Article appeared Friday, October 11th, 2019 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (591) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Are people sometimes fired or sacked from the companies they work for? Having landed
a job after successful interviews and having passed a variety of tests, why would a
company suddenly turn around and sack a person? In contrast, equally, would there be
people in the company who are rewarded, promoted and treated with the utmost respect
by the company management? What could be the difference between the two types of
people?

From the company’s point of view, could it be that the fired person was repeatedly not
fulfilling the purpose for which he/she was hired? And those rewarded in some manner
fulfill the purpose and thereby please the management? At the start of their jobs, each
person was given the ground rules, i.e., the purpose for which they were hired and also
the consequences of their performance. Also, before firing or rewarding a person, would
there be a process of evaluation where final decisions are taken?

In conclusion, employment or granting of existence in a company has a definite purpose.

Those who fulfill the purpose are considered “good” employees and are given rewards in
terms of cash, promotions, increments and even shares. Those who do not are
ultimately denied further benefit and often removed from the company. The fact that they
can be removed is made known when the employees join the company. Could a parallel
be drawn in the fact that we have a temporary existence on earth? If yes, how?

On earth, we enjoy the fruits of an intelligent existence. If Almighty God has created this
existence, why has He done so? Could He have created the universe and everything in
it without a purpose? If not, what possible reason could there be? Humans are the only
creation who can confirm and acknowledge the existence and truth of the Creator. They
are the only creation that has the capacity to workout and appreciate the blessings that
He has created. Through the Holy Scriptures and interactions with His messengers He
has informed mankind who He is and the need to establish belief by acknowledging His
truth. He has also made known the fact that our performance will be judged on a day
called the Day of Judgment followed by a permanent life of reward or punishment.

Two questions therefore arise. Firstly, does it make sense, i.e., would it be logical to
have a parallel between the existence in a company and human existence on earth?
Secondly, should we believe, as the Holy Scriptures point out, in the Day of Judgment
and a permanent life afterwards? After all, we cannot see nor have any experience what
it would be like to stand before Almighty God on the Day of Judgment before it actually
takes place. We also have no idea of what it would be like to be rewarded by Him or to
be punished by Him? When an employee joins a company, does he/she have an idea of
how it would feel like to be sacked or thrown out? Does he/she come to grips with the
fact that the boss who can hire can also fire?

In fact, have we reflected on who Almighty God is? Have we worked out the fact that if
He can create and give life from a point where nothing existed, He can also take our life
and punish us in any way that He wants? If He has not set aside a Day of Judgment,
why would He be warning us? If the consequences of reward or punishment did not
exist, what benefit could be achieved by warning mankind? The existence of a Day of
Judgment enforces accountability. If there were no accountability, would having an
intelligence superior to animals be of any consequence?
Not unlike previous Holy Scriptures, the Qur’an also addresses our intelligence and
power of reflection to work out the truth. As we have no experience of the future,
Almighty God points out the consequences on the Day of Judgment.

26.90 “To the righteous the Garden will be brought near”

What could the word righteous or quality of righteousness mean? Wikipedia {1} defines
righteousness from various perspectives in Hinduism, Christianity, and Judaism – it is
considered an attribute that implies that a person's actions are justified, and can have the
connotation that the person has been "judged" or "reckoned" as leading a life that is pleasing
to God. What would the characteristics of a righteous person be? Would he/she work out
who He is, acknowledge and love Him, be grateful for all His blessings and for the life that
He has given, share experiences of God with others and fear His wrath on the Day of
Judgment? What about those who do not work out who God is, are full of themselves and
feel that the earth is their personal playground?

26.91 “And to those straying in evil the Fire will be placed in full view;”
In how many ways can the reality of God be denied? For example, if one spends his/her
life in the singular pursuit of money and self-gratification without a thought for God,
whom or in what, in fact, would we have put our belief in? Who, then, would we be
worshipping?

26.92 “And they will be asked, ‘Where are the (gods) you worshipped?”
Can the other things that we gave priority over God, during our sojourn on earth, come
to our aid on the Day of Judgment?

26.93 “Besides God? Can they help you (now) or help themselves?'”
What will happen after this question? Could denying God, while only serving self, be
evil?

26.94 “Then they will be thrown headlong into the (Fire), they and those
straying in evil”

26.95 “And all the helpers of Satan together.”

“The Evil One threatens you with poverty and bids you to a conduct unseemly.
God promises you His forgiveness and His bounties and He cares for all and He
knows all things.” [2.268]

26.96 “They will admit in their mutual disputes:”

26.97 “‘By God, we were truly in an error manifest”

26.98 “When we equated you with the Lord of the Worlds;”

Adam did not question the evil thoughts whispered by Satan [20.120-20.122]. Similarly, if
we do not question our actions, we would be giving Satan priority over the Words of God
who is the Owner of both the current world and the next life.

26.99 “And no one misguided us except the criminals.”

26.100 “So now we have none to intercede (for us)”

26.101 “Nor a single friend to feel (for us).”

26.102 “Now if we only had a chance to return we shall truly be of those

who believe!'”
26.103 “Verily in this is a Sign but most of them do not believe”
Will we take this opportunity to reflect and turn to God?

26.104 “And indeed, your Lord – He is Exalted in Might, Most Merciful.”

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{Notes}:
{1} https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Righteousness