Without witnessing the universe, human beings cannot reach personal conclusions. Only when one is to reach personal conclusions does that experience becomes “belief”. Belief is not merely knowledge; rather it is knowledge that is experiential. In other words, we may use scripture to get information but that information needs to be confirmed through our witnessing or observation of the universe. Actually, observing the universe is the first step and then you make use of the scripture to aid you in understanding your conclusion from your experiences.
The Quran talks about certain attitudes that we need to look into each one for ourselves to conclude our reality.
- Denier (Mushrikoon, Kafiroon and Munkiroon) – In order to deny something, one must be aware of it. If you do not know something, then you cannot deny.
- Ignorance (Jahaloon) – In order to ignore something, one must have knowledge of it. Being negligent is sign of ignorance, not denying.
- Confirmation (Muminoon) – In order to confirm something, one must have knowledge of it and approve it. If you do not know something, then you cannot confirm.
Analogy to understand the above: When a computer crashes, it gives you a pop up message saying: “Confirm”, “Ignore” or “Reject”. In all three cases, you have knowledge of the message and you chose an option.
In every attitude, knowledge is required.
How many of human beings know the truth and deny it? Perhaps 1%
How many of human beings know exactly what the truth is and confirm it? Perhaps 1%
We are neither denying but not fully confirming either. One can only confirm as much as they utilize their human qualities and realize their existence and thus acknowledge a One that gives existence.
Most of the people acknowledge that they are created and, therefore, there must be a Creator. They are believers as much as they are aware of the Qualities of this Creator and confirm them by observing their manifestations in the world and within themselves.
Hadith: It is narrated that a person was very mischievous and on his death bed he instructed his children to burn his body into ashes. Since he acknowledged his shortcomings (lies, tyranny, jealousy, anger…all uncontrolled behavior) and all his sins, he must definitely be pardoned.
- Sin is forgivable but denial is not forgivable.
- As long as you acknowledge the shortcoming as your mistakes.
Is forgetting denial?
No. Forgetting is not denial. Hence, it is pardonable.
There are only two obstacles preventing people to submit:
- A learning disability in understanding any text.
- A lack of seeking higher education pertaining to the meaning of one’s existence.
87:1 “Glorify the name of your Lord, the Most High.”
What are we glorifying?
- The art manifested in creation.
Do we have to see the artist?
- No. As long as I am communicating with the art, I realize that the Artist is not of the nature of the universe.
How can we glorify the Creator?
- Through observing the art manifested in the universe which makes us admire it and as a result of which we acknowledge that the Artist is not of the nature of this universe. That is why we extol the Creator by saying SubhanAllah (“the quality you are glorifying is unique to you. I cannot make comparison between you and your manifestations. I and the quality manifested here are from creation whereas you are not from creation and thus Absolute.”)
- The way that things come into existence demonstrates that they all are dependent on something else for their existence. Hence, only the One that gives them existence and manifests its qualities on them cannot be dependent on anything else, and, therefore, cannot be liken to anything of this universe.
This process of glorifying the Creator must come from observing creation. We cannot imagine anything individually existing. We understand something in creation with the rest of the universe. Everything here has a limit but the way they come into existence requires an unlimited source. “O Creator you must be Absolute”.
Knowledge vs. Belief
We cannot conclude about the Artist unless it presents its talent. The work is important to experience the Artist. Through my experience, I conclude the Artist and its qualities and that is “belief”.
The tools that we are given here are to experience the manifestations of the Creator. How much of our tools do we use here? In order to experience the manifestations of the Creator, in the new type of creation, the tools that are used here must definitely change in order to fit the conditions of that type of creation.
How to have faith in God?
Glorification is with us but it needs a process as described above. WitnessingConclusionGlorification
When you appreciate creation through experiencing the qualities, you get to know the Creator. The Quran is the only known scripture to challenge its reader to judge its claim by witnessing the universe. That is what “I bear witness means”, the result of my witnessing the universe and confirming the Speech.
Finally, I am a believer as much as my observation leads my heart to submit or towards satisfaction. (Satisfied heart= I have a Creator with these qualities.) Mostly, I may claim to confirm but deep down I am in negligence of my reality. WAKE UP!!! …to be continued.