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Article appeared Friday, February 8th, 2019 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (559) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD


Are there people who laugh at believers? Do those who claim to be Muslims
laugh/snigger at Muslims who seem to be dedicated to God? Could those who are
dedicated to God, i.e., the believers, be fools? Do believers not understand the real
world or are they not up to date with current affairs? Is there any reason believers should
be treated with ridicule?

To launch a discussion on this topic, it may be prudent to first understand who are the
dedicated ones, and exactly what is this dedication to God? If God has created us
individually and blessed us with all we have, how much dedication does He deserve?
So, to believers, God is very much real, a divine Being to be feared and revered. The
believer is grateful to Him for his/her individual existence, shares his/her love of God with
others and does work in an attempt to please Him. On the other hand, those who ridicule
believers also approach God but only to further their selfish agenda, i.e., to satisfy their
greed, to fulfill their lust for power, wealth and greatness. These people say they believe
in God, but essentially wont to use Him to serve their own needs, as such mock the
attitude of believers towards God. Their prayer to God is essentially to serve their
personal needs as opposed to turning to God in reverence and gratitude.

The Holy Scripture, the Al-Qur’an, labels such an attitude towards God as hypocrisy. The
following Verse reveals that these people fear that God would reveal their hidden
agenda for greatness.
“The Hypocrites are apprehensive lest a Surah be revealed about them, showing
them what is (really passing) in their hearts. Say,"Mock (as you wish): Indeed,
God will bring to light all that you fear (should be revealed)."” [9.64]

Having given each an individual and unique life together with umpteen blessings, should
God accept hypocrisy or arrogance from His created beings? A subsequent Verse
therefore warns about God’s promise.
“God has promised the Hypocrites men and women and the rejecters of faith the
Fire of Hell: in it shall they dwell: sufficient it is forthem: for them is the curse of
God and an enduring punishment” [9.68]

God’s curse is on people who are ungrateful and arrogant. As such people have a quest
for greatness, God points out that such intentions and pursuits are fruitless.
“As in the case of those before you: they were mightier than you in power and
more flourishing in wealth and children. They had their enjoyment of their portion:
and you have of yours as did those before you; and you indulge in idle talk as
they did. Their works arefruitless in this world and in the hereafter and they will
lose (all spiritual good).” [9.69]

To help such people understand, God compares the outcome of previous generations
who were destroyed by Him – they had more wealth, children and power. What is that
they have achieved? The life on earth is temporary. During this life they were destroyed
and the enjoyment of their wealth, power and children are also gone. During their
allotted time on earth, they were also unable to achieve any spiritual benefit as their
prayers were only for themselves.
Finally, what will happen when God fulfills His Promise as pointed out in Verse 9.68?
They will be in serious pain and misery. They will therefore make requests to God as
pointed out in the Verse below.

23.107 “Our Lord! Bring us out of this: if ever we return (to evil) then shall
we be wrongdoers indeed!”
While on earth, God has revealed warnings through multiple Holy Scriptures, provided
examples of appropriate and righteous behavior through prophets and believers as well
as provided multiple tests. On top, such people mocked believers. Regarding repeated
tests, God asks,
“Do men think that they will be left alone on saying "We believe" and that they
will not be tested?” [29.2]

Tests are signs from God – warnings, as a Mercy from Him. The time to reflect and
contemplate on our activities and actions is now. If not, should God then listen to the
pleas when they land in the Fire of Hell?

23.108 “He will respond, "Remain despised in there and do not speak to
Me!”
We should reflect with questions like, did God create me as an individual just to enjoy
power, wealth and children while amassing more and more? Could this be the purpose
of my creation? To help reflection, God states and asks,
“Not for (idle) sport did We create the heavens and the earth and all that is
between!” [21.16]

“Did you then think that We had created you in jest and that you would not be
brought back to Us (for account)?” [23.115]

The purpose of each individual is to discover and acknowledge God by sharing and
establishing His Truth. Humans are the only witnesses to God’s Signs in creation. We
should then reflect on the purpose of the prayer revealed in the Verse below.

23.109 “Indeed, there was a party among My servants who used to pray,
“Our Lord! We have believed; then do forgive us and have mercy upon us:
for You are the best of those Who show mercy!”
There is a chance of reprieve, if we now turn to God and seek His Forgiveness – He is
indeed most Merciful. This opportunity only exists while we are on earth, before death
arrives. But if we ignore and continue to treat them with mockery there will be no
subsequent reprieve.

23.110 “"But you treated them with ridicule to a point that it made you
forget My Message while you were laughing atthem!”
So, what is the lesson for us here? Study the nature of the believers, work out what is
belief and turn to God in humility and submission – as it is only such people that will be
rewarded. While on earth, they have endured your mockery with patience.

23.111 “I have rewarded them this Day for their patience and constancy:
they are indeed the ones that have achieved Bliss (attained success).”
May God guide us to Him and have Mercy on us.

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