Article appeared Friday, November 18th, 2016 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (451)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Given the intelligence that we have as a human being, can the blessings we individually enjoy
be numbered or enumerated? Before we start, it may help to define blessings with a familiar
example. Let us as an example, study the human foot. The recent article {1} on Muscles of the
Foot looks at the intrinsic muscles of the foot. Although the article contains many scientific
terms, simply browsing it, even by just examining the pictures may allow one to workout ideas
regarding the construction of the foot. Among these ideas are art, laws, purpose and
appreciation ideas in line to those put forward by Nursi {2}. Art can be the engineering design
by which the foot muscles have been put together in their four layers. The design would involve
complex engineering and mathematical calculations given the height (according to age) and the
weight of the person the foot has to support. Laws are the rules followed by the muscles while
walking, running, dancing, jumping, etc. Purpose is the reason and fitness of purpose for which
the foot has been designed and made; including the fact that two feet need to be put in place
to fulfill the purpose. The science of Reflexology {3} describes an additional purpose of the foot
muscles, being an aid to relaxing and normalizing the functions of the various organs of the
human body. Having considered the art, laws and purpose, can having two feet to walk with be
called a blessing? Can one deny the role of the Creator behind this blessing? Or should the
intelligent human bear witness to the fact that indeed this is a blessing especially created to
allow humans to get about easily? Should we then thank the Creator for this arrangement?
Similarly, can other blessings can be enumerated and examined in light of the art, laws, purpose
and appreciation? Can it be concluded that all the blessings have been designed with Devine
Love, Care and Importance to be of some benefit to man individually? When the four aspects of
any blessing are worked out can anyone claim that it (the blessing) may be the product of
random chance random chance that is equally applicable to each human being? An in-depth
analysis of the topic will help to show that we cannot run away from the fact that each of us is
individually, uniquely and purposely created with Devine Love, Care and due Attention by the
Creator as put forward in the Holy Quran,
And your creation or your resurrection is in no wise but as an individual soul: for Allah is
He Who hears and sees (all things). [31.28]
This confirms that an All Powerful Being who calls Himself Allah (who can hear and see
everything and obviously has the Power to Create) has created each human individually. It is
through Him that each of us has the right to exist, enjoy the blessings and acknowledge His
Indulgence in our lives. This leads us to another question. Would He tolerate the denial of any of
the blessings that He has given? For example, if someone misappropriates the property or
inheritance left behind for the maintenance of orphaned children, how should the Creator react?
In the Bible in Exodus 22:22, He therefore warns,
Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do and they cry out to me, I
will certainly hear their cry. My anger will be aroused, and I will kill you with the sword;
your wives will become widows and your children fatherless. [Exodus, 22:22-24] {4}
Subsequently, in the Quran, He revealed the following Verse:
Come not near the orphan's property except to improve it until he/she attains the age of
maturity; and fulfill (every) commitment/promise. Indeed, there is no doubt that each
commitment will be questioned (on the Day of Reckoning). [17.34]
Other Verses in the Quran elaborate on this issue,
And give to the orphans their property, and do not substitute worthless (things) for
(their) good (ones) and do not devour their property (as an addition) to your own
property; this is surely a great sin. [4:2]

(As for) those who swallow the property of the orphans unjustly, surely they only
swallow fire into their bellies and they shall enter burning fire. [4.10]
The warning in both the Bible and Quran is severe. Similarly, when we deal with each other in
variety of transactions, we are told to give a full measure.

17.35 Give full measure when you measure and weigh with a balance that is
straight: that is the most fitting and the most advantageous in the final
determination.
In the case of sale of product or service, we need to intelligently determine what constitutes a
full measure and subsequently justly deliver it. So, for example, when a teacher teaches in
return for monies charged, would a full measure be delivered if ultimately the student doesnt
learn?
We are asked not to pursue, i.e., follow through things about which we have no reference or
knowledge or cannot confirm.

17.36 And pursue not that of which you have no knowledge; for every act of
hearing or of seeing or of (feeling in) the heart will be enquired into (on the Day of
Reckoning).
Such pursuing will not only mislead oneself, it would also misguide and lead others away from
the truth. For example, Verse 5:73 tells us:
They do blaspheme who say: Allah is one of three in a Trinity: for there is no god except
One Allah. If they desist not from their word (of blasphemy) verily a grievous penalty will
befall the blasphemers among them. [5.73]
Christ the son of Mary was no more than an Apostle; many were the Apostles that
passed away before him. His mother was a woman of truth. They had both to eat their
(daily) food. See how Allah makes His Signs clear to them; yet see in what ways they
are deluded away from the truth! [5.75]
To allay any doubts regarding his relationship with the Creator, Jesus reaffirms that his
relationship with God is the same as any other human being,
Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go
instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to
my God and your God. [John 20:17] {5}
The Quran confirms what Jesus meant regarding his relationship with the Creator, Allah.
For Allah; He is my Lord and your Lord: so worship Him: this is a Straight Way. [43.64]
These are among the (precepts of) wisdom which your Lord Has revealed to you. Take
not with Allah another object of worship lest you be thrown into Hell blameworthy and
rejected. [17.39]
----------{Notes}:
{1} http://teachmeanatomy.info/lower-limb/muscles/foot/
{2} http://www.iikv.org/en/the-risale-i-nur
{3} http://www.lighthousewellness.com/reflexology.html
{4} http://biblehub.com/exodus/22-22.htm
{5} http://biblehub.com/john/20-17.htm