The rational basis of the Islamic belief [Archive] - Ummah.com

AbuMubarak

27-11-04, 10:32 PM

The way to believe

IntroductionAt some point every human being is faced with the three existential questions:

Q1.Where did I come from (i.e. what happened to me before my birth)? Q2.What is the purpose of my existence (in this world)? Q3.Where am I going (after leaving this world i.e. after my death)?These are hard questions and, unsurprisingly, there are no conclusive answers to them (conclusive in the sense that they are proved to be true with mathematical strictness (N-3) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#nm2)).

Furthermore, due to their existential nature, the answers sought cannot exist in an empty conceptual space but must be embedded in some sort of general theory about the universe, man and life.

Given that we don't have conclusive knowledge (N-2) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#nm1) in the issues above, we are all believers (N-1) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n0) whether we like it or not. The crucial question is thus not: "do you believe or not" but "what do you believe in"?

Those who have e.g. adopted the belief in darwinism or the "big bang" theory like to delude themselves into thinking that these are somehow (more) "scientific" (N0) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#np1) but the religious nature of their beliefs is revealed clearly by their inability to present conclusive evidence.

Anyway, believing does not mean that we should abandon the rational approach altogether. We are rather to use our intellects to scrutinize any theory that claims to provide answers to the questions above and accept or reject it based on its soundness (or the absence thereof).

The answers presented here are the ones provided by Islam (which is the belief that I have come to adopt).
In order to adhere to the criterion above, however, the rational basis of the belief in Islam shall be established first.

What is Islam?Muslims think of Islam as of a 'deen'. One of the meanings of this Arabic word is 'religion' (service and worship of God).

In contrast to other religions, the service and worship of God in Islam encompasses all aspects of life and is not restricted to the relationship between an individual and its Creator.

Islam thus defines and stipulates a complete way of life. Furthermore, Islam is an ideology (N1) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n1) in the sense that it

•incloses a systematic body of beliefs (N2) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n2) about the universe, man and (the different stages of) life •includes a methodology (N3) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n3) or program of practical politics (N4) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n4) based on that body of beliefs •requires a social or political struggle to enact The rational basisThe basis of the body of Islamic beliefs is rational (N5) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n5) and is thus to be acquired through an intellectual process.
In the first phase of this process man is to ponder over the tangible universe using it as a frame of reference while seeking answers to the questions Q1-3 (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#q13) above.

Any person reflecting upon the universe (N7) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n7) in a sincere and unprejudiced manner is bound to arrive at the following maxims that constitute a part of the axiomatic basis of Islam:

A1. There must exist a single Creator (N7) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n7) who 1.1has created everything (N8) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n8) 1.2is omniscient (N9) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n9) 1.3is omnipotent (N10) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n10) 1.4is independent (N11) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n11) of His creation 1.5has no beginning (N12) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n12) and no end (N13) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n10) 1.6is truthful (N14) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n14) and justA2. The Creator has sent messengers (N15) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n15) (with His guidance) to mankind 2.1The entire creation is subject to the Creator's laws and rules (N16) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n16) 2.2Humanity is a part of the creation[/url] and hence also subject to (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#e3)the Creator's law 2.3Humanity needs to be advised (N17) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n17) of (the relevant portion of) the Creator's law in order to be able to abide by it 2.4The Creator chooses persons of high moral standing to whom He reveals the law (messengers) 2.5The messengers convey and expound the law to the people and lead exemplary lives in accordance to it. 2.6The Creator guides the messengers and prevents them from committing mistakes (N18) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#e7). The messengers are thus infallible.A3. Muhammad, peace be upon him (pbuh), was a messenger 3.1Muhammad (pbuh) was a person of high moral standing. He was called 'Al-amin' (the trustworthy) by his people[url="http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#e10"] (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#e9). 3.2Muhammad (pbuh) never worshipped idols. After turning thirty-five years, he began to retire to a cave in Jabal-an-Nur (mountain of light) and meditate during the whole month of Ramadan. 3.3He was forty years old, when one night towards the end of the month of Ramadan, an angel came to visit him, and announced that God had chosen him as His messenger to all mankind 3.4The Arabs, despite being masters of language and excelling in poetry and prose alike, were struck by the beauty and eloquence of the revelation received by Muhammad (pbuh) (N19) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n19). 3.5After Muhammad (pbuh) was falsely accused of forging the Qur'an, a challenge (to mankind in general and to the Arabs in particular) to produce a chapter like the Qur'an was laid down (N20) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n20). Despite being connoisseurs of language and rhetoric the Arabs failed to live up to the challenge. 3.6The opponents of Muhammad (pbuh) tried (and are still trying) to discredit him by calling him a deceiver or deluded (or both). These accusations are easily refuted (N21) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n21). 3.7The age of Muhammad (pbuh) was a time when the Arabs were at the peak of their linguistic abilities. Despite that fact, they failed to produce anything like the verses of the Qur'an.
The only logical conclusion is that Muhammad (pbuh) is truly the messenger of God and that the Qur'an was revealed to him by God. Some conclusionsHaving established the axioms above let's make use of them.

L1. The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was truthful. This follows from the

C1.6truthfulness of the Creator C2.6infallibility of the messengers C3prophethood of Muhammad (pbuh)L2. The Qur'an (N23) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n23) is God's speech revealed to the prophet Muhammad (pbuh). This follows from Muhammad's (pbuh) claims (which must be true according to L1)

L3. The sunnah (N22) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n22) of the prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is a part of God's guidance. This follows from

A2.5the role assigned to the messengers (they are to expound the law and to lead exemplary lives according to it) •"Certainly you have in the messenger of Allah an excellent example for him who hopes in Allah and the latter day (N24) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n24) and remembers Allah much" [TMQ 33.21] •"He who obeys the messenger, obeys Allah: But if any turn away, We have not sent you to watch over their (evil deeds)" [TMQ 4.80]L4. The Qur'an (N23) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n23) and the sunnah (N22) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n22) establish the divine law (Shari'ah) that is binding upon mankind. This follows from L2, L3 and

•"And rule between them by that which Allah revealed to you, and do not follow their vain desires away from the truth which came to you" [TMQ 5:48] •"It is not fitting for a believer, man or woman, when a matter has been decided by Allah and His messenger to have any option about their decision: if any one disobeys Allah and His messenger, he is indeed on a clearly wrong path" [TMQ 33.36]L5. The divine law (Shari'ah) is the best law possible. This follows from the

A1.2omniscience of God (N25) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n25) A1.6truthfulness and justice of GodL6. The divine law (Shari'ah) is complete and sufficient. This follows from

•".. This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion .." [TMQ 5.3] •historical facts: the Islamic state existed for 13 centuries and was ruled exclusively by the Shari'ah The answers The axioms and conclusions above finally enable us to answer the questions raised in the beginning.

R1. What happened to us prior to our birth was that we were created by God.

•"Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created.
Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood.
Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,
He Who taught (the use of) the pen, taught man that which he knew not." [TMQ 96.1-5] (N32) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n32) •"Say: 'It is He Who has created you (and made you grow), and made for you the faculties of hearing, seeing, feeling and understanding ..'" [TMQ 67.23]R2. The purpose of our existence is to serve God (i.e. to do what God has commanded us to do and to refrain from what God forbade us to do (N26) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n26))

•"I have only created jinns (N27) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n27) and men, that they may serve Me. No sustenance do I require of them, nor do I require that they should feed Me." [TMQ 51.56-57] •"O men! serve your Lord Who created you and those before you so that you may guard (against evil)." [TMQ 2.21]R3. What will happen to us after our death is that we will be judged by God on the day of judgment(N28) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n28)

•"Most surely the righteous are in bliss, and most surely the wicked are in burning fire.
They shall enter it on the day of judgment. And they shall by no means be absent from it." [TMQ 82.13-16] •"And the trumpet shall be blown, when lo ! from their graves they shall hasten on to their Lord.
They shall say: O woe to us! who has raised us up from our sleeping-place? This is what the Beneficent Allah promised and the messengers told the truth.
..
So this day no soul shall be dealt with unjustly in the least; and you shall not be rewarded aught but that which you did.
Surely the dwellers of the garden shall on that day be in an occupation quite happy.
..
And get aside today, O guilty ones! Did I not charge you, O children of Adam ! that you should not serve the Shaitan (N31) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n31)? Surely he is your open enemy, and that you should serve Me; this is the right way.
..
This is the hell with which you were threatened. Enter into it this day because you disbelieved (N29) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n29), (N30) (http://hrnjad.net/islam/WayToBelieve.htm#n30)." [TMQ 36.51-64]