ABOUT THE MAGAZINE
Spirit of Islam is a monthly magazine which is now in its Eighth
year of publication. The aim of this journal is to present Islam in
the contemporary idiom, while at the same time the contents are
of universal appeal and of interest to a wider circle of spiritual
seekers. It is our desire to help Muslims rediscover Islam, focusing
on its message of peace and spirituality as derived from the Quran
and the teachings of the Prophet, and in general we strive towards
religious understanding for bringing about greater harmony.
Another purpose of this magazine is to assist its readers to deal
with life’s challenges, deriving positivity even from negative
occurrences, gaining in spirituality and developing themselves
intellectually so that they may contribute constructively to society.
The magazine’s regular readers will appreciate that the entire
thrust of its articles is directed to the individual—a collection of
intellectually prepared individuals being the sole foundation on
which a peaceful and harmonious society can be built.
As the subtitle indicates, Spirit of Islam is working towards
enlightening people on the subject of global peace and regularly
addresses relevant contemporary issues. The articles on peace
based on the teachings of the Prophet of Islam offer us an ideology
of peace—principles which lay down how peace may be established
between conflicting groups, controversies resolved and conflicts
defused. We believe that violence begins in the mind and so an
effective ideology of peace needs to be presented to counter its
influence.
We hope and pray that God helps us in this noble endeavour
and grants us His special blessings!
A MESSAGE FOR THE NEW YEAR
Dear Readers,
Greetings of Peace!
This January 2020 issue of Spirit of Islam (SOI) marks the magazine’s
entry into 8th year of its publication. We are thankful to Almighty God
for according us the opportunity to contribute positively in the greater
service of humanity to establish peace and spirituality in the world.
The scientific age has thrown up unheard of challenges in the face of
religion. Religion, as had been presented hitherto, lost its appeal to the
educated masses as it promulgated rituals bereft of any meaning to
modern man. With its focus on dos and don’ts, and belief in unverifiable
creeds, religion lost its ground. The insistence of people occupying the
pedestals of religion to follow the dictates of religion unquestioningly
proved to be no help. Science and religion were considered to be at
irreconcilable variance.
However, Islam being the religion of nature, there is no contradiction
between Islam and science. Quran believed to be the preserved book of
God is free from human interpolation. The personality of the Prophet
of Islam, his life and teachings are historically established. SOI firmly
believes that the age of science and technology has only strengthened
the religion of Islam.
SOI presents Islam from the original sources, which are Quran and the
model of the Prophet. SOI makes use of rational and contemporary
idiom to bring home the message of peace and spirituality. Its
arguments for the existence of God, the Hereafter, Hell and Paradise
are based on well-established principles of science. Its rational, logical
and scientific approach to religion is like a fresh and embalming air
to the doubtful and questioning souls. It impresses upon conscious
discovery and acceptance of verified truth.
SOI also tries to dispel the wrong notions that have unfortunately got
associated with Islam. Islam, based on Quran and the prophetic model,
is a religion of universal love and brotherhood as opposed to prevalent
misconception of Islam being a religion of violence. SOI emphasizes
that Muslims should be judged in the light of true Islamic principles.
It is an academic fallacy to judge Islam in the light of the conduct of
Muslims.
Spirit-based rather than form-based religion is the priority of SOI. It
encourages one to live life with highest standards of morality.
We take this occasion to express our gratitude to our readers for
their love and support. Do share with us your views regarding this
publication. We wish you a peaceful and spiritual New Year with the
following supplication from the Quran:
‘Our Lord, do not let our hearts deviate after You have guided
us. Bestow upon us Your mercy. Surely You are a Munificent
Giver. Our Lord, You will surely gather all humankind on the Day
of whose coming there is no doubt. God never fails to fulfill His
promise.’ (
Professor Zaheeruddin
Editorial Committee
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
FROM MAULANAS DESK
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan, born in 1925, in Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh, is an Islamic spiritual scholar who is well-versed in both classical Islamic learning and modern disciplines. The mission of his life has been the establishment of worldwide peace. He has received the Padma Bhushan, the Demiurgus Peace International Award and Sayyidina Imam Al Hassan Peace award for promoting peace in Muslim societies. He has been called ’Islam’s spiritual ambassador to the world’ and is recognized as one of its most influential Muslims . His books have been translated into sixteen languages and are part of university curricula in six countries. He is the founder of the Centre for Peace and Spirituality based in New Delhi.
TAKING SETBACKS AS CHALLENGES
MUSLIMS profess to be beset by myriad of problems, the
foremost among them has been their inability to be realistic in
their approach. This issue demanded an immediate remedy.
The remedy is still eluding Muslims.
When it comes to the state of Muslims in India, it has been my firm
opinion that India is thriving with opportunities for Muslims to
progress. There is no dearth of possibilities for Muslims to live as an
honourable, prosperous and advanced community. Yet, their state of
mind has unnecessarily created all manner of problems for them. It is
nothing more or less than their own lack of realism. If Muslims could
just become realistic in their approach, nothing could stand in the way
of their betterment.
Whatever the grimness of the events, this verse of the Quran offers
great hope: “You may hate a thing although it is good for you.”
(
disturbing situation, a great fortune lies hidden.
What is this great fortune? It is the necessity it creates for adopting a
very realistic approach. The greatest secret of success in the world is
the ability to think and act realistically. Human nature itself inclines
man to realism. The so-called Muslim leaders, however, have misled
Muslims by their emotionalism and superficiality. Now, the outcome of
their almost two centuries of struggles has made their incompetence
as clear as daylight. Nevertheless, now Muslims have started to realize
that they need to free themselves from the unhealthy influence of their
misguided leaders. They must chart a course of action in accordance
with nature, the Quran, and the example set by the Prophet.
The Prophet of Islam was the most realistic person in history. That is
why his success was the greatest ever achieved by anyone. The present
situation has brought Muslims to a point where they will of themselves
become realistic. And this new turn to their lives is certainly the greatest
guarantee of success and progress.
The whole system of the earth and the heavens is based on reality.
Man too can succeed in this world simply by conceding to this reality. It
would be a matter of great contentment if Muslims could now discover
this secret, which is the sure ladder to success.
‘Many a small group, by God’s command has prevailed against
a large group. God is indeed with the steadfast.’ (
This verse of the Quran shows that if a minority group is facing
challenges at the hands of a powerful majority, there is nothing in this
for them to feel depressed or frustrated about. This should be looked
upon as one of the God-given opportunities
for the weaker group. This challenge provides
impetus to the minority to re-plan, work even
harder and achieve its goals.
The greatest secret of
success in the world
is the ability to think
and act realistically
How can such a reversal of the present order
take place? The secret, according to this
verse, lies in patience. Those who are faced
with challenges require more alertness and
need to make more efforts just to survive. The
patience and endurance which they learn in
the process are what enable such a group to dominate and conquer
their fears and come out with flying colours.
Patience for a human being or a human group is just like the heat applied
to water. When water is heated up to hundred degrees centigrade, it
starts boiling. The molecules change state and they scatter outward in the form of vapour. In this way, heat converts water into gas. Water
taking the form of gas becomes so powerful that it can move mighty
machines.
In a similar way, when a group is continually faced with adverse
circumstances, when its very identity is challenged, it reaches the point
of explosion. Its latent capabilities are so aroused that it rises from the
state of “water” and turns into “vapour”.
History shows that whenever a group has faced persecution, its
potential has been awakened. It has emerged in the form of an
unconquerable force. Arnold Toynbee, a historian, has termed this
process as Challenge-Response Mechanism. It is patience coupled with
wise strategy that converts this ordinary group into an extraordinary
group.
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Follow Maulana at http://www.speakingtree.in (The Times of India)
FROM THE EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
Dr Farida Khanam is an author, editor, translator, public speaker and former
professor of Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi. Among her books are
‘A Simple Guide to Sufism’ and ‘A Study of World’s Major Religions’. She has translated
into English many books authored by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan. Currently the
chairperson of CPS International, she is a regular contributor of articles to various
publications. Dr Khanam has edited Maulana’s English translation of the Quran
and has also translated his Urdu commentary of the Quran into English. She can be
reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
RELIGION AND HUMANITY
GOD tells us in the Quran: “We have indeed honoured the Children
of Adam, and provided for them means of transportation on
land and sea, and given them wholesome food and exalted
them high above the greater part of Our creation.” (
This shows that man by his very creation
deserves regard and respect. This respect is
man’s natural birth right, regardless of which
community he belongs to.
According to a Hadith: “That person is not
one of us who is not merciful to our younger
ones and respectful to our elders.” According
to another Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad
said, “One who believes in God and the Last
Day must honour his neighbours; one who
believes in God and the Last Day must honour
his guests.”
Anyone, even if
belonging to a
religion you follow
or of any other
religious tradition,
whether he belongs
to one community
or another; whether
he belongs to
friendly group or an
opponent group, in
all cases is worthy of
respect.
There are a number of such commands to
the believers in the Quran and the corpus of
Hadith which lay great stress on showing due
respect to humankind. For this is an important
area in which we are actually being tested about our faith in God. Our
love and devotion for God finds expression in this world in the form of
our relations with other human beings. One who is a true lover of God
has an inner urge to love all of God's creation.
Respect for humankind is one of the basic teachings of lslam. Anyone,
even if belonging to a religion you follow or of any other religious
tradition, whether he belongs to one community or another; whether
he belongs to friendly group or an opponent group, in all cases is
worthy of respect. According to the teachings of Islam, human beings
are to be respected, despite their differences. Even where antagonism
is displayed, we have to adopt the way of avoidance of conflict and
continue to show respectful behaviour. In the eyes of Islam, all human
beings are equal and deserve our respect.
Dr. Farida Khanam
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
THE UNIVERSE DECLARES
Arguments for the Existence of God
THE Christian Mission of Kerala published a booklet titled Nature
and Science Speak about God. In this 28-page book, scientific
discoveries about the universe are mentioned to bring home the
point that the existence of God is a fact that cannot be denied in any
way.
The greatest evidence of God before us is His creation. Nature itself
and our study of nature, both proclaim that there is one God who, in
the infinity of His wisdom, has created and continues to sustain the
universe.
Scorpions, fleas, and many other similar creatures of land and water
combat and control their enemies by making use of their stings. At the
tip of their sting is a very small aperture through which they inject a
type of poison into their enemy’s body. If this aperture was at the very
end of the sting, it would be closed when the sting was inserted into the
body. Moreover, the sting would not efficiently pierce the skin of the
target. That is the reason the aperture is always a bit slanted like the
hole in the doctor’s syringe. This is to cite just
one example of intelligent design. Whatever
object you see in nature manifests such
design. The universe is not a random pile of
garbage, but rather it exhibits a tremendous
purpose and discipline. Could this come about
without a conscious plan?
Whatever object you
see will manifest an
intelligent design.
The universe is
not a random pile
of garbage, but
rather it exhibits a
tremendous purpose
and discipline. Could
this happen without
a conscious plan?
Termites build for themselves houses that
are thousand times bigger than their size.
If we try to build our homes in the same
proportions, we will need to erect a milehigh wall. Termites can live in the woods and
carve their homes inside. Studying their lives
reveals many wonderful occurrences. To take
just one example: Termites eat wood. After
stone, wood is the most indigestible of all known materials, but it
does not pose a problem for termites. They have specific jaws for the
purpose, which not only serve as a saw but also function as grinder.
However, no matter how much the wood is ground, it will still remain
wood, and will only induce indigestion rather than satisfy the need
for food in the stomach. What is it, then, that helps termites? There are many microorganisms in the intestines of the termite to facilitate
this function. These microorganisms make certain alterations to the
swallowed wood so that they can be digested and provide nourishment
to the body. Who brings about this amazing arrangement?
Consider the structure of eggs. Each egg has seven different
characteristics, all of which are so important that even if one of them
is missing, the egg would not survive as an egg. The outer-shell made
of limestone, the pores inside the shell that
provide passage to the air, the thin membrane
that surrounds the insides of the egg, the yolk
and egg white forming the food of the hatching
chicks inside the shell, the germ of the baby,
the ligament that keeps the germ fixed in the
right direction. Remove any one of these, and
the egg will never become a nourishing place
for the chicks. Is this aggregation of seven
different things simply a coincidence?
There are numerous
things in the universe
that would require an
entire library just to
name them, whereas
in proportion, current
human knowledge
of the cosmos is
minimal compared
to the vastness of
the universe. What
we have yet to see,
is much more than
what we have seen.
“Coincidence” cannot explain the presence of
these seven different things, which are found
to be in precise and in perfect condition.
What is even more baffling is why are only
these things accumulated in the egg by
“coincidence”. Why not a leaf of a plant, some
form of wood, a piece of stone, and thousands
of such things that could have been contained
inside, enter the shell? If any of such things were inside the shell, they
would have destroyed the egg. The most perplexing thing is that when
the chick is ready to get out of the egg, a small hard horn appears on
its beak with which this ‘lump of flesh’ is able to break through the walls
of its shell. After fulfilling its purpose, the horn falls off automatically
a few days after the chick is born. How did such precision come about
in the egg?
Ponder upon your own existence. How wonderful the human body is!
Look at the brain. A telephone exchange that connects all the men,
women and children of the planet at every moment; that continuously
exchanges messages with them. If you can conjure up such a telephone
exchange, you have only estimated a tiny bit of the incredibly complex
system of the brain.
There are about a hundred billion nerve cells inside your brain. There
are very fine wires coming out of each nerve cell and they are spread all over the body. They are called nerve fibres and function to conduct
information in the form of electrical impulses to other cells, muscles
and glands in the body. A system of information transmission on these
thin fibres runs at a speed of about hundred kilometres per hour.
Look at the heart, a small organ about the size of the fist. It weighs
no more than 200 grams, but this little pump of the human body runs
continuously day and night. It pumps 100,000 times a day and sends
about six litres of blood to the entire body every minute. The heart has
been endowed with extraordinary capability for achieving this amazing
performance.
There are numerous things in the universe that would require an entire
library just to list them. On the other hand, current human knowledge
of the cosmos is miniscule compared to the vastness of the universe.
What we have yet to see, is much more than what we have seen.
The term ‘law of
nature’ simply
expresses that things
always come into
existence under a
certain principle
and will always
come into being in
the same way. This
does not indicate
why something is
happening?
Did this brilliant workmanship, this complete
planning, and this perfect intelligence happen
by chance? Of course, sometimes an incident
does happen by chance. For example, a gust
of wind sometimes blows up a pollen of a red
rose and puts it on a white rose, resulting in
a yellow flower. But this kind of coincidence
can produce only partial and subtle changes.
It can only account for this particular colour
of the rose, not for the entire existence of the
rose. Coincidence does not always explain
why a particular type of system continues
to be consistent. It does not explain why
there is regularity and organization in our
world. The process of “coincidence” will not
keep repeating itself. It is not possible for
coincidence to bring into existence today what transpired yesterday.
Then why do all things always appear in the same form with total
uniformity? Why are natural systems and laws so methodical,
mathematical and regulated?
If some pieces of metal are tossed into the air, what are the probabilities
that they would fall to the ground in the form of moulded typeface
letter and upon falling, form some meaningful text on a page? If this
cannot happen simply by chance, then why is it assumed that such a
large world with such amazing features has come into being by chance?
What academic argument could be put forth to prove a theory that
could not be proven in a laboratory?
Another justification that materialist thinkers rely on is the term ‘the
law of nature’. “Why do chicks come out of the hen’s egg in 21 days,
whereas from the egg of the ostrich, the babies take 45 days to hatch?”
There are a number of questions of this nature
which are answered by the materialist simply
as: “It is a law of nature.” This does appear to
be a justification, but in fact this answer only
describes one incident. By using the words ‘law
of nature’, we only acknowledge the order and
function of the universe. These words do not
explain why this discipline and performance
is established in the first place. The term ‘law
of nature’ simply expresses that things always
come into existence under a certain principle
and will always come into being in the same
way. This does not indicate why something is happening? It does not
state the cause of the incident, but only presents the picture of the
event.
Science has furnished
us with many
new insights. But
whatever it offers is
only a detail of a few
events. Science has
no answer for why
they are happening
If you ask a doctor why the blood is red, he will reply that the blood
contains very small red particles (equivalent to one thousandths of an
inch) called red blood cells.
“True, but why are these particles red?”
“These particles contain a special substance called haemoglobin, which
turns red when it absorbs oxygen in the lungs.”
“Okay, but where do the red blood cells carrying haemoglobin come
from?”
“They are prepared in your spleen.”
“That’s wonderful, doctor, but tell me how is it that blood, red blood
cells, spleen and thousands of other things are organized in such a
coherent way and act so unitedly that I can breathe, run, speak, and
live.”
“Ah! That is the law of nature.”
“What is it that you call law of nature?”
“When I say ‘nature’, I mean the interplay of blind physical and chemical
forces.”
“But doctor, what causes these blind forces in nature to always act in a
direction that leads them to a definite end? How do they organize their
activities in such a way that a bird can fly, a fish can swim and a human
being comes into existence with his unique abilities?”
“Don’t ask me, my friend. A doctor can only tell what is happening.
He does not have the answer for the question: Why something is
happening?”
This conversation aptly illustrates the reality
of current science. Indeed, science has
furnished us with many new insights. But
whatever it offers is only a detail of a few
events. Science has no answer for why they
are happening. How do the delicate organs of
a fly work? Of course, science has told us a lot
in this regard, but who is the one who thought
that bees needed these delicate organs, and
provided them with such fine skilfulness?
The law of nature is
a phenomenon of the
universe. It is not a
justification of the
universe. It seeks
justification for its
own existence.
To explain the order of the universe and its appropriateness, and to
show why various kinds of blind forces act towards a particular end—
what we need is something other than the presence of these powers.
The description of a bed is not enough if we just throw a few words
such as mattress, pillows and bedstead. A castle is the name given to a
structure of millions of bricks and other things installed in their proper
and ordered place. For any small organ of the human body to come
into being, it is necessary that millions of atoms come together in a
unique and special setting. Blind forces cannot always express this kind
of purpose, they cannot create meaning and harmony within events.
Science does not tell us how or why the laws of nature came into being,
how or why they continue to exist or why they cause the earth and
the heavens to function with such unfailing precision that, simply by
observing them, it was possible to establish immutable scientific laws.
The fact is that the law of nature is a phenomenon of the universe. It
is not a justification of the universe. It seeks justification for its own
existence. As Cecil Boyce Hamann says,
Nature does not explain, she is herself in need of an explanation.
In other words, the existence of meaningfulness in something is clear
evidence that there is a mind behind it. The germ of life (sperm cells)
that is nourished in a male’s body is very similar to the other cells in the
body, but it has a unique and remarkable feature very different from other cells. By attaching itself with a special egg cell of a female, it has
the ability to bring into existence a completely new human being. How
is it possible that two cells, each of which are raised in two completely
different bodies, are capable of acting so amazingly together? Can
this event be explained without acknowledging the involvement of a
creative mind?
Acknowledging the existence of a creative mind in the universe is
not accepting a baseless tradition. In fact,
many of the inevitable conclusions from the
discoveries of science lead us to this belief.
Numerous scientific facts compel us to accept
the existence of a driving force behind the
universe. Just like the sound from the radio
compels us to recognize the presence of radio
waves, even though we do not see them.
When sugar is added to the glass of water,
it will dissolve in such a way that it will not
be visible to the eyes. But by tasting it with
your tongue, you can detect the presence of
sugar in water. Similarly, God is not visible to
the eyes, but when we study the world of our
surroundings, our instinct and intuition cry
out that there is God here, without whom the universe could not exist.
The fact is that the stupendous increase of human knowledge has not
distanced man from God, but has brought man closer to Him. To doubt
God’s existence is merely to declare our ignorance. How definitive then
are Pasteur’s words:
A smattering of science turns people away from God.
Much of it brings them back to Him.
RESTORATION OF RELIGION
Much-needed Task
IN 1509, Michelangelo (1475-1564), painter, sculptor, architect,
and poet, was commissioned by Pope Julian to design and paint
the frescoes for the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican. The project was
completed in 1512. In the 450 years that have elapsed since then,
the original colours used by Michelangelo have become considerably
subdued and, therefore, distorted. One reason for this was a coating
of animal glue which was spread over the surface of the fresco in the
centuries of soot from the torches used to illuminate the chapel before
the advent of electricity.
Under Pope John Paul II, the Vatican ordered restoration of the
frescoes. At the beginning of 1986, the first results of the cleaning
work were displayed to the public. Renovation revealed some startling
things about Michelangelo’s original work. The master was previously
believed to have used subdued, twilight colours, but it now appears that
the colours he used were so vibrant, it was decided that softer lighting
would be needed when the cleaning would finish in 1988. Art historians
had to revise their whole concept of the Florentine school which
Michelangelo represented, for the Florentines have been considered
masters of design, but not of colour.
True faith, as painted
by the prophets,
springs from the
heart, but religion in
its corrupted form
becomes a mere
enactment of rites
and ceremonies,
devoid of any true
spirit.
American journalist, George Armstrong writes
in The Guardian Weekly (February 16, 1986)
that the axiom of Tintoretto (1518-1594)
‘draw like Michelangelo, paint like Titian’—
‘has been thrown off balance by the Sistine’s
restored colours.’ The renovation, Armstrong
says, “has revealed Michelangelo in a new
light.” Further restorations culminating in
1999 had a profound effect on art lovers and
historians, as colours and details that had not
been seen for centuries were revealed. It has
been claimed that as a result “Every book on
Michelangelo will have to be rewritten”.
Religion in its pristine
form breeds humility
in its followers,
fostering human
unity; but when
religion becomes
distorted, it becomes
a source of pride,
with one group using
it to assert their
superiority over
another.
In very much the same way, the nature of true religion has become
distorted over the centuries. Originally, religion is revealed by God
and taught in its pure form by the prophets. Then, when it falls into
the hands of ordinary men, they corrupt its true message, making it conform to their own desires. Whereas religion
had originally been based on belief in the
Hereafter, it later became an instrument for
the acquisition of worldly wealth and power.
True faith, as painted by the prophets, springs
from the heart, but religion in its corrupted
form becomes a mere enactment of rites
and ceremonies, devoid of any true spirit.
Religion in its pristine form breeds humility
in its followers, fostering human unity; but
when religion becomes distorted, it becomes
a source of pride, with one group using it to
assert their superiority over another.
When this happens, it means that grime
and dust have collected on the face of true
religion. Its true colours have become distorted and it is in need of
restoration to its original form. When the renovation is completed, it
will be revealed that religion is something quite different from what
men have made it out to be. Theologians will be exposed as misleading
in their interpretations, just as the public has been misguided in its
opinions.
SIGNS OF GOD SCATTERED IN THE UNIVERSE
Wonders of Nature
SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE (1772-1834) was a well-known English
literary critic, theologian, philosopher and poet. One of his poems
is titled ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’. In this poem, Coleridge
describes a sailor who, on account of some sin, gets stuck in the sea.
He has no fresh water to drink. His ship is surrounded on all sides by
sea water, but because the water is salty, he cannot drink it. In anguish
he cries out,
‘Water, water everywhere. Nor any drop to drink.’
The condition of this fictitious sailor is potentially the same of every
human being in this world. Man cannot live without water. But a huge
proportion of the world’s water is exceedingly salty—being contained
in the seas and oceans—and hence is not potable.
Reflect on any of the
countless amazing
phenomena in
nature and you will
be wonder struck at
God’s miracles.
Now, consider how nature has provided a
solution to this issue. Heated by the sun,
seawater evaporates. The vapour rises up in
the atmosphere, leaving behind the salt that
the water had contained. It is only the sweet
component of the water that evaporates.
This water, which is desalinated through this
natural process, falls on the earth in the form
of water—sweet water that human beings can
drink and which they cannot live without.
If we reflect on just this one amazing phenomenon of desalination—an
astounding sign of God—we can be wonder struck at God’s miracles,
which are scattered all across the universe!
GODTHE VOICE OF HUMAN NATURE
Helplessness of Man
IN January 1975, French actress, Gina Lollobrigida, came to India.
At a press conference, a newspaper reporter asked her a question
about whether she believed in God. She replied, “I believe in God, I
believe in God, more when I am on an aeroplane.” (The Times of India,
January 3, 1975)
When one travels on an aeroplane, one is at the mercy of external
forces, and if there is even a minor change in these forces, it could lead
to certain death. One faces the same helplessness while travelling on a
ship. The Quran says:
Have you not seen how the ships sail on the sea by God’s grace
so that He may show you some of His signs? Surely therein are
signs for every steadfast, thankful person. When the waves
engulf them like shadows [of death], they call to God, sincere
[at that moment] in their faith in Him alone: but as soon as He
has brought them safe ashore, only some of them take the right
course. And none denies Our signs save the perfidious and
ungrateful person. (
No matter how
rebellious a man
may be, no matter
how much he may
deny God, in times
of extreme difficulty
and in complete
helplessness he cries
out to God. This is
evidence that God is
the voice of human
nature.
Russia witnessed a Communist takeover in
1917—the so-called ‘Russian Revolution’.
The communist regime stayed in power for
several decades, till it collapsed in 1991. In
this long period, the communists tried every
means to wipe out religion and make people
atheists. They claimed that religion was a
mere appendix of capitalism and that after
the overthrow of capitalism, religion would
naturally wither away in Russia. But this did
not happen, and today religion is alive and
thriving in Russia. In fact, there is a major
revival of religion among many youths there.
An interesting incident is related about the
Soviet communist dictator Stalin (1879-1964).
Stalin denied God, but his own life proved that in times of immense
difficulty and in a state of utter helplessness, man remembers only
God.
In 1942, during the Second World War, the British leader Winston
Churchill (1874-1965) travelled to Moscow to talk with Russian leaders
for opening a second front against Hitler. Churchill placed before
Stalin the Allies’ military plan—it was given the secret name of ‘Torch’.
Because Stalin was himself against Hitler’s growing influence, he took
a deep interest in this plan. Churchill relates that when the plan was
being explained to Stalin, the latter remarked, “May God prosper this
undertaking!” (Winston S. Churchill, The Second World War (Abridgement),
London, 1965)
Svetlana Alliluyeva (1926-2011) was the daughter of the atheist Soviet
dictator Stalin. She later went on to adopt Christianity. Explaining
her search for truth, in her book Only One Year, she talks about her
dissatisfaction, her search for something to comfort her heart and how
she found what she was searching for in the following words of the
Bible:
The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
of whom shall I be afraid?
When the wicked advance against me
to devour me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war breakout against me,
even then I will be confident. (PSALM 27: 1-3)
Professor Carl Troll was President of the International Geographical
Union from 1960 to 1964. He remarked, “The fruit of my life as a
scientist and geographer is to have become more and more deeply
grateful to our Creator.”
No matter how rebellious a man may be, no matter how much he may
deny God, in times of extreme difficulty and in complete helplessness
he cries out to God. This is evidence that God is the voice of human
nature.
GUIDING THE MISGUIDED
A Formidable Task
The Quran describes the plight of humanity on the Day of Judgement:
‘On the Day when their faces are turned over in the Fire, they
shall say: ‘Oh, would that we had obeyed God, and obeyed
the Messenger!’ They shall say, ‘Our Lord, we paid heed to our
leaders and our elders, but they led us away from the right path.
Our Lord, give them double punishment and curse them with a
mighty curse.’ (
THESE verses of the Quran make the distinction between those
who, having read the Book of God and the Sunnah of the
Prophet, accepted their guidance and consistently followed their
precepts, and those whose course of action was always determined
by demagogues and contemporary religious guides. The former are
deserving of God’s mercy, but the latter are not, as they have gone
completely astray. Try as they may to justify their actions by bending the
terms of the Quran and Hadith, they will incur only the wrath of God, for
He cannot be deceived by fine words. If they
have allowed themselves to be misguided,
they have only themselves to blame for this,
and can never know the blessings of their
Creator’s mercy.
If Muslims have
allowed themselves
to be misguided, they
have only themselves
to blame for this.
Today, it is unfortunate that the majority
of the Muslims fall into the category of the
misguided. In multitudes, they are following
in the footsteps of slogan-mongering leaders
and are moving further away from the path of
God and His Prophet. They are deaf to the injunctions from the Quran
which would prove to them the error of their ways, and are frequently
to be heard asserting that they have no intention of changing those
ways no matter how impressive these Quran-based and Hadith-based
arguments happen to be.
FROM THE SPIRITUAL TREE
There is a tree beside my house. I call
it the 'Spiritual Tree'. I derive spiritual
inspiration from it. A tree is an evergrowing being that was initially a seed
possessing the potential of becoming a
full-grown tree. A seed takes food from the
universe around it and then grows into a
tree. The same is true with spirituality,
the desire for which is intrinsic to, and an
integral part of, the very nature of every
human being. To realize this spirituality,
man must derive spiritual food from the
universe around him. A tree converts
carbon-dioxide into oxygen; a spiritual person is one who can take positive lessons
from negative situations. From this perspective, a tree is an embodiment of a
spiritual personality. —Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
MAKE GOD YOUR SUPREME CONCERN
MOST people talk frequently of marifah (God-realization) without
having attained it. The reason is that they wish to attain the
realization of God but they are not willing to pay the price. In
this world nothing can be achieved without paying the price. What man
ought to do is that when he is not ready to pay the price for something,
he should not talk about it. For talking about something for which he
is not willing to pay the price will mean that he is only mouthing words
about God-realization without understanding its significance.
There is a saying in Arabic: “Knowledge gives you a part of it only when
you give yourself to it completely.” The price of God-realization is that a
person should give his all to it, that he should make it his sole concern,
that while going to bed he should think of God-realization, while getting
out of bed he should think of God-realization. He should engross
himself in it to the point of starting to dream about it. The price of Godrealization is total surrender. One who does not totally surrender to
God, will find that the doors of God-realization are permanently closed
to him.
How does one achieve this marifah? The journey begins with the
acceptance that there is a God and finishes with one discovering the
true Creator. The individual must first of all become a seeker and later
become a finder. It is this order of the journey of marifah which applies
to a common man as well as to a prophet. The following Arabic saying
brings out the above understanding with clarity, “[Acknowledging that]
I do not know, is half of knowledge”. First, an individual has to discover
his own ignorance, and then a spirit of enquiry is born within. The
greater the acknowledgement of his own ignorance, the greater is his
spiritual and intellectual learning. It is a natural rule to which there is
no exception.
Marifah or the
discovery and
realization of God
is not something to
be inherited, that a
father may give to a
son and the grandson
may receive from his
forebears. It is of a
personal nature.
Marifah or the discovery and realization of God is not something to be
inherited, that a father may give to a son and the grandson may receive
from his forebears. It is of a personal nature. Whenever anyone attains
to God-realization, it will happen only as a
result of personal effort. Without personal
effort, no one can ever achieve marifah.
Whatever one receives without personal
struggle will be just a kind of traditional belief
rather than a living marifah.
Marifah relates to the entire personality of
the human being. It is initially achieved at
an intellectual level. Subsequently through
a natural process, it pervades his whole
personality. The attainment of God-realization
for anyone colours his whole personality
in its hue. No aspect of his life will remain
unaffected by its influence.
The journey of marifah is indeed one of discovery. This discovery
continues during the whole of one’s life. One who thinks that he has
achieved perfect marifah would in effect, never have discovered it at
all.
MANAGING CONTROVERSY
Peaceful Living
THE Quran says, “Let them not dispute with you in the matter”.
(
dispute with you.’ That is, ‘You should not enter into disputes.’
The verse actually indicates, ‘You should manage the dispute in the very
beginning before it degenerates into a full-fledged controversy.’ We
need to solve controversial issues only by way of peaceful management.
In AD 628, the Prophet and his Companions left Madinah and travelled
to Makkah to offer pilgrimage to the Kabah. When they arrived at
Hudaibiya, some miles away from Makkah, the group was stopped by
their Makkan opponents. The leader of the opponents refused to let
the Prophet enter Makkah. A battle seemed inevitable. On the contrary,
the Prophet engaged in negotiations with the opposite side for about
Finally, a peace pact was concluded that
laid down that the Prophet would return to
Madinah without performing pilgrimage. The
Prophet and his Companions accepted this
condition and returned to Madinah.
Whenever there is a
controversial issue,
do not allow it to
become a largescale conflict, rather
defuse it and finish
it off in its initial
stages.
The treaty of Hudaibiya has been referred
to in the Quran as a ‘clear victory’ (
means in God’s eyes, an issue should not
be allowed to escalate into a dispute and
controversy, rather it should be resolved
beforehand through wise management and
non-controversial approach.
Muslims all over the world, including Indian Muslims, should follow this
principle. Whenever there is a controversial issue, do not allow it to
become a large-scale conflict, rather defuse it and finish it off in its
initial stages.
FAITH AND HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
True Faith Explained
ISLAM can be summed up very briefly: Fear of God (taqwa) and
benevolence towards others. Taqwa means piety, which is, leading
a life of caution and restraint in this world. The object of all the
teachings of Islam is to produce the spirit of piety in every action.
Those imbued with taqwa always keep in view the will and pleasure of
God in every task they perform. Their lives are based on truthfulness
and honesty. No worldly loss diverts them from the path of truth. The
Quran describes those whose lives are marked by taqwa in these words:
‘Virtue means believing in God, the Last Day, the angels, the
Book and the prophets; the virtuous are those who, despite
their love for it, give away their wealth to their relatives and
to orphans and the very poor, and to travellers and those who
ask [for charity], and to set slaves free, and who attend to their
prayers and pay the alms, and who keep their pledges when
they make them, and show patience in hardship and adversity,
and in times of distress. Such are the true believers; and such
are the God-fearing.’ (
Those who possess taqwa firmly believe that God sees everything. This
inspires in them a strong desire to perform good deeds and a hatred
for all things evil. Such thinking induces righteous conduct and taqwa
thus becomes the foundation of all good deeds.
Once an individual becomes a God-fearing
person, his life changes completely. He
becomes careful to avoid that which will lead
him to Hell, and is desirous of anything which
will make him deserving of Paradise. He loves
and fears God above all.
Faith in God Almighty
transforms the
believer completely.
It shakes his human
soul. His entire being
is engulfed in the fear
of God. This fear is
manifested in all his
dealings with others.
Fear of God and consciousness of the eternal
destiny of humankind make one extremely
cautious in dealing with fellow men. It is then
clear that mistreating others would mean
exposing oneself to the fire of Hell. Arrogance
is never an option, for in human interaction
every man is supported by the power of God and His angels. Neither is
injustice an option, for he knows that eventually he will have to answer to God for his actions. One does not see others as mere people; for one
realizes that Almighty God is also standing by their side.
Faith in God Almighty transforms the believer completely. It shakes
his soul. His entire being is engulfed in the fear of God. This fear is
manifested in all his dealings with others. He does not humiliate the
weak, for he sees that God is standing by the side of His servants. He
does not bow before the strong, because he sees that all are helpless
before God.
A man of faith has been likened to a tree in the Quran (
all know, man receives shade, fruits and flowers from the tree. All such
qualities are found in God’s worshippers in the true sense of the word.
They give comfort to everyone. They have a soothing effect upon all.
There is a Hadith to this effect. The Prophet of Islam said: ‘The believer
is like a gentle plant. When the winds blow, it does not become rigid,
but rather sways to and fro with each gust, and when the winds are
not blowing it stands still once again.’ This
is exactly the case of the true believer.
He does not display arrogance. His way is
that of adjustment and not of clash and
confrontation. He follows the principle of
persuasion and avoids the way of violence.
A True believer
believes that every
commitment made
between two persons
is actually made
under the watchful
eyes of God, and
that he will be
accountable for its
fulfilment in the
court of God.
A true believer is one who is always conscious
of the presence of God. He feels that each
time he gives his word to another, it is a
divine promise. Therefore he is extremely
circumspect about giving his word. He
believes that every commitment is actually
made under the watchful eyes of God, and
that he will be accountable for its fulfilment
in the court of God. This compels him to be
highly responsible as regards his promises. Whenever he gives his
word to anyone, he makes a point of keeping it.
Many other virtues come in the wake of the fulfilment of promises.
One of these is mutual trust. In a society where mutual trust exists,
there is an atmosphere of confidence, as there is no fear of promises
being broken. It is therefore faith that makes man the possessor of this
highest of human virtues.
Another impact of faith upon the behaviour of the believer is that
he becomes a truth-loving person. He always speaks the truth. In all
matters he says only what is in accordance with reality.
Truth is the highest virtue of a believer’s character. A man of faith is
a man of principle. He finds it impossible to deny the truth. He thus
becomes totally free of falsehood or double-standards. His whole
existence is moulded by truth.
An important aspect of true God-worship is that the worshipper,
instead of living within the confines of the self, begins to live in the
world of reality. The truly pious person begins to look upon people with
love and compassion. He does not expect anything from anyone. That
is why, even if others do not behave well with him, he behaves well with
them and he continues to be tolerant towards them.
Then the Quran and the Hadith lay great stress on compassion. The
Prophet of Islam said:
“O people, be compassionate to others,
so that you may be granted compassion by God.”
In this way Islam makes compassion a matter of self-interest for
every man, as his own future depends on his
compassionate behaviour to his fellow men.
Thus, the Islamic faith motivates the faithful
to be compassionate in their dealings with
one another. Those who want to receive God’s
grace will have to show compassion to others.
Faith prepares a
person to lead a
worthy life in society
by adopting an
attitude of modesty,
sympathy and
goodwill in all his
dealings.
Faith makes the believer a responsible person
towards both God and man. His duty towards
God means believing in Him, worshipping
Him and carrying out all His commandments.
Duty towards man means giving him such
treatment as is in accordance with Islamic
teachings. A true believer therefore gives proper respect to others,
never humiliates them while giving them help, does not harm them,
fulfils trusts, never breaks his word, never usurps the wealth and
property of others and deals justly with others in all circumstances.
In short, when an individual adopts Islam, first of all it is his thinking,
which comes under its sway, then his desires, his feelings, his interests,
his relations, his likes and his dislikes—all are coloured by his obedience
to God’s will. When man comes under God’s command, in his daily life
his behaviour with others and his dealings, all are moulded by the
demands of Islam.
Faith prepares him to lead a worthy life in society by adopting an
attitude of modesty, sympathy and goodwill in all his dealings. In short,
faith perfects man’s relationship with God as well as with other human
beings.
Development of a Sense of Responsibility and Accountability
Accountability is one of the basic teachings of Islam. A perfect divine
arrangement preserves a complete record of every person’s words
and deeds. On the Day of Judgement, every single human being will
be faced with an entire and accurate record of his deeds on earth. The
Quran says about this fact: ‘Each word he utters shall be noted down
by a vigilant guardian.’ (
A careful study of the present world shows that there is an unerring
system of ‘recording’ in existence here on earth. The thinking of man
is being impressed on the nerve cells of his brain. Every utterance of
man is permanently preserved in the air in the shape of sound waves.
Man’s actions are preserved in the external world by means of heat
waves in such a way that they can be reproduced at any point in time.
All these are known facts today. It is these known facts that make the
Quran’s claim totally credible, that man’s intentions, his utterances
and his actions, are all in the knowledge of
his Creator. Every single thought or act of a
human being is being entered in the registers
of the angels.
Man will be held
accountable on the
Day of Judgement
for anything he does
on earth. On the Day
of Resurrection, an
exhaustive record of
an individual’s good
and bad deeds in
this world will come
before him.
Man will be held accountable on the Day of
Judgement for anything he does on earth.
On the Day of Resurrection, an exhaustive
record of an individual’s good and bad deeds
in this world will come before him. On seeing
this record, he will exclaim: ‘What can this
book mean? It omits nothing small or great;
everything is noted down.’ (
Whatsoever a man does is put on record by
God’s arrangement. Man’s intentions, his
sayings and his deeds are all imprinted on the screen of the universe.
Today this arrangement or system is not visible to us, but on the Day
of Judgement the curtain hiding it will be raised. At that moment man
will instantly be terrified to see that whatever he had been doing in
this world, under the misconception that nobody knew about it, is so
clearly recorded here that neither the smallest nor the greatest thing
has been left out.
On the Day of Judgement, the treatment meted out to a man by God
will be based on thoroughly established facts. For this reason, on that
Day, when he receives his reward or punishment for his deeds, he
will know, beyond a shadow of doubt, that he is getting what he really
deserves—nothing more and nothing less.
The Prophet enjoined the believers: ‘Reckon
yourselves before being reckoned with.’
According to another teaching, on the Day of
Judgement no one can move until he has been
asked about five things: how he spent his life;
how he spent his youth; how he earned his
wealth; and how he spent his wealth. and
did he practice on his acquired knowledge.
(Tirmidhi)
A believer is always
aware of the fact
that all his dealings
are related directly
to God. So, he is
always conscious of
the presence of God
between him and the
other person.
Accountability is a basic and fundamental
concept in Islam. It governs man’s life on earth
and determines his fate in the Hereafter. That
is because, according to the Islamic viewpoint, man is not born into this
world only to make money and die after living here for a hundred years
or so. The truth is that human life is eternal and we live in this world
only for a small fraction of our real lives. The actual and eternal life is
to be lived in the next world. The present mundane world has been
created merely for human trial. The consequences of our deeds will be
reaped in the life of the next, eternal world. It is to gather this harvest
that we strive.
This way of understanding life makes it an extremely serious business.
It produces a strong incentive in man to take even the smallest matters
of life very seriously. An individual therefore should be alert at every
moment of his life. He should lead his life in this world in a manner
that, rather invite God’s wrath and the ensuing punishment, would
bring down His blessings upon him in the world to come.
Social Behaviour of the God-conscious Person
A pious person is one who is totally God-conscious. Such a person
leads life in this world with the feeling that all his works and deeds are
observed by the eyes of God. He is then accountable for all actions to
God, for nothing lies hidden from the All-Knowing God.
This type of conviction and feeling makes a man a responsible member
of society. His behaviour is totally different. He is always aware of the
fact, that all his dealings are related directly to God. So, he is always conscious of the presence of God between him and the other person.
The other person may be rich or poor, weak or strong, but he will always
treat him with justice, for he is conscious of the fact that God will take
him to task for any shortcoming on his part. This consciousness will
make him fully alert to the fact that he must take every step in this
world with great forethought of its consequences.
According to Islamic belief, everything in this world is designed as a
test for human beings. Even social dealings are meant to serve the
purpose of divine trial. Any dealings, pleasant or unpleasant, favourable
or unfavourable, are always a test paper for the participants. This
situation has been created because God wants to test individuals on
their behaviour towards others.
In Islam, relations in social life are based on total justice. According to
Islamic teachings, man must—in all possible situations in life—adhere
to justice, be the outcome favourable or unfavourable, beneficial or
detrimental. Whatever the issue, he has to observe the principles of
justice. This is the true basis of social ethics as far as Islam is concerned.
This belief is extremely important. It gives man the necessary courage
to do good deeds. He then rises above the mere expectation of reward
from his fellow human beings as the upshot of his dealings with them.
He has the conviction that God is constantly watching him and that He
will reward him for his virtuous deeds, whether or not society itself sets
any value on his deeds. The just man leads a principled life without
expecting any return from others.
Virtue does not consist in whether you face towards the East or the
West; virtue means believing in God, the Last Day, the angels, the Book
and the prophets; the virtuous are those who, despite their love for it,
give away their wealth to their relatives and to orphans and the very
poor, and to travellers and those who ask (for charity), and to set slaves
free, and who attend to their prayers and pay the alms, and who keep
their pledges when they make them, and show patience in hardship
and adversity, and in times of distress. Such are the true believers; and
such are the God-fearing. (QURAN 2: 177)
Man needs to be clothed, but not just externally. He needs inner
raiment too: that of piety, fear of God, acceptance of truth, setting the
same standard for oneself as for others, regarding oneself as God’s
servant, remaining modest and humble, concentrating on the thoughts
of the Hereafter instead of being astray in the world. When an individual
adopts all these values, it is like a splendid accoutrement of his inner
existence, and when he adopts an attitude opposite to this, he divests
his inner existence of its entire moral apparel.
THE FLAWLESS UNIVERSE
Argument from Design
THIS universe is, in the complete sense of the term, a flawless
one. The Quran (
these words:
He created seven heavens one above the other in layers. You will not
find any flaw in the creation of the Gracious One. Then look once
again: can you see any flaw? Then look again and again. Your gaze
will come back to you confused and exhausted.
Here, the Quran speaks of the universe as flawless. At the time when
these verses of the Quran were being revealed man did not know that
the universe was flawless. Man gazed at the moon and the stars, the
sea and the mountains and was filled with a sense of awe and this led
him to nature worship. The Creator’s intention was that man should
realize the flawlessness of the universe
and in this way discover the greatness and
power of the Creator. But for thousands of
years, this aspect of the universe remained
undiscovered.
Accepting the
universe as an
intelligent universe
means also that
this universe is
the creation of an
intelligent Creator.
The discoveries in the field of science over
the last four hundred years or so inform
man, for the first time that an unparalleled
meaningfulness is to be found in the universe,
that the universe is a well-planned universe,
that it is a well-managed universe, that it is
a well-disciplined universe. And now, scientists, generally speaking,
believe that the universe is also an intelligent universe. This issue is a
subject of considerable study and discussion, with a huge amount of
literature having been published on the subject.
In Newton’s time, the universe was considered to be a mechanical one.
But further research showed this to be wrong. Research in various
fields of science seem to indicate the universe is an intelligent universe.
Accepting the universe as an intelligent universe means also that this
universe is the creation of an intelligent Creator. There can be no
other explanation or interpretation of this fact. Much has now been
written on the issue of intelligent design, one of the most well-known
books about it being Fred Hoyle’s The Intelligent Universe: A New View of
Creation and Evolution (1983).
APPEARANCE AND REALITY
Looking Beyond the Veil
APPEARANCE veils reality. In this world, man is put to the test
of recognizing appearance for what it is, and of penetrating
it in order to reach the reality hidden beyond it. If he is to be
successful, he must refrain from becoming obsessed with appearances.
He must rise above the level of the seen, and pass beyond to that of
the unseen. There, on this higher plane, the hidden realities of life will
stand out clearly before his eyes.
How does one free oneself from obsession with appearances? It means,
primarily, looking at things in an entirely different way. For example, it
means recognizing that something which is ostensibly a purchasable
item is actually a gift from God. It means having a grasp of the fact
that the merchandises of the marketplace have come not just from
the hands of the craftsman or the assembly line of a factory, but from
the treasure house of the universe. Faith in the unseen means the
realization that the things which we seem to receive from the hands
of men, come in actuality, from the hands of God. It is only those who
are at one with their Maker, who can attain this degree of finely-tuned
perception.
In this world, we have the option of living like
the blind, or of living with our eyes wide open.
The test we are set in the present world forces
us to make this choice. One who remains
blind to the realities of this world of trial
will—due to his blindness—be stranded in the
world to come. On the other hand, one who
lives with his eyes open to the divine truth
will be blessed with heavenly vision in the life
beyond the grave. There, all the blessings of
the world—and even more—will be given to
him for all eternity.
Faith in the unseen
means the realization
that the things which
we seem to receive
from the hands
of men come, in
actuality, from the
hands of God.
The ‘blind’ man, sitting at the dining table, will look upon the milk, fruit,
vegetables as items which have been bought from vendors, and then
brought to him and prepared for him so that his palate and hunger
may be satisfied. Content with this thought, or not even thinking about
his food at all, he eats his fill, and then is off on his way to some other
activity, without having acknowledged, even for a second, that the
eatables he consumed were actually gifts from God. He simply cannot
see that these are some of nature’s greatest masterpieces. He does not give a single thought to the long and infinitely complex development
of the entire universe which made it possible for such things to come
into existence.
In the Hereafter ,
that which we receive
shall be in direct
proportion to what
we have discerned
behind the veil of
appearences. Those
who have never torn
that veil aside can
expect to receive
nothing.
The man who has his eyes open to the truth
thinks in quite a different way, when the
same set of eatables is set before him. He
is intensely aware at all times that these are
the products of nature’s ‘factory.’ He reflects
upon how cows and buffaloes eat grass and
then convert it into milk. He thinks of how the
tree takes in water and nutrients from the soil
and then converts them into flowers and fruit.
When he ponders upon how such ‘factories’
could come into existence, the system of the
entire universe begins to unfold itself before
him. He considers how it was only after this
limitless universe had evolved for millions
and millions of years that the system of the
present world could be established. The present world, vast and varied
as it may seem, accord with it in every detail. This is so that the tree can
yield fruit and the cow can give milk.
When he thinks of all these, he experiences a strange kind of thrill, and
a sense of wonder and awe. Now, when he drinks milk, or puts a piece
of fruit into his mouth, he feels that it is a unique blessing from God.
It is obvious that eating, as a normal human activity, is not the same
for the ‘blind’ as it is for the ‘seeing’. Neither can the consequences be
the same for both, as is suggested by the analogy the Quran gives us
of the man who eats stones and the man who eats fruits. Just as the
effects of eating can never be the same for these two men, so can the
consequences never be similar for one who eats ‘blindly’ and one who
eats ‘with his eyes open’. In the Hereafter, that which we receive shall
be in direct proportion to what we have discerned behind the veil of
appearances. Those who have never torn that veil aside can expect to
receive nothing.
A PERPETUAL ENTERPRISE
Growing in Faith
FAITH is the discovery of God who is a limitless reality. In space
and time, He is never-ending, discovering Him is likewise an
enduring, ongoing event. The discovery of God is the bedrock of
true religion. A well-known scientist once reflected that if a day came
and went without his having discovered anything new in nature, he
considered that day as wasted, for, as he said, “Observing nature is my
religion.” If this is the feeling of one who is absorbed in God’s creation,
how can one who is absorbed in the Creator Himself feel any different?
Just as the scientist discovers something new in the world of creation
every day, so a believer should always be making fresh discoveries
about his Creator—discoveries which would strengthen him in his faith.
If one’s thoughts are constantly centred on God, one will repeatedly
come upon new and greater aspects of His glory. Different facets of
His attributes will appear time and time again,
bathed in eternal, divine light. Just as God’s
attributes are infinite, so is the believer’s
search for knowledge of God unending.
If one’s thoughts
are constantly
centred on God,
one will repeatedly
come upon new and
greater aspects of
His glory. Just as
God’s attributes are
infinite, so is the
believer’s search for
knowledge of God
unending.
This quest for knowledge comes to fruition
in many forms. Sometimes it takes the form
of divine states never before experienced.
Sometimes it expresses itself in words of praise
for the Almighty never before conceived of.
Sometimes some aspect of God’s wisdom—
hitherto unrevealed—becomes as clear as
crystal. Sometimes one simply feels unusually
close to God. And sometimes one suddenly
feels capable of plumbing to the depths of
profound and awesome truths.
If the discovery of God is a never-ending event, the converse is also
true. Faith that does not grow is no faith at all. It is an expression
rather of religious neglect—neglect of Almighty God, our Creator and
Sustainer.
PROCESSION OF DEATH
Entry to a New World
WHEN a person dies, he is laid in a coffin which is then carried
aloft towards the grave. This journey or funeral procession is
unlike any journey that the man has undertaken. This journey
marks the end of man’s existence on earth. He is now introduced into a
world totally unknown and where rules of the game are quite different
from those of the earth.
When man is born into this world, he immediately has recourse to
mother’s compassion and father’s protection. He grows up among
friends and relatives. Then he reaches adulthood and forges ahead on
his chosen path through life.
His journey of life continues until finally death knocks on the door.
Those relatives who had supported him through life now carry him to
his final resting place. They lay him under a mound of earth where he
is all alone with his Lord.
So far, he had been confronted with humans like himself; now he is
face to face with God, infinitely greater than himself. Up till then, he
had been in a world where he had power of his own, but now he finds
himself absolutely powerless. Man, the most helpless of creatures, will
come before God the All-Powerful—a meeting so awesome that it is
almost beyond imagining.
People are dying here on earth. Not a day goes by without our seeing
or hearing of the death of someone or the other. Yet we fail to realize
the implications of death. This is because in our minds we lack a living
picture of Heaven and Hell. We are preoccupied with other, totally
unrelated, matters. We are too busy making homes for ourselves in
this world to plan for our eternal abode. We are too concerned with
worldly profit-making to care whether we have done enough to earn
everlasting life. We are too preoccupied with improving our position in
society to consolidate our relation with God.
We think of every human being in worldly terms. So, when a person
dies, the loss we feel is mundane in nature in the sense that we think
of him as one who gave so much to the world and now, he has been
taken away from it. We see man in relation to this ephemeral world,
but fail to see him in relation to the next eternal world. How then can
we realize the implications of death? How can we see that, as one is laid
to “rest”, one is, in fact, being led to one’s meeting with the Lord and
one’s eternal fate?
THE WORD OF GOD
From The Scriptures
The Quran is the book of God. It has been preserved in
its entirety since its revelation to the Prophet of Islam
between AD 610 and 632. It is a book that brings glad
tidings to humankind, along with divine admonition,
and stresses the importance of man’s discovery of the
Truth on a spiritual and intellectual level.
Translated from Arabic and commentary by
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
THE INEVITABLE HOUR
In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
The Inevitable Hour! What is the Inevitable Hour? And what will make
you realize what the Inevitable Hour is? The tribes of Thamud and ‘Ad
denied that disaster would strike them: the Thamud were destroyed by
a terrible storm of thunder and lightning; and the ‘Ad were destroyed
by a furious wind which God let loose against them for seven nights
and eight days unremittingly, so that you could have seen its people
lying prostrate as though they were the hollow trunks of palm-trees
which had fallen down. Do you see any vestige left of them now?
Pharaoh and those before him and the inhabitants of the overthrown
cities persistently committed grave sins. They defied their Lord’s
messenger, so He seized them with an ever-tightening grip. But We
bore you away in the Ark, when the waters rose high, so that We might
make it a reminder for you and so that attentive ears might retain it.
(
Some deny the Hereafter openly, while there are others who may not
explicitly deny the Hereafter, but who in their heart of hearts attach
importance solely to worldly affairs. That is why there is no difference
between the way of life of these people and that of those who make
open denials. In essence, these two groups are the same. In the eyes of
God, both of them are rejecters of the Hereafter—one group rejecting
it by word of mouth and the other doing so in practice.
When a single blast is blown on the trumpet, and the earth and the
mountains are lifted up and then crushed with a single blow, on that Day the Great Event will come to pass. And the sky will be rent
asunder, for on that Day it will be so frail. The angels will appear by
its sides and, on that Day, eight [angels] will bear your Lord’s throne
above them. On that Day you will be brought to judgement and none
of your secrets will remain hidden. (
In accordance with the law of God, all such people are going to face
destruction. In the days of the prophets, this destruction was made
manifest in the present world, as for their successors it will become a
reality in the Hereafter.
The present world has been made with a view to putting human
beings to the test. When the period of testing is over, this world will be
demolished and a new world fashioned to meet new requirements will
be made. The majesty of God at present reveals itself indirectly, but at
that time the Majesty of God will be directly manifested.
ASK MAULANA
Your Questions Answered
The remedy for ignorance is asking questions. (Prophet Muhammad).
The spirit of enquiry is the hallmark of an open society and the above
saying of the Prophet aptly illustrates this principle. A culture of
curiosity and open-mindedness will foster development in any society
by motivating its members to learn enthusiastically and enrich their
knowledge. This is because awareness of one’s ignorance is half of
knowledge, as it becomes a stepping-stone to seeking and finding
answers. A questioning mind is like a flowing river that is replenished
with fresh thoughts and ideas and continues on its journey
What is the meaning of prayer? Why should I pray to God?
Prayer is the compensation for a person’s helplessness. An individual,
again and again, experiences helplessness and prayer is his response
to such occasions. He calls out to a Being that is above and beyond him.
The Second World War was fought between the Axis Powers and the
Allied Powers. During the war, there was a time when it was not sure
who would win. The victor side became clear after the atom bomb was
dropped. In the famous Yalta Conference, heads of three countries,
Russia, Great Britain and the US had gathered to find a strategy to
contain the Axis Powers. Joseph Stalin was representing Soviet Russia.
He was given to read the draft of the strategy and after reading it, he
exclaimed suddenly: ‘May God prosper this undertaking!’
At the point where man feels helpless, his nature is bound to call out to
the One who is beyond human beings. It is undoubtedly the experience
of every person to call out to the Supreme Being when he feels utterly
helpless.
In the sea, when a ship is on voyage and a storm strikes, there is nothing
that a person sees except huge waves of water ready to engulf the ship
any moment. It is in such times of helplessness that one spontaneously
calls out to God. I had read about a Russian pilot. In spite of being an
atheist, he was heard saying, ‘Peter save us!’ when his plane got stuck
in a thunderstorm.
What should be the right prayer that we should make to God?
In this world, every person is born to lead a different life, each with its
own set of opportunities and challenges. Hence, one cannot follow a
‘one-prayer-fits-all’ policy in life.
A believer may pray to his Creator regarding anything, without any
constraints. However, the manner in which the prayer is answered shall
be governed by divine will. At times, prayer is answered instantly and at
other times, there passes a long time before one’s request is fulfilled.
A verse in the Quran gives us the prayer of the virtuous in these words:
Our Lord, grant us good in this world as well as good in the world to
come, and protect us from the torment of the Fire. (
The essence of a true prayer is patience. A believer must submit to
the divine will and entrust his matters to his Creator. He should pray
to God for guidance and sustenance. Prayer is not mere repetition or
usage of specific words, rather it is the expression of the believer’s
deep sentiment, entreating divine succour. The Quran mentions several
expressions of prayers through which divine guidance is sought.
Can one ask God for death?
No, this is completely forbidden according to Islamic teachings. This
had been alluded to in the following Hadith: One of the Prophet’s
Companion reported that the Prophet said, ‘None of you should long
for death, for if he is a good man, he may increase his good deeds and
if he is an evil doer, he may stop the evil deeds and repent.’ (Sahih alBukhari)
Hence the longer you live, the more opportunities you get to do good
deeds, or repent if you have committed any bad ones. Keeping this
wisdom in mind, one should always pray for well-being and happiness
and not anything negative. According to the creation plan of God, the
hour of death for every individual has been appointed by God Himself.
We should accept our natural time of death, as God knows what is best
for us.
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan (1925-2021) was an Islamic scholar, spiritual guide, and an Ambassador of Peace. He authored over 200 books and recorded thousands of lectures giving the rational interpretation of Islamic concepts, prophetic wisdom, and the spiritual meaning of the Quran in the contemporary style. His English translation, The Quran, is widely appreciated as simple, clear and in contemporary style. He founded Centre for Peace and Spirituality (CPS) International in 2001 to re-engineer minds towards God-oriented living and present Islam as it is, based on the principles of peace, spirituality, and co-existence. Maulana breathed his last on 21 April, 2021 in New Delhi, India. His legacy is being carried forward through the CPS International Network.
What God most earnestly desires from human beings is worship. The Quran says: “I have not created jinn and mankind except to worship Me.” ( 51:56 )
