Lessons on Islamic Beliefs: Lessons 11 – 15

Realistic Conception of the World Islam is a realistic religion. The word “Islam” means submission. This indicates that the first condition of being a Muslim is to submit to the realities and truths. Islam rejects every kind of obduracy, stubbornness, prejudice, blind imitation, bias and selfishness, and regards all of them as contrary to realism and realistic approach to truth. From the point of view of Islam a man who seeks truth, but fails in his efforts may be excused, but the acceptance of truth by virtue of imitation or heredity by a man who is otherwise stubborn and arrogant has no value. A true Muslim, whether a male or a female, eagerly accepts truth wherever he or she may find it. As far as the acquisition of knowledge is concerned, a Muslim shows no bias. He may go even to the farthest corner of the world for acquiring knowledge.

Islam is a realistic religion. The word "Islam" means submission. This
indicates that the first condition of being a Muslim is to submit to the
realities and truths. Islam rejects every kind of obduracy, stubbornness,
prejudice, blind imitation, bias and selfishness, and regards all of them as
contrary to realism and realistic approach to truth. From the point of view of
Islam a man who seeks truth, but fails in his efforts may be excused, but the
acceptance of truth by virtue of imitation or heredity by a man who is otherwise
stubborn and arrogant has no value. A true Muslim, whether a male or a female,
eagerly accepts truth wherever he or she may find it. As far as the acquisition
of knowledge is concerned, a Muslim shows no bias. He may go even to the
farthest corner of the world for acquiring knowledge. His efforts to gain
knowledge and to find truth are not confined to any particular period of his
life nor to any territorial region. Nor does he insist to acquire knowledge from
any particular person. The Holy Prophet has said that to seek knowledge is the
duty of every Muslim, whether a man or a woman. He has also asked the Muslims to
receive it even from an idolater.

There is another saying of the Holy Prophet which exhorts the Muslims to seek it
even if they have to go to China for that purpose. He is also reported to have
said: "Continue to seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave". Superficial and
partial notions of the problems, blind imitation of the forefathers and
submission to the absurd hereditary traditions, being contrary to the spirit of
submission to truth, are censured by Islam and regarded as misleading.

Allah is Absolute Reality and Source of Life

Man is a realistic being. A new-born human child from the very first moments of
its life, while looking for its mother’s breast, seeks it as a reality.
Gradually the body and the mind of the infant develop to the extent that it can
distinguish between itself and other things. Though the new-born child’s contact
with other things is established through a series of its thoughts, it knows that
the reality of the things is distinct from that of the thoughts which it
entertains and uses as a medium only.

Integral Characteristics of the World

The realities which man can perceive through his senses and which we call the
world, have the following integral characteristics:

(i) Limitation

Everything perceptible, from the smallest particle to the biggest star has
spatial and temporal limitations. Nothing can exist outside a particular space
and a particular period of time.

Certain things occupy a bigger space and last longer while some others occupy a
smaller space and last comparatively for a shorter time. But in the final
analysis they are all limited to a particular portion of place and a particular
period of time.

(ii) Change

Everything is subject to a change and is indurable. Nothing perceptible in the
world is in a standstill state. It is either growing or decaying. A material and
perceptible being throughout the period of its existence passes through a
constant course of change as a part of its reality. It either gives something or
takes something or gives as well as takes. In other words, it either takes
something out of the reality of other things and adds it to its own reality or
gives something out of its reality or performs both the actions. In any case,
there is nothing that remains static. This characteristic also is common to all
things existing in this world.

(iii) Attachment

Another characteristic of the perceptible things is their attachment. We find
that they all are conditional. In other words the existence of each one of them
is attached to and , conditional on the existence of one or more other things.
None of them can exist if those other things do not exist. If we look deeply
into the reality of the material and perceptible things, we will find that many
‘ifs’ are attached to their existence. We do not find a single perceptible thing
which may be existing unconditionally and independently. The existence of
everything is conditional on the existence of something else, and the existence
of that something else in its turn is also conditional on the existence of
something else, and so on.

(iv) Dependence

The existence of all our perceptible things depends on the fulfilment of the
numerous conditions attached to it. The existence of each of these conditions
again depends on the fulfilment of a series of some other conditions. There is
no perceptible thing which may exist independently, i.e. in the absence of the
conditions on which its existence depends. Thus dependence pervades all existing
things.

(v) Relativeness

All perceptible things are relative as regards to their existence a well as to
their qualities. When we attribute to them greatness, power, beauty, antiquity
and even existence, we say so in comparison to other things. When we say, for
example, that the sun is very large, we mean that it is larger than the earth
and other planets of our solar system. Otherwise this very sun is smaller than
many other stars. Similarly when we say that such and such ship or such and such
animal is powerful, we compare it with man or something weaker than man. Even
the existence of a thing is comparative. Whenever we speak of any existence,
perfection, wisdom, beauty, power or grandeur, we take into consideration a
lower degree of that quality. We can always visualize a higher degree of it also
and then a further higher degree. Each quality as compared to its higher degree
is changed into its opposite. Existence becomes non-existence, perfection is
changed into defectiveness. Similarly wisdom, beauty, greatness and grandeur are
changed respectively into ignorance, ugliness and despicability.

The thinking power of man, the scope of which, contrary to that of the senses,
is not confined to the exterior features, but also penetrates what is behind the
screen of existence, tells us that existence is in no way confined to these
perceptible things which are limited, changing, relative and dependent.

The scenery of existence which we observe appears on the whole to be
self-existing and self-dependent. Hence there must be an everlasting,
unconditional and ever-present absolute and infinite truth behind it on which
everything must depend. Otherwise this scenery of existence could not stand so
firmly. In other words nothing would have existed at all.

The Holy Qur’an describes Allah as Self-existing and Self-dependent, and thus
reminds us that all existing things, being conditional and relative, are in need
of a Self-existing truth to support and sustain them. Allah is Self-dependent
because everything else depends on Him. He is Perfect, for everything else is
hollow from within and needs a Truth which may fill it with existence.

The Holy Qur’an describes the perceptible things as ‘signs’. In other words
everything in its turn is a sign of an Infinite Being and His knowledge, power
and will. From the viewpoint of the Holy Qur’an the world is like a book
composed by a wise and sagacious being, every line and every word of which is a
sign of the wisdom and sagacity of its author. From the point of view of the
Holy Qur’an, the more a man comes to know the reality of the things, the more he
gets acquainted with Divine wisdom, power and blessings.

From one angle every natural science is a branch of cosmology. From another
angle and from a deeper way of looking at things, it is a branch of the
knowledge (recognition) of Allah.

To elucidate the Qur’anic point of view in this respect we quote here just one
verse of the Holy Qur’an out of so many similar verses: "Surely in the creation
of the heavens and the alternation of night and day, the ships which sail on the
sea with (cargoes) beneficial to man, the water that Allah sends down from
heaven with which He revives the earth after it is dead and replenishes it with
all kinds of animal life, in the movement of the winds and in the clouds held
between the sky and the earth, there are signs for the people who have sense." (Surah
al-Baqarah, 2:164)

In this verse the Holy Qur’an invites the attention of the people to general
cosmology, to the ship-building industry, to tourism and its financial
advantages, to meteorology, to the

origin of winds and rain, to the movement of clouds, to biology and zoology. It
regards the pondering on the philosophy of these sciences as something leading
to the recognition of Allah.

Attributes of Allah

The Holy Qur’an says that Allah has all the attributes and characteristics of a
perfect being.

"He has the most beautiful names." (Surah al-Hashr, 59:24).

"His is the sublime similitude in the heavens and in the earth" (Surah ar-Rum,
30:27)

As such Allah is Living, Almighty, All-Knowing, Master of His Will, Merciful,
Guide, Creator, Wise, Forgiving and Just. There is no sublime quality which He
does not possess.

On the other hand He is not a body nor a compound. He is neither weak nor cruel.

The first group of the sublime attributes of Allah, denoting His perfection is
called His affirmative attributes and the second group of His attributes
denoting His freedom from every kind of defect and imperfection is called His
negative attributes. We both praise and glorify Allah. When we praise Him we
mention His affirmative attributes and when glorify Him, we say that He is free
from all that is not worthy of Him. In both the cases we affirm His Knowledge to
our own benefit and thus uplift ourselves.

Monotheism

Allah has no associate or partner. There is none like Him. It is basically
impossible that there should be anyone like Him, for in that case we shall have
two or more Gods instead of one. To be two, three or more is a characteristic of
the limited and relative things. Plurality has no meaning in regard to an
absolute and infinite being.

For example, we can have one child. We can also have two or more children.
Similarly we can have one friend. We can also have two or more friends. A friend
or a child is a limited being, and a limited being can have a like of him and
can be multiplicable. But an infinite being is not multiplicable at all. The
following example, though not adequate may be found useful for the purpose of
elucidating the point.

In respect of the dimensions of the material world, that is the world which we
can see and perceive, the scientists have two theories. Some of them maintain
that the dimensions of the world are limited. In other words this perceivable
world reaches a point where it ends. But some others are of the opinion that the
dimensions of the material world have no middle, no beginning and no end. If we
accept the theory that the material world is limited, a question arises as to
whether it is one world or more than one? But if we maintain that this world has
no limits, the question of the existence of another world becomes absurd.
Whatever we may presume to be another world, it will either be identical with
this world or a part of it.

This examples applies to the material world as well as the material beings which
are limited, conditional and created. The reality of none of them is absolute,
independent and self-existing. The material world, though limitless from the
viewpoint of its dimensions, is limited from the viewpoint of its reality. But
as its dimensions are limitless, we cannot presume the existence of another
world.

Almighty Allah has an infinite existence. He is an absolute reality, and He
pervades everything. No space or time is devoid of Him. He is closer to us than
our jugular vein. Hence it is impossible that He should have a like of Him. We
cannot even suppose the existence of another being like Him.

Furthermore, we see the signs of His wisdom and attention prevailing everywhere
and pervading everything. We observe that one single will and one single system
govern the entire world. That shows that our world is unicentred, not
multicentred.

Furthermore, had there been two or more Gods, evidently two or more wills would
have applied to everything and two or more realities having a different centre
would have existed in every existing thing. As a result everything would have
become two or more things. This being an absurd proposition, in fact nothing
would have existed at all. This is what the Holy Qur’an means when it says: "If
there were therein (in the Universe) Gods besides Allah, then surely both the
heavens and the earth had been discorded." (Surah al-Ambiya, 21:22)

Worship and Adoration

The acknowledgement of One Allah as the most perfect being, having the most
sublime attributes and free from every defect and deficiency, and the
recognition of His relation to the world consisting in His creatorship,
guardianship, munificence, compassion and mercy, create a reaction in us which
is called adoration and worship.

Worship is a kind of relationship which man establishes with his Creator. It
consists of man’s submission to Allah and extolling and thanking Him. It is a
relationship which man can establish with his Creator only. The establishment of
such a relationship with anyone else is neither conceivable nor permissible.

The acknowledgement of Allah as the only source of existence and the only Master
and Lord of everything makes it incumbent on us not to associate any creature
with Him in adoration. The Holy Qur’an insists that Allah alone should be
worshipped. There is no sin more deadly than associating anyone or anything else
with Him.

Now let us see what is worship and what kind of relationship is that which is
peculiar to Allah and which cannot be established with any other being.

Definition of Worship

To make the meaning of worship clear and in order to define it correctly, it is
necessary to mention two points as a prelude:

(i) Worship may consist either of words or of actions. The former kind consists
of a series of words and sentences which we recite, such as praising Allah, the
recitation of the Holy Qur’an or the recitation of the formulas normally recited
while offering prayers, and pronouncing ‘Labbayk’ during Hajj.

The worship which consists of actions is represented by such acts as standing,
bowing and prostration in prayers, circum-ambulation of the Holy Ka’bah, and
staying at Arafat and Mash’ar. Most of the acts of worship, such as prayers and
pilgrimage (Hajj) comprise words and actions both.

(ii) Human acts are of two kinds. Some acts have no remote purpose. They are not
performed as a symbol of something else, but they are performed for their own
natural effects. For example, a farmer carries out the functions connected with
farming in order to secure their natural results. He does not carry them out as
a symbol or to express any feelings. The same is the case with a tailor when he
is doing his tailoring. When we proceed to school, we have nothing in mind
except reaching there. With this act we do not intend to convey any other
purpose or meaning.

But there are acts which we perform as a symbol of a series of some other
objects or in order to express our feelings. We lower our head as a sign of
confirmation, we sit in the doorway as a sign of humility and bow to someone as
a sign of reverence.

Most of the human acts are of the first kind and only a few of the second.
Anyway, there are acts which are performed to express our feelings or to show
some other objectives. These acts are used in place of words to express an
intention.

Now keeping in mind the above two points, we may say that worship, whether it is
performed by means of words or acts is a meaningful deed. Man by means of his
devotion gives expression to a truth. Similarly by means of such acts as bowing,
prostration, circumambulation etc. he wants to convey what he says when he
pronounces devotionals and liturgy.

Spirit of Adoration and Worship

Through his worship, whether it is performed by means of words or acts, man
conveys certain things:

(i) He praises Allah by pronouncing His peculiar attributes having a sense of
absolute perfection, such as absolute knowledge, absolute power and absolute
will. Absolute perfection means that His knowledge, power and will are not
limited by or conditional on anything else and are a corollary of His total and
complete independence.

(ii) He glorifies Allah and declares Him free from every defect and deficiency
such as death, limitation, ignorance, helplessness, stinginess, cruelty etc.

(iii) He thanks Allah, considering Him to be the real source of everything good
and of all bounties, and believing that all favours are received from Him alone.
Others are only intermediaries appointed by Him.

(iv) He expresses total submission to Him and acknowledges that unconditional
obedience is due to Him. He, being the Absolute Master of all that exists, is
entitled to issue orders and we being slaves, it is our duty to obey Him.

(iv) In regard to His above attributes Allah has no associate or partner. None
other than Him is absolutely perfect and none other than Him is absolutely free
from every defect. None other than Him is the true source of all bounties and
none other than Him deserves to be thanked for all of them. None other than Him
deserves total submission and to be obeyed unconditionally. Every other
obedience like that of the Prophet, the Imam, the lawful Muslim ruler, the
parents and the teachers must culminate in His obedience and be subject to His
good pleasure to be lawful. That is the appropriate response which a man should
show to his Almighty Lord. Except in the case of Allah this kind of response is
neither applicable nor permissible.

Selected Chapter from; Man and Universe written by Shaheed Murtadha Mutahhari

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