Article appeared Friday, June 3rd, 2016 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (429)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Most of us affirm that we have been created. This means that we agree that the Creator has
created us individually. Does this affirmation however lead us to think about His qualities? For
example, is there a difference between the one who creates and the created being? Restating
the question, could there be a physical relationship between the Creator and His Created?
Considering analogies, could the inanimate painting Mona Lisa be related to the painter
Leonardo da Vinci in anyway, e.g., could she be his daughter? Lets consider animate objects.
Could the Mercedes Benz manufacturers be in anyway related to the prestige cars they make?
For example, could the cars be sons/daughters and the manufacturer their father?
While the analogy appears impudent, it should give us something to think about. Another
question to ask would be: could any product, crafted or created item be made equal to the
manufacturer? That is, could a manufacturer create a copy of himself; i.e., a copy having equal
powers and capabilities? If a manufacturer were able to create an equal, what might happen?
Would both have an equal claim over those manufactured? And then what may happen??
Equally, when we think of the Creator, could He, or even would He want to create a duplicate of
equal power? This would be illogical to say the least, as He has revealed in the Quran,
Say: if there had been (other) gods with Him, as they say, behold they would certainly
have sought out a way to (become) the Lord of the (mighty) Throne! [17.42]
So when, for example, the Bible talks about sons and daughters, would it simply imply an
affectionate relationship {1} between those who acknowledge the Creator and the Creator
Himself or a physical literal relationship? It may also suggest equality {1} any son or
daughter of a person would necessarily enjoy an equal status with the parent. Therefore, the
question is, are we conceptually inventing unjustified and illogical physical relationships with the
Creator? Quoting {2} from a speech by James E Faust;
I speak this evening about what it means to be a daughter of God. The new declaration
of the Relief Society begins, We are beloved spirit daughters of God. To be a daughter
of God means that you are the offspring of Deity, literal descendants of a Divine Father,
inheriting godly attributes and potential {2}
What does the Quran have to say about literal descendants?

16.57 And they assign daughters for Allah! All Glory belongs to Him! And for
themselves (sons that) they desire!
The Verse combines two evils or sins, the sin of assigning daughters to Him and preferring male
babies for themselves. The second sin is that of genderside, i.e., the practice of aborting
undesired female babies {3, 4, 5, 6} just because the baby is a female a grievous sin which is
prevalent to this day in many parts of the world.

16.58 When news is brought to one of them of (the birth of) a female (child) his
face darkens and he is filled with inward grief!
What is it that shames a person {7} when the news of a baby girl reaches them?

16.59 With shame does he hide himself from his people because of the bad news
he has had! Shall he retain it on (sufferance and) contempt or bury it in the dust?
Ah! What an evil (choice) they decide on!
While ignoring the choice and decision of Allah to create, as a blessing to the parents, a female
child, these people consider their status, their egos, their desire of a male child to be more
important and thus resort to murdering the female child. As pointed out in the next Verse, such
people do not believe that they will stand judgment for their crimes on the Day of Resurrection.

16.60 To those who believe not in the Hereafter applies the similitude of evil: to
Allah applies the highest similitude: for He is the Exalted in Power Full of
Wisdom.
The highest analogies apply to the Creator. Being Merciful, even if Allah decides to give such
couples a male child subsequently, it will not avert the severe punishment that is due to them.

16.61 If Allah were to punish men for their wrongdoing He would not leave on the
(earth) a single living creature (on earth): but He gives them respite for a stated
term: when their term expires they would not be able to delay (the punishment)
for a single hour just as they would not be able to anticipate it (beforehand).
They give themselves more importance than the Creator. Their priority is what they want for
themselves, not what Allah has decreed. This demonstrates the low regard they have for the
Creator by putting their desires over the blessings given thus proving their disbelief.

16.62 They attribute to Allah what they hate (for themselves) and their tongues
assert the falsehood that all good things are for themselves: without doubt for
them is the fire and they will be the first to be hastened on into it!
People assign daughters to Allah, while desiring only good things for themselves thus
demonstrating the degree of importance they place on their desires over Allah. As such, such
people will be among the first to enter the Fire of Hell so great is this sin.

16.63 By Allah We (also) sent (our apostles) to peoples before you (O,
Muhammad); but Satan made (to the wicked) their own acts seem alluring: he is
also their patron today but they shall have a most grievous Penalty.
The history of gendercide is long all previous generations were also warned by the prophets
and messengers of Allah of this grievous sin, however, it appears that till today Satan has the
upper hand; he makes this sin acceptable to those inclined to listen to him.
------{Notes}:
{1} http://ncronline.org/blogs/peace-pulpit/everyone-son-or-daughter-god
{2} https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/10/what-it-means-to-be-a-daughter-of-god?
lang=eng
{3} http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2539648/Thousands-girls-aborted-gender-Studyfinds-couples-cultures-sons-deemed-desirable-terminating-female-pregnancies.html
{4} http://www.sbs.com.au/radio/storystream/news-its-girl-still-unwelcome-some-culturesaustralia
{5} http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/9103831/In-the-third-world-unwanted-babygirls-disappear.-Its-called-gendercide.-And-its-happening-in-this-country-too.html
{6} http://www.economist.com/node/15606229
{7} http://www.youthkiawaaz.com/2012/06/personal-experience-an-unwelcome-girl-childcontinuing-male-preference-indian-society/