Article appeared Friday, April 7th, 2017 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (471) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Do we ask ourselves any questions about God? For example, is God in control? If we did ask
ourselves such a question, how/where would we find the answer? Before we try to work out or
locate the answer, we may ask, would such a question be important to answer for us as
individuals?

In our daily lives many events take place. For example, we have to often travel from one place
to another, even just going from home to school, home to work, home to attend a ceremony or
for carrying out something that we need to do. When leaving the house do we worry about what
might happen outside the door, e.g., having an accident, being robbed or chased by gangsters?
Similarly, we may worry about many things in our life which in turn may lead to stress. Stress
may then keep piling up. The question is therefore, if God is actually in control, would worrying
help?

So, what could the question be regarding being in control? Is God in control or how can God be
in control with so much happening all around? Thinking about the question, can we bring an
image of how God could control into our minds? Whatever the image be, let us now compare
our impressions with the following Verse from the Holy Quran.
Have you not turned your vision to your Lord how He extends the shadow? (Consider
the fact that,) if He willed, He could make it stationary! Then do We make the sun its
guide: [25.45]

What could the phrase, make the sun its guide mean? The observed science of Physics tells us
that light travels in straight lines and that an object blocking the light would create a shadow.
The Verse reveals that it is God who extends the shadow, i.e., it is not the sun that increases or
decreases the size of the shadow, i.e., it is God who changes the size as the sun moves! The
verse therefore challenges our understanding of cause and effect. The cause, i.e., the sun, in
this case, and the effect, i.e., the shadow, are both separately created entities, and the effect is
caused by God. From this revelation, is it possible to draw parallels about other causes in our
daily life? No matter what the event is, effects are all caused by God who creates and is in
control of each and every effect. So is control in the Hands of God?

Let us turn our vision to God again. Each and every one of us leads an individual life. Each
event is therefore specific and unique to each. So for the individual, how many events would
God have to look after in a lifetime? Would it be logical to suggest that He has to give a lot of
care and attention to each individual? As an analogy do we give care and attention to people we
love? So does the care and attention speak of the degree of Divine Mercy showered on each
individual? So the question is, can things happen outside the control of God?

Equally, given the fact that each effect is in the Hands of God, when we wish to do something,
achieve something or want success in something, whom should we approach? Can we
personally be definite that the desired effect will take place without Gods intervention? As man
does not have the power to cause an effect or deliver an output without the support of God, He
therefore says in the Quran:
18.23 And never say of anything, "I shall be sure to do so and so tomorrow."

18.24 Without adding, "If God wills!" If you forget, then later say, "I hope that my
Lord will guide me ever closer (even) than this to the right road."
As God is in control, do we have any choices in the events that take place? Just as a car
manufacturer has to make a steering wheel that can take the vehicle either left or right, to give
humans a choice, God has to create both the positive and negative options. Once we choose, it
is He that must enable the individual choice and grant the effect that He wills. We are therefore
only accountable for the choice that we make, and not for the outcome or effect. So, for
example, if we go through the motion to kill someone, our judgment will only be based on our
intent; and not on whether the person dies or not as the effect is in the Hands of God.

As all effects are in the Hands of God, His knowledge of what is going on and the effect that He
will give is complete. However, in His Mercy He has created a huge variety of things that
mankind can choose from and do.
Do you not see that God has subjected to your (use) all things in the heavens and on
earth and has made His bounties flow to you in exceeding measure (both) seen and
unseen? Yet there are among men those who dispute about Him without knowledge and
without guidance and without a Book to enlighten them! [31.20]

When an event occurs, it is not the details that matter; it is the overall lesson or moral of the
effect that should be considered. For example, the story of the Companions of the Cave
demonstrates Gods Power over Time, death, ability to resurrect; being able protect those who
believe in Him and His constant care. Details such as the exact number of years spent in the
cave do not matter.

18.25 So they stayed in their Cave three hundred years and (some) add nine
(more).
However, if one believes in the reality of God,

18.26 Say: "God knows best how long they stayed: with Him is (the knowledge
of) the secrets of the heavens and the earth: how clearly He sees how finely He
hears (everything)! They have no protector other than Him; nor does He share His
Command with any person whatsoever.

18.27 And recite (and teach) what has been revealed to you of the Book of your
Lord: none can change His Words and none will you find as a refuge other than
Him.
The Companions of the Cave believed in God and testified to His Truth. As they were
persecuted by the local king, God put them to sleep and raised them up at a time when they
would no longer be persecuted but be accepted for the believers that they were.
As to those who believe and work righteousness verily We shall not allow to be lost the
reward of any who do a (single) righteous deed. [18.30]