The Journey into the Hereafter : The Believer and Paradise

 

Paradise

The believers will be ushered on towards the grand eight gates of Paradise.  There, they will receive a joyous angelic reception and be congratulated on account of their safe arrival and salvation from Hell.

"But those who feared their Lord will be driven to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it while its gates have been opened and its keepers say, ‘Peace be upon you; you have become pure; so enter it to abide eternally therein." (Quran 39:73)

(It will be said to the pious): "O (you) the one in (complete) rest and satisfaction!  Come back to your Lord, Well-pleased and well-pleasing unto Him!  Enter you then among My honored slaves.  Enter you My Paradise!" (Quran 89:27-30)

The best of the Muslims will enter Paradise first.  The most righteous of them will ascend to the highest levels.[1]

"But whoever comes to God as a believer (in His Oneness, etc.) and has done righteous good deeds; for such are the high ranks (in the Hereafter)." (Quran 20:75)

"And the foremost 'in faith' will be the foremost 'in Paradise'. They are the ones nearest 'to God', in the Gardens of Bliss." (Quran 56:10-12)

The Quranic description of Paradise gives us a vision of just what a fantastic place it is.  An eternal home that will fulfill all our wholesome desires, seduce all our senses, grant us everything we could possibly want and much more besides.  God describes His Paradise as having earth made of is fine musk powder,[2]  soil of saffron,[3]  bricks of gold and silver, and pebbles of pearls and rubies.  Beneath the gardens of Paradise are flowing rivers of sparkling water, sweet milk, clear honey, and non-intoxicating wine.  The tents on their banks are domes of hollow pearls.[4]  The whole space is filled with sparkling light, sweet-smelling plants and fragrances that can be savored from afar.[5]  There are lofty palaces, huge mansions, grapevines, date palms, pomegranate trees,[6]  lotus and acacia trees whose trunks of made of gold.[7]  Ripe, abundant fruit of all kinds: berries, citrus, drupes, grapes, melons, pomes; all kinds of fruit, tropical and exotic; anything the faithful could possibly desire!

"…And therein is whatever each soul desires and delights the eyes..." (Quran 43:71)

Each believer will have a most beautiful, pious and pure spouse, wearing exquisite clothing; And there will be so much more in a new world of eternal, radiant joy.

"And no soul knows what has been hidden for them of comfort for eyes [i.e. satisfaction] as reward for what they used to do." (Quran 32:17)

As well as physical delights, Paradise will also give its residents a state of emotional and psychological bliss, as the Prophet said:

"Whoever enters Paradise is blessed with a life of joy; he will never feel miserable, his clothes will never wear out, and his youth shall never fade away.  The people will hear a divine call: ‘I grant you that you will be healthy and never fall sick, you will live and never die, you will be young and never age, you will be joyful and never feel miserable.’" (Saheeh Muslim)

Ultimately, the thing that will most delight the eyes will be the Countenance of God Himself.  For the true believer, to see this blessed vision of God is to have won the ultimate prize.

"[Some] faces, that Day, will be radiant, looking at their Lord." (Quran 75:22-23)

This is the Paradise, the eternal home and final destination of the righteous believer.  May God, Most High, make us worthy of it.

- islamreligion.com

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Footnotes:

[1]Sahih al-Jami.

[2]Saheeh Muslim

[3]Mishkat

[4]Saheeh Al-Bukhari

[5]Sahih al-Jami

[6]Quran 56:27-32

[7]Sahih al-Jami

Why Did God Create? : God, the Creator

 

From the point of view of God, a… fundamental question needs to be asked, “Why did God create?”  This question should be asked because humankind is not, in fact, the greatest creation.  God says in the Quran:

“Indeed, the creation of the heavens and the earth is greater than the creation of mankind, but most of mankind do not realize it.” (Quran 40:57)

The composition of human beings is far less complex than the composition of the universe in which they exist.  However, very few people reflect on this reality.  Because of the apparent supremacy of human beings over the other creatures on this earth, man’s journeys through space and the continued advancement of their technology and knowledge, humankind in every age becomes arrogant and considers itself the greatest thing in this world.  It is worth noting that the majority of humankind’s amazing discoveries are not concerning the human being, but his surroundings.  Thus, human efforts tend to be focused on the material world rather than human beings.  In this verse, God brings human beings back to their actual status in this world.  Humankind is merely a small part of the existence which resulted from the miraculous act of divine creation.  Thus, in order to understand why God created mankind, one first needs to answer the even more fundamental question of why God created.

The Creator

Creation is fundamentally the consequence of the divine attribute of being the Creator.  A creator who does not create is something of a contradiction in terms.  This is not to say that God needs His creation.  God is free from all needs.  It is creation which needs Him.  But, as the greatness of a writer becomes apparent in his writings, the perfection of the divine creative attribute is manifest in creation.  Creation in the true sense is unique to God alone.  Although humans ascribe the act of creation to themselves, what they do is not true creation.  Humankind merely manipulates what already exists - what was already created by God.  A table is made from wood which came from trees and is held together with nails and screws made from metal that came from rocks.  Human beings did not make the trees or the rocks.  In fact, all human creations can be traced back to basic elements which humans cannot make.  Even the artist ‘creates’ designs based on what he has seen.  It is not possible to imagine what has not been perceived by the senses.  Thus, all of the artist’s thoughts are reflections on what was already created.  Only God alone creates from nothing.  This basic fact was and still is incomprehensible to some.  Some ancient as well as modern philosophers, who could not comprehend how God could create from nothing, claimed that the created world and its contents are all originally a part of God.  That is, according to them, God took a part of Himself and made the universe.  This conclusion is based on comparing God to man, who can only ‘create’ by modifying what already exists.  However, God denies any such comparisons which would give Him human limitations.  In the Quran, He states:

“…There is nothing like Him and He is hearer and seer of all.” (Quran 42:11)

Thus, the act of creation is a consequence of the divine attribute of being the Creator.  God describes Himself as the Creator in a variety of verses throughout the final revelation to emphasize to humankind that everything belongs to Him alone.

“God created all things and He is the agent on which all things depend.” (Quran 39:62)

“And God created you all and whatever you do.” (Quran 37:96)

Man needs to realize that nothing takes place in this universe without the permission of God.  To seek protection from evil or to seek to acquire good from any source other than God is a major mistake.  Due to ignorance, many people attempt to avoid misfortune and to gain good fortune through a variety of charms and amulets, astrology, palmistry, etc.  Consequently, in the Quran, God informs human beings to seek refuge in God from evil:

“Say: I seek refuge in the Lord of the dawn, from the evil of what He has created.” (Quran 113:1-2)

Allah, God Almighty, is not evil; He is good.  He created a world in which evil or good can be done by beings to whom He gave this ability.  However, no evil or good can take place in this world without the permission of God.  This is why it is futile to turn to others besides God for help and protection.

“No calamity strikes except by God’s permission…” (Quran 64:11)

The final prophet of God, Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, further elaborated on this concept, saying:

“Be aware that if the whole of mankind gathered together to do something to help you, they would only be able to do something for you which God had already written for you.  Likewise, if the whole of mankind gathered together to harm you, they would only be able to do something to harm you which God had already written to happen to you.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

- islamreligion.com

Why Did God Create? : Divine Love and Grace

 

Divine Love

God’s love is manifest in beings brought into existence, whether believer or disbeliever, to enjoy life, if only for a brief moment.  It is also realized in the creation of paradise for those who choose righteousness over evil.  God states in the final revelation that He loves those who do good (Quran 5:13), those who are just (Quran 5:42), those who are pious (Quran 9:4), those who are patient (Quran 3:146), those who put their trust in Him (Quran 3:159), those who frequently turn to Him in repentance and those who purify themselves (Quran 2:222).  However, it is He who has defined for human beings through the scriptures and the prophets what is good, just and pious.  Consequently, those who follow the prophets are most beloved to God.  In the Quran, God instructed Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, to say the following to the believers:

“If you really love God, follow me and God will love you and forgive your sins…” (Quran 3:31)

The prophets should be followed not only in the compulsory acts ordained by God, but also in their eagerness to do acts of voluntary worship.

The love of God is also manifest in His mercy and blessings which He grants to those who deserve them as well as those who do not.  But, it is particularly manifest in His willingness to forgive the sins of whomsoever turns to Him in sincere repentance.  From the creation of Adam and Eve, repentance was granted to them to erase their sins as an example to all human beings who would follow them into this world.  No matter how great human sins may become, the door for sincere repentance remains open until the last day of this world.  Anas quoted God’s Messenger, as saying:

“God, the Almighty, has said: O son of Adam, as long as you call on Me and ask of Me, I will forgive what you have done, and I do not mind.  O son of Adam, even if your sins reached the clouds and you asked My forgiveness, I will forgive you.  O son of Adam, if you came to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and you met Me without giving Me partners, I will give you a similar amount of forgiveness.”

Divine Grace

As for those in paradise, they will not enter it solely based on their good deeds.  It is the grace of God which will ultimately carry them there.  The final Prophet of God, said in this regard:

“Try your best to do right, and be happy.  For none will enter paradise only because of his deeds.”  His companions said, “O Messenger of God!  Not even you?”  He replied, “Not even I, unless God envelops me in His mercy and grace.  And bear in mind that the deed most loved by God is one done constantly, even though it is small.”

However, God’s grace is not arbitrary.  It is based on both correct faith and righteous deeds.  In the Quran, God says:

“Whoever brings a good deed, will have [the value of] ten like it, and whoever brings an evil deed will only be punished with one like it, and they will not be wronged.” (Quran 6:160)

Were God to hold humankind to account strictly, no one’s good deeds would outweigh their evil deeds.  However, God has manifested His grace by multiplying the value of good deeds, while keeping evil deeds at their face value.  It is by the grace of God that the true believers enter Paradise.  This does not mean that deeds have no role.  Deeds have a major role, but they are not the deciding factor.  God’s grace outweighs them.

Consequently, the creation of human beings, the errors that they make and the good that they do are all circumstances for the manifestation of God’s attributes of mercy and forgiveness, His attribute of justice and His attribute of grace.

Humankind should not question why God chose to manifest His attributes in this way.  It can only be assumed that this was the best way, because God describes Himself as being the Most Wise and the Most Knowledgeable.  Humans can only understand what God chooses to reveal to them.

“…They will only encompass of His knowledge what He wishes…” (Quran 2:255)

Thus, they should not try to equate themselves with God.  If He has told humankind why He decided to do something, it is not for them to question why He decided to decide.  Such questions are without end and thus beyond human scope.  It is they who will be questioned on the Day of Judgment about their actions and intentions and not He.  In the Quran, God addresses this point:

“He cannot be questioned as to what He does, while they will be questioned.” (Quran 25:23)

In this regard Prophet Muhammad, was reported by Ibn ‘Abbaas to have said:

“Reflect on the creation of God but do not reflect on God.”

To reflect on the reality of God is to reflect on the infinite.  And, as the mind boggles when it reflects on the limits of the finite universe and the galaxies and stars within it, it will be more confounded when it attempts to understand the uncreated.  The Prophet, warned that the satanic forces would seek to introduce doubts in the hearts of the believers by raising unanswerable questions about God.  Aboo Hurayrah related that God’s Messenger, said:

“Satan will come to everyone of you and ask: Who created this and that? - until he questions: Who created your Lord?  When he comes to that, one should seek refuge in God [say: I affirm my faith in God and His prophets] and avoid [such thoughts].”

- islamreligion.com

What is Islam? : The Essential Beliefs of Islam

 There are many aspects of belief in which one who adheres to Islam must have firm conviction.  From those aspects, the most important are six, known as the “Six Articles of Belief”.

1)     Belief in God

Islam upholds strict monotheism and belief in God forms the heart of their faith.  Islam teaches belief in one God who neither gives birth nor was born Himself, and has no share in His caretaking of the world.  He alone gives life, causes death, brings good, causes affliction, and provides sustenance for His creation.  God in Islam is the sole Creator, Lord, Sustainer, Ruler, Judge, and Savior of the universe.  He has no equal in His qualities and abilities, such as knowledge and power.  All worship, veneration and homage is to be directed to God and none else.  Any breach of these concepts negates the basis of Islam.

2)     Belief in the Angels

Adherents to Islam must believe in the Unseen world as mentioned in the Quran.  From this world are the angels’ emissaries of God, each assigned with a specific task. They have no free-will or ability to disobey; it is their very nature to be God's faithful servants. Angels are not to be taken as demigods or objects of praise or veneration; they are mere servants of God obeying His every command.

3)     Belief in the Prophets and Messengers

Islam is a universal and inclusive religion.  Muslims believe in the prophets, not just the Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, but the Hebrew prophets, including Abraham and Moses, as well as the prophets of the New Testament, Jesus, and John the Baptist.  Islam teaches God did not send prophets to Jews and Christians alone, rather He sent prophets to all nations in the world with one central message: worship God alone.  Muslims must believe in all prophets sent by God mentioned in the Quran, without making any distinction between them.  Muhammad was sent with the final message, and there is no prophet to come after him.  His message is final and eternal, and through him God completed His Message to humanity.

4)     Belief in the Sacred Texts

Muslims believe in all books that God has sent down to humanity through His prophets.  These books include the Books of Abraham, the Torah of Moses, the Psalms of David, and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  These books all had the same source (God), the same message, and all were revealed in truth.  This does not mean that they have been preserved in truth.  Muslims (and many other Jewish and Christian scholars and historians) find that the books in existence today are not the original scriptures, which in fact have been lost, changed, and/or translated over and over again, losing the original message.

As Christians view the New Testament to fulfill and complete the Old Testament, Muslims believe that the Prophet Muhammad received revelations from God through the angel Gabriel to correct human error that had entered into the scriptures and doctrine of Judaism, Christianity and all other religions.  This revelation is the Quran, revealed in the Arabic language, and found today in its pristine form.  It seeks to guide mankind in all walks of life; spiritual, temporal, individual and collective.  It contains directions for the conduct of life, relates stories and parables, describes the attributes of God, and speaks of the best rules to govern social life.  It has directions for everybody, every place, and for all time.  Millions of people today have memorized the Quran, and all copies of the Quran found today and in the past are identical.  God has promised that He will guard the Quran from change until the end of times, so that Guidance be clear to humanity and the message of all the prophets be available for those who seek it.

5)     Belief in Life after Death

Muslims believe that a day will come when all of creation will perish and resurrected in order to be judged for their deeds: The Day of Judgment.  On this day, all will gather in the presence of God and each individual will be questioned about their life in the world and how they lived it.  Those who held correct beliefs about God and life, and followed their belief with righteous deeds will enter Paradise, even though they may pay for some of their sins in Hell if God out of His Infinite Justice chooses not to forgive them.  As for those who fell into polytheism in its many faces, they will enter Hellfire, never to leave therefrom.

6)     Belief in the Divine Decree

Islam asserts that God has full power and knowledge of all things, and that nothing happens except by His Will and with His full knowledge.  What is known as divine decree, fate, or "destiny" is known in Arabic as al-Qadr.  The destiny of every creature is already known to God.

This belief however does not contradict with the idea of man's free will to choose his course of action.  God does not force us to do anything; we can choose whether to obey or disobey Him.  Our choice is known to God before we even do it.  We do not know what our destiny is; but God knows the fate of all things.

Therefore, we should have firm faith that whatever befalls us, it is according to God's will and with His full knowledge.  There may be things that happen in this world that we do not understand, but we should trust that God has wisdom in all things.

- islamreligion.com

Lessons from the Story of Moses and Khidr : A Journey of Lessons

 

Muslims both love and respect Moses; God mentions him in the Quran more than 120 times.  His story is told across several chapters one of them being chapter 18 -The Cave.  It is here that the story of meeting between Prophet Moses and the wise, knowledgeable man known as Khidr can be found. 

This story serves to remind us that God is the Most Wise.  God brings together two of history’s most wise men and teaches us that God’s decree stems from His supreme and absolute wisdom.  The life of a human being is sometimes beset by trials, tragedies or calamities that appear to make no sense but in retrospect we see them for what they really are, lessons from the Most Wise designed to take us closer to the supreme reward, Al-Jannah, or Paradise.   

Contentment with God’s decree, whether we initially feel it to be pleasant or unpleasant is the most important lesson we can take away from the story of Moses and Khidr.  Belief in the divine decree is one of the six pillars of the Islamic faith.  Therefore, not only accepting but also understanding what this entails is important.  The problems that we face in life can be a source of good for us.

Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, said: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer.  If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him.  If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.”[1]    

At this point, if you are not already familiar with the story of Moses and Khidr as told in the Quran it would be of great benefit to read it for yourself and have it fresh in your mind as we follow Moses on his journey.  Moses quest is to seek the man with more knowledge then he himself has.  He sets out with a boy, possibly Joshua, the pious man who leads the Children of Israel after Moses’ death.  God had instructed them to carry a live fish in a container, and said that where the fish disappeared they would find the man they were seeking.  So the story begins and throughout the story God imparts His wisdom and knowledge to us. 

While Moses was taking a nap his companion saw the fish wriggle away and slip into the water, however he forgot to inform Prophet Moses until much later when they had already moved further on up the road. When Prophet Moses realized he had moved beyond the destined point, he hastily retraced his steps to the place where the fish had entered the water. He did not scold his companion nor lament about having gone off course, or wasting time and effort.  What had happened had happened; it was the will of God.  Prophet Moses’ behaviour is that of a person satisfied with God’s decree.  Once he learned that he had stepped away from the correct path he took the necessary action to return to the right way.  This is a lesson for all of us.  In this life, so many of us choose the wrong path but are afraid or too embarrassed to rectify their mistakes!  Once a person realizes that he has committed a mistake, they should immediately set about to head in the right direction. This should never be considered a defeat; rather, it is a victory.

Upon returning to the place where the fish escaped Moses found the man he had been searching for, Khidr. God chose to educate Prophet Moses through three events that would take place during the journey of Moses with Khidr.  Khidr was hesitant to travel with Moses because he believed Moses would not have the patience to see the events through and learn from them.  However Moses was able to convince Khidr that he was anxious to learn and they set off together. 

Prophet Muhammad constantly stressed the importance of knowledge.  He tells us in his traditions that the angels pray for the scholars, that God assists the person seeking knowledge, and that the scholars are the heirs of the Prophets.   

In the first event Khidr and Moses board a ship, whereupon Khidr bores a hole in the ship making it defective and unable to sail.  Moses is horrified and labels his actions as evil.  Khidr then reminds Moses that he had agreed to have patience and not ask questions.  Moses reaffirmed his promise and they continued on, Quran tells us that when they passed by a young boy Khidr killed him.  Moses was horrified, and forgot his promise.  Khidr reminded him once again and they continued on.  At last they came to a town and asked the people to feed them for they were hungry after the long journey.  The people refused and instead of confronting the people or leaving the town Khidr rebuilt a wall that was collapsing.  Moses could not understand why he didn’t ask for payment.   Khidr then informed Moses that this was the end of their journey together but he would explain the reasons why he acted the way he did in all three situations.

Khidr had caused minor damage to the ship to protect it from greater harm.  There was a King coming behind them seizing all sea worthy vessels.  Instead of losing their boat, livelihood and possibly their lives the fishermen now had only to repair the damage.  As for taking the young boys life, he was destined to grow up and over burden his parents with his sins and actions of disbelief, therefore God intended to replace him with a pious good child.  In the final event Khidr rebuilt the wall even though the town’s people were unfriendly because God had instructed him to do so.  Beneath the wall lay a treasure that belonged to two orphan boys.  God wanted it to remain hidden until they were grown men and could take their treasure without fear of harassment or thievery for their father was a righteous man.

Khidr acted the way he did in all three situations in obedience to God’s commands, he did not choose to do these things because of his personal judgement and nor did he have absolute knowledge of the unseen.  It is important to understand that God does not create evil for its own sake, but rather it is often the forerunner of good.  These three events illustrate this point.  When we understand this we will never feel victimised or treated unfairly.  Sometimes the good in a difficult situation does not become clear until a long time afterwards, at other times it is apparent immediately.   The story of Moses and Khidr tells us to be patient and trust in the mercy and wisdom of God.   It tells us that God does not treat anyone unfairly and that His decree for us is most just and inherently generous.

- islamreligion.com

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Footnotes:

[1]Saheeh Muslim

Why Did God Create Mankind? : The Need to Remember God

 

Remembrance of God

All of the various acts of worship contained in the divine laws are designed to help humans remember God.  It is natural for human beings to sometimes forget even the most important things.  Humans often become so engrossed in fulfilling their material needs that they totally forget their spiritual needs.  Regular prayer is ordained to organize the day of the true believer around the remembrance of God.  It interweaves spiritual needs with material needs on a daily basis.  The regular daily need to eat, work and sleep is linked to the daily need to renew man’s connection with God.  With regard to regular prayer, God states in the final revelation,

“Verily, I am God, there is no god beside Me, so worship Me and establish regular prayer for My remembrance.” (Quran 20:14)

Regarding fasting, God stated in the Quran,

“O you who believe!  Fasting has been prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you that you may become God-conscious.” (Quran 2:183)

The believers are encouraged to remember God as much as possible.  Although, moderation in all spheres of life, whether material or spiritual, is generally encouraged in divine law, an exception is made regarding the remembrance of God.  It is virtually impossible to remember God too much.  Consequently, in the final revelation, God encourages the believers to remember Him as often as possible:

“O believers!  Remember God often.” (Quran 33:41)

Remembrance of God is stressed because sin is generally committed when God is forgotten.  The forces of evil operate most freely when consciousness of God is lost.  Consequently, the satanic forces seek to occupy people’s minds with irrelevant thoughts and desires to make them forget God.  Once God is forgotten, people willingly join the corrupt elements.  The final revelation, addresses this phenomenon in as follows:

“Satan got the better of them and caused them to forget God.  Those are the party of Satan.  Truly the party of Satan are the real losers.” (Quran 58:19)

God, through Divine law, has prohibited intoxicants and gambling primarily because they cause human beings to forget God.  The human mind and body easily become addicted to drugs and games of chance.  Once addicted, mankind’s desire to continually be stimulated by them leads them into all forms of corruption and violence among themselves.  God says in the Quran:

“Satan’s plan is to incite enmity and hatred among you with intoxicants and gambling, and hinder you from the remembrance of God and regular prayer.  Will you not then abstain?” (Quran 5:91)

Consequently, humankind need to remember God for their own salvation and growth.  All humans have times of weakness in which they commit sins.  If they have no means of remembering God, they sink deeper and deeper into corruption with every sin.  However, those who follow the divine laws will be constantly reminded of God, which will give them a chance to repent and correct themselves.  The final revelation accurately describes this process:

“Those who, having done something shameful or having wronged their own souls, remember God and immediately ask forgiveness for their sins...” (Quran 3:135)

The Religion of Islam

The most complete system of worship available to human beings today is the system found in the religion of Islam.  The very name ‘Islam’ means ‘submission to the will of God.’  Although it is commonly referred to as ‘the third of the three monotheistic faiths,’ it is not a new religion at all.  It is the religion brought by all of the prophets of God for mankind.  Islam was the religion of Adam, Abraham, Moses and Jesus.  God addresses this issue in the Quran with regard to Prophet Abraham, saying:

“Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was an upright Muslim who did not worship others besides God.” (Quran 3:67)

Since there is only One God, and humankind are one species, the religion which God has ordained for human beings is one.  He did not prescribe one religion for the Jews, another for Indians, yet another for Europeans, etc.  Human spiritual and social needs are uniform, and human nature has not changed since the first man and woman were created.  Consequently, no other religion is acceptable to God besides Islam, as He clearly states in the final revelation:

“Surely God’s religion is Islam…” (Quran 3:19)

“And whoever desires a religion besides Islam will not have it accepted, and he will be among the losers in the hereafter.” (Quran 3:85)

-islamreligion.com

Where is God?

 

Now and again human beings are prompted to ask themselves some of life’s truly profound questions.  In the quiet darkness of the night, when far off stars twinkle in the vast, majestic sky, or in the cold, hard, light of day when life rushes past like a speeding train, people of all colours, races and creeds wonder about the meaning of their existence.  Why are we here?  What does this all mean?  Is this all there is?

On magnificent days filled with sunshine and iridescent blue skies, people turn their faces towards the sun and contemplate its beauty.  In the deepest winter or the wildest storm, they ponder the strength inherent in the forces of nature.  Somewhere in the deep recesses of the mind, the concept of God arises.  The wonders of creation are a call to the heart and the soul.  The gentle touch of a snowflake, the smell of freshly cut lawn, the soft patter of raindrops and fierce wind of a hurricane are all reminders that this world is full of wonder.

When pain and sadness threaten to engulf us, human beings are again prompted to contemplate the meaning of life.  In the midst of suffering and grief, the concept of God arises.  Even those who would consider themselves far from religion or spiritual belief find themselves looking skywards and pleading for help.  When the heart constricts and fear swamps us, we turn helplessly towards some sort of higher power.  The concept of a God then becomes real and meaningful.

In the midst of pleading and bargaining, the sheer vastness of the universe is laid bare.  The reality of life is filled with awe and wonder.  It is a rollercoaster ride.  There are moments of great joy, and periods of immense sadness.  Life can be long and monotonous or it can be carefree.  As God arises and His majesty is clear, more questions begin to take shape.  One question that inevitably comes to mind is – where is God?

Around the world and down through the ages people have struggled to come to terms with the question of where God is.  The human inclination is to search for God.  The ancient Babylonians and Egyptians built lofty towers in their search for God.  The Persians looked for Him in fire.  Still other, such as the indigenous people of North America and the Celtic people looked for God in the glorious signs of nature around them.  Buddhists find God in themselves, and in the Hindu religion, God is believed to be in every place and in everything.

The quest for God can be confusing.  When posing the question where is God, the resulting answers can also be confusing.  God is everywhere.  God is in your heart.  God is where goodness and beauty exist.  What happens however, when your heart is empty and your surroundings are dismal, dirty, and ugly?  Does God cease to exist?  No! Of course not!  Amidst this confusion, the Islamic concept of God is a beacon of light for those stumbling in the darkness.

What Muslims believe about God is clear-cut and simple.  They do not believe that God is everywhere; they believe that God is above the heavens.  The human need to turn our faces towards the sky in times of trouble and strife is an inherent answer to the question, where is God?  God tells us in the Quran that He is the Most High (Quran 2:255) and that He is above all His Creation.

“He it is Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days and then rose over the Throne (in a manner that suits His Majesty).  He knows what goes into the earth and what comes forth from it, what descends from the heaven and what ascends thereto.  And He is with you (by His Knowledge) wheresoever you may be.  And God is the All-Seer of what you do.” (Quran 57:4)

Prophet Muhammad was known to point towards the sky when referring to God.  When making supplication to God he raised his hands towards the heavens.  During his Farewell sermon, Prophet Muhammad asked the people, “Have I not conveyed the message?” and they said, “Yes!”  He asked again, “Have I not conveyed the message?” and they said, “Yes!”  He asked a third time, “Have I not conveyed the message?” and they said “Yes!”  Each time, he said, “O God, bear witness!” - at the same time pointing up to the sky and then at the people.[1]

God is above the heavens, above His creation.  This however does not mean that He is contained by any sort of physical dimensions.  God is close, very close, to those who believe in Him and He answers their every call.  God knows all of our secrets, dreams, and wishes, nothing is hidden from Him.  God is with His creation by His knowledge and power.  God is the Creator and the Sustainer.  Nothing comes into existence except by His will.

When Muslims marvel at the wonders of the universe they are secure in the knowledge that God, the Most High, is above the heavens, and comforted by the fact that He is with them in all their affairs.  When a Muslim is struck by loss or grief, he does not question God’s wisdom, or ask the question, ‘where was God when I was sad, or grieving or suffering?’  Humankind was created to worship God, (Quran 51:56) and God said many times that trials and tribulations would be part of our life experience.

“And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six Days ...that He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds.” (Quran 11:7)

In their darkest night, or their darkest hour humankind instinctively looks towards the sky.  When their hearts beat heavily and fear threatens to overwhelm them, people turn to God.  They raise their hands and beg for mercy, forgiveness, or kindness, and God responds;  For He is the Most Merciful, the Most Forgiving and the Most Kind.  God is distinct and separate from His creation, and there is nothing like Him.  He is All Hearing and All seeing.  (Quran 42:11)  Hence when we ask the question where is God, the answer is undoubtedly, He is above the heavens and above all His creation. We also say that He is not in need of any of His creation and all of creation needs Him..

- islamreligion.com

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Footnotes:

[1]The text of the Farewell Sermon can be found in Saheeh Bukhari and Saheeh Muslim,  and in the books of At Tirmidhi and Imam Ahmad.