Understanding religion in a better perspective (Part 2)

In this 2 part, I would discuss basically the communication between the Creator (God) and His Creatures (mankind).

In contemporary times, many so called prophets have manifested themselves in diverse forms and have succeeded in misleading many astray. It mind bugling that some scrupulous people would pick the Bible or the Qur’an and begin to pretend that he is man of God. Let’s explore the varying mechanisms that God communicates with His creatures particularly mankind.

One may ask, God cannot be seen nor touched, so how does He communicate with mankind? Does God speak at all? Yes! God is invisible but communicates effectives and strongly with His creatures particular mankind. In the very instance, why does God create man? Just like man invented car and aeroplane to carry us, the same manner God created mankind to worship Him. Because of this connection between man (visible fallible mortal being) and God (invisible Supreme Being), there is several channels of communication to man. These channels include:

Nature of universe and creatures Occurrence of natural phenomena Ability of man to reason Advices from parents and other people Dreams Sending of Prophets and Messengers If one takes critical observation of the universe, one is able to understand the particular message God is communicating to us. The orderly arrangement of things; the obits of the moon around the sun, the rotation of day and night, the rotation of time –second, minute, hour, day, week, month, year, the occurrence of wet and dry seasons, and so on carries strong messages from God to mankind.

For instance, the seasons allow us to know when it is time for planting and dry season, the occurrence of day and night allow us to understand our date of birth, period of events and plan for future.

Scientists have enhanced their scientific work as a result of religion expansion. The Qur’an in particular has outline in specifics how the universe is. For instance, Qur’an 25:53 God says, “He is the one who has set free the two kinds of water, one sweet and palatable, and the other salty and bitter. And He has made between them a barrier and a forbidding partition”.

Look how a woman is conceived just with a fluid from a man. God says, “We created man from an extract of clay. Then We made him as a drop in a place of settlement, firmly fixed. Then We made the drop into an alaqah (leech, suspended thing, and blood clot), then We made the alaqah into a mudghah (chewed substance)…” (Qur’an 23:12-14). This is how perfect God communicates to Mankind in order to improve his scientific knowledge.

God the most sublime continually communicates to us through events and occurrences. We called these natural phenomena. When the communication is a warning to mankind and a call to draw nearer to the Almighty Creator, we call it natural disaster. These include heavy rain and wind storm, floods, earth quake, tsunami, tidal waves, drought, and so on.

However, when the occurrence is the positive light, we call it a natural resource such as normal rainfall, normal sunshine, airy wind, among others. God says in Qur’an 24:43, “Have you not seen how God makes the clouds move gently, then joins them together, then makes them into a stack, and then you see the rain come out of it…..” The occurrence of tender and lightening makes one’s eyes blind. These are ways the most sublime God communicates messages to us.

Reasoning is given to mankind to be able to differentiate between light and darkness, good or bad. Without reasoning ability, one behaves like an animal. Why do you think God gave us that reasoning ability? He has giving us the free will so that we do not blame for restricting our life on one direction. God is not a tyrant. He is far removed from blame and scourge. Whatever He wills it happens. God has given us the ability identify, make and choice options. With is reasoning ability, one has no right to conclude that God does not send warnings and other messages to mankind. Again, God sometimes communicates to us through others. People come to give us advice in many instances. Sometimes you plan to undertake an activity or action, and before you begin you decided to seek people’s opinion or advice on the issue. Other people observing from may voluntarily offer advice. Most often, the advice giving is of useful religiously and this could come from God. For instance, advisors’ often use phrases like “For God’s sake, stop it”, “I beg you in the name of God”, “The Bible says…”, “The Prophet says…”, “Listen to the elder’s advice”, etc. All these phrases are Godly and depict the communication between God and mankind.

God the Almighty communicates to us through dreams. Dreams form a basic experience of human during sleep. During a night siesta, one unconsciously experiences a series of images, feelings and/or actions occurring in the mind. These dreams could be bad or goods and they signify warnings and possible future happenings that God communicates to the dreamer.

Finally, because of human deviance and failure to pay heard to God’s messages through the above communication channels, God decided to send Messengers upon Messengers to deliver His message to us. Right from the creation of Adam, God sent several Prophets and Messengers to direct us to Him alone. All the Prophets from Adam to Prophet Mahammed has called us to listen to God’s word, that is, to worship and serve God alone. God has given several books (His Word) to the Prophets He has sent. The Torah (Ten Commandments) to Moses, the Psalms to David, the Injeel (Gospel) to Jesus Christ, and the Qur’an to Prophet Mahammed. Prophet Mahammed concluded all the list of messengers God sent to mankind and Qur’an is the Final Book revealed. God says in Qur’an 33:40, “Muhammad is not the father of any one of your men, but he is the Messenger of God and the last of the prophets…”

Frankly, in the Day of Judgement, mankind has no excuse whatever. God said, (Qur’an 49:13) “O mankind, We have created you from a male and a female and have made you into nations and tribes for you to know one another. Truly, the noblest of you with God is the most pious. Truly, God is All-Knowing, All-Aware”. God also said, (Qur’an 23:115-116) “Did you then think that We had created you in jest (without any purpose), and you would not be returned to Us(in the Hereafter)? So, God is exalted, the True King. None has the right to be worshipped but Him…”.

Writer’s email: Ibrahimazabre@gmail.com