Assuming God has created Islam for humans to use to get to heaven, one should assume that he should have reasonably provided some sort of evidence in the revelations to allow an objective person to accept the religion, being that many people throughout history have falsely claimed divinity.
So, if anyone would like to debate on this topic, just post any evidence you have found.
PS: Please don't just write something to the effect of "Refer to (add chosen islamic scholar here). Please provide a summary of the specific point you wish to make in order to allow the discussion to be easily accessible. Also avoid just copy and pasting if possible.
Thank you.
going back to step 1, let's discuss the problem that we have here.
the first of which APPEARS to be that you are not an agnostic, but an apostate. there's a BIG difference. why be dishonest?
knowing that you've mislead us, we now need to know what is your intention with this thread? are you genuinely and sincerely looking evidence or is your intent here only to spread [what may be] your discontent?
if we have opposing intentions, this is just a waste of time. i would explain why like this:
using the "Gibreel(as) Hadith" as a reference and the term Ayat:
Umar Ibn Al-Khattab reports: One day when we were with Allah's Messenger (saw), a man with very white clothing and very black hair came up to us. No mark of travel was visible on him, and none of us recognized him. Sitting down beside the Prophet (saw), leaning his knees against his and placing his hands on his thighs, he said: “Tell me, Muhammad, about Islam.” He replied: “Islam means that you should testify that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad (saw) is Allah's Messenger, that you should observe the prayer, pay the Zakat, fast during Ramadan, and make the pilgrimage to the House if you are able to go there.” He said: “You have spoken the truth.” We were surprised at his questioning him and then declaring that he spoke the truth. He said: “Now tell me about Iman.” He replied: “It means that you should believe in Allah (swt), His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day, and that you should believe in the decreeing both of good and evil.” Remarking that he had spoken the truth, he then said: “Now tell me about Ihsan.” He replied: “It means that you should worship Allah (swt) as though you see Him, for He sees you though you do not see Him.” He said: “Now tell me about the Hour.” He replied: “The one who is asked about it is no better informed than the one who is asking.” He said: “Then tell me about its signs.” He replied: “That a maid-servant should beget her mistress, and that you should see barefooted, naked, poor men and shepherds exalting themselves in buildings.” [Umar] says: He then went away, and after I had waited for a long time, [the Prophet] said to me: “Do you know who the questioner was, Umar?” I replied: “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He said: “He was Gabriel who came to you to teach you your religion.” (Narrated by Muslim)
Maulana Imran Hosein rephrases it thus: Islam is when Islam enters your belief(brain). Iman is when Islam enters your heart. and Ihsan is just as above.
now using Muhsin Kkan's definition of ayat verse 17 from Surat Al Khaf:
17:
Muhsin Khan: And you might have seen the sun, when it rose, declining to the right from their Cave, and when it set, turning away from them to the left, while they lay in the midst of the Cave. That is (one) of the Ayat (proofs, evidences, signs) of Allah. He whom Allah guides, is rightly guided; but he whom He sends astray, for him you will find no Wali (guiding friend) to lead him (to the right Path).
i would rearrange it all thus:
to a nonbeliever, all of the Ayats of Allah[swt] are merely signs. whether they recognize them or not , they are still signs.
to a Muslim [that is, once Islam enters the brain] the Ayats of Allah[swt] are ALL EVIDENCE!
to a Mu'min [Islam entering the heart], all of the Ayat's of Allah[swt] are PROOF!
to those with Ihsan the Ayat's of Allah[swt] are OVERWHELMING PROOF, no comparisons needed.
how are we supposed to let you see with our eyes?
to me, each day is an ayat, each month is an ayat, each season is an ayat. each birth is an ayat, each death is an ayat. the falling rain is an ayat. each du'a is an ayat, each Salat an ayat, each good deed an ayat. and the failings are also ayat as well. the list goes on and many are mentiuoined repeatedly in the Qur'an.
EVERYTHING is either Alhumdulillah, MashaAllah or SubhanAllah!
i don't speak Arabic either, but i listen to the Qur'an in Arabic and sometimes with English recital as well. HOWEVER, being a revert and one who finds immense Joy in Islam, i spend alot of time listening to lectures. Mufti Ismail Menk and Brother [Dr.] Bashar Shala being my favorite and i also value the wotk of Dr Bilal Philips and Jamal Zarabozo. my wife and i are currently listening to Heavenly Pearls, a 34 part series on Imam An Nawawi's 40 Ahadeeth. Dr Philips has a great 21 part series called Foundations of Islamic Studies and Jamaal Zarabozo has a magnificent 28 part lecture on Al Fatihah. Brothers Menk and Shala have MANY MANY works that i love, especially Menks talks on Asbab Un Nazool and Shala's Islamic History. i would say that they both are GIFTED in describing the BEAUTY of Islam with Brother Menk's strong point being Islam and Brother Shala's being the Qur'an [and history].
alot of Mufti Menks lectures are here:
http://www.muftimenk.co.za/Downloads.html
while Brother Bashar Shala's work appears here [click on media, there's alot more]:
http://www.pleasantviewschool.com/media/default.asp?q=f&f=/Seerah of the Prophet (pbuh)
commenting on your original post no one in Islam is claiming false divinity. and of course that leaves out Shii'aa, Qadiyani, Ahmadiyyas and some Sufi [although the Shaykh i paraphrased above IS a Sufi]. i would say that Allah[swt] created Heaven for man. Islam is simply how we return to Allah[swt]
i don't now what kind of Jahillya or Assibiya you experience as a youngster, i would merely state that Islam is a wonder and that where you find crap, it wasn't Islam, just crap.
make sense?
