December 2004: Page 1, 2, 3, 4

Submitters Perspective

Page 3

No Blind Faith

Cont’d from page 2

We have committed to Hell multitudes of jinns and humans. They have minds with which they do not understand, eyes with which they do not see, and ears with which they do not hear. They are like animals; no, they are far worse—they are totally unaware. (7:179)

God restricts those who do not use their minds from the fold of the faithful:

“No soul can believe except in accordance with God’s will. For He places a curse upon those who refuse to understand.” (10:100)

Prophet Moses asked to see God to reinforce his faith even though he spoke to God:

When Moses came at our appointed time, and his Lord spoke with him, he said, “My Lord, let me look and see you.” He said, “You cannot see Me. Look at the mountain; if it stays in its place, then you can see Me.” Then, his Lord manifested Himself to the mountain, and this caused it crumble. Moses fell unconscious. When he came to, he said, “Be You glorified. I repent to You, and I am the most convinced believer. (7:143)

Prophet Abraham was a convinced believer of God, a monotheist submitter. Yet he demanded a proof from God to reinforce his faith:

Abraham said, “My Lord, show me how You revive the dead.” He said, “Do you not believe?“ He said, “Yes, but I wish to reassure my heart.” He said, “Take four birds,study their makes, place a piece of each bird on top of a hill, then call them to you. They will come to you in a hurry. You should know that God is Almighty, Most Wise. (2:260)

The Quran advises us in the way we should use our mental faculty:

You shall not accept any information, unless you verify it for yourself. I have given you the hearing, the eyesight, and the brain, and you are responsible for using them. (17:36)

The above verse leads us to comprehend that true believers use their mind and verify information and choose the best path for them. These are the real intelligent people whose faiths are strengthened through verification process and they are the guided ones:

As for those who discard the worship of all idols, and devote themselves totally to God alone, they have deserved happiness.

Give good news to My servants. They are the ones who examine all words, then follow the best. These are the one whom God has guided; these are the ones who posses intelligence. (39:17-18)

People grow up with blind faith when they do not think. They just follow their parents, their imams or mullahs without understanding. They utter certain words as inherited from them. Their faith is delivered by lip service, not from the heart. However, God is going to show us what was truly in our mind on the Day of Judgment:

God thus put you to the test to bring out your true conviction and to test to bring out what is in your heart, and God is fully aware of your innermost thought. (3:154)

The Quran teaches us to take lessons from life (3:13; 30:21,37; 39:42,52), from nature (16:11, 13.66; 24:44; 26:7,8; 29:44; 13:4; 16:12; 20:54) and from the past (10:98; 11:103; 12:7; 14:5; 20:128).

Blind faith does not reside in the heart of Islam.

God be glorified,

Irtaza

Psalm 145:1-5

I will extol You, my God, O King;
And I will bless Your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless You,
And I will praise Your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And His greatness is unsearchable.
One generation shall praise Your works to another; And shall declare Your mighty acts.
I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty; And on Your wondrous works.