The Opening Chapter of the Quran

acknowledgement, man has no right to live on this planet earth. It is this acknowledgement that gives one legitimacy to live on the planet earth and enjoy all the bounties created by God in this world. Then the second verse calls God “the Beneficent, the Merciful.” These are also words of acknowledgement. When man discovers the fact that the whole world is so favourable to him that it seems that it was created solely for him, he is compelled to believe that the Creator is not simply a creator: he is a benevolent creator in the complete sense of the word. This discovery only increases the spirit of Alhamdulillah. This discovery imbues him with the spirit of love for God. Not only does he become a believer, but his supreme concern becomes God. It is the miracle of the mind that man was able to create a civilization. All the sciences are but a product of the workings of the mind. The third verse of this chapter refers to God as: “Lord of the Day of Judgement.” This expression is a natural part of man’s belief about God. When God created man, and provided him with so many good things, it was but natural that man should become accountable to his Creator. Those who misuse their freedom will be punished by God and those who use their freedom properly will be rewarded. Every blessing entails responsibility and man is certainly no exception to this rule. The fourth verse of this chapter reads: “You alone we worship, and to You alone we turn for help.” This is the real response by man to his Creator. Man must worship God. When man tries to acknowledge his Lord he automatically bows before Him, that is, he surrenders. And his realization of God compels him to seek God’s assistance, because He is a giver and man is a taker in this world. This is the essence of the equation between man and God.