The Articles of Faith

[Kay]

Hello all.

I have not reverted yet but I am studying Islam and believe that I am close.

I did a quick search to see if this question might have been addressed, but I didn't see anything recent, so excuse me if this has been discussed before.

I am having some trouble with the issue of faith in something that I either can't see, or can't "feel" inside of me.
I do believe there is only one God, and I do believe in his angels. I believe in the prophet, though he is a new person to me and I'm still learning about him. I have only read a small portion of the quran so far but I don't see that I would have a problem believing what God says.
Somehow though, when I get to the belief about judgement day and the afterlife, I'm getting stuck.
I realize, in some way, that if I believe in God and have faith in Him, then whether I can feel a subject or thought to be believable or not, I should believe it based on the fact that God would never mislead us and He wants the best for us.
I suppose in a way that it's like believing something a friend might tell you even though you haven't experienced it firsthand for yourself.

Could anyone address this issue? I'm not even exactly sure what it is that I'm asking, except perhaps how you handle the issue of faith in things you can't know.

Thank you for your time and may God bless you all.

[Muslimsister]

Welcome to the forum, Kay!

Hmm.... I don't think the belief in afterlife has to be quite so unbelievable as it seems. There are many scientific things we humans don't know about the world and all. Or think for example 1000 years ago if one would have said we were going to have airplanes on day or something...

Also, science is not able to fully explain to us the beginning of the world etc. All are just theories men believe in because they trust scientists to know about it more. Well, there is no better scientist than Allah/God, who creates and sustains everything at all times, and we should all trust in His Knowledge

Just some thoughts that came to my mind now, not sure if it will help...

Regards,

Umm Abderrahman

[acef_is]

I have only read a small portion of the quran so far but I don't see that I would have a problem believing what God says.


May peace be on you. Good luck sis. You have all our best wishes.
I think the above statement of yours should have solved the problem. I would suggest you to get a software on Quran, preferably Alim 6. You can get it here.... (http://www.sunnitorrents.com/viewtopic.php?t=768)
In the software you can check the Quran according to the theme. Look in the list for Judgement day or Afterlife Ayahs and believe in them.
-------
You go to a doctor. He has given a good portion of his life to this profession. After the check up he suggest's you medications which you believe will heal your problem as he has more knowledge on this subject than you. So you have faith in him and the certificates hanging on the wall behind him. Similarly Messengers of Allah, when they speak about hereafter. They based their knowledge on visual proof. So who could be more accurate than them to tell you about it and you to believe in it.

Knowing more on the subject of Afterlife will be a good idea. Yes you are correct Allah will never mislead us. But He has given us certain amount of free will. To test us. I believe it surely is His mercy that you are looking in Islam as your religion as opposed to people who look for truth in others.

May Allah guide you & us till the end. Ameen

Anwar Al-Awlaki - The Hereafter: From Death to the Afterlife (http://www.sunnitorrents.com/viewtopic.php?t=1824)

[Kareem]

welcome to the forums and peace be upon those who follow guidance,

i kind of know how you feel. it's easy to say we believe in Gods word but we may find ourself having problems with things that seem 'incredible' from a humans perspective. but when we put it in perspective it doesnt seem all that hard to believe. if you believe in God and the fact that He has created everything we see completele with its patterns and systems (nature), now think for a second what this really means, look at everything around you, look at yourself in the mirror, look towards the sky, everything is created by The Creator. is it then very hard to believe that He has created some things that we have not seen, that He kept hidden from us. things that are not like this life here on earth. If we believe that He has created us once, is it then hard to believe that He will raise us up once again.

man is by nature curious and we want to see and understand, but it was not Gods will to give of knowledge of the unseen, in this is a test. are we going to be arrogant and reject everything our feeble minds can not grasp. or do we surrender to God, affirm what He says without delving into the 'how.'

[Kay]

Umm Abderrahman, thanks so much for your for your reply. That airplane example was really nice, and of course there's plenty of science around (known and unknown) that I have no idea about. That puts a different perspective on it for sure.

acef_is, thank you as well for your reply and your best wishes.
I will check out that link that you listed. It sounds like it would be very useful and I'm thankful that such a resourse exists.
Also, your example about the doctor was nice as well. I guess there is always another way to look at a situation.

Kareem, Thanks for your reply. I am *such* a curious one, so I understand when you say that man is by nature curious! Yes, I love to understand how things works. I guess that is the gist of faith, not having to know how everything works, but trusting and surrendering to God's knowledge and will.


I guess after looking to myself for my whole life to get the answers I needed for things, it's taking time to adjust to letting go and knowing that God has my best interest and everyone's best interests in mind, and that if I trust in him and pray, that he will guide me to any answers that I need.
Thanks again to you all.
=)

[prashant_kumar]

‘believing in something a friend might tell me even though I haven’t experience’

If I want to name the above mentioned principle or source of our knowledge in one word I will select the word ‘witness’. The terms ‘authority’ and ‘reports’ are also used for it.

Issue 1: To identify the major means of our knowledge and their characteristics.

Issue 2: To identify the limits or radius of the sphere of our knowledge with ‘witness’ as a source.

Issue 3: Impact of denial of ‘witness’ as a source of knowledge in our practical life.

Issue 4: To define the criteria to judge the validity of a source of knowledge.

Issue 5: Validity of ‘witness’ as a source of knowledge.

The philosophers of the world always tried to understand the problems of our knowledge and to find out the solutions on the basis of a concrete foundation. They divided themselves into two major categories: the rationalist and the empiricists. Some, like Hume, has gone as fur as skepticism, some, like Kant, tried to have a synthesis. Some even revolted against all the complicacies and returned to common sense.

What I believe:
1. Knowledge in its ultimate nature is completely subjective.
2. Our knowledge situation is dependent on the structure of our senses and intellect, and on the structure of our psyche.
3. Our knowledge of objects is on the basis of vivacity and the repetition of our sense perceptions.
4. Our knowledge of the objective existence of the objects is by the witness of other minds.
5. Other things, like existence of other minds, existence of matter, law of causation and law of induction etc. are all nothing but inference.
6. The validity of such inference is nothing more than their pragmatic value as William James said.

Why I have decided to be a Muslim:
1. I applied the very same rules that I followed when I was living a life of non-Muslim and would have continued with that had I not converted.
2. Considering the desires in my soul. I am after a meaning, a purpose for my life.
3. Comparing all the prominent philosophies and religions in relation to satisfying my desires.
4. Considering the basic position and vocation of man proposed by them; considering which one provides the highest honor; considering which one has the potential to logically spring out all the ethical norms that mankind has a kind of consensus about their being good.
5. The Quran and the Prophet satisfied me from psychological (my desires), intellectual (logical) and historical (integrity of the Quran and the vivacity of the Prophet’s life) point of view.

In all cases of ordinary witness - in the field of our daily social, legal life, of our scientific observations, of journalism, educational institutions - it is believed that every individual has got the potentials to have the same experience of which the other(s) make an witness. For example: One may go to America and see whether America really exists, one may have the proper education and experiment himself for the veracity of the Maxwell’s equations etc. But the Prophet’s experience has got a singular nature. The extra-ordinary character of the Prophet, specially when truthfulness, sound health and mind are concerned, and the extra ordinary syntax of the Quran - both from language, meaning, strength in appeal, coherence - may qualify for the veracity of the singular witness.

This, what I have said above, will not give you any immediate and direct solutions to your problem. It is for your consideration in order to make farther investigations by yourself. The entire thing is poised on the acceptance of truthfulness of the Quran and the Prophet. Look at your mind. Read the Quran. Pray to God. What else can I say, sister?

[acef_is]

I have not reverted yet but I am studying Islam


I will check out that link that you listed. It sounds like it would be very useful and I'm thankful that such a resourse exists.

I'm glad I could inform you of something new. :D In my opinion its the best software around. Everything in one place. I'm sure it will help make your research a bit easy.

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[if0rg0t]

Somehow though, when I get to the belief about judgement day and the afterlife, I'm getting stuck.


The belief in the afterlife and judgment day can be viewed as something which explains a lot of things. Without the concept of an afterlife and judgement, this world, God's rules, and the various 'injustices' that occur in this life cannot be explained. Quite simply, without the concept of the afterlife Islam just doesn't make sense.

First of all, if one can believe in a God which has created the entire universe from a single command, and sustains everything .. then believing in an afterlife is trivial. This world will be destroyed, and all of us will be resurrected by just another command.

As we all know, this world is not perfect. Allah does not provide many guarantees on the life in this world. For example, Allah does not guarantee that the more pious you are, the fewer difficulties in this world would one experience. In fact, Allah says that he wil test his slaves. The most nearest and dearest to Allah, His slave and messenger Muhammad (SAW) was put thru many trials .. as well as Allah's other messengers. Allah has created Paradise for his believers to compensate them for their works in this life. As a side note ... our works and deeds are so flawed and miniscule compared to the right Allah has over us, that we deserved to be punished. However, Allah is so mercifull and benevolent that he will accept our lowly deeds and acts of worship insha'Allah.

Hence, without the concept of an afterlife, and reward and punishment .. the life in this world does not make sense. The creator of this world would not be just and merciful in the sense that we believe Him to be. It is only reasonable to assume that there is another life after this life, in which people will be compensated for their faith and deeds. After all, how can the pious upright individual have the same ending as a corrupt tyrant? If they are both to be burried in the soil and to remain there forever .. that would certainly be unfair to the individual who followed the commandments of his Lord.

As with science being able to prove the existence of Allah, I believe that it is impossible. Even if it were proved one day, then faith after the fact that it is proven would be useless. This is because Allah said in his Quran:

"This is the Book; in it is guidance sure, without doubt, to those who fear Allah; Who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them;" (Al-Baqara 2-3)

The key part of the above verse is "Who believe in the Unseen". This is the real faith. That is why, it is said that iman will not be accepted after one sees the Angel of Death. Because at that point, the unseen will be unveiled to that person, and belief will no longer be belief upon the Unseen. Faith will also not be accepted of the person who beleives upon the comming of the End of the World .. as the signs of Allah would be manifested in entireity. So, if science ever does *prove* that Allah exists (prove in the sense that it is an observable phenomenon with no possibility of doubt), then what would the point of faith? It would no longer be faith in the unseen .. it would be faith after having observed the fact. The signs in nature that Allah has immersed us in are just that, SIGNS. They are not absolute proofs of Allah, but are merely indications to the person who reflects and is true to his soul. That is why this life is called a test .. if there were no avenues thru which we could falter it would not be called a test. If Allah appeared to everyone, then it would not be a test ... as there would be no other option than to submit - is there anyone who denies the existence of the sun when it is shining bright in his face?

[sisterfromthelandofpunt]

Asalaam Alaikum all

Sister kay hope you're well just want you to visit these two sites http://www.themodernreligion.com/index2.html hope the article titled 'life after death' helps you ..its an amazing site you could read the other articles on there too.I was told that site was made by a teenage girl who embraced islam..May Allah reward her greatly ameen.

Also if you have converted to Islam or you're thinking about converting..heres a beautiful superb site id recommend to any new muslim or those intending to become muslims www.iprofess.com its so comprehensive the sections 'converting to Islam' and 'spirtuality' might be a good starting point. May Allah reward the brothers and sisters behind it ameen :)

Sister Kay you believe in God alhamdullilah this is indeed wonderful we should thank God we are not like the other lost souls who equate God with the toothfairy or santa claus...many people have a see-it-to-believe-it attitude and this is indeed harmful to only ourselves.

When we die Kay you should think about it this way..we dont become extinct ..we don't go into nothingness but we move on to the next stage and if we have lived honourably on earth believed in God did good things not only for ourselves but for others as well then we have triumphed...lastly but more importantly remember God's closer to you than your jugular vein so ask Him to make things more clearer to you and make you firm on the deen :) May Allah answer all your prayers ameen. :)

thanks to all the brothers and sisters who have contributed to this thread Allah reward you all ameen...peaceout

[Kay]

Prashant_kumar - thank you for taking the time to write all that out. I still haven't quite managed to understand all that you said, but I think I have the general idea. Every day I am praying to God to help me in learning Islam.

Acef_is - thanks again for the link. I'm in the process of trying to download it now. It's the first time I've tried doing anything with torrents, so it's a bit of a learning process for sure. What strange words are used with torrents! =)

if0rg0t - thank you for sharing your thoughts. What you said makes much sense. I have a question for you. What of those who say they can communicate with the Angels? I don't mean the Angel of death, but say the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel). In your opinion, would that invalidate faith as well?

Sisterfromthelandofpunt - thank you for those links. I have bookmarked the first one and it looks good. I will shortly go back to check out the site in more detail. I already have the second site bookmarked from searching around for some things online, but have not had time to look at everything on the site. It has so much information!
And thanks for your thoughts. Your reply was very kind and uplifting.

I still continue to study Islam and God willing I will say shahadah soon. And I'm so excited about it and I know it will be one of the best decisions I could ever make in this life.
Thanks again to all who have replied.

[if0rg0t]

if0rg0t - thank you for sharing your thoughts. What you said makes much sense. I have a question for you. What of those who say they can communicate with the Angels? I don't mean the Angel of death, but say the Angel Jibreel (Gabriel). In your opinion, would that invalidate faith as well?


On a side note, just because someone says they can communicate with angels doesn't necessarily mean that they do. Heck, George W. Bush says that god told him to invade Afghanistan/Iraq/etc ...

I don't know the details of exactly what you have to see in order for faith to be invalidated. However, there is a 'hidden' system of Allah - which includes the Angels, etc ... If one were to view these things in their true form (as we will see the Angel of Death before dying) when one is not a believer, then iman after that would not be worth anything (.. faith is faith upon the unseen). Someone may speculate about these hidden things, or conjure up images, or have dreams ... but none of these amount to definite.

Some saints in our tradition have been known to have been given glimpses into this 'hidden' system by Allah. However, they already had faith and thus it did not close the doors of faith on them. Regardless, this discussion isn't particularly important - it seems more of a hypothetical case. The point which Allah is emphasizing in "... Who believe in the Unseen ..." is exactly that - we should have belief in Allah without seeing Him or His hidden system directly. He has created an uncountable number of signs which point straight to Him, has given us a mind which can reflect upon these signs and lead us to the Truth, and has sent truthfull Messengers who remind us from time to time of our Creator and purpose in this life when we have soiled our souls and thinking to the extent that we have forgotten to reflect in a sincere way upon His multitude of signs ...

[Kay]

if0rg0t - thanks for your reply. Yes, I suppose you're right, just because someone says they see something doesn't make it so. It is nice enough to see signs. It would be nice to see Angels though wouldn't it? =)

[NoNameAtAll]

asalaam alaykum Kay,

I am a fairly new Muslim, 2 months now. I too read and investigated for over a year. I was a Christian for over 40 yrs and just got plain confused over doctrinal issues. I was an ordained minister and 3 yrs through a degree in biblical studies and the more I learned, the more confused I got. I learned about Islam as a last ditch effort at religion. The more I prayed to Jesus the more lost I felt - there was NO guidance for me.

I studied Islam after George Bush invited Muslims into the White House during Ramadan 2004. The more I read, the more it made sense to me. The more it made sense - the more I believed. The more I believed - the more faith I had in Islam.

I said Shahaddah in Feb 2006. Without fail (ever) when I am waivering and doubting - I wash my hands, feet and face - bury my face on the floor and cry out to Allah for guidance and EVERY TIME He leads me to a ayat (verse) in the Quran or an article of Tazkiyah (purification) that answers me EXACTLY. I cannot over-emphasize this - 100% of the time Allah answers me when I call out to Him.

I feel that as long as we cling to an error (Christianity) we are prevented from full faith in Islam. Once we cut those strings and embrace Islam, Allah gives us tawfeeq (ability) towards greater iman (faith). The more we accept, the more tawfeeq we are given.

I am no scholar so I dont propose to have all the anwers, but Allah gives me answers as I need them. If you need any help on issues stemming from Christianity please let me know. I can be of particular help to you in this area, because I have been there - over and over again, lol (I waivered back and forth for the last 6 months of my study time). I was anxious, could not sleep, eat or anything else. I feel that this was Allah telling me that I prayed for guidance and I was going to get it whether I wanted it or not. Once I asked HIM to guide me, He was going to have me one way or another. Once I gave in and embraced Islam - I have been peaceful, confident and convinced in the guidance that I received.

O Allah, increase us all in iman (faith), confidence and understanding - for verily you have power over all things, ameen.

[NoNameAtAll]

Kay,

You may also read this article on Life After Death, HERE (http://www.al-islamforall.org/litre/Englitre/lafterd.htm).

It seems pretty reasonable to me.

[sisterfromthelandofpunt]

Sisterfromthelandofpunt - thank you for those links. I have bookmarked the first one and it looks good. I will shortly go back to check out the site in more detail. I already have the second site bookmarked from searching around for some things online, but have not had time to look at everything on the site. It has so much information!
And thanks for your thoughts. Your reply was very kind and uplifting.

Sister Kay my pleasure you're most welcome. :)

Brother Noname..welcome to this forum and thanks for sharing with us your story. All praise to Allah for guiding you and many others.The early christians never saw Jesus as God in many places in the bible they apparently thought he was a Prophet...and we know too that he and his disciplines worshipped in the synagogue something they couldnt do if it was indeed true that people worshipped him.

[Kay]

NoNameAtAll - congratulations, I am happy to hear of your reversion/conversion.
Though I believed in God before this, I was never that heavy into the bible and I never actually went to church except for a brief period in my youth. I don't think I'll really have any issues in regards to letting go of anything I may have learned in the past regarding Christianity. The only real issue for me is just the large amount of stuff in general to learn and accept. It is alot to learn, especially having grown up in the West with a completely different set of values, even if they are good ones. We do so much in life that we don't even think about, we do it strictly because it's what we were taught by family or society and we don't bother to question it. It's difficult at times to step back and look at something with a completely new set of eyes.
About the praying to God - I find it so amazing sometimes, when I have a question or a doubt about something, God finds a way to show me something to make me understand. It's happened several times and honestly it makes me feel bad to doubt things at times. Thankfully God is patient and understands.
Thank you for your offer to help with any issues stemming from Christianity. I am sure there are many who could use your guidance.
And thanks for the link, that was a nice article. The only problem I've had with articles regarding life after death, is that they generally state that those people who don't believe in it can't possibly live an upright and moral life, which I would disagree with. Though I have for many years believed in reincarnation, it didn't stop me from being good and moral simply because I knew it was the right thing to do. I'm not saying that every single one of my deeds and actions were completely good and moral, but then, how many on this earth can claim that about everything they do, whether they're Christian, Muslim, Jewish or other? The assumption that someone can't be good without believing in judgement day bothers me. I just find it to be a very limited view about people and behaviour.

[Sheema]

The assumption that someone can't be good without believing in judgement day bothers me. I just find it to be a very limited view about people and behaviour.

Just a thought that came to mind when i was reading your post. I pray that it is of benefit. (These are just my thoughts btw.. someone please correct me if im wrong)

I think it depends on what you mean by 'good' coz as we all know there are non- muslims out there that live 'good' lives in the sense that they are morally upright but the one thing that lacks is a belief in La ilaha illallah Muhammad ur rasulAllah and at the end of the day thats what makes all the difference in terms of reward in the hereafter. Its like the example a scholar gave... if you eat pork, its still going to give you sustainence to grow, but the problem is that the sustainence was not that which Allah permitted you to have. Or if you look at non muslims that lead very spiritual lives (Buddist monks) they will be at a certain level of spirituality or may do amazing things because of it.. but the method of attaining this spirituality was not that which Allah has ordered for us.

A lot of the time its about believeing and doing something or refraining from something for the pure reason that this is what our Creator has ordered us.

I apologise if I have said anything incorrect.

Please do keep us updated on how its going. I pray that you find the guidance that you seek.

[Kareem]

NoNameAtAll - congratulations, I am happy to hear of your reversion/conversion.
Though I believed in God before this, I was never that heavy into the bible and I never actually went to church except for a brief period in my youth. I don't think I'll really have any issues in regards to letting go of anything I may have learned in the past regarding Christianity. The only real issue for me is just the large amount of stuff in general to learn and accept. It is alot to learn, especially having grown up in the West with a completely different set of values, even if they are good ones. We do so much in life that we don't even think about, we do it strictly because it's what we were taught by family or society and we don't bother to question it. It's difficult at times to step back and look at something with a completely new set of eyes.
About the praying to God - I find it so amazing sometimes, when I have a question or a doubt about something, God finds a way to show me something to make me understand. It's happened several times and honestly it makes me feel bad to doubt things at times. Thankfully God is patient and understands.
Thank you for your offer to help with any issues stemming from Christianity. I am sure there are many who could use your guidance.
And thanks for the link, that was a nice article. The only problem I've had with articles regarding life after death, is that they generally state that those people who don't believe in it can't possibly live an upright and moral life, which I would disagree with. Though I have for many years believed in reincarnation, it didn't stop me from being good and moral simply because I knew it was the right thing to do. I'm not saying that every single one of my deeds and actions were completely good and moral, but then, how many on this earth can claim that about everything they do, whether they're Christian, Muslim, Jewish or other? The assumption that someone can't be good without believing in judgement day bothers me. I just find it to be a very limited view about people and behaviour.
people could leade a moral life and not belief. but good works are only beneficial if it is accompanied by belief. the fact thay a disbeliever may have tons of good works pales in comparison to their disbelief.

[sisterfromthelandofpunt]

ofcourse there are nonmuslims who lead moral lives etc..and muslims who dont..but even if someone does good things...they may also have a spiritual vaccum

[always-islam]

Assalamu Alaikom

I'm not sure if this would be of any use,but i will post it.

If there would not be one rabb (God),what meaning would life have,living from one day to another,would this make sense?
Being born in a rich family,yeah you would love to live an thousand years,but what have you done for it to get this rich,vice-versa with a poor family in Africa,DID THEY DO ANYTHING WRONG!
NO!
But what if there would be a rabb (God), would you not live from one day to the other one for doing good deeds?
And if you would enter the Paradise(Djannah),would you deserve this.
YES,you would live a live that you deserve.

I hope this would help you,if you want some more of this,please tell me.

And to everyone out there,show this to people who doubt about Allah.