format_quote Originally Posted by
WarriorforMarie
I do not know if there is a Creator.
Thank you for your reply.
If you were walking through a forest, and in the middle of the forest came across a small clearing, and in the middle, was a perfectly and beautifully made wooden table with chairs, would you come to the conclusion that:
a) the table and chairs had evolved into table and chairs from the trees over millenia
b) The right size and shape pieces of wood sawed themselves off the tree, screws and nails and hammers magically appeared to fix the pieces together
or c) that somebody had come along, chopped down a few trees to clear the area, then sawn off pieces of wood from tree trunks and used tools such as hammer and nails to put the table and chairs together. In other words, the table and chairs had a maker.
You might say, yes C, but the table and chairs could have had several makers. One held the wood while other cut. However, that is because there is imperfection and weaknesses in humans , they need help from each other. They could also have squabbles and disagreements. None of this is befitting the Creator of the universe.
It may be that you don't think c is the answer, but to me it is, clear as day. So what of the universe around us. The galaxies and solar system. The night and day, the sun and moon and stars, plants and animals, fruits, our own creation, our languages and colours, just to name a few. Signs of a Creator all around us. The Qur'an repeatedly asks us to reflect, ponder, consider, give thought to this.
If we cannot believe that a table and chairs evolved or magically came into existence by themselves, and they are simple planks of wood, then how can we do so for the complex and fascinating universe around us? The systems within our own bodies?
Once we believe there is a Creator, then which is the best belief to have about that Creator? How do we view Him, what do we believe about Him, how do we worship Him? And how would He convey the aforementioned to us?
The answer is, that throughout history, he has sent a succession of prophets and messengers to people throughout the ages, to convey His message to them, and with guidance to show people how He wants them to live and worship Him. They were the purest and noblest of humanity and were not divine in any way. God sent all the prophets with the same message and not different messages. The message was:
to submit wholeheartedly to God and worship Him and Him alone, without any associates in, or parts to, His Exclusive Divinity, and to obey the prophet. They taught that people should be under no misperception that they can commit themselves to God as their Lord, and then combine this with accepting others as their Lord, or associating others in His Divinity, in whatever way. They taught that we should strive hard to translate our belief in the One True God into practice, by obeying God and the messengers He sent, who were also role models and examples for us, showing us practically how to put the guidance they were sent with into practice in our daily lives, explaining the scriptures, warning against wrong-doing, and giving additional legislation from God.
Islam is not a new faith but is the same Ultimate Truth that God revealed to all prophets, including Noah, Abraham, Moses and Jesus (peace be upon them). Thus Islam is not named after a specific person (like Christianity, Buddhism) nor after a certain race or place (like Judaism, Hinduism), but is named by God Himself, and the meaning loosely translates as 'submission to God', which is what every Prophet and their righteous followers did, from amongst all times, all races and all peoples. That in itself is one fraction of the evidence that it was the way of all the Prophets from the beginning.
However some of their teachings got forgotten/distorted, sometimes people began associating others in God's Exclusive Divinity, so other messengers were sent, culminating in the final messenger, Muhammad (peace be upon him). The scripture God revealed to him, the Qur'an, is fully preserved, with no word coming from any human. It is unchanged and will remain so, as God has promised to preserve it. This is why there is no need now for any new messenger as the scripture is, and will remain, in tact. So Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the messenger for now til the end of time.
I'll keep this brief and not go on too much, but will end with a few snippets of the concept of God in Islam:
- There is only One God. He alone should be worshipped. He is our Creator, Sustainer, Cherisher, and Lord.
- He does not beget, nor is He begotten. He has no sons, daughters, siblings, parents, cousins, or relatives of any sort.
- He is eternal and does not die.
- He does not depend on anyone/anything yet we all depend on Him. He is free of all want and need.
- There is nothing like Him. He is all Hearing, all Seeing, all Knowing, all Powerful, Incomparable, the Creator of the Universe.
- He did not and does not, dwell in human or animal bodies, nor are there any incarnations of Him. He is not mixed up in His creation in any way.
- He is not composed of persons, nor a trinity. There are no secondary, lesser, greater, equal, or multiple gods, no intermediaries, and no denying of God's existence either.
- There are no sharers or associates or persons or parts whatsoever in His exclusive Divinity. Simply, He is One, in every sense.
I hope that has given a brief glimpse of why I believe and know Islam to be the truth, and the only truth. The essence of Islam is what always was, and has always been, the true and natural religion; the way of all the Prophets, the original and only message.
There cannot be lots of contradictory truths, nor does God change His mind and give different people different messages. Nor when delivering the message, did the messengers leave people in the dark as to the right way to worship God, so that each person should do what they personally think is the best way. The straight path is only one.
I know you are busy helping everyone, but you also need to take some time out and think about yourself. Imagine a student, has exams coming up, but spends lots of time helping others and doing so neglects himself. He might feel good that he's helped others, but if he fails his own exam as a result, that isn't very wise. Help others, of course, but also while you're at it, re-evaluate and reassess the basis for your own beliefs and doctrines. And it is that to which all people are invited by the Qur'an. Your beliefs regarding God, and which faith you follow, are the biggest, most serious and most important decisions you will ever make, as this life will end one day for all of us, and our position regarding God and His messengers is what makes or breaks our hereafter, which is forever.
Please let me know if you'd like clarification/further information.
You also asked elsewhere about a person who died not having being exposed to Islam. You may find this link helpful in that regard:
http://islamqa.info/en/1244
Peace.