True, we are only human like you, but
Allah grants His Grace to such of His servants as He Pleases. It is not for us to
bring you an authority except as Allah permits. And on Allah let all men of faith
put their trust.
Each individual has an analytical ability to establish the truth. Using this characteristic ability, the
job and purpose of each human is to establish the truth of Allah (the God) in the heart, i.e.,
separate the absolute qualities of Allah from the apparent or relative power of created entities
and with this realization turn to Him in gratitude and adoration for the unique opportunity of an
intelligent existence. We would not be able to do this without the special analytical and
communication abilities given by Allah. Those who invite or remind us about Him are simply
doing their duties as vicegerents or as brand ambassadors they are no more than humans just
like us. As the ambassadors have convinced themselves about the qualities and power of Allah,
they say,

14.12 No (logical) reasons have we against putting our trust in Allah. Indeed He
has guided us to the ways we (follow). We shall certainly bear with patience all
the hurt you may cause us: for those who put their trust should put their trust on
Allah.
If we can so easily evaluate and trust the manufacturers of brand products, is it so difficult to
evaluate our own qualities and extend our trust to the One who has created us and, given us the
knowledge [2.31] we have and, also given us abilities to manufacture brands? We should fear
no one other than Allah. All outcomes [30.4, 9.24, 10.65, 8.59] and decisions depend on Allah.

14.13 And the Unbelievers said to their messengers, "Be sure we shall drive you
out of our land or, you must return to our religion." But their Lord inspired to
them (messengers), "We will surely destroy the wrongdoers!
How long should the Creator humor those who deny His quality contribution? How would He
reward those who fulfill their purpose as vicegerents and obligations towards Him? Would He
only wait for the Day of Judgment? If, on the other hand, a brand product does not fulfill its
purpose, what do we do with it? Do we throw it away and/or replace it?

14.14 And verily We shall cause you to dwell in the land and succeed them. This
for such as fear the time when they shall stand before My tribunal (judgment) and
fear the punishment.
14.15 But they sought victory and decision (there and then) and frustration was
the lot of every powerful obstinate transgressor.
Every arrogant person will lose both in this world and the next. He/she would eventually be in
serious trouble with the Creator.

14.16 In front of such a person is Hell and he will be given for drinking boiling
fetid water.
14.17 In gulps will he sip it but be hardly able to swallow it down his throat;
death will come to him from every corner yet will he not die: and in front of him
will be a massive punishment.
------{Notes}:
{1} https://www.socialhp.com/blog/12-reasons-you-need-brand-ambassadors-now/
{2} http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/vicegerent