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Title: Investigation Before Belief Post by: Heba E. Husseyn on September 19, 2011, 09:55:34 pm BismEm By Sheikh Safdar Razi "Indeed! In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of night and day, and the ships which run upon the sea with that which is of use to men, and the water which Allah sends down from the sky, thereby reviving the earth after its death, and dispersing all kinds of beasts therein, and (in) the ordinance of the winds, and the clouds obedient between heaven and earth: are signs (of Allah's Sovereignty) for people who have sense." (2:164) Islam discourages following a faith blindly. In the Glorious Qur'an, God encourages people to think and reflect, to investigate, and not to believe simply because someone says so. God has granted us brains to contemplate, investigate, research, and then to believe. The existence of God and His greatness can easily be perceived by a free-thinking mind contemplating upon the wonders of creation around us and the existence of the amazing soul inside us. The Prophets throughout history were instructors. They called people to free their minds of cultural traditions and see the logic of God's message. Here are a few quotes from the Glorious Qur'an which demonstrate how important it is to think and then believe: (3:191) Those who remember God while standing, and sitting, and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth: "Our Lord! Thou hast not created this in vain!" (6:50) Say: "Are the blind and the seeing one alike? Do you not then reflect?" (16:11) He causes to grow for you thereby herbage, and the olives, and the palm trees, and the grapes, and of all the fruits; most surely there is a sign in this for a people who reflect. (16:44) With clear arguments and scriptures; and We have revealed to you the reminder that you may make clear to men what has been revealed to them, and that hopefully they may reflect. (30:21) And one of His signs is that He created mates for you from yourselves, so that you may find tranquility in them, and He put between you love and compassion; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect. (2:164) Most surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day, and the ships that run in the sea with that which profits men, and the water that Allah sends down from the cloud, then gives life with it to the earth after its death and spreads in it all (kinds of) animals, and the changing of the winds and the clouds made subservient between the heaven and the earth, there are signs for a people who understand. (30:22) And one of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your tongues and colors; most surely there are signs in this for the learned. (30:24) And one of His signs is that He shows you the lightning for fear and for hope, and sends down water from the clouds then gives life therewith to the earth after its death; most surely there are signs in this for a people who understand. Many verses from the Holy Qur'an encourage people to think and ponder the creation, and they will find clear signs of God's existence. The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) emphasized making education and learning an obligation on every Muslim, male and female equally. The first word in the first revelation was Iqra, which means "read!" And education always prompts the mind to think. The level of investigation differs from one subject to another, and within each subject, there might be things that everyone can understand and also things that require more rigorous study to understand them properly. The same is true of religion. There are basic things which everyone can understand easily, as well as concepts that require prerequisite knowledge to raise the level of comprehension. In Islam, there is no such thing as "you should not ask" or "just follow without any questions". These are wrong concepts. When it comes to religion and knowing God, every individual is responsible to do his own basic research and acquire as much background knowledge as they can. Finally, if people try hard to keep their minds open for logical possibilities, the chances are greater for those possibilities to become realities and thus he will come closer to knowing God. But if he blocks his mind from accepting the logical possibilities, he will stay in his blindness, surrounded by the curtains of his ego and stubbornness, and the consequences will be deprivation from knowing God. Related links: - Science and religion are intertwined. (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=4161.0) - Scientists on the Glorious Quran. (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=1336.0) - The myth of human evolution. (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=827.0) - Healing power of the Quran, between Faith and science. (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=1660.0) - How Islamic inventors changed the world. (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=122.0) - Noble Quran, cornerstone of science and renaissance. (http://muslimvilla.smfforfree.com/index.php?topic=489.0) Title: Re: Investigation Before Belief Post by: Zainab_M on September 21, 2011, 04:44:53 am Very truthful and useful one. Many sincere Muslims also never think of this point. A lot of them seriously consider it rude to ask questions. I suppose that's because the majority get their lessons from their imams who have very limited knowledge. Their only method of following the Quran is by linking it to Hadith narrations or altered Bible narrations both of which are dead wrong and illogical. So if you ask them questions, they never have answers because they are not focused on logic and rationale. But people will be surprised that if they are focused on the Quran alone while reading it, the answers to their queries keep rolling in on the basis of their own rational thoughts, Alhumdulilah. Thus Allah grants guidance to those who seek it without mixing man-written writings with His Message. The Noble Quran must be read as an independent and standalone Book to encourage reflection and thinking.
Title: Re: Investigation Before Belief Post by: Zainab_M on December 28, 2011, 06:44:47 am Thus Allah maketh plain to you (His) revelations, that haply ye may reflect. (2:219)
Title: Re: Investigation Before Belief Post by: N. Truth Seeker on January 22, 2012, 02:26:06 pm This is a very beautiful article. You're right sister. Though the Quran encourages us to ask questions, our imams get furious if you ask them questions on Hadith. It's another big difference between the Quran and the study of Hadith.
The Noble Quran shows it greatest Nobility and proof of truth by actually telling us that our belief in the Quran must be based on reflections i.e. reason. Alhumdulilah. When Allah tells in His Final Message to reflect, that in His own words includes reflecting upon the creation of the universe and the earth, reflecting upon the purpose of life, reflecting upon rainfall and the fruits & vegetables that grow, reflecting upon the alternation of night & day (i.e. rotation & revolution of earth around the sun), reflecting upon the gusts of winds etc. etc. etc. Thus, the Quran tells us to reflect upon all scientific facts that have been studied and are under study at present. When Allah revealed the Quran, He knew that in future humans will explore these fields and study them through scientific means. Therefore, our scientific developments are meant to strengthen our faith in Allah as they give us the answers of our reflections and thus make the truth about Allah's existence much more obvious. But unfortunately with the depth of pride that dwells in the human heart, they have used their scientific knowledge in much the opposite way. Instead of strengthening their faith by getting the answers of their reflections through scientific knowledge, humans have used it to make themselves feel superior and reject Allah. They forget the fact that everything they learn in science echo the proof of Allah. And they also forget the fact that if it wasn't with the permission of Allah, they would never be able to learn whatever they have so far. Title: Re: Investigation Before Belief Post by: Zainab_M on January 23, 2012, 10:46:38 am Perfectly summed up brother TS. You have pieced together some very important facts. Title: Re: Investigation Before Belief Post by: Ruhi_Rose on January 25, 2012, 10:59:45 am This is one useful thread. I must copy it in my file now. I've met so many people saying that Faith needs to be blind. It just shows how blind they are for not being able to observe how often the Quran repeats that we must reflect and think deep on every aspect of life and universe as that will help us to establish our faith.
And here are two more great verses from Surah Al-Imran. No way do these verses sound like "blind faith" to me. "Lo! In the creation of the heavens and the earth and (in) the difference of night and day are tokens (of His Sovereignty) for men of understanding, Such as remember Allah, standing, sitting, and reclining, and consider the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say): Our Lord! Thou createdst not this in vain. Glory be to Thee! Preserve us from the doom of Fire." (3:190-191) Title: Re: Investigation Before Belief Post by: Zainab_M on April 17, 2012, 10:54:55 pm Thus, if someone says "have blind faith in Allah," never accept it because it's against the instructions of Allah, The Almighty. The Noble Quran mentions NO such concept as a "blind faith." Allah wants us to think and reason within ourselves in order to believe in Him and praise Him with the praises He is so much worthy of. The disbelievers believed in polytheism with "blind faith" and thus they all went astray. But Allah, The Almighty, teaches us Monotheism or Tawheed which requires deep thinking and reflection to understand and grasp the Truth and then have full faith in it. Alhumdulilah.
Title: Re: Investigation Before Belief Post by: Heba E. Husseyn on April 17, 2012, 10:59:08 pm Exactly sister. That's very correctly said. Allah does not want to confuse his slaves when He orders them to believe in Him. His Message of Monotheism comes with all proofs and evidences of the existence of His Great Being. Allah has mentioned all those proofs and facts in His Final Message to open the eyes of the dumb and the laggards. Yet most dummies continue snoring in their deep slumber.
Title: Re: Investigation Before Belief Post by: Zainab_M on May 21, 2012, 07:13:08 am "Lo! herein is indeed a portent for people who reflect." (16:11)
"Lo! herein indeed are portents for people who have sense." (16:12) "Will ye not then remember ?" (16:17) These words are from just a few verses of Surah An-Nahl which I was reading this morning. Such expressions are mentioned throughout the Noble Quran scores of times and surely, needless to say, these words do NOT imply to "blind faith" or anything of the sort as secularists and atheists keep claiming without knowledge. Title: Re: Investigation Before Belief Post by: Heba E. Husseyn on May 21, 2012, 08:01:59 am Spot on, sister! Only the most unthinking minds can claim that belief in the Noble Quran is "blind faith." Such an absurd statement is only a proof of the blindness of the minds and sights of those who say it.
Title: Re: Investigation Before Belief Post by: MuslimanMahlon on May 22, 2012, 09:17:31 pm (http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n81/Songbird_09/ThumbsUp.gif?t=1303014457) |