I was reading information on some interactive video games a few days ago and faced descriptions like…
“Become a god, assume godly powers, shape civilizations, and make them all bow to your will”.
Another game stated, “Ascend as the god […]. Join up to 3 other players – but know that only one of you will have the chance to become a God.”
The fact that mythologies are part of fantasy lore is not a big surprise. But when I read “you will have the chance to become a God”, I become genuinely curious. Not only is it a bold and arrogant claim, but… as a means of entertainment? Is that the main goal? How do people, (mainly the developers), view what a God is?
I started to look for information about what “God” means… and here are some of the descriptions I found…
“The philosophy of religion recognizes the following as essential attributes of God:
- Omnipotence (limitless power)
- Omniscience (limitless knowledge)
- Eternity (God is not bound by time)
- Goodness (God is wholly benevolent)
- Unity (God cannot be divided)”
( * The full article on Wikipedia can be found >here.)
So… not surprisingly, we see limitless power. Limitless knowledge. I was more surprised that people don’t try to think of what it really means. Limitless? This universe depend on the laws of nature. Not bound by time? People grow old. Wholly benevolent? No one is perfect. The word “God” is thrown around lightly. Become a god? Regardless whether it is for interactive entertainment or not, what do humans really know of it? Honestly? Not much.
سورة العلق ٧-٦
كَلَّا إِنَّ الْإِنسَانَ لَيَطْغَىٰ
أَن رَّآهُ اسْتَغْنَىٰ
Surah Al-Alaq 96:6-7
Nay, but man doth transgress all bounds,
In that he looketh upon himself as self-sufficient.
I wrote the following words in a previous article about tawheed… “The very notion of comparison implies that we actually know Allah in such detail that we can describe something as being similar to Him. No one really can.”
Become a god… assume godly powers… in one of the games you are given control of things like the weather and situations to make people follow you. Suliman was given such powers. That did not make him a god.
سورة سبإ ١٢
وَلِسُلَيْمَانَ الرِّيحَ غُدُوُّهَا شَهْرٌ وَرَوَاحُهَا شَهْرٌ ۖ وَأَسَلْنَا لَهُ عَيْنَ الْقِطْرِ ۖ وَمِنَ الْجِنِّ مَن يَعْمَلُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ بِإِذْنِ رَبِّهِ
سورة هود ٦
وَمَا مِن دَابَّةٍ فِي الْأَرْضِ إِلَّا عَلَى اللَّهِ رِزْقُهَا وَيَعْلَمُ مُسْتَقَرَّهَا وَمُسْتَوْدَعَهَا ۚ كُلٌّ فِي كِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ
سورة الحج ٦
ذَٰلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّهُ يُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ وَأَنَّهُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Surah Saba 34:12
And to Solomon (We made) the Wind (obedient): Its early morning (stride) was a month’s (journey), and its evening (stride) was a month’s (journey); and We made a Font of molten brass to flow for him; and there were Jinns that worked in front of him, by the leave of his Lord
Surah Hud 11:6
There is no moving creature on earth but its sustenance dependeth on Allah: He knoweth the time and place of its definite abode and its temporary deposit: All is in a clear Record.
Surah Al-Hajj 22:6
This is so, because Allah is the Reality: it is He Who gives life to the dead, and it is He Who has power over all things.
I hope you found this an interesting input and inshallah there will be more coming.
The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.
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