Article appeared Friday, January 18th, 2019 in The News Today, Bangladesh

The Revelation (556) yousuf mahbubul Islam, PhD

Are there any parts of the human brain that make humans different from rest of the
creation? Or perhaps the parts that look similar in the human brain work in a different
manner internally? What has science so far discovered about human brain cells? The
Scientific American article “What makes human brain cells unique” {1} published as
recently as October 18, 2018 discusses differences in electrical properties of the cells.
“New findings reveal distinctive electrical properties of human neurons that may
give us a boost in computing power” {1}

It was the Spanish neuroscientist Santiago Ramón y Cajal who revolutionized the study
of the brain when he observed the physical shape of neurons for the first time about 100
years ago {1}. Science now knows that electrical properties, i.e., signals may travel
much faster in human brain cells, thus giving rise to higher computational power. For
example, externally, how different do fast microprocessors look when compared to the
older slower microprocessors? So, rather than the physical shape, would it be more
important to find out the processes that go on inside the human neurons network rather
than the fact that they look similar {2} to other mammals?

As science has so far failed to discover the processes that go on or can go on inside the
human neurons, who would possibly know? Would God, who has revealed the Holy
Scriptures know? The Al-Qur’an, which is the most recent revelation, carries the
following Verse.
“It is He Who has created for you (the faculties of) hearing, sight, feeling and
understanding: little thanks it is you give!” [23.78]

Do hearing, sight, feeling and understanding has anything to do with giving thanks or
being grateful? Can and should these abilities generate “gratitude” in the brain? How?
Let us first see what science says. Quoting from parts of the article Emotion on the Brain
{3},
“We are taught about our five senses from childhood: sight, smell,
taste, touch, and hearing. Even from a young age, we know to “use
our senses” to investigate the world around us…Beyond our
perception, our senses play an integral role in our emotional
processing, learning, and interpretation. ” {3}

As an example, the article continues,

“In other words, what we sense triggers a feeling. For me, coffee is
linked with a sense of energy, positive feelings, and it being
essentially a hug in a cup. These associations can be activated from
me seeing a cup of coffee, smelling it, hearing a coffee maker, or
tasting it.” {3}

The question is how do the electric signals in the neuron network result in the
associations mentioned? It is obvious that these electric signals must carry data that are
delivered at high speeds to the human brain from our eyes, ears and the taste buds in
our tongue. The relevant data must then be processed by the neurons so that it
becomes information, i.e., the associations mentioned. Verse 23.78 informs that the
information should ultimately turn into “gratitude” for the One who has given humans this
very special mental ability!

Deriving pleasure and benefit, do we use our brains to ask from where have all these
blessings come from? Who has been thoughtful enough to design the ability to
appreciate the beautiful blessings given? When and how should we thank Him? God
tells us that He put these abilities in the first human being Adam and then created all
other humans from him.

23.79 “And He has multiplied you through the earth and to Him shall you be
gathered back.”
In what ways has He multiplied us? He has created communities, companionship,
friendship, lineage, parents, children, races and a variety of skills and abilities. At the end
of our life on earth we will all stand before Him on the Day of Judgment. What is He
likely to ask us when we face Him – whether we have used our brains to discover who
has given us this experience of life and demonstrated our gratitude as ethical and
righteous individuals? Who is God?

23.80 “It is He Who gives life and death and to Him (is due) the alternation
of Night and Day: will you not then understand?”
It is God who has created us and will one day remove us from the current life, i.e., give
us death. He has created night and day to help us account for our time on earth. Have
we worked out who He is?

23.81 “On the contrary they say things similar to what the ancients said.”

23.82 “They say, "What! When we die and become dust and bones could we
really be raised up again?”
Would it be difficult for the Being who has once created us from nothing, to recreate us
from dry bones? As a parallel example, how does He create life from dry, dead seeds?

23.83 “Such things have been promised to us and to our fathers before!
They are nothing but tales of the ancients!”
Previous Holy Scriptures carry the same message of death and the Day of Judgment.
Would God change His purpose of creation as time has moved on?

23.84 “Ask, "To whom belong the earth and all beings therein? (Say) if you
know!"”
As our Creator, would we belong to God? Would He own us? Could He do as He
pleases with us? Could He do away with us? Could He withdraw His blessings?

23.85 “They will respond, “To God!” Say: “Yet will you not receive
admonition?””
As the Being who has put us together, should we fear His Power and Wrath? Should we
think of the extent of His Power? What should be our attitude towards Him?

23.86 “Ask, "Who is the Lord of the seven heavens and the Lord of the
Throne (of Glory) Supreme?"”

23.87 “They will say, "(They belong) to God." Ask, "Will you not then be
filled with awe?"”

23.88 “Say: "Who is it in whose hands is the governance of all things who
protects (all) but is not protected (of any)? (Say) if you know."”

23.89 “They will say "(It belongs) to God." Say, "Then how are you deluded?"”

23.90 “We have sent them the Truth: but they indeed practice Falsehood!”
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{Notes}:
{1} https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/what-makes-human-brain-cells-unique/
{2} https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/318139.php
{3} http://sites.tufts.edu/emotiononthebrain/2014/10/09/emotion-and-our-senses/