By Faten Sabri
Allah the Almighty says what means,
“Do you not see that to God prostrates whoever is in the heavens [sky] and whoever is on the earth and the sun, the moon, the stars, the mountains, the trees, the moving creatures and many of the people? But upon many the punishment has been justified. And he whom God humiliates – for him there is no bestower of honor. Indeed, God does what He wills.” (Al-Hajj 22:18)
Despite claims to the contrary, all people seek refuge in the Creator of the universe and resort to Him alone in times of adversity and difficulty. Deep in their hearts- they consider The One Divine Power in Heavens as a solution to their problems, a fulfillment to their needs, and the relief of their distress. They consider that their success and victory are dependent on His Will and Kindness. (For example: during an incident of an airplane crash, all the passengers from different religious backgrounds ‘Buddhist, Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Atheists, etc.’ prayed to the Power that exists in Heavens to rescue them).
Allah the Almighty says what means,
“God (the Creator): there is no true god but him. The ever-living, the eternal master of all. Neither drowsiness nor sleep overtakes him. His is all that is in the heavens and all that is on earth. Who is there that can intercede with him, except by his permission? He knows all that lies open before them and all that lies hidden from them; whereas they cannot attain to anything of his knowledge save as he wills. His throne extends over the heavens and the earth, and the preservation of both does not tire him. He is the Most high, the Most great.” (Al-Baqarah 2:255).
Every child is born sinless. Everyone can call upon their Creator without any intermediary. If the child is left alone without parents or any teachings, he will grow up worshipping the Creator alone. At the age of puberty, he will be responsible for his actions and he has a choice to remain monotheist worshiping his Creator alone, or to change his natural religion and take a wrong path by praying to God through an intermediary (Jesus, Mary, Buddha, Idols, Muhammad… etc.).
In Islam, there is nothing that can lead people to atheism. There are no mysteries that can struggle the mind. There is only one God; He has created all beings and all will return to Him. He sent the same message to prophets of all nations. A simple straightforward message and one condition of salvation: Belief in One God and to unify Him in worship. It is a clear and simple concept, which even the naturalists, and atheists may find hard to reject or doubt.
Actually, atheism advanced because of the very complicated concept of God in other religions which contradicts the pure simple concept of God in human being’s hearts. Other reasons which have led people to atheism are the unreasonable demands and orders from their clergy and religious institutions, who often use religion as an excuse to gain worldly and political benefits.
This means that all the similarities between religions come from God and the differences arose from mankind who created different paths to the Creator. If everyone worships the Creator God alone without partners or intermediaries (saints, priests, idols or prophets), we would all be united. This is the key to harmony and unity to the world.
Allah the Almighty says what means,
“O People of the Scripture come to common terms between us and you, that we worship none other than God, and do not associate with Him anybody else and do not take one another as lords instead of God.” (Aal `Imran 3:64)
The greatness and uniqueness of Islam (which means total submission to the Creator and the worship of Him alone without any intermediary) when compared to any other religion is evidenced in three things:
- Islam has retained the genuine concept of Oneness of God, devoid of any philosophy or complexity.
- It has the only true preserved Scripture – The Word of God. The full text of the Qur’an is available in the exact form as uttered by Prophet Muhammad at the time of its revelation and in the original language in which it was revealed.
- The teachings of the Prophet Muhammad were transmitted through confirmed chains of authenticated narrators.
- Islam corroborate all previous prophets and messengers of God and their revelations.
Allah the Almighty says what means,
“Say, [O believers], “We have believed in God (The Creator) and what has been revealed to us and what has been revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the Descendants and what was given to Moses and Jesus and what was given to the prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and we are Muslims [in submission] to Him.” (Al-Baqarah 2:136)
Islam is the only way indicated by the Creator to achieve happiness in this life and the afterlife. Allah the Almighty says what means,
“Indeed, the religion in the sight of God is Islam. And those who were given the Scripture did not differ except after knowledge had come to them – out of jealous animosity between themselves. And whoever disbelieves in the verses of God, then indeed, God is swift in [taking] account.” (Aal `Imran 3:19)
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Faten Sabri (1973) is a modern Jordanian Muslim thinker. She is well known for her frequent interaction with various cultures, religions and she speaks different languages. She studied comparative religions which made her able to discuss the controversial issues about Islam with the truth seekers and free thinkers. She wrote books about the message of Islam, the original concept of God and Jesus Christ in Islam and she has monthly articles in an international magazines. These books and articles were translated and distributed in more than 6 languages.