Article appeared Friday, May 11th, 2012 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (228)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Is it possible for a believer to demonstrate disbelief? The question may sound contradictory or it may cause concern in the mind of a believer. In either case, confronting the contradiction may help understand the nature of belief. Let us consider an analogy. Working in an office, does an employee look for ways to please the boss? It may be that the employee believes that continued existence in the company, promotion, increases in salary, etc. all depend on the will of the boss. Accordingly, all activities and interrelationships are for the purpose of pleasing the boss. Now, another employee equally feels that his/her good fortune in the company may also depend on other factors, e.g. size of his/her desk, size of the room, other employees? In pursuit of these additional beliefs, he/she would actively campaign for a larger desk, a larger room, do politics as well as make efforts to please other employees. If you yourself were the employer, what would you think of such an employee? Would you think that the employee lacks understanding, lacks knowledge, is ignorant or simply ungrateful for the benefits given by you? Can a believer similarly demonstrate disbelief? A believer believes that his/her good fortune depends on the Creator. To a believer our Creator is the Sustainer, Cherisher and Protector. He/she therefore prays to the Creator. Equally, now, if a believer feels that good fortune also depends on the amount of wealth, bribing of those in power, deprivation of others, deification of prophets, rubbing of shoulders with religious leaders, etc. he/she would then spend time in finding logic and activity that supports these additional beliefs. If so, how should our Creator look upon such a person? Would our Creator be wrong if He gives a judgment that the person lacks understanding, lacks knowledge, is ignorant or is simply ungrateful? We therefore have two types of belief. In the first type, the activities and interrelationships are efforts to solely please the Creator the focus being the Creator. In the second, a believer does whatever it takes to elicit good fortune. This may involve praying to the Creator as well as praying to prophets, religious leaders and idols, bribery, extortion, resorting to the occult, invoking political influence, using lucky charms, i.e. doing whatever latest fashions demand. In the latter case, the focus is self and pursuit of ones own good fortune. The most recent Revelation guides human beings with the following Verse: And most of them believe not in Allah without associating (others as partners) with Him! [12.106] Where should the focus of a believer lie? Why indeed did both Moses and Jesus (pbut) emphasize the following commandment? Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. [Deuteronomy 6:4-5] {1} Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' [Matthew 22:37, Mark 12:30] {2} Both put forward the most important Law given by the Creator. For those who believe, all activities and interrelationships must be dictated by this Law. For believers among the Jews, Christians and Muslims who wish to follow concepts that oppose this Law our Creator asks the following rhetorical question in the most recent Revelation, the Quran.

5.50 Do they (then) desire to be ruled by the law of pagan ignorance? But for those who are firm in their faith, who can be a better law giver than God?
Following concepts other than that explicitly Revealed by our Creator is classified as pagan ignorance. Assuming that anything other than the Creator has any sort of power over our lives is the result of ignorance. So that humans do not claim ignorance, our Creator has repeatedly sent

Guidance in the form of Revelation. Jesus (pbuh) clearly explained the nature of Revelation, i.e. our Creators Law: Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. [Matthew 5:17-18] {1} What is the significance of what Jesus said? Created beings (analogous to employees) are not allowed to change Revelation Revealed Torah = Revealed New Testament = Revealed Quran Subsequent Revelations only confirm; do not change the Law of the Creator However, if humans do not wish to understand and if Jews, Christians or Muslims do not judge themselves by what the Creator Revealed to them, If any do fail to judge by (the light of) what Allah has Revealed they are (no better than) those who rebel. [5.47] So that believers are not misled, our Creator commands O you who believe take not for friends and protectors those who take your religion for a mockery or sport whether among those who received the Scripture before you or among those who reject faith; but fear Allah if you have Faith. [5.57] To stay on the Law, therefore Allah asks those who wish to follow the letter of the Law to separate from those who, in reality, mock the Law.

5.51 Believers, do not take the Jews and the Christians for your allies. They are allies of one another. Whoever of you allies himself with them is indeed one of them. God does not bestow His Guidance on the wrongdoers.
This also indicates the displeasure of our Creator towards those who mock the Law. Those not firm in their belief are always rushing to seek good fortune in whatever is the latest fashion.

5.52 Yet you see those who are sick at heart rush to their (own) defense, saying, We (only) fear lest a change of fortune should befall us. God may well bring about victory (for believers) or some other event of His own making, and those who waver about will terribly regret the thoughts they had secretly harbored within themselves.
Equally, such people do not want to lose the friendship of firm believers, in case a change of fortune takes place. On the Day of Judgment,

5.53 The believers will say: Are these the same people who swore by God their most solemn oaths that they were with you? All their works are in vain and they will lose all. 5.54 Believers, if you renounce your faith, God will bring forth (in your place) people whom He loves and who love Him, humble towards the believers, proud towards the unbelievers. They will strive hard for Gods cause and will not fear to be censured by any critic. Such is Gods favor which He grants to whom He wills. God encompasses all and knows all. -----{Notes}: {1} http://bible.cc/deuteronomy/6-4.htm {2} http://bible.cc/matthew/22-37.htm {3} http://bible.cc/matthew/5-17.htm