7/29/2019 Can things match themselves?
1/2
Article appeared Friday, February 15th, 2013 in The News Today,
Bangladesh
The Revelation (266) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD
Should we ask questions about our existence, questions about our
abilities and the pleasuresthat we derive? If we compare ourselves,
we would find that man has abilities that put himdistinctly apart
from other mammals. One such ability is the ability to ask
questions. To answerquestions, man can collect data from a variety
of sources, read and analyze the collected data
to confirm a hypothesis or a belief or reject it. A particular
Verse in the most recent Revelation,the Quran, explains this
privilege and uniqueness.
We have honored the sons of Adam; provided them with transport
on land and sea;given them for sustenance things good and pure; and
conferred on them special favorsabove a great part of Our Creation.
[17.70]
From the above, two immediate questions arise. One question
would be about the origin of lifeforms and more importantly, why we
have been made different. Looking for data on the firstquestion may
eventually help answer the second question. To answer the first
question manytheories have been proposed. The Wiki page {1}
outlines thirteen such theories. How can oneprove or disprove any
of the theories? One way would be to generate questions and collect
datafrom various sources to answer and validate/invalidate each
theory. Scientific approaches {2}
such as deductive reasoning could also be used to support the
findings on any theory.
What are our data sources? In fact, whatever we can study and
analyze provides data. As lifeforms function and interact with each
other we could look at how things work with one another.For
example, the engine of a car is a functioning device. The engine
interacts with petrol orgasoline to generate a force. To deliver
this force, the engine has been purposely andintelligently designed
to utilize the combustion properties of petrol. Similarly, a diesel
engine isdesigned around the properties of diesel just as the
engine that works on methane gas has tobe carefully designed to
suit the specific properties of the gas. The remaining parts of
anyvehicle have to be intelligently designed to convert the force
generated into the subsequentmovement functions. Can sufficient
data be collected on functioning devices to satisfactorilyanswer
the question, Can functionality between two different things be
induced without
purposeful and intelligent design? Drawing parallels from the
prevalent theories on the originsof life, further questions can be
generated. For example, can a petrol engine evolve from adiesel
engine? Or can the diesel molecules work with the molecules of the
car automaticallywithout purposeful design?
On collecting data on mammals we find that the purpose of the
digestive system is similar to thepurpose of the engine of a car.
The food that mammals intake is converted into the thingsrequired
to support various functionalities. So the question is how does
food happen to worktogether with the digestive system to deliver
the things required for functions of the body? Canthe coordination
between food and the body be matched without intelligent design?
Since bodyfunctions in all mammals are similar, it follows that it
is the nature of food that must beintelligently designed to match.
This logic is corroborated by data in the Verse 17.70, given
them for sustenance things good and pure. The word goodwould
imply health promoting andtasty while the wordpure would imply
fitting to the purpose of the digestive system. Could fooddesign
itself to fit into the purpose of the digestive system?
The existence of purposeful design points to the presence of an
Intelligent Designer. If there isan Intelligent Designer, should
the Designer have a Design Document and provide a UserGuide? The
Quran confirms the existence of a Design Document and the fact that
it itself isRevealed from it.
Nor is there aught of the Unseen in heaven or earth but is in a
Clear Record. Verily this(Revealed Part of the) Qur'an does explain
to the Children of Israel most of the mattersin which they
disagree.And it certainly is a Guide and Mercy to those who
believe.[27.75 27.77]
7/29/2019 Can things match themselves?
2/2
A revealed manual is only useful to those who work out that they
are created. Such peoplewould then look for the answer to the
second question, why?We will find the answer when weconsider the
phrase, We have honored the sons of Adam in Verse 17.70. When given
honor,what is the rightful thing to do? Should we honor the
Intelligent Designer, i.e. our Creator, inreturn?
Alif Lam Ra. These are the Verses of Revelation from the Qur'an
that makes thingsclear. [15.1]
How better to lend authenticity to the Revealed Verses than to
refer back to the main designdocument, i.e. to places in the Clear
Record by using the abbreviated letters?
7.1 Alif Lam Mim Sad.
7.2 A Book Revealed to you so let your heart be oppressed no
more by anydifficulty on that account that with it you may warn
(the erring) and teach thebelievers.
7.3 Follow (O men!) the Revelation given to you from your Lord
and follow not asfriends or protectors other than Him. Little it is
that you remember of
admonition.
7.4 How many towns have We destroyed (for their sins)? Our
punishment tookthem on a sudden by night or while they slept for
their afternoon rest.Destruction by a calamity is dishonorable as
lineage is stopped and no one is left to rememberthe individuals
who died. The purpose of Revelation is simply to warn. Warn about
what? Whoare those people who do not honor the Creator?
But the Unbelievers (are steeped) in self-glory and opposition.
[38.2]
We did Reveal to Moses the Book after We had destroyed the
earlier generations (togive) insight to men and Guidance and Mercy
that they might receive admonition.[28.43]
7.5 When (thus) our punishment took them no cry did they utter
but this "indeedwe did wrong."
7.6 Then shall We question those to whom Our Message was sent
and those bywhom We sent it.
7.7 And verily We shall recount their whole story with knowledge
for We werenever absent (at any time or place).
7.8 The balance that day will be true: those whose scale (of
good) will be heavy
will prosper.
7.9 Those whose scale will be light will find their souls in
perdition; for that theywrongfully treated our signs.
7.10 It is We who has placed you with authority on earth and
provided youmeans for the fulfillment of your life: small are the
thanks that you give!-------{Notes}:{1}
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_the_different_theories_about_the_origin_of_life{2}
http://www.livescience.com/21569-deduction-vs-induction.html
