Article appeared Friday, September 21st, 2018 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (540) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Both truth and falsehood exist side by side. If falsehood did not exist, one would not have to
worry about separating the truth. Why then, does falsehood exist? To answer this question,
further relevant questions may be asked. For example, without falsehood, could the truth be
contrasted [21.18] and thereby understood? If we carry on with such questions, we may come
to the conclusion that falsehood needs to exist for truth to stand out and be established!

The fact that falsehood must exist side by side to allow contrasting of concepts for the sake of
human understanding gives us a clue as to why the existence of pairs is necessary; e.g., day
and night, sun and moon [36.38 – 36.40], good and evil, even why Satan must exist to help
identify and isolate righteous persons, i.e., those who, after his evil suggestions, do what is right
and just. The Holy Scripture Al-Qur’an confirms the creation and existence of pairs in all things,
“Glory to God Who created in pairs all things that the earth produces as well as their
own (human) kind and (other) things of which they have no knowledge. And a Sign for
them is the Night: We remove from it the (light of the) Day and behold they are plunged
in darkness;” [36.36 – 36.37]

In all pairs, there are contrasting “Signs” for human beings to reflect, understand and discover
the blessings and glory of God. To help us ponder on the Signs of the Night and the Day, the
following Verse is given in the Al-Qur’an (Chapter 17, Verse 12),
“We have made the Night and the Day as two (of Our) Signs: the Sign of the Night have
We obscured while the Sign of the day We have made visible to you (to allow sight); that
you may seek Bounty from your Lord and that you may know the number and count of
the years: all things have We explained in detail.” [17.12]

The light during the daytime allows us to move about freely seeking a livelihood. Together,
however, the alternation of the day and night permit a measure of “time” to be established which
in turn allows arranging of schedules – a thoughtful blessing from God to help timetable our
affairs. Having arranged the night and day to regularly follow each other, does He deserve our
appreciation and gratitude?

Further, why has God arranged the Verses of the Al-Qur’an (for example, like the Verses
informing about pairs mentioned above) to be conveyed to us?
“And that those on whom knowledge has been bestowed may learn that the (Qur'an) is
the Truth from your Lord and that they may believe therein and their hearts may be
made humbly (open) to it: for verily God is the Guide of those who believe to the Straight
Way.” [22.54]

Human beings are the most honored among creation who have been given the special ability to
process knowledge and isolate the truth from falsehood. Our job is to reflect and ponder on the
Verses of the Al-Qur’an, to work out that the Verses are indeed the Truth from the All-Powerful
Being who has created us. Our hearts should then take this fact under serious consideration
and use the Book as a Guide for daily life – use it just like we would trust and consult a
manufacturer’s manual as the truth. If we do this, would this be classified as the Straight Way?
As pointed out by the American author, W. Clement Stone (1902 – 2002),
“Truth will always be truth, regardless of lack of understanding, disbelief or ignorance.”
{1}
Are there any other ways in which the Al-Qur’an can be used? We could recite the Verses of the
Al-Qur’an as would a parrot, without the intention of understanding and utilizing the knowledge
that has been given as a Guide to our daily life or recitation with the intention of gaining some
points from our Creator (again without the intention of understanding). To understand this
activity, we could compare it with reciting a car’s manual without the intention of understanding
it. Incidentally, would the car manufacturer applaud such recitation of the manual? What would
the manufacturer think of people who used the manual in such a manner? In addition, could
using individual Verses as a mantra (again, without understanding) be classified as the Straight
Way by God? Would it make sense to use the sentences of a car manual as a memorized
mantra? Could any use that goes against the concept of the Verses of the Al-Qur’an being part
of a Book of Guidance provided by the Creator be accepted as a way that is straight?

Can people who use the Verses of the Al-Qur’an in ways other than as intended, i.e., not as a
Book of Guidance, be classified as having faith?

22.55 “Those who reject Faith will not cease to be in doubt concerning it (the
Signs given in the Al-Qur’an) until the Hour (Day of Judgment) comes suddenly
upon them or there comes to them the Penalty of a Day of Disaster (a calamity
that ends in death on earth).”
The Verses of the Al-Qur’an contain knowledge and Guidance from God. Using the Verses for
any purpose, other than intended, is tantamount to expressing disbelief in God and deny His
Purpose behind giving mankind knowledge. On the Day of Judgment, how would God look upon
or judge people who have, in effect, misused His Signs or Verses?

22.56 “On that Day the Dominion will be that of God Almighty: He will judge
between them: so those who believe and work righteous deeds will be in Gardens
of Delight.”
Who are the people who believe and what are righteous deeds? People who believe are those
who ask questions to gain knowledge from the Verses of the Al-Qur’an in an attempt to find the
purpose for which they have been revealed. Righteous people then seek to develop an
understanding of the Guidance provided, apply it to their daily life and share the knowledge with
others – just like one would share valuable information gained in the Internet. Could sharing the
knowledge with others and helping them understand, for the purpose of developing faith, be
counted as a righteous deed? However, those who do not do this, i.e., believe in the Verses as
they should, are rejecting the Guidance provided; which is tantamount to a rejection of faith.

22.57 “And for those who reject Faith and deny Our Signs there will be a
humiliating Punishment.”
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{Notes}:
{1} https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/w_clement_stone_126453?src=t_truth