GOD’S BEING & THE LIMITS OF HUMAN IMAGINATION

 

Everything in our limited experience must have a beginning and end.  We ourselves are born and we ultimately die.  This is the case with our parents and forefathers as well as with our children and descendants.  Such relationships permeate creation. 

Some people, due to intellectual weakness or simplicity, assume that everything must be comparable to their own past experience.  They rely on the imagination, which is really only capable of visualizing that which has in one way or another already been experienced.  This is why the imagination is incapable of grappling with absolutes and with universal concepts. 

Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, was referring to the limits of human reason when he said:

"People will keep asking questions until they come to asking: ‘God created the universe, but who created God?’ Whoever has thoughts like this should simply declare: ‘I believe in God.’ Seek God’s help and desist from such thoughts."[1]

The human mind has limitations, and our human perspective is deficient.  Because of this, some people fall into misgivings with respect to God’s pre-existence.  We need to realize that we are dealing here with a matter of faith; in other words, a matter which transcends the limitations of human reason. 

After making the statement quoted above, it is mentioned that Prophet Muhammad advised reciting the chapter of the Qur’an entitled "Purity of Faith" (Chapter al-Ikhlas):

"Say: He is Allah (God), the One.  Allah (God), the Self-Subsisting.  He begets not, nor is He begotten, and there is none like unto Him." (Quran 112:1-4)

The crucial verse here is "He begets not, nor is He begotten".  It shows that God’s perfection and Self-Subsistence defy human experience and transcend the limits of the human imagination. 

So God says: "Allah (God), the Self-Subsisting.  He begets not, nor is He begotten" and immediately follows it with: "and there is none like unto Him." We cannot compare God with anything in our experience.  Likewise, we find that God commands us: "Do not give likenesses to God." (Quran 16:74) This is the way our faith in God should be. 

Prophet Muhammad advised those who were plagued with doubts like "Who created God?" to: "Seek God’s help and desist from such thoughts." Nothing can be gained from pursuing the line of thinking as to "Who created God?" God’s nature cannot be compared to created existence, nor can it be compassed by the limitations of human reason.  The human mind, however, can conceive of God’s existence and acknowledge that He is the Creator of all things.  In fact, the human mind resists any attempt to compel it to deny God’s existence. 

Communist regimes of the 20th century tried to compel their subjects to embrace atheism.  They employed every forceful means at their disposal, but the people refused to deny God.  They resisted the most authoritarian attempts to crush their belief in God’s existence. 

The human mind acknowledges the existence of a Creator.  Reason cannot escape from such an acknowledgment.  The mind, consequently brings us to seek guidance about God and gives us a natural inclination to worship Him.  We are receptive to God’s Messengers, and God would not leave His creatures without guiding them to the wisdom as to why they were created.  Indeed, God says: "I have only created humanity and the Jinn to worship Me." (Quran 51:56)

The intellect certainly recognizes God, but it is not capable of comprehending all of His attributes.  The role of God’s Prophets and Messengers is to teach people what they need to know about their Lord and how God wishes them to worship Him.  This protects people from concocting all sorts of rituals and rites from their own imaginings that have no basis in revelation from God. 

Prophet Muhammad said, addressing God in supplication: "You are the First, so nothing precedes You.  You are the Last, so nothing comes after You.  You are the Manifest, so nothing comes above You.  You are the Hidden, so nothing comes below you.  Fulfill our debts for us and enrich us so we will not be poor."[2]

God is the First who is not preceded by anything else.  This is a concept that cannot be fully grasped by the imagination, but it can certainly be accepted by the mind and heart.  Our awareness of the limitations that our minds have is a crucial awareness. 

Likewise, God is the Last, whose existence persists without end.  As such, God is truly the Inheritor: "And remember Zechariah, when he cried unto his Lord: ‘My Lord! Leave me not childless, though You are the Best of inheritors.’" (Quran 21:89)

God is timeless and eternal, without beginning or end.  By contrast, all created things have a beginning and end. 

God says about the Sun: "And the Sun runs its course to a point determined." (Quran 36:38) The Sun and other celestial bodies are far older than the living things on Earth.  But just like the fleeting lives of terrestrial beings, the stars are born and they die.  All things in the universe must come to an end. 

God cannot be understood according to the terms of material existence.  He is not bound by the laws of physics which are themselves part of the nature of what He created.  It is no surprise that the mind cannot fully grasp the Creator, since the mind is itself created and subject to the limitations of its created nature.  The mind can only fall into confusion and self-deception if it tries to rationalize that which is beyond its powers. 

Rather, we should apply our mental efforts to matters our minds are capable of engaging with – the universe that God created and the vast horizons of knowledge that it presents.  God has given us the rational ability and the imaginative power to uncover and conceptualize the physical laws of nature.  We can harness such knowledge to benefit humanity in ways that please God. - islamreligion.com

FOOTNOTES:

[1]Sahih Muslim

[2]Sahih Muslim

The role of reptiles in the origin of mammals

Evolutionists claim that mammals evolved from reptiles but the anatomical and physical differences between the two are unbridgeable. Mammals are warm-blooded (they regulate and maintain their own body temperature), give birth, suckle their young and their bodies have fur or hair. Reptiles on the other hand are cold-blooded (cannot regulate body temperature on their own and their body temperature alters according to the environment), reproduce by hatching eggs, do not suckle their offspring and their bodies have scales.

The hypothetical claim of such widely differing species developing from one into the other needs some serious explaining. For instance, how can the cold-blooded metabolism of a reptile change over time into a warm-blooded one, which produces and regulates its own body heat? How is it that creatures laying eggs can develop a complex life-supporting placenta and begin to give birth to their young? Or how can it be that the hard, scaly skin of a reptile can become a furred one? Most importantly, how can the transitory forms sustain their species and survive this imaginary gradual transition?

The chances of survival of a creature that is half-warm half cold-blooded, laying eggs as well as producing a placenta, having scales as well as fur is negligible. Nevertheless, evolutionists believe that such creatures existed in the past and continue to stubbornly defend the claim that mammals evolved, even though they cannot find any scientific evidence for it. The only thing they can do is to tell tales, paint impressive pictures from the imagination and neatly line up the excavated fossils, thereby trying to prove this imaginary transition.

The theory of evolution proposes that some imaginary creatures came out of the sea and transformed into reptiles, then birds were formed by the evolution of reptiles. According to the same scenario, reptiles are the ancestors not only of birds but also of mammals.

However, there are major structural differences between reptiles and mammals -- reptiles are cold-blooded, have scales on their bodies and reproduce by laying eggs; on the other hand, mammals are warm-blooded, have fur or hair on their bodies, and reproduce by giving birth to their offspring alive.

An example of the structural discrepancies between reptiles and mammals is their jaw structure. The mandibles of mammals consist of only one mandibular bone and the teeth are placed on this bone. In reptiles, there are three little bones on both sides of the mandible. Another basic difference is that all mammals have three bones in their middle ear (hammer, anvil and stirrup). In all reptiles, there is a single bone in the middle ear.

Evolutionists claim that the reptilian jaw and middle ear evolved gradually into the mammalian jaw and ear. Yet, the question of how this change occurred remains unanswered. In particular, the question of how an ear with a single bone evolved into an ear with three bones and how the process of hearing kept on functioning in the meantime can never be explained. Not surprisingly, not a single fossil to link reptiles and mammals is to be found. This is why evolutionist paleontologist Roger Levin was forced to say that: “the transition to the first mammals, which probably happened in just one or, at most two lineages, is still an enigma.”

George Gaylord Simpson, one of the biggest authorities on evolution and among the founders of the neo-Darwinist theory makes the following comment on this fact that is quite perplexing for evolutionists:

"The most puzzling event in the history of life on earth is the change from the Mesozoic, the Age of Reptile, to the Age of Mammals. It is as if the curtain were rung down suddenly on the stage where all the leading roles were taken by reptiles, especially dinosaurs, in great numbers and bewildering variety, and rose again immediately to reveal the same setting but an entirely new cast, a cast in which the dinosaurs do not appear at all, other reptiles are supernumeraries, and all the leading parts are played by mammals of sorts barely hinted at in the preceding acts."

Furthermore, when mammals suddenly made their appearance, they were already very different from each other. Such dissimilar animals as bats, horses, mice and whales are all mammals and they all emerged during the same geological period. Establishing an evolutionary relationship among them is impossible even within the broadest boundaries of the imagination.

Evolutionist zoologist R. Eric Lombard makes this point in an article that appeared in Evolution magazine:

"Those searching for specific information useful in constructing phylogenies of mammalian taxa will be disappointed."

All these facts demonstrate that living beings appeared on earth suddenly and fully formed, without any evolutionary process. This is concrete evidence of the fact that they were created. However, evolutionists try to interpret the fact that living species came into existence in a particular order as an indication of evolution. Yet, the sequence by which living things emerged is the “order of creation”, since it is not possible to speak of an ''evolutionary process". With a superior and flawless creation, oceans and then lands were filled with living things and finally man was created.

Contrary to the “ape man” story imposed on the masses thanks to the intense media propaganda, man also emerged on earth suddenly and fully formed. - islamweb.net

THE QURAN ON THE EXPANDING UNIVERSE AND THE BIG BANG THEORY

 

Hubble’s Law

For thousands of years, astronomers wrestled with basic questions concerning the universe.  Until the early 1920’s, it was believed that the universe had always been in existence; also, that the size of the universe was fixed and not changing.  However, in 1912, the American astronomer, Vesto Slipher, made a discovery that would soon change astronomers’ beliefs about the universe.  Slipher, noticed that the galaxies were moving away from earth at huge velocities.  These observations provided the first evidence supporting the expanding-universe theory.[1]

 

Before the invention of the telescope in 1608, man could do little more than wonder about the origin of the universe. (Courtesy: NASA)

 

In 1916, Albert Einstein formulated his General Theory of Relativity that indicated that the universe must be either expanding or contracting.  Confirmation of the expanding-universe theory finally came in 1929 in the hands of the well known American astronomer Edwin Hubble.

By observing redshifts[2] in the light wavelengths emitted by galaxies, Hubble found that galaxies were not fixed in their position; instead, they were actually moving away from us with speeds proportional to their distance from earth (Hubble's Law).  The only explanation for this observation was that the universe had to be expanding.  Hubble’s discovery is regarded as one of the greatest in the history of astronomy.  In 1929, he published the velocity-time relation which is the basis of modern cosmology.  In the years to come, with further observations, the expanding-universe theory was accepted by scientists and astronomers alike.

 

With the Hooker Telescope, Hubble discovered that the galaxies were moving away from us.  Above are photos of known galaxies.  (Courtesy: NASA)

 

Yet, astonishingly well before telescopes were even invented and well before Hubble published his Law, Prophet Muhammad used to recite a verse of the Quran to his companions that ultimately stated that the universe is expanding.

“And the heaven We created with might, and indeed We are (its) expander.” (Quran 51:47)

At the time of the revelation of the Quran, the word “space” was not known, and people used the word “heaven” to refer to what lies above the Earth.  In the above verse, the word “heaven” is referring to space and the known universe.  The verse points out that space, and thus the universe, happens to be expanding, just as Hubble’s Law states.

That the Quran mentioned such a fact centuries before the invention of the first telescope, at a time when there was primitive knowledge in science, is considered remarkable.  This is more so considering that, like many people in his time, Prophet Muhammad happened to be illiterate and simply could not have been aware of such facts by himself.  Could it be that he had truly received divine revelation from the Creator and Originator of the universe?

The Big Bang Theory

Soon after Hubble published his theory, he went on to discover that not only were galaxies moving away from the Earth, but were also moving away from one another.  This meant that the universe happened to be expanding in every direction, in the same way a balloon expands when filled with air.  Hubble’s new findings placed the foundations for the Big Bang theory.

The Big Bang theory states that around 12-15 billion years ago the universe came into existence from one single extremely hot and dense point, and that something triggered the explosion of this point that brought about the beginning of the universe.  The universe, since then, has been expanding from this single point.  

Later, in 1965, radio astronomers Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson made a Noble Prize winning discovery that confirmed the Big Bang theory.  Prior to their discovery, the theory implied that if the single point from which the universe came into existence was initially extremely hot, then remnants of this heat should be found.  This remnant heat is exactly what Penzias and Wilson found.  In 1965, Penzias and Wilson discovered a 2.725 degree Kelvin Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation (CMB) that spreads through the universe.  Thus, it was understood that the radiation found was a remnant of the initial stages of the Big Bang.  Presently, the Big Bang theory is accepted by the vast majority of scientists and astronomers.

 

A microwave map of the leftover from the Big Bang that gave birth to the universe. (Courtesy: NASA)

 

It is mentioned in the Quran:

“He (God) is the Originator of the heavens and the earth…” (Quran 6:101)

“Is not He who created the heavens and the earth Able to create the likes of them?  Yes; and He is the Knowing Creator. His command is only when He intends a thing that He says to it, ‘Be,’ and it is.” (Quran 36:81-82)

The above verses prove that the universe had a beginning, that God was behind its creation, and all that God needs to do inorder to create is to say “Be,” and it is.  Could this be an explanation as to what triggered off the explosion that brought about the beginning of the universe?

The Quran also mentions:

“Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, then We separated them, and made from water every living thing?  Then will they not believe?” (Quran 21:30)

Muslim scholars who have explained the previous verse mention that the heavens and earth were once one, and then God caused them to separate and form into the seven heavens and Earth.  Yet, due to the limitations of science and technology at the time of the revelation of the Quran (and for centuries to follow), no scholar was able to give much detail about how exactly the heavens and earth were created.  What the scholars could explain was the precise meaning of each word in Arabic in the verse, as well as the overall meaning of the verse.

In the previous verse, the Arabic words ratq and fataq are used.  The word ratq can be translated into “entity” “sewn to” “joined together” or “closed up”.  The meaning of these translations all circulate around something that is mixed and that has a separate and distinct existence.  The verb fataq is translated into “We unstitched” “We clove them asunder” “We separated” or “We have opened them”.  These meanings imply that something comes into being by an action of splitting or tearing apart.  The sprouting of a seed from the soil is a good example of a similar illustration of the meaning of the verb fataq.

With the introduction of the Big Bang theory, it soon became clear to Muslim scholars that the details mentioned with regards to the theory go identically hand in hand with the description of the creation of the universe in verse 30 of chapter 21 of the Quran.  The theory states that all the matter in the universe came into existence from one single extremely hot and dense point; that exploded and brought about the beginning of the universe, matches what is mentioned in the verse that the heaven and Earth (thus the universe) where once joined together, and  then split apart.  Once again, the only possible explanation is that Prophet Muhammad had truly received divine revelation from God, The Creator and Originator of the universe. - islamreligion.com

FOOTNOTES:

[1]The First Three Minutes, a Modern View of the Origin of the Universe, Weinberg.

[2]When the light an object emits is displaced toward the red end of the spectrum. (http://bjp.org.cn/apod/glossary.htm)

What Happens When You Go To Sleep?

 

Ever wondered what happens when you go to sleep? Allah (SWT) says: “it is Allah who takes away the souls at the time of their death and those that die not during their sleep He keeps those souls for which He has ordained death and sends the rest for a term appointed, verily in this are signs for people who think deeply. (Al-Qur’an 39:42). This means every time we sleep there is a chance we will not wake up and so we should be ready for the hereafter. When we wake up we should be thanking Allah.

- aboutislam.net

WHAT DOES ISLAM SAY ABOUT TERRORISM?

Islam, a religion of mercy, does not permit terrorism.  In the Quran, God has said:

"God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes.  God loves just dealers." (Quran 60:8)

The Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, used to prohibit soldiers from killing women and children,[1]  and he would advise them: "...Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child."[2]  And he also said: "Whoever has killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance is found for a span of forty years."[3]

Also, the Prophet Muhammad has forbidden punishment with fire.[4]

He once listed murder as the second of the major sins,[5]  and he even warned that on the Day of Judgment, "The first cases to be adjudicated between people on the Day of Judgment will be those of bloodshed.[6]"[7]

Muslims are even encouraged to be kind to animals and are forbidden to hurt them.  Once the Prophet Muhammad said: "A woman was punished because she imprisoned a cat until it died.  On account of this, she was doomed to Hell. While she imprisoned it, she did not give the cat food or drink, nor did she free it to eat the insects of the earth."[8]

He also said that a man gave a very thirsty dog a drink, so God forgave his sins for this action.  The Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, was asked, "Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?"  He said: "There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human."[9]

Additionally, while taking the life of an animal for food, Muslims are commanded to do so in a manner that causes the least amount of fright and suffering possible.  The Prophet Muhammad said: "When you slaughter an animal, do so in the best way.  One should sharpen his knife to reduce the suffering of the animal."[10]

In light of these and other Islamic texts, the act of inciting terror in the hearts of defenseless civilians, the wholesale destruction of buildings and properties, the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women, and children are all forbidden and detestable acts according to Islam and the Muslims.  Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the vast majority have nothing to do with the violent events some have associated with Muslims.  If an individual Muslim were to commit an act of terrorism, this person would be guilty of violating the laws of Islam. - islamreligion.com 

FOOTNOTES:

[1]Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1744, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #3015.

[2]Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1731, and Al-Tirmizi, #1408.

[3]Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #3166, and Ibn Majah, #2686.

[4]Narrated in Abu-Dawood, #2675.

[5]Narrated in Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6871, and Saheeh Muslim, #88.

[6]This means killing and injuring.

[7]Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1678, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #6533.

[8]Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2422, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #2365.

[9]This saying of Muhammad has been mentioned in more detail on this page.  Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #2244, and Saheeh Al-Bukhari, #2466.

[10]Narrated in Saheeh Muslim, #1955, and Al-Tirmizi, #1409.

KIND TREATMENT OF WIVES

 

Kind Treatment of Wives

God instructs men to be nice to their wives and to treat them well to the best of their ability:

"…And live with them in kindness…" (Quran 4:19)

The Messenger of God said, The most perfect of believers in belief is the best of them in character.  The best of you are those who are the best to their women.’[1]  The Prophet of Mercy tells us that a husband’s treatment of his wife reflects a Muslim’s good character, which in turn is a reflection of the man’s faith.  How can a Muslim husband be good to his wife?  He should smile, not hurt her emotionally, remove anything that will harm her, treat her gently, and be patient with her.

Being nice includes good communication.  A husband should be willing to open up, and be willing to listen to his wife.  Many times a husband wants to air his frustrations (like work).  He should not forget to ask her about what annoys her (like when children would not do their homework).  A husband should not talk about important things with her when he or his wife is angry, tired, or hungry.  Communication, compromise, and consideration are the cornerstone of marriage.

Being nice includes encouraging one’s wife.  The most meaningful admiration comes from a sincere heart that notices what really matters — what the wife really values.  So a husband should ask himself what she feels most insecure about and discover what she values.  That is the wife’s sweet spot of praise.  The more the husband compliments it, the more the wife will admire it, the more on target this healthy habit will be.  Kind words are like, "I like the way you think," "You look beautiful in those clothes," and "I love hearing your voice on the phone."

Human beings are imperfect.  The Messenger of God said, "A believing man should not hate a believing woman.  If he dislikes something in her character, he should be pleased with some other trait of hers."[2]  A man should not hate his wife because if he dislikes something in her, he will find something he likes about her if he gives it a chance.  One way to be aware of what he likes in his wife is for the husband to make a list of a half dozen things he appreciates about her.  Marriage experts recommend that one be as specific as possible and focus on character traits — just as the Prophet of Islam recommended, not just what she does for the husband.  For example, a husband may appreciate the way she arranges his clean laundry, but the underlying character trait may be that she is thoughtful.  The husband should consider admirable traits such as being compassionate, generous, kind, devout, creative, elegant, honest, affectionate, energetic, gentle, optimistic, committed, faithful, confident, cheerful, and so on.  A husband should give himself some time to construct this list, and review it in times of conflict when he is most likely to feel averse towards his wife.  It will help him be more aware of his wife’s good attributes and far more likely to compliment them.

A companion asked the Prophet of God what is the right of a wife over her husband?’  He said, "That you feed her when you eat and clothe her when you clothe yourself and do not strike her face.  Do not malign her and do not keep apart from her, except in the house."[3]

Conflict in marriage is virtually inevitable and it leads to lot of anger.  Although anger is one of the most difficult emotions to manage, the first step toward controlling it can be learning how to forgive those who hurt us.  In case of conflict, a husband should not stop talking to his wife and emotionally hurt her, but he may stop sleeping in the same bed if it will improve the situation.  Under no circumstance, even when he is angry or somehow feels justified, is a husband allowed to malign her by using hurtful words or cause her any injury. - islamreligion.com

FOOTNOTES:

[1]Al-Tirmidhi

[2]Saheeh Muslim.

[3]Abu Daud.

What Does It Mean to Love for the Sake of Allah?

 

A degree will give you more financial stability and less dependency on anyone in the future.

Sit down and think for yourself what might be best for you to do.

There are many people who get married while still being in college. Talk to your parents about this possibility.

You could try talking to some family members your parents like to listen to and see if they can speak to your parents.

Trust your parents.

Remember, Allah (swt) has planned for you who to marry.

As-Salaam ‘Aleikom,

After being with a person for so many years, it is normal to get attached and used to them.

So, I can understand that you might like him and want to be with him after spending 6 years together.

There is nothing wrong with liking someone and showing interest in marrying someone, but it is completely wrong to be with someone before marriage.

So, first of all, I advise you to seek Allah’s (swt) forgiveness if you have done anything that is beyond the limits Islam establishes.

Pressure from family

This man might have some pressure from his parents to marry someone soon like you have from your parents to complete your studies.

He seems to be interested in you as he sent his parents to ask for your hand.

Asking for girl’s hand three times is a big deal because the boy’s family is normally full of pride and do not like to be rejected by the girl’s family.

I can understand that he cannot wait for you 5-6 years, but how long can he wait? If he is already engaged to someone else, then he will most probably marry her soon.

Waiting

If you have less than a year to complete your studies, then it is a reasonable time to ask this guy to wait for you, especially when he has spent 6 years with you.

But if it will take a longer time to finish your degree, then I suggest that you close this chapter and move on as I doubt he will wait for you.

You could always try to convince your parents to marry him now.

Actually, there are many people who get married while still being in college. Why could you not finish your degree while being married? Bring your reasons to your parents and see if they want to agree to this option.

It is your decision and yours alone.

But you might want to think about why your parents want you to finish your degree first. There must be a reason behind it.

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Check out this counseling video:

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Reason

Well, a degree will give you more financial stability and less dependency on anyone in the future.

Unfortunately, we live in a day and age where marriages break very easily. If a girl is educated, she can stand on her own feet.

Parents like to see their children with this security as it is very difficult to trust anyone.

I am sure your parents have your best interest and love you a lot, and whatever they are asking you to do might be good for you.

I am not saying that you are wrong, but you are very emotional at the moment.

When a person is not thinking rationally it can be hard to make the right decision.

Conclusion

Sit down and think for yourself what might be best for you to do.

You could try talking to some family members your parents like to listen to and see if they can speak to your parents.

Remember, Allah (swt) has planned for you who to marry.

So, if you don’t marry this guy, then in sha’Allah, there is someone else better than him for you.

Always think positive, pray the istikharah prayer, and make lots of du’aa’ to Allah (swt) to guide you.

Disclaimer: The conceptualization and recommendations stated in this response are very general and purely based on the limited information provided in the question. In no event shall MyISLAM or AboutIslam, its counselors or employees be held liable for any damages that may arise from your decision in the use of our services.

About Hadia Ali

Hadia Ali is a 27 years old Pakistani Muslim woman, born and bred in Norway. She has obtained her bachelor's degree in Sociology from Norway. Currently, she lives in the UK with her husband and two children. Email: micha.agr@gmail.com