Article appeared Friday, August 7th, 2015 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (388)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Do we do stock-taking? How many things in our life can we take stock of? For example, in an
office or in a business, we take regular inventory of our goods. In our homes we take stock of
the food we have, where we live, the kind of people we mix with and how much wealth we have.
Should we also take stock or reflect on the fact that we have a personality and have an
opportunity to use this and an intelligence to explore and enjoy the pleasures of life on earth?
Our personality is unique, just as are our fingerprints, our eyes and our voices. Being unique,
we have the opportunity of enjoying a status among those around us. Should we take stock of
the blessings we are enjoying every moment of our life? What blessings? For example, ask a
baby the joy of finally being able to stand and walk without any assistance. Ask the awestruck
and wide-eyed child who wants to taste the floor he/she is walking on! The ability to analyze and
list the events, blessings and pleasures of life itself is a miracle.
For the personality, events, blessings, pleasures and miracles that we are enjoying freely,
should we be indebted? If yes, to whom? Should we take the trouble to single out the Architect
behind our personality, the Giver of the gift of life, the Provider of all the blessings and the
Arranger of all the pleasures that we derive?
The stories of prophets given in the Holy Scriptures contain important lessons for us. For one,
they show how, faced with concepts that gave importance to a number of gods including the
Creator, the prophets logically worked out that there could be only one unique Architect, Giver,
Provider and Arranger. The prevailing concept was to approach or revere anything that could
potentially benefit them. They then logically and deliberately removed themselves from
connecting to and giving priority to the other assumed gods. They took stock of the blessings in
their life, credited and acknowledged Him alone and demonstrated their gratitude. As an
example, Prophet Yusuf or Joseph says, as revealed in the Quran,
And I have followed the religion of my fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And it was
not for us to associate anything with Allah. It is the Grace of Allah upon us and upon the
people, (that He guides us to proper faith) but most of the people are not grateful.
[12.38]
What is the prevailing concept today? Do we approach the Creator as well as other objects
anything that we think may potentially benefit us? Is our benefit the focus, rather than the
Creator? Do we acknowledge and credit the Creator after the major events in our life? The
following verses of the Quran, that cover Prophet Josephs story, give us insights into the way
he acknowledged the blessings of Allah and thanked Him.
He said, "O my father, this is the fulfillment of my vision (dream) of old! Allah has
made it a reality! He has been indeed good to me when He took me out of the prison
and brought you (all here) out of the desert (even) after Satan had sown enmity between
me and my brothers. Verily my Lord understands best the mysteries of all that He plans
to do. For indeed, verily it is He Who is full of knowledge and wisdom. [12.100]
Allah turned a dream into reality a dream that He gave to Joseph as a teenager. Notice the
love with which he addresses the Creator. Notice his understanding of the contribution of the
Creator. In the following Verse, he also wants Allah to accept him in the group of persons who
have similarly acknowledged Him and have thereby demonstrated righteousness.

12.101 My Lord, You have indeed given me power and taught me the
interpretation of dreams. Creator of the heavens and the earth, You are my

Protector in this world and in the Hereafter. Cause me to die a Muslim and join me
with the righteous.
The verse is given to show us how to approach the Creator and demonstrate our gratitude
towards Him. Allah has revealed Josephs story from His Knowledge of the events in the past,
demonstrating His Knowledge of what goes on in the hearts of those who plan mischief.

12.102 That is from the news of the unseen which We (now) reveal (O,
Muhammad) to you. And you were not with them when they put together their
plan while they conspired.
12.103 And most of the people, although you strive (to help people understand),
are not believers.
Prophet Muhammad tried, in a similar manner to convince the people of the difference between
Allah and the other gods approached by the people in his time.

12.104 And you do not ask of them for it any payment. It is not except a Message
and reminder to the worlds.
12.105 And how many a Sign within the heavens and the earth do they pass by?
Yet they turn (their thoughts) away from them (without contemplation)!
Do we consider the Signs blessings in our life and reflect on what Allah has done for us?

12.106 And most of them believe not in Allah without associating (others as
partners) with Him!
If we persist in approaching others, Allah asks us to consider an eventuality.

12.107 Then do they feel secure that there will not come to them an aspect of the
punishment of Allah or that the Hour will not come upon them suddenly while
they do not perceive?
Do we not worry about annoying the Almighty who alone has the power to give anything? The
Prophet is asked to deliver the following warning.

12.108 Say, "This is my way. I do invite to Allah with proper insight; I and those
who follow me. And exalted is Allah! Never will I join gods with Allah!"
12.109 And we sent not before you (as messengers) except men, to whom we
revealed our Verses, living in human habitations. Do they not travel through the
earth and see the end of those before them? But the home of the Hereafter is best
for those who do right. Will you not then understand?
It is the purpose of human intelligence to separate Allah from other gods (assumed powers) and
demonstrate allegiance to Him alone. Those who refuse to use their intelligence in this manner
are considered criminals by the Creator and will be punished.

12.110 (Time is granted) until the apostles give up hope (of their people) and
(come to) think that they are being treated as liars that there then reaches Our
victory. And those whom We will are saved. The criminals will not be protected
from our punishment.
12.111 There is, in the stories of prophets, instruction for men with
understanding. It is not a tale invented but a confirmation of what went before it
and a detailed exposition of all things and a Guide and a Mercy to those who
believe.