Article appeared Friday, February 12th, 2016 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (414)

yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Do we give a thought to how we spend our time? That is, is it important to think about time? For
example, we know that with the passage of each day, we have one less day left of our life, i.e.,
we have a limited amount of time on earth. So, should we be thinking about how we spend each
day of our life? A related question could be have we worked out what life is all about?
So, before we look at the value of time, perhaps we should look at our life on earth.
Philosophers and many others have tried to make sense of life. The Wikipedia Meaning of Life
article {1} poses many interesting questions that one may ask regarding life. Answers are
attempted from a scientific, cultural, religious and sometimes simply a biological {2} point of
view. From the first cell on earth, all living cells have genetic programs {2} installed and
activated. Who writes, installs and activates these programs is something only the Holy
Scriptures can answer. In this article, we are not debating the question of who? The question
that this article is asking is why? That is, is there a purpose to life? The article What is the
Meaning of Life {3} attempts to answer this question:
The meaning of our life, its purpose and justification, is to fulfill the expectations of God,
and then to receive our final reward. {3}
Warren {4} on the other hand proposes a more meaningful and realistic view, suggesting that
God created humankind to be with Him through eternity for His own pleasure.
Bringing enjoyment to God, living for his pleasure, is the first purpose of your life. When
you fully understand this truth, you will never again have a problem with feeling
insignificant. It proves your worth. If you are that important to God, and he considers you
valuable enough to keep with him for eternity, what greater significance could you
have? {4}
Just like a growing baby gives pleasure to parents, the idea is that we give pleasure to the
Creator as we live the life that He has created and learn. There are young children who
intentionally do things to bring a smile or give pleasure to the parent. The problem is that not all
children would do the same. Likewise, not every human would love the Creator in return for
having the privilege of enjoying the intelligent life that He so meticulously created. It is about
people who do not think about the blessings given by the Creator that this article discusses. For
example, what should the Creator do to such people or even why should He punish such
people?
Can analogies from different situations on earth help us answer or understand the Creators
point of view? Lets imagine that an excellent school has been set up to educate youngsters.
Among the students there are all types of learners. Some learn well, others not so well. There
are some students in school who instead of making efforts to learn are busy with other activities.
For example, there are some students in school who bring drugs into school. They are busy
inviting others to drugs and selling drugs. So, not only are these students not making any efforts
towards learning, they are inviting others to get involved in drug related activities. The question
is what attitude and/or what steps should the school authority take towards these students?
Would the authority warn them and finally, if they continue drug related activities, expel them?
In the analogy, not only do these students not appreciate the purpose of the school, they invite
others to get involved in non-academic activities and drug taking. Can this analogy be related to
the existence of human beings on earth? The Creator has put us on earth to appreciate what He
has done for us and love Him for the life that He has created. Instead of appreciating the good
things of life and being grateful to the Creator, if human beings spend time leading other types
of activities and distract others how should the He look upon such people? What might He do?

The following Verses from the Holy Quran relate the story of Prophet Lut (Lot) who actively
warned his people against the practice of gay sex (Sodomy) {5}. The people of Lot not only
ignored the purpose of their creation, they defiantly continued these sexual practices and even
invited visitors to their city to get involved with them. We pick up the story at the point where two
angels (messengers) arrived to Prophet Lut to warn him of the decision of the Creator to
completely destroy these people and leave them without descendants.

15.61 And when the messengers came to the family of Lut.

As the angels disguised as humans appeared to look different, Prophet Lut questioned them.

15.62 He said, "Indeed, you are a people unknown (uncommon in this area)."
15.63 They replied, "We have come to you to accomplish that of which they
doubt.
15.64 We have come to you with the truth, and indeed we are truthful.
The defiant people of the city doubted the Prophets warning of the wrath of the Creator. So the
angels had come to establish the truth of the warnings that he had given.

15.65 "Then travel by night with your family when a portion of the night (yet
remains) and follow them from behind: let no one among you look back but carry
on as you have been commanded."
15.66 And We made this message (this decree) known to him: that the last
remnants of those (sinners) should be cut off by the morning.
All including descendants would be destroyed their time on earth was about to be withdrawn.

15.67 The inhabitants of the City came in with joy (at news of the young men).
That is, they were overjoyed due to the new opportunity of having sex with the young men.
However,

15.68 Lut said, "These are my guests: disgrace me not:

15.69 But fear Allah and shame me not.
15.70 They argued, "Have we not forbidden you from trying to protect people?"
In desperation, Lut offered something that would not annoy the Creator.

15.71 He pleaded, "These are my daughters if you must be doers (of lawful
marriage)"
15.72 By your life, (O Muhammad), indeed they were, in their intoxication (for gay
sex) wandering blindly.
--------{Notes}:
{1} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meaning_of_life
{2} http://www.panspermia.org/whatis2.htm
{3} https://philosophynow.org/issues/59/What_Is_The_Meaning_Of_Life
{4} http://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/2265235-the-purpose-driven-life-what-on-earth-ami-here-for?page=4
{5} http://jandyongenesis.blogspot.com/2008/10/lots-story.html