Article appeared Friday, January 14th, 2011 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (162) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Does trust have any characteristics? Is it possible or even sensible to trust someone 90% or even
99%? Can one predict the event or situation for which the partial mistrust is justified? In addition,
let us look at what famous people have said about trust. George MacDonald (1824 – 1905) {1} a
Scottish author, poet and Christian minister wrote:
“To be trusted is a greater compliment than to be loved.” {2}

Garth Henrichs, editor of Sunshine Magazine, writes:

“As soon as you trust yourself, you will know how to live.” {3}

From the point of view of our Creator, then, how should He feel if He is not trusted by His best
creation – human beings? It is only by trusting the Creator can one establish the truth of His
Existence. To help us understand, David Elton Trueblood (1900 – 1994) {4}, a noted 20th century
American Quaker and theologian wrote:
“Faith is not belief without proof, but trust without reservation.” {2}

How does the Bible enjoin trust?

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who
search for you.” [Psalm 9:10, NLT, 2007] {5}

So, how have prophets and people who believe in the Creator demonstrated their trust? And, in
turn, how has the Creator responded to their trust? For example, how did the mother of Moses
demonstrate her trust in the Creator? The most recent Revelation, the Qur’an, tells us the
inspiration she was given by the Creator.
“So We sent this inspiration to the mother of Moses: "Suckle (your child) but when you
have fears about him cast him into the river but fear not nor grieve: for We shall restore him
to you and We shall make him one of Our apostles."” [28.7]

By putting baby Moses in the river, what degree of trust did the mother of Moses demonstrate in
the Creator? How did the Creator reward this trust?
“And We ordained that he refused suck at first until (his sister came up and) said: "Shall I
point out to you the people of a house that will nourish and bring him up for you and be
sincerely attached to him?" Thus did We restore him to his mother that her eye might be
comforted that she might not grieve and that she might know that the promise of Allah is
true: but most of them do not understand.” [28.12 – 28.13]

While all male children were being slaughtered by Pharaoh’s men, the mother of Moses was able
to suckle and nurture Moses in the Pharaoh’s own household living in luxury, right under
Pharaoh’s nose and under his protection! To understand the degree of trust demonstrated, work
out how many mothers in the world today, having received such an inspiration, would put their
baby in the river? Similarly, what is the degree of trust that Hager put in the Creator, when
Abraham left her and his eldest born son in the desert sands of Mecca? Being human, how did she
feel? As she was being left behind in the barren valley alone with her baby Ishmael (Ismail), she
protested, “…Are you leaving us here to die?” Abraham (Ibrahim, pbuh) replied, “Allah has
commanded me to do this!” Feel the strength of Hager’s belief when breathing a sigh of relief
she replied, “If Allah has ordered you to do so, then surely He will not let us die!”

Hager’s trust in the Creator was so strong that she repeatedly went up the hills Safaa and Marwa
visually looking and searching for Him – just as one would go to the top of a ship’s mast looking for
land! Is it a surprise that Allah says in the Qur’an:
“Behold! Safaa and Marwa are among the Symbols of Allah...” [2.158]
How was Hager rewarded for her trust and belief? To quench their thirst, the spring of Zam-Zam
suddenly gushed forth at feet of Ishmael. To celebrate the degree of trust in the Creator, pilgrims
from all over the world drink from the water of Zam-zam at the end of physically running between
the two hills Safaa and Marwa, just as Hager did!

So, how should a believer then demonstrate his/her trust in the Creator?
“Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger some loss in goods or lives
or the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Who say
when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah we belong and to Him is our return."” [2.155 – 2.156]

If we trust the Creator [57.22 – 57.23] and do not despair,

“They are those on whom (descend) blessings from Allah and Mercy and they are the
ones that receive guidance.” [2.157]

Among those who say they believe there are those who do not put their complete trust in the
Creator. To help Muslims understand, Allah reminds us of the incidents at the Battle of Uhud {6}
fought in 625 AD that teaches lessons in trust for those who wish to believe.

3.121 “Remember that morning you left the household (early) to post the faithful at
their stations for battle: and Allah hears and knows all things.”
Because two parties among the believers did not demonstrate trust, after an initial victory, Allah
rewarded the Muslims with a severe blow.

3.122 “Remember two of your parties meditated cowardice; but Allah was their
Protector and in Allah should the faithful (ever) put their trust.”
Our Creator Allah, reminds believers of His support at the preceding Battle of Badr (624 AD) {7}:

3.123 “Allah had helped you at Badr when you were a contemptible little force; then
fear Allah; thus may you show your gratitude (and trust).”
After resounding victory at the previous Battle of Badr, Allah asks for the reason behind sudden
mistrust:

3.124 “Remember you said to the faithful: is it not enough for you that Allah should
help you with three thousand angels (specially) sent down?”

3.125 “"Yea" if you had remained firm and acted aright even if the enemy should
rush here on you in hot haste your Lord would’ve helped you with five thousand
angels making a terrific onslaught.”
Allah assures those who had firmly put their trust in Him:

3.126 “Allah made it but a message of hope for you; and an assurance to your
hearts: (in any case) there is no help except from Allah the Exalted the Wise.”
Allah explains that His Purpose was to expose those among the Muslims who did not actually
believe, i.e. separate the hypocrites from among those who claimed belief.

3.127 “That He may cut off a fringe of the unbelievers or expose them to infamy and
they should then be turned back frustrated of their purpose.”
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{Notes}:
{1} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_MacDonald
{2} http://www.finestquotes.com/quote_with-keyword-Trust-page-3.htm
{3} http://thinkexist.com/quotations/trust/5.html
{4} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D._Elton_Trueblood
{5} http://bible.cc/psalms/9-10.htm
{6} http://www.absoluteastronomy.com/topics/Battle_of_Uhud
{7} http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Badr