- How can you believe in God! Part 2
- How can you believe in God! Part 1
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful, who has placed his signs in the horizons and in our own selves, who gave us life and who guided us. Peace be upon his messenger Muhammad, who was so concerned for all people, and upon all of his family and companions.
How can I convince people to believe God? Its the sort of question believers get asked a lot, living as we are in a society where faith seems increasingly irrelevant. Some people who challenge our faith just want to shut us down or put us down, and some people are hoping for a full-blown debate, convinced as they are of the superiority of their philosophical atheism. I am going to be up front with you and them – we can’t convince them. Our own beloved prophet almost drove himself to death with grief, Allah tells us in the Qur’an, because people would not listen to him (18:6).
فَلَعَلَّكَ بَاخِعٌ نَّـفۡسَكَ عَلٰٓى اٰثَارِهِمۡ اِنۡ لَّمۡ يُؤۡمِنُوۡا بِهٰذَا الۡحَـدِيۡثِ اَسَفًا 18:6
So perhaps you will torment yourself to death with grief over their footsteps, because they do not believe in this message.
The use of the word footsteps is interesting… it can suggest that the Prophet was following them and they were walking away, but it also has connotations that they will soon be gone and leave traces behind of where they have been – think digital footprints and also anything left behind by previous generations like the ruins described in the fantastic poem Ozymandias. It reminds all of us that no matter how animated we become in our debating and disputation in this life, we are all heading for the same destination – death. And what are we leaving behind? How will it benefit us?
There is a story in the beginning of the Book of Knowledge by Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali, in which he tells of a dream in which someone saw a respected scholar who had passed away, presumably famous for his debating skills and ability to win arguments. His friend (in the dream) asked the scholar about his condition in the hereafter. The scholar replied something to the effect that the time of explanations and arguments had gone away, and nothing has availed him except the two raka’at of prayer he would pray in the middle of the night.
In fact, Allah tells us, in many, many verses, that we cannot guide people unless he wills them to be guided.
اِنَّ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا سَوَآءٌ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ءَاَنۡذَرۡتَهُمۡ اَمۡ لَمۡ تُنۡذِرۡهُمۡ لَا يُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ ﴿2:6﴾ خَتَمَ اللّٰهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوۡبِهِمۡ وَعَلٰى سَمۡعِهِمۡؕ وَعَلٰىٓ اَبۡصَارِهِمۡ غِشَاوَةٌ
(2:6) As for those who have rejected (these truths), it is all the same whether or not you warn them, for they will not believe. (2:7) Allah has sealed their hearts and their hearing, and a covering has fallen over their eyes.
اِنَّكَ لَا تَهۡدِىۡ مَنۡ اَحۡبَبۡتَ وَلٰـكِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَهۡدِىۡ مَنۡ يَّشَآءُؕ وَهُوَ اَعۡلَمُ بِالۡمُهۡتَدِيۡنَ ﴿28:56
(28:56) (O Prophet), you cannot grant guidance whoever you love. It is Allah Who guides those whom He will.79 He knows best who are amenable to guidance.
اَيۡنَ تَذۡهَبُوۡنَؕ ﴿81:26﴾ اِنۡ هُوَ اِلَّا ذِكۡرٌ لِّلۡعٰلَمِيۡنَۙ ﴿81:27﴾ لِمَنۡ شَآءَ مِنۡكُمۡ اَنۡ يَّسۡتَقِيۡمَؕ ﴿81:28﴾ وَمَا تَشَآءُوۡنَ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ يَّشَآءَ اللّٰهُ رَبُّ الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَ ﴿81:29
(81:26) Where are you going? (81:27) It is nothing but a reminder for everyone in the world, (81:28) for everyone of you who wishes to follow the straight way; (81:29) but your wishing will not avail unless Allah, the Lord of the Universe, so wishes.
The question in the first ayat reminds me of another fantastic short poem by the American poet Carl Sandberg, Limited
There is no compulsion in faith, meaning that people are free to believe or to disbelieve. However, they must expect consequences for their actions.
وَقُلِ الۡحَـقُّ مِنۡ رَّبِّكُمۡ فَمَنۡ شَآءَ فَلۡيُؤۡمِنۡ وَّمَنۡ شَآءَ فَلۡيَكۡفُرۡ ۙاِنَّاۤ اَعۡتَدۡنَا لِلظّٰلِمِيۡنَ نَارًا ۙ اَحَاطَ بِهِمۡ سُرَادِقُهَا ؕ وَاِنۡ يَّسۡتَغِيۡثُوۡا يُغَاثُوۡا بِمَآءٍ كَالۡمُهۡلِ يَشۡوِى الۡوُجُوۡهَؕ بِئۡسَ الشَّرَابُ وَسَآءَتۡ مُرۡتَفَقًا ﴿18:29
(18:29) And proclaim: “This is the Truth from your Lord. Now let him who will, believe; and let him who will, disbelieve. We have prepared a Fire for the wrong-doers whose billowing folds encompass them. If they ask for water, they will be served with a drink like dregs of oil that will scald their faces. How dreadful a drink, and how evil an abode!
اۤ اِكۡرَاهَ فِى الدِّيۡنِۙ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشۡدُ مِنَ الۡغَىِّۚ فَمَنۡ يَّكۡفُرۡ بِالطَّاغُوۡتِ وَيُؤۡمِنۡۢ بِاللّٰهِ فَقَدِ اسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِالۡعُرۡوَةِ الۡوُثۡقٰىلَا انْفِصَامَ لَهَا ؕ وَاللّٰهُ سَمِيۡعٌ عَلِيۡمٌ ﴿2:256
(2:256) There is no compulsion in religion. The right way stands clearly distinguished from the wrong. Hence he who rejects evil and believes in Allah has indeed taken hold of the firm, unbreakable handle. And Allah (Whom he has held for support) is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.
Moreover, the Qur’an makes clear that it is not Allah’s intention to make the everybody Muslim or even believers.
وَلَوۡ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ لَجَـعَلَ النَّاسَ اُمَّةً وَّاحِدَةً وَّلَا يَزَالُوۡنَ مُخۡتَلِفِيۡنَۙ ﴿11:118
(11:118) Had your Lord so willed, He would surely have made mankind one community. But they will not cease to differ among themselves.
وَمَا كَانَ النَّاسُ اِلَّاۤ اُمَّةً وَّاحِدَةً فَاخۡتَلَفُوۡا ؕ وَلَوۡلَا كَلِمَةٌ سَبَقَتۡ مِنۡ رَّبِّكَ لَـقُضِىَ بَيۡنَهُمۡ فِيۡمَا فِيۡهِ يَخۡتَلِفُوۡنَ ﴿10:19
(10:19) Once all people were but a single community; then they disagreed. Had it not been that your Lord had already so ordained, a decisive judgement would have been made regarding their disagreements.
وَلَوۡ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ لَجَـعَلَكُمۡ اُمَّةً وَّاحِدَةً وَّلٰـكِنۡ يُّضِلُّ مَنۡ يَّشَآءُ وَيَهۡدِىۡ مَنۡ يَّشَآءُ ؕ وَلَـتُسۡـئَلُنَّ عَمَّا كُنۡتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُوۡنَ ﴿16:93
(16:93) Had Allah so willed, He would have made you all one single community. However, He lets go astray whomsoever He wills and shows the Right Way to whomsoever He wills. Surely you shall be called to account regarding what you were doing.
مَنۡ يُّضۡلِلِ اللّٰهُ فَلَا هَادِىَ لَهٗ ؕ وَ يَذَرُهُمۡ فِىۡ طُغۡيَانِهِمۡ يَعۡمَهُوۡنَ ﴿7:186
(7:186) For those whom Allah lets go astray, there is no guide; and He leaves them in their transgression to stumble blindly.
There are many, many ayaat in the Qur’an which repeat the idea that guidance is with Allah, so that it is not possible to list them all. For example, (4:88 4:143 6:39 7:178 13:33 17:97 18:17 39:36 40:33 42:44 42:46).
In fact, Allah explains that it doesn’t matter what proofs or evidence you present to them, people who do not want to be convinced will not be convinced.
لَيۡسَ اللّٰهُ بِكَافٍ عَبۡدَهٗ ؕ وَيُخَوِّفُوۡنَكَ بِالَّذِيۡنَ مِنۡ دُوۡنِهٖ ؕ وَمَنۡ يُّضۡلِلِ اللّٰهُ فَمَا لَهٗ مِنۡ هَادٍ ۚ ﴿39:36
وَلَوۡ اَنَّـنَا نَزَّلۡنَاۤ اِلَيۡهِمُ الۡمَلٰٓـئِكَةَ وَكَلَّمَهُمُ الۡمَوۡتٰى وَ حَشَرۡنَا عَلَيۡهِمۡ كُلَّ شَىۡءٍ قُبُلًا مَّا كَانُوۡا لِيُؤۡمِنُوۡۤا اِلَّاۤ اَنۡ يَّشَآءَ اللّٰهُ وَلٰـكِنَّ اَكۡثَرَهُمۡ يَجۡهَلُوۡنَ ﴿6:111
(6:111) Even if We had sent angels down to them and the dead had spoken to them, and even if We had assembled before them all the things, face to face, they would still not believe unless it be Allah’s will that they believe. Most of them are ignorant.
And in deed, Allah does not need their worship:
وَقَالَ مُوۡسٰٓى اِنۡ تَكۡفُرُوۡۤا اَنۡـتُمۡ وَمَنۡ فِى الۡاَرۡضِ جَمِيۡعًا ۙ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَـغَنِىٌّ حَمِيۡدٌ ﴿14:8
(14:8) Moses said: “Were you to disbelieve – you and all those who live on earth – Allah is still Self-Sufficient, Innately Praiseworthy.”
وَاَنۡزَلۡنَاۤ اِلَيۡكَ الۡكِتٰبَ بِالۡحَـقِّ مُصَدِّقًا لِّمَا بَيۡنَ يَدَيۡهِ مِنَ الۡكِتٰبِ وَمُهَيۡمِنًا عَلَيۡهِ فَاحۡكُمۡ بَيۡنَهُمۡ بِمَاۤ اَنۡزَلَ اللّٰهُ وَلَا تَتَّبِعۡ اَهۡوَآءَهُمۡ عَمَّا جَآءَكَ مِنَ الۡحَـقِّؕ لِكُلٍّ جَعَلۡنَا مِنۡكُمۡ شِرۡعَةً وَّمِنۡهَاجًا ؕ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ اللّٰهُ لَجَـعَلَـكُمۡ اُمَّةً وَّاحِدَةً وَّلٰـكِنۡ لِّيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ فِىۡ مَاۤ اٰتٰٮكُمۡ فَاسۡتَبِقُوا الۡخَـيۡـرٰتِؕ اِلَى اللّٰهِ مَرۡجِعُكُمۡ جَمِيۡعًا فَيُنَبِّئُكُمۡ بِمَا كُنۡتُمۡ فِيۡهِ تَخۡتَلِفُوۡنَۙ ﴿5:48
(5:48) Then We revealed the Book to you (O Muhammad!) with truth, confirming whatever of the Book was revealed before, and protecting and guarding over it. Judge, then, in the affairs of men in accordance with the law that Allah has revealed, and do not follow their desires in disregard of the truth which has come to you. For each of you We have appointed a law and a way of life. And had Allah so willed, He would surely have made you one single community; instead, (He gave each of you a law and a way of life) in order to test you by what He gave you. Vie, then, one with another in good works. Unto Allah is the return of all of you; and He will then make you understand the truth concerning the matters on which you disagreed.
This last ayat, is very significant because it clearly shows that Allah has always intended the continuation of different communities of belief in the world, and he directs our energies away from disputation with other communities of belief towards competing with them in the doing of good deeds.
In fact, there is also a deep wisdom in the way in which there is no definitive proof. A wisdom that is bound up in what we believe about the purpose of life. Allah tells us that he created life and death to test which of us are best in deeds.
تَبٰرَكَ الَّذِىۡ بِيَدِهِ الۡمُلۡكُ وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَىۡءٍ قَدِيۡرُۙ ﴿67:1﴾ اۨلَّذِىۡ خَلَقَ الۡمَوۡتَ وَالۡحَيٰوةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ اَيُّكُمۡ اَحۡسَنُ عَمَلًا ؕ وَهُوَ الۡعَزِيۡزُ الۡغَفُوۡرُۙ ﴿67:2
(67:1) Blessed is He in whose hand is the dominion of the universe, and Who has power over everything; (67:2) Who created death and life that He might try you as to which of you is better in deed. He is the Most Mighty, the Most Forgiving.
If there was definitive proof about the existence of God, such that it could not be denied by anybody, then there could be no test. It would be the day of Judgement already. Everybody would submit. Everybody would believe. Allah tells us this in Surah Taha.
اِنَّنِىۡۤ اَنَا اللّٰهُ لَاۤ اِلٰهَ اِلَّاۤ اَنَا فَاعۡبُدۡنِىۡ ۙ وَاَقِمِ الصَّلٰوةَ لِذِكۡرِىۡ ﴿20:14﴾ اِنَّ السَّاعَةَ اٰتِيَـةٌ اَكَادُ اُخۡفِيۡهَا لِتُجۡزٰى كُلُّ نَفۡسٍۢ بِمَا تَسۡعٰى ﴿20:15
(20:14) Verily I am Allah. There is no god beside Me. So serve Me and establish prayers to remember Me. (20:15) The Hour (of resurrection and judgement) is coming. I have almost hidden it so that everyone may be recompensed in accordance with his effort.
Believers who are convinced of their own belief, should not be disturbed by the false beliefs of others.
وَلَوۡلَا فَضۡلُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيۡكَ وَرَحۡمَتُهٗ لَهَمَّتۡ طَّآئِفَةٌ مِّنۡهُمۡ اَنۡ يُّضِلُّوۡكَ ؕ وَمَا يُضِلُّوۡنَ اِلَّاۤ اَنۡفُسَهُمۡ وَمَا يَضُرُّوۡنَكَ مِنۡ شَىۡءٍ ؕ وَاَنۡزَلَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيۡكَ الۡكِتٰبَ وَالۡحِكۡمَةَ وَعَلَّمَكَ مَا لَمۡ تَكُنۡ تَعۡلَمُؕ وَكَانَ فَضۡلُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيۡكَ عَظِيۡمًا ﴿4:113
(4:113) (O Messenger!) But for Allah’s favour and mercy upon you, a party of them had resolved to mislead you,yet they only misled them selves, and could not have harmed you in any way. Allah revealed to you the Book and wisdom, and He taught you what you knew not. Great indeed has been Allah’s favour upon you.
(39:36) (O Prophet), does Allah not suffice for His servant? They keep trying to frighten you with others apart from Him, although he whom Allah lets go astray, none can guide him to the right way.
However, all humans desire proof, even when they do believe – even prophet Ibrahim asked for proof of the resurrection according to the Qur’an (2:260). So in the next parts of this topic, I hope to talk insha’allah about the types of proofs given by God, how we can have secure faith inside ourselves, and about the nature and origins of belief and disbelief. I also want to make explicit the impact of modernity so that we can better understand the forces which are driving the debates we hear all around us.
