Article appeared Friday, February 25th, 2011 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (168) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Is there a connection between the Creator and His creation? If there is, what is the connection
and what would be the role of the creation? To help understand this role, the American film and
television actor Bradley Whitford (b. 1959) said:
“Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own
future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs honor
your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by
doing what you can to make grace happen... yourself, right now, right down here on
Earth.” {1}

For grace to happen, how can one do things to honor and please the Creator? Regarding
inviting grace, Nobel Laureate Mother Teresa (1910 – 1997) had something to say,
“Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living
expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in
your smile.” {2}

Kindness is not a trait of a particular race, or certain people receiving Revelation. It is an attitude
that spells gratefulness in return for the Creator’s kindness. If instead, one only worries about
the sadness in one’s life, and feels that the Creator has given undeserving sadness, the French
philosopher and writer Ernest Renan (1823 – 1892) helps put our thinking straight,
“Let us remember that sorrow alone is the creator of great things.” {1}

Put another way, sorrow helps better understanding of life on earth and help people towards
purity of belief. It is therefore in our best interest that the Creator gives sorrow. In addition,
instead of counting the constant and continual blessings given by the Creator, there are many
who constantly worry about being short changed. For such people, American naturalist and
author William Bartram (1739 – 1823) shares his realization,
“On the recollection of so many and great favors and blessings, I now, with a high sense
of gratitude, presume to offer up my sincere thanks to the Almighty, the Creator and
Preserver.” {1}

Should one count existing favors and be grateful or simply keep on asking for more and more
favors? In the most recent Revelation, the Qur’an, the Creator talks about counting favors:
“And He gives you all that you ask for. But if you count the (existing) favors of Allah
never will you be able to number them:..” [14.34a]

Are there any favors the Creator has given without asking? Unfortunately, the Giver of
blessings, the Almighty Creator points out that man is unjust in return:
“verily man is given up to injustice and ingratitude.” [14.34b]

Being Merciful should the Creator teach lessons in the face of injustice to Him or disobedience
arising from ingratitude, e.g. without counting existing blessings, running after more and more
wealth with disregard to the Creator and His Prophets? Who is it that constantly looks after us
and protects us?
“Nay, Allah is your Protector and He is the best of Helpers.” [3.150]

Given that Allah is our Protector, does one need to worry about harm or problems caused by
those who do not believe nor wish to be grateful to the Creator? The apparent harm or problems
seemingly caused by unbelievers are allowed by the Creator only to test the quality of one’s
belief. On the other hand, again as a Mercy, the Creator arranges stern warnings for the
unbelievers or those who join other gods with the Creator.

3.151 “We shall strike terror in the hearts of unbelievers because they associate
partners with Allah — [something] for which He has never granted any warrant.
Their abode is the fire, and evil indeed is the dwelling place of the wrongdoers!”
The Creator’s arranges lessons for unbelievers as well as believers. Starting from a general
statement (Verse 3.151), our Creator Allah draws on a specific example to show how He
weeded out mistrust from the hearts of believers. During the Battle of Uhud terror had overtaken
the hearts of the unbelievers and they were on the run from the battlefield. At this juncture, Allah
tested the belief of believers with greed for booty and further tested the believers by allowing the
unbelievers to take advantage of the gaps left in the battle positions.

3.152 “Allah fulfilled to you His promise when, by His leave, you were about to
destroy them. But then you lost heart and disagreed with one another concerning
[the Prophet’s command] and disobeyed after Allah had brought you within view
of that for which you were longing (i.e. booty). Some of you cared only for this
world and some cared for the life to come. Then He turned you away from them
so that He may put you to a test. But now He has forgiven you, for Allah is
Gracious to the believers.”

3.153 “[Remember] when you ran away, up into the mountain, paying no heed to
anyone, while the Messenger was at your rear calling out to you. Therefore, He
rewarded you with sorrow after sorrow so that you may not grieve over what has
escaped you, nor over what had befallen you. God is aware of all that you do.”
Afterwards the believers felt sorry that they had not listened to the Prophet nor had they trusted
Allah in the matter of getting a fair share of war booty – as a result not only did many believers
die, the Prophet himself was wounded.

3.154 “Then, after sorrow, He let peace fall upon you, in the shape of a slumber
which overtook some of you, while others, who cared mainly for themselves,
entertained wrong thoughts about Allah — thoughts of pagan ignorance. They
ask: “Have we any say in the matter?” Say: “All power of decision rests with
Allah.” They conceal in their minds what they do not disclose to you. They say:
“Had we had any say in the matter, we should not have been slaughtered here.”
Say: “Had you stayed in your homes, those of you who were destined to be killed
would have gone to their deathbeds.” For it was Allah’s Will to put to a test all
that you entertain in your minds and to render pure what you may have in your
hearts, Allah is fully aware of what is in people’s bosoms.”
Allah forgave those who had learned their lesson.

3.155 “As for those of you who turned away on the day when the two hosts met in
battle, Satan caused them to slip only in consequence of something that they
themselves had done. But now Allah has pardoned them. Indeed, Allah is Much-
forgiving, Most Forbearing.”
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{Notes}:
{1} http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/creator_2.html
{2} http://en.thinkexist.com/reference/quotes_about_being_good/