format_quote Originally Posted by
sla25
I don't believe [...] that God is separate from the creation
format_quote Originally Posted by
sla25
I do believe in one Creator
In any sphere, in any field, one's foundations have to be correct. Everything is built on foundations and if the foundations are weak or not properly built, then everything else built on that foundation will be weak. A building, as an example, could collapse, and harm all those inside and those who were passing by outside, and can cause much damage. At the time of building, there may be excitement that we're going to have eg a house, and it gets built fast, and that it doesn't matter if it's not built correctly - we'll build it how we want, at least it's a house. But there's adverse payback later. If you build it how you think it's correct, instead of following building procedures, even if you think it's correct, it is likely to be very damaging later. If people knew a house was going to be built in that fashion, they'd try to advise the builders before the building work started.
Similarly, Islam has basic foundational beliefs and principles that must be correct from the beginning, otherwise everything else built on that is weak or wrong. First among these is Tawheed, a proper understanding of the Oneness of God.
It is heartening to see from your post, that you want to believe in one Creator. But did you know, that sometimes, people believe that they believe in one Creator, but they might inadvertently not actually believe properly in the oneness of God? It is good you came here and posted here, as you can get advice from the outset that might help you on your journey to start believing in one God. And I hope it's ok to post a few bits with regard to that, specifically what I quoted above.
Here are some of the main points about the concept of God in Islam. Particularly note the bit in italics:
There is only One God. He alone should be worshipped. He is our Creator, Sustainer, and Lord.
He does not beget, nor is He begotten. He has no sons, daughters, spouses, 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/does not, become flesh, 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, nor any intermediaries. And no denying of God's existence either.
There are no sharers, associates, persons or parts whatsoever in His exclusive Divinity. Simply, He is One, in every sense.
Allah, most High, Great and Glorious, has described Himself in His revealed books and through His prophets in order that mankind may have a better understanding of who He is, and so that we do not confuse His attributes with those of the creation. When the Creator is mixed up with creation, man ends up deifying creation. This deification of creation is the essence and basis of associating partners with Allah, known as shirk.
One of Allah's attributes is Highness. When it is used to describe Allah, it refers to the fact that Allah is above and beyond His creation. He is not part of the created world, nor is it part of Him. His being is totally distinct and separate from His creation. One is not the other, nor are they both one. On is Infinite the other is finite. He is totally unique in His divinity.
If God is not separate from the creation, then that means every individual is God. That makes millions of Gods, as we are all separate individuals. That means everything is God, from an ant to an elephant. That means you can worship anyone, or anything, which is the total opposite of Islam. It is not befitting God that God should eat, drink, have bodily functions etc, or that He should inhabit any bodies.
Hope that helps a bit to clarify a bit, but please do ask for further clarification or any other questions you may have.
May Allah guide you and open your heart to and make easy for you, the straight path, the way of life, called Islam.
Peace.