WHAT to call LIFE?

JM asked: ... do you have a distinction WHAT to call LIFE? 

What life? human only, or "ANY"? including plant, microbial, inorganic, etc.?

Do the diverse kinds of such diversified life-listings have different Gods? 

Do a rose struggle to get into the ROSE-HEAVEN? (or into the same, where we may prefer to spend eternity?) ...

Answer: 

The following verses address some of your questions:

Present Creation

Do not see those who disbelieved that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, then We parted them and We made from [the] water every living thing? Then will not they believe? 

http://islamawakened.com/quran/21/30/ 

And present to them the example (of) the life (of) the world, like water which We send down from the sky, then mingles with it (the) vegetation (of) the earth then becomes dry stalks, it (is) scattered (by) the winds. And Allah over every thing (is) All Able. 

http://islamawakened.com/quran/18/45/ 

And not [of] any animal in the earth and not a bird (that) flies with its wings - but (are) communities like you. We have not neglected in the Book [of] anything, then to their Lord they will be gathered. 

http://islamawakened.com/quran/6/38/ 

Glory be (to) the One Who created (in) pairs all of what grows the earth and of themselves, and of what not they know. 

http://islamawakened.com/quran/36/36/ 

Creation in the Hereafter 

Regarding the details of the wonderful life promised in the Gardens of Eden, they are intended as a delightful surprise: 

And not knows a soul what is hidden for them of (the) comfort (for) the eyes (as) a reward for what they used (to) do. 

http://islamawakened.com/quran/32/17/  

The Quran does list some of the characteristics of the Gardens promised for the Hereafter. What strikes me is that the characteristics listed are generally those which scientists theorise as primary conditions essential for life, as well as those to not to age or decay. I've listed some verses at: 

Immortality & A Kingdom that Never Decays: http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/11/mission-of-messengers-vi.html 

Bliss & Realm Magnificent: http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2014/09/bliss-realm-magnificent.html  

On the contrary, Immortality is also promised in Hell, but everything there will be in a state of decay, and thus great suffering will be the fate of those who must dwell there. The following are some aspects of that which I've tried to understand: 

Fuel of Hell: Humans & Stones: http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/03/fuel-of-hell-humans-and-stones.html 

Until the Camel passes through the Eye of the Needle: http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2014/05/until-camel-passes-through-eye-of-needle.html 

One and Only God

And they make with Allah partners - jinn though He has created them, and they falsely attribute to Him sons and daughters without knowledge. Glorified is He and Exalted above what they attribute. Originator (of) the heavens and the earth. How can be for Him a son while not (there) is for Him a companion, and He created every thing? And He (is) of every thing All-Knower. That (is) Allah your Lord, (there is) no god except Him, (the) Creator (of) every thing, so worship Him. And He (is) on every thing a Guardian. 

http://islamawakened.com/quran/6/100/ ; http://islamawakened.com/quran/6/101/ ; http://islamawakened.com/quran/6/102/ 

Quran Chapter 27, verses 60-66 question thus: 

1 Ta, Seen. These are the verses of the Qur'an and a clear Book 

...

60 [More precisely], is He [not best] who created the heavens and the earth and sent down for you rain from the sky, causing to grow thereby gardens of joyful beauty which you could not [otherwise] have grown the trees thereof? Is there a deity with Allah? [No], but they are a people who ascribe equals [to Him].

61 Is He [not best] who made the earth a stable ground and placed within it rivers and made for it firmly set mountains and placed between the two seas a barrier? Is there a deity with Allah? [No], but most of them do not know.

62 Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allah? Little do you remember.

63 Is He [not best] who guides you through the darknesses of the land and sea and who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy? Is there a deity with Allah? High is Allah above whatever they associate with Him.

64 Is He [not best] who begins creation and then repeats it and who provides for you from the heaven and earth? Is there a deity with Allah? Say, "Produce your proof, if you should be truthful."

65 Say, "None in the heavens and earth knows the unseen except Allah, and they do not perceive when they will be resurrected."

66 Rather, their knowledge is arrested concerning the Hereafter. Rather, they are in doubt about it. Rather, they are, concerning it, blind. 

...

92 And to recite the Qur'an." And whoever is guided is only guided for [the benefit of] himself; and whoever strays - say, "I am only [one] of the warners."

93 And say, "[All] praise is [due] to Allah. He will show you His signs, and you will recognize them. And your Lord is not unaware of what you do."

http://searchtruth.com/chapter_display.php?chapter=27&translator=29

Questions for God

SB stated: Now, if God emerged as a process of the universe or suceeding universes (Turok style), I personally, am still good with this, in the same sense that I am good with people being born. Even of God is an emergent process-mind, I would like for us to ask Him questions. Such as-

1. How did you come up with the idea for life?

2. What are we doing wrong, as a species, and can we do anything about it?

3. Do You need any help, assistance, from our specie?

Answer: 

Answers to your questions according to the Quran: 

[Note: I'm pasting the literal translations of the verses; please follow the link for multiple translations in proper English]  

1. How did you come up with the idea for life? 

[Quran 67:2] The One Who created death and life that He may test you, which of you (is) best (in) deed. And He (is) the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving. 

http://islamawakened.com/quran/67/2/ 

2. What are we doing wrong, as a species, and can we do anything about it? 

[Quran 30:30] So set your face to the religion upright. Nature (made by) Allah (upon) which He has created mankind [on it]. No change (should there be) in the creation (of) Allah. That (is) the religion the correct, but most men (do) not know. 

http://islamawakened.com/quran/30/30/ 

3. Do You need any help, assistance, from our specie? 

[Quran 57:25] Certainly We sent Our Messengers with clear proofs and We sent down with them the Scripture and the Balance that may establish the people justice. And We sent down [the] iron, wherein (is) power mighty and benefits for the people, and so that Allah may make evident (he) who helps Him and His Messengers, unseen. Indeed, Allah (is) All-Strong All-Mighty. 

http://islamawakened.com/quran/57/25/  

As for answer 2, I'm trying to comprehend the meaning of 'No change should there be in the creation of Allah' from the narrations of the past civilisations in the Quran. So far I've published six blogposts on the topic: 

Mission of the Messengers

Part I: World History & Future Implications

Part II: Satan's Enmity: Origin & Objective

Part III: Adam's Attempt to Improve upon Allah's Creation

Part IV: Balance & Guidance

Part V: Crime & Punishment

Part VI: Immortality & A Kingdom that Never Decays  

SB responded: All this taken on faith alone. For those of us not blessed in faith, we have doubt, and that is reasonable doubt. Doubt is a bad companion, but I believe an evolved survival scheme in nature that worked. The danger with absolute faith is that God answers all questions so we need put much effort in our curiosity. Why spend time effort and money of it is all in God's hands? God answers all questions. Dark matter? God. superconductivity? God wills it. If God did not Will it, it would cease. This is what I term, an answer to the why questions. I am thinking that the HOW questions are now far more important. Why's are questions that might be answered by a sheep herder on a hill side. How is a far different question. How leads to more and more questions. How do we hook up a ceiling fan? How did dark matter form, specifically? How did we have so much normally charged matter, versus antimatter in the skies we see, and the accelerators we test?? By this reasoning How is much closer to God than why. If you decide so view Conway's Life lecture by Steinhart, we all see the How question partially resolved (always partially as Gödel reasoned).  Better future scientific equipment will surely bring better and better observations and measurements, and better conclusions.

 

Don't ask me why, ask me how? 

As the discussion had originally started from a scientist's efforts to escape death by preserving his brain cryonically, I responded with the following: 

The Quran answers the 'Immortality' 'HOW' question repeatedly with the assurance of subterranean rivers in the Gardens of Eden, terming the life of the Hereafter as The Life, and asking us to heed to the invitation to what gives us life! 

This link lists some verses of the Quran which inform us about Immortality and A Kingdom that Never Decays, its impossibility in this world, and its permanence in the Hereafter:
http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2015/11/mission-of-messengers-vi.html 

SB responded: Now, this is a religious answer, that does not show cause and effect, in a measurable manner, and measuring, plus observation, is what science does. One might come up.with scientific explanations of how, certain events in the new testament, might work, which is entertaining, but unrepeatable. Repeatability is also part of science. Tipler used analogies in physics, with his Physics of Christianity. If we all live long enough we shall see if his physical predictions come true?  

Divine Punishment in this World

Q wrote: Nay Samiya, you were right before that Allah warns of punishment beforehand but the people aren't wise enough to take notice of long STANDING warnings and keep on doing excesses to the mankind. Didn't Allah say, whosoever isn't in the rememberance of Allah, he is caught unawares because Allah doesn't guide the fasiqs, the excessers.

People killed in accidents, clamities etc. unawares are of 2 catagories. One, the fasiqs who are punished and two, the muslims who, Allah rewards them by shortening their worldly life.

Non Muslims think that the muslims killed in the forced wars on them or in clamities is a punishment. Let them be wandering in their skewed understanding.

My Response: I understand it a little differently: firstly, divine punishment in this world is different from the reward / punishment to be given after death. What you refer to and explain is the reward / punishment that is to occur after this life ends, while what I was explaining was the form of punishment which comes to a nation from Allah after clear warnings by Allah's messengers to desist from extreme corruption.  

In this world, Allah has inscribed the rule of mercy upon Himself, while He has postponed judgement, reward and punishment for the Hereafter: 

Say, "To whom (belongs) what (is) in the heavens and the earth?" Say, "To Allah." He has decreed upon Himself the Mercy. Surely He will assemble you on (the) Day (of) the Resurrection, (there is) no doubt about it. Those who have lost themselves, then they (do) not believe. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/6/12/ ] 

Only extreme corruption is punished in this world, and that also is an act of mercy for the rest of mankind. 

Corruption is criminal, and the extreme form of corruption is corrupting creation. According to my study of the verses pertaining to past civilisations, each of the punished civilisation had scientifically advanced to the point where they were indulging in corrupting the human genetically. We are again at the brink of such advancement in scientific technology. You may wish to search online the following terms: Eugenics, Transhumanism, Posthuman, Posthumanism; they promise a utopian superbeing who will no longer be 'human'. 

Quran 30:30 is very clear that the 'fitrat' of humans must not be changed: 

So set your face to the religion upright. Nature (made by) Allah (upon) which He has created mankind [on it]. No change (should there be) in the creation (of) Allah. That (is) the religion the correct, but most men (do) not know. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/30/30/ ] 

As mentioned in Surah Taha, Adam also attempted to change creation when Iblis suggested Immortality and A Kingdom that Never Decays: 

Then whispered to him Shaitaan, he said, "O Adam! Shall I direct you to (the) tree (of) the Eternity and a kingdom not (that will) deteriorate?" [http://islamawakened.com/quran/20/120/ ]

Each of the stories mentioned in the Quran are meant to remind, warn and guide us. They are all relevant to us, and the relevance grows as our scientific and technological ability increases:  

Do they not travel through the land and see how was (the) end (of) those who (were) before them? They were more numerous than them and mightier (in) strength and impressions in the land, but not availed them what they used to earn. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/40/82 ] 

The beast / dajjal / anti-christ will be the outcome of ignoring these warnings: 

And when (is) fulfilled the word against them, We will bring forth for them a creature from the earth speaking to them, that the people were, of Our Signs, not certain. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/27/82/ ] 

The believers in the scriptures, and especially we Muslims, need to shed our mantles of arrogance and ignorance, wake up to our responsibility, educate ourselves, and share the message with the world: 

You are (the) best (of) people raised for the mankind - enjoining the right and forbidding [from] the wrong and believing in Allah. And if believed (the) People (of) the Book surely would have been good for them. Among them (are) [the] believers, but most of them (are) defiantly disobedient. [http://islamawakened.com/quran/3/110/ ] 

I have explained the above in some detail in the following blogposts: 

The Mighty Ancients! 

Mission of the Messengers:

  Part I: World History & Future Implications 

  Part II: Satan's Enmity: Origin & Objective

  Part III: Adam's Attempt to Improve upon Allah's Creation

  Part IV: Balance & Guidance

  Part V: Crime & Punishment

  Part VI: Immortality & A Kingdom that Never Decays

MSA asked: "What I was explaining was the form of punishment which comes to a nation from Allah after clear warnings by Allah's messengers to desist from extreme corruption. "
Which means that Allah permits lesser corruption! Am I wrong? 

My Response: Allah permits us to purify or corrupt ourselves, and we are promised justice and recompense in the Hereafter. 
However, in this world, when human corruption tends to upset the Balance, corrective measures are taken to restore it. Messengers warn the people, and after being given enough time to repent and reform, divine punishment is executed.  

MSA asked: "However, in this world, when human corruption tends to upset the Balance, corrective measures are taken to restore it."  
Allah waits for humans to upset the "Balance," and when it becomes "extremes, only then He reacts. Is it not what you are telling us and others as well? 

My Response:  This world is a place of trial to establish who are worthy of the Gardens (Jan-naat). In this world, we are given freedom of choice within certain limits. However, when our foolishness exceeds to a point where it aims to make humans extinct, divine intervention becomes necessary. Its a Most Merciful Lord to whom we owe gratitude for making it possible to live a life in this world, and it is He who lovingly invites us to earn His forgiveness and blessings for an eternity of bliss in the Gardens that are promised:  

Extract from http://signsandscience.blogspot.com/2014/10/creation.html :
Size of the Garden 
The reward will vary in accordance with the quality of faith and actions of each individual, as indicated in the size of the gardens mentioned in 57:21 and 3:133, and as stated in 8:4 below. For those who believe and seek forgiveness for their sins, God will grace them with a garden as extensive as heaven [singular] and the earth, while those who also keep their duty to God, the pious, the reward will be greater: as extensive as the heavens [plural] and the earth. 

[Al-Qur’an Chapter 57:21, Translator: Shakir] Hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and to a garden the extensiveness of which is as the extensiveness of the heaven and the earth; it is prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers; that is the grace of Allah: He gives it to whom He pleases, and Allah is the Lord of mighty grace.

[Al-Qur’an Chapter 3:133, Translator: Shakir] And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord; and a Garden, the extensiveness of which is (as) the heavens and the earth, it is prepared for those who guard (against evil)

[Al-Qur’an Chapter 8:4, Translator: Shakir] These are the believers in truth; they shall have from their Lord exalted grades and forgiveness and an honorable sustenance. 

These might also be of interest: 

Mission of the Messengers:

  Part IV: Balance & Guidance

  Part V: Crime & Punishment 

Bliss & Realm Magnificent

Life span, medical enhancements and immortality

A friend posted: ... And if past enhancements (in medical) are any indication then we will get to know exactly what cause death and how to reverse or stop this from happening. In my honest opinion, it's not question of IF but WHEN.
Just take a look at Ray Kurzweil's Transcend: Nine Steps to Living Well Forever.
... Moreover I've found following on wikipedia about Ray Kurweil's stance on religion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_Kurzweil)
... According to Kurzweil “The primary role of traditional religion is deathist rationalization—that is, rationalizing the tragedy of death as a good thing. In order to benefit from what the Singularity can bring, we need to overcome our deathist rationalization. We need to sweep traditional religion out of our road.”
Answer: Raymond Kurzweil: Interesting and well accomplished... wow! As far as life span is concerned, well of course it can be possible to increase the average life span from the current less than 100 to may be 200, 500, 1000, who knows. But will it make humans immortal, or help escape reckoning?
Some relevant verses are:
The Holy Quran2:96 And verily, you will find them (the Jews) the greediest of mankind for life and (even greedier) than those who ascribe partners to Allah (and do not believe in Resurrection - Majus, pagans, and idolaters). Everyone of them wishes that he could be given a life of a thousand years. But the grant of such life will not save him even a little from (due) punishment. And Allah is All-Seer of what they do.
2:28 How can you disbelieve in Allah? seeing that you were dead and He gave you life. Then He will give you death, then again will bring you to life (on the Day of Resurrection) and then unto Him you will return
3:185 Everyone shall taste death. And only on the Day of Resurrection shall you be paid your wages in full. And whoever is removed away from the Fire and admitted to Paradise, he indeed is successful. The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception.