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Lessons and thoughts on Islamic Theology

Moderator: Muntazir

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By Muntazir
#14368
SEEKING GOD

1. Why do we think about God?
2. Why do we study ways of knowing the Creator?

1. Love of Awareness

Becoming familiar with our world is within all of us.

We all want to know, in truth: Did this elevated heaven, with its beautiful stars, this extensive earth, with its heart-rendering views; these various creatures; beautiful birds; various kinds of fish, the seas and flowers; the blos¬soms, plants, abundant trees, whose tops reach towards the heavens; did all of these things come into being of their own free will or were all of these wonderful forms painted by an expert, a powerful painter?

Beyond all of this, the first question which comes to mind for all of us is:

a. Where did we come from? – Where our life began?
b. Where are we? – What duties we have now?
c. Where are we going? – Where will it end?

If we know the answers to these three questions, how happy will we be! Our searching spirit tells us: you must not sit quietly until the answers come. Let’s look at the example below:

It often happens that in an automobile accident, a person is injured and becomes unconscious and for his treat¬ment, they take him to a hospital. When his condition has improved a bit, and when he awakens, the first thing which he asks of those around him is:

a. "Where am I?
b. Why did you bring me here?
c. When can I leave?''

All of these ques¬tions show that a person cannot indifferent and not ask these questions.

Thus, the first thing which sends us looking for God and understanding the creation of the world of existence is our very thirsty spirit of search.


2. A Sense of Thankfulness

Let’s look at the example below:

Pretend that you have been invited to a very important affair and all means of convenience have been provided for you, but because you have been invited through your brother, you do not know the host well. The first thing you will want to do when you enter the gathering is to find the host to thank him.

When we look at this wide-spread created world and the multiple blessings which have been provided for us: eyes which see, ears which hear, sufficient intelligence, various physical and psychological abilities, various means for living and for earning our livelihood, we automatically begin to think about trying to know He Who has given us all of these blessings and even though He does not need our thanks, we still thank Him and, until we don’t do this, we are unhappy with ourselves and feel we have not done a duty. This is another reason why we begin to search to know God.


3. The Bond between Things to Our Benefit and Harm

Let’s look at the example below:

Pretend that we are going on a journey and we reach a cross-road in which there is a great deal of commotion. Everyone warns us not to stop at this cross-road because there is a great danger there.
Each group invites us to go its way:

The First group says, "The best way is to go East”
The Second group says, "Go West, this is the best road!"
The Third group says, "This is the only safe way and it will lead you to your home.
The Fourth group says, “This is the way of happiness and security and a place of refuge for you."

A Question:

Will our mind allow us to stop there and not choose any way? But then, would we also allow ourselves to choose a way without studying it?

Clearly not, rather our mind and our wisdom tells us to begin studying and researching immediately and listen to the words of each group carefully and accept whichever way has the most correct signs which speaks the truth and has convincing reasons for taking its way. Having ourselves assured of the right way, we take it and move forward.

We also have such a condition by living in this world. Different religions and schools of thought invite us to take their way, but as our fate, our fortune and misfortune, our progress and backwardness depends upon our study and making the best choices, we are obliged to think about this and prevent ourselves from falling into misfortune, corrup¬tion and difficulties.

This is yet another reason which invites us to search for the Creator of the world.

The Holy Qur’an says:

فَبَشِّرْ عِبَادِ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ
[So announce the Good News to My Servants, Those who listen to the Word, and follow the best in it] (39: 17-18)
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