Article appeared Friday, March 10th, 2017 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (467) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Communication takes place when people talk to one another. Can the ability to communicate be
a miracle? How? For example, when the listener hears a word that has been communicated
what takes place? The word hits the ear drums, is converted to corresponding signals and sent
to the brain. What does the brain do? The brain has to attach meaning or concept to the word
a meaning that somehow makes sense to the brain. Conversely, before a word is spoken, a
concept or meaning must be translated into signals that operate the vocal cords, air pumped out
with the tongue, the lips as well as the expression of the facial muscles supporting the delivery
of the word. The whole process deals with transmission of a concept in which the listener may
or may not perceive the original meaning intended. Which part of the whole process can be
classified as a miracle? For example, where does the meaning that the brain attaches, either to
the sent or the received word come from?

Equally, when communication takes place through the written word, what happens? The eyes
see a written word; the visual image is then converted to corresponding signals sent to the
brain. The brain has to then attach meaning to the word isolated from the image. Conversely,
before a word can be written down, a concept or meaning in the brain must be translated into
the written word. How did the concept of the written word/image come about? And again, where
does the meaning the brain attaches either to the written or read word come from?

So, where, indeed, do concepts or meanings come from? How then, are meanings attached to
the spoken or written word? The Holy Quran gives us the following answers. Where do
meanings or concepts come from?
And He taught Adam the nature of all things; [2.31]

After having taught Adam, the first human prototype, God then proceeded to test him in
presence of the Angels,
He said, "O Adam! Tell them their natures [2.33]

Regarding attaching meaning to what we hear and what we see, i.e., linking of intelligence to
hearing and sight,
It is He Who brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers when you knew
nothing; and He gave you hearing and sight and intelligence and affections: that you
may give thanks (to God). [16.78]

All the abilities of hearing, sight, intelligence and emotions have been given so that we can work
out the qualities given by God and turn to Him in gratitude. Regarding use of the written word,
Proclaim! And your Lord is Most Bountiful. He Who taught (the use of) the Pen. Taught
man that which he knew not. [96.3 96.5]

God therefore created the means by which meaning resides inside a human being, is attached
to a word and is interpreted, both while writing and reading as well as when speaking and
listening. For this Skill in creating knowledge, installing meaning and the use of human
intelligence, does He deserve appreciation and credit? By recognizing a Quality of God and
turning to Him in gratitude would fulfill the purpose for which we have been created. Similarly,
would God deserve credit for sending Guidance and later having it arranged in Book form?
18.1 Praise be to God, Who has sent to His Servant (Revelation from) the Book
and has allowed no crookedness in it:
God has communicated with His Creation by organizing to send Verses [26.2] as and when
needed during the time of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). To have a glimpse of the Greatness of
God, we may compare this to a similar situation, e.g., a robot manufacturer being able to
communicate directly with his robot words that the robot could independently apply meaning
to. The Revelation and ability to understand brings humanity from darkness into light, i.e.,
knowledge about God and His Creation. For the sake of understanding, we may compare this
with the ability of a monkey or parrot to work out who God is and what He has done for them.
The Verses not only confirm/validate Revelations sent to previous Prophets, they also back up
other Verses in the Quran, for example,
Do they not consider the Qur'an (with care)? Had it been from other than God they
would surely have found therein much discrepancy. [4.82]

18.2 (He has made it) Straight (and Clear) in order that He may warn (the
godless) of a terrible Punishment from Him and that He may give Glad Tidings to
the Believers who work righteous deeds that they shall have a goodly Reward.

18.3 Wherein they shall remain forever:

The warning is clear, as is the good news. Those who develop awareness of God and are
grateful for His Blessings will enjoy a joyous life as an eternal reward from Him. On the other
hand, those ungrateful, i.e., those who do not recognize God and His Blessings, will be thrown
into the Fire of Hell.
fear the fire whose fuel is Men and Stones which is prepared for those who reject Faith.
[2.24]

18.4 Further that He may warn those (also) who say "Allah has begotten a son":
This is like saying that a robot manufacturer has given physical birth to a robot. Can God, an
Omnipotent Being, who has created knowledge for human beings be in anyway like a robot?
Indeed you have put forth a thing most monstrous! [19.89]

18.5 No knowledge have they of such a thing nor had their fathers. It is a
grievous thing that issues from their mouths as a saying. What they say is
nothing but falsehood!
O People of the Book! Commit no excesses in your religion: nor say of God aught but
truth. Christ Jesus the son of Mary was (no more than) an Apostle of God and His Word
which He bestowed on Mary and a Spirit proceeding from Him: so believe in God and
His Apostles. Say not "Trinity": desist: it will be better for you: for God is One God: glory
be to him: (for Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belong all things in the
heavens and on earth. And enough is God as a Disposer of any affair. [4.171]

Those who received Revelation previously are addressed as People of the Book. All
Revelations are from the Main Book with God.
And verily it (Revelation) is in the Mother of the Book in Our Presence high (in dignity)
full of wisdom. [43.4]

We all have our own perceptions about the truth. However, in the final analysis would the actual
truth matter or our perception of it? To think about this, God gives the following Verse,
What kept men back from Belief when Guidance came to them was nothing but this:
they said, "Has Allah sent a man like us to be (His) Apostle?" [17.94]