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[eme]

The word "Islam" is an Arabic word which means "submission to the will of God". This word comes from the same root as the Arabic word "salam", which means "peace". As such, the religion of Islam teaches that in order to achieve true peace of mind and surety of heart, one must submit to God and live according to His Divinely revealed Law. The most important truth that God revealed to mankind is that there is nothing divine or worthy of being worshipped except for Almighty God, thus all human beings should submit to Him.

The word "Muslim" means one who submits to the will of God, regardless of their race, nationality or ethnic background. Being a Muslim entails willful submission and active obedience to God, and living in accordance with His message. Some people mistakenly believe that Islam is just a religion for Arabs, but nothing could be further from the truth. Not only are there converts to Islam in every corner of the world, especially in England and America, but by taking a look at the Muslim World from Bosnia to Nigeria, and from Indonesia to Morocco, one can clearly see that Muslims come from many various races, ethnic groups and nationalities. It is also interesting to note that in actuality, more than 80% of all Muslims are not Arabs - there are more Muslims in Indonesia than in the whole Arab World! So though even though it is true that most Arabs are Muslims, the large majority of Muslims are not Arabs. However, anyone who submits completely to God and worships Him alone is a Muslim.
_________________
That's life. you can't change it.

[pugachevV]

How do you know there is a god?

[Bob S.]

[pugachevV]

Whereupon you find out that:
a). Allah is merciful, but not merciful enough, or quick enough, to matter to you.
b). Someone has sold you the Brooklyn Bridge.

[eme]

Mankind, in general, has maintained a belief in the existence of the Creator of the Universe since time immemorial. The duty of the prophets of Allaah was not so much to inform their people of Allaah's existence as to warn them against associating others with Him, and to teach them how to serve Him. Allaah Says (what means): "Their messengers said, 'Is there any doubt concerning Allaah, the originator of the Heavens and the Earth?'" [Quran 14:10]

The early Muslim scholars did not even have to address the issue of the Existence of Allaah, for it was a blatantly obvious fact, which nobody questioned. It was only around the fourth century after the Prophet's migration to Madeenah, when people's doctrine started being infiltrated with atheism and permeated by unbelief, that the scholars had to address the issue.

The existence of Allaah is established by various categories of proofs, which may be conveniently classified under four categories.

Scriptural evidence

The major religions of the world have scriptures, which teach the existence of the Creator. In particular, the Quran, the only revealed book which has remained totally intact and preserved, establishes the existence of Allaah by compelling rational arguments, while at the same time serving as an enduring miracle testifying to His reality. It decisively establishes His uniqueness and non-resemblance to creation, and emphasizes that worship is only for Him.

The proof of "Fitrah" (natural inborn belief in Allaah)

As already mentioned, the human being has an inherent and inborn recognition of his Creator. This is a consequence of a pledge which Allaah took from the soul of every one of us before we came into this world, Allaah Says (what means): "And [remember], when your Lord took from the children of Aadam, their children behind them, and made them testify over their own selves, [saying to them], 'Am I not your Lord?' They said, 'Yea.'"[Quran 7:172]



Every human being is born with this natural disposition, which is called in Arabic "Fitrah". Abu Hurayrah has reported that the Messenger of Allaah () said: "Every child is born upon Fitrah, then it is his parents who make him Jewish, or Christian, or Magian (Zoroastrian), just as an animal delivers a perfect baby animal; do you find it mutilated?" [Al-Bukhaari]

But, this "Fitrah" sometimes becomes latent, especially when the human being is in a corrupt and spiritually degenerate environment, which is devoid of reminder and exhortation towards the Lord. The "Fitrah" surfaces, however, in times of calamity and distress. How many avowed atheists find themselves raising their hands to the skies in supplication when in affliction! And how do the staunch unbelievers cry out for deliverance when they are faced with death!

Allaah Says (what means): "[Allaah] it is who causes you to travel over land and sea; until, when you are in the ships, and they sail with [their passengers] with a fair breeze, and they are glad therein, a tempestuous wind reaches them, waves are coming at them from everywhere, and they think that they are overwhelmed therein; [then] they call to Allaah, making their faith pure for Him [alone], 'If You save us from this, we will surely be among the thankful!'" [Quran 10:22] Yet, this sincerity is often short-lived. Allaah Says (what means): "Then, when He saves them, behold, they rebel upon the earth wrongfully." [Quran, 10:23]

Mankind is all too apt, during the course of his daily life of comfort and enjoyment, to forget his Lord. Allaah Says (what means): "And when some trauma touches man, he calls to his Lord, turning repentant to Him. Then, when He grants him a favor from Himself, he forgets that for which he called to Him before, and sets up partners to Allaah." [Quran 39:8]

It is to awaken and alert this "Fitrah" that Allaah, in His mercy and wisdom, sent Messengers to remind people of their true religion, and to direct them towards fulfilling their commission of serving their Lord. Allaah has ordered His prophet to proclaim, Allaah Says (what means): "O mankind! If you are in [any] doubt regarding my religion, then [know that] I do not worship those whom you worship besides Allaah, but I worship Allaah Who will take your souls." [Quran 10:104]

The specific mention of death here drives home the stark reality, which even the pagans must concede to when faced with the glaring, intuitive evidence, that Allaah alone causes death. The rational individual, then, should prepare for this inevitability by responding to his Lord. Islam is merely a hearkening by man to his nature, an acceptance of that which is naturally good and intuitively right. Allaah Says (what means): "So, set your face toward the religion in uprightness. That is the "Fitrah" of Allaah, upon which He has created mankind. Let there be no changing of Allaah's creation." [Quran 30:30]

There are others who stubbornly resist this truth and reject Allaah's message when it is presented before them, although they are well aware of its veracity. This was the attitude of Pharaoh and his supporters, and its consequences are severe, in this world and the Hereafter, Allaah Says (what means): "They rejected [Our signs], although their own souls were convinced of their truth, [and this they did] out of iniquity and arrogance. See, then, what was the sequel for those who cause corruption!" [Quran 27:14]

Yet, even hardened deniers who stand in the way of truth and resist it may grab hold of it at the last moment, before it is too late, for on account of the surfacing of the "Fitrah", a disbeliever who is faced with death on the battlefield may suddenly embrace Islam. The Muslim who fights in Jihaad will similarly be exposed to death frequently, thus enhancing and sharpening his awareness of Allaah.

Rational proof

It is intuitively obvious, and confirmed by science, that the universe had a beginning. Every action requires a doer, and thus the existence of creation necessarily indicates the existence of the Creator. Allaah appeals to the human mind and rationality in the Quran, saying, (which means): "Were they created from nothing, or are they [themselves] the creators?" [Quran 52:35]. Quite obviously, we have been created, and brought into existence after being non-existent, and it is also plain that we do not create ourselves.



A few years ago, the sands in the "Rub' Al-Khaali" desert (the Empty Quarter) were blown away by a windstorm to reveal the ruins of a city that had been covered by the sands. Scientists began to examine the contents of the city to try to determine the period in which it had been built. Nobody among the archaeologists or others even suggested that this city could have appeared as a result of the natural actions of the wind, rain, heat and cold, and not by the actions of man. If anyone had suggested such a thing, people would have regarded him as crazy and would have taken pity on him. So how about if someone had said that this city was formed by the air from nothing in the far distant past, then it settled on the earth?

Having recognized the necessity of the existence of a Creator, one then realizes that there can only be one Creator. Allaah Says (what means): "If there were in [the heavens and the earth] gods other than Allaah, [the heavens and earth] would surely have been disordered." [Quran 21:22] Allaah Says (what means): "Allaah has not taken a son, nor is there any god with Him, for in that case, each god would assuredly have championed that which he created, and some of them would surely have overcome others. Glorified be Allaah above that which they allege!" [Quran, 23:91] Further, this one and only Creator cannot possibly resemble creation. Allaah Says (what means): "Is, then, He Who creates, like he who does not create? Do you not reflect?" [Quran 16:17]

Perceptual experience

We witness and experience the answering of prayers, and this in itself indicates the existence of Allaah. Allaah Says (what means): "When you sought help of your Lord, and He answered you."[Quran 8:9] Al-Bukhaari and Muslim have both narrated the Prophet's saying in which a bedouin asked the Prophet () to pray for rain, since crops were perishing and people were starving. The prophet prayed to Allaah for rain, and almost immediately clouds began to gather and it began raining heavily. Also in this category of evidence are the miracles which people witness at the hands of their prophets, including the splitting of the moon by Muhammad (), and the enduring miracle of the Quran.

Finally, we should bear in mind that abundant as the proofs may be, they are only of avail to those who honestly and sincerely search for the truth. As for those obdurate ones who simply refuse to believe, they will not cease their idle disputation. Allaah Says (what means): "And they say, 'Our hearts are in a covering from that to which you call us, and in our ears is a deafness, and between us and you is a veil, so act, we [also] are acting." [Quran 41:5] Allaah Says (what means): "Those against whom the decree of your Lord has been verified, will not believe, although every sign should come to them, until they see the painful punishment." [Quran 10:96-97]

_________________
That's life. you can't change it.

[pugachevV]

[Philo Kevetch]

Why not take your proselytizations over to the "Opinions Forum"?

Oh, and do yourself a favo(u)r.... skip the

RABID FANATICAL SHOUTING STYLE.

[Lorikeet]

Yes. I have trouble reading anything that is written in all capitals (shouting), especially in a larger size. If you have a point to make, it's better to just state it.

[eme]

Hi�..

pugachevV & Bob S.

I like to use a large line in most of my writing not to shout but to make the idea clearly.

Also, I was so happy when pugachevV asked me about How do we know there is a god?

Because he want to know more and more about Muslims thoughts

And I will change my writing to small line so don't be angry�

Thank you for your replays
_________________
That's life. you can't change it.

[pugachevV]

I hate to disappoint you eme, as you appear to be sincere. I do not believe in Allah, God, Yahweh, or in any god at all.
If you feel the need to believe in some big protector that nobody can see, I understand that it may comfort you, but I think it is a sign of weakness.
Nevertheless, I don't try to shake your belief.
The problem with the followers of Islam is that they want to force everyone to believe as they do and kill everyone else.

Even though they are always saying, "Allah is merciful."

[eme]

Hi pugachevV...

Thank you again to share us your opinion but may i ask you a question?

In your thought who creat us?

[pugachevV]

...slay the pagans where you may come upon them, and take them captive, and besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every conceivable place" (9:5).

That's what it says in the translation of the Qu'ran that I have seen.

I know apologists for Islam try to say it applies only to self-defence, but it doesn't actually say that. It only says kill all the infidels except those with whom you have made a covenant as long as they they have not broken their obligations to you.

The Qu'ran was written around 1400 years ago. What may have been acceptable then, is not acceptable now. These words are taken literally by far too many Muslims, and have been used by unscrupulous, so-called "holy men" as a means to achieve their political ends.

[k.m.m]

[asterix]

So, once again we come to the point where you cannot refute what it says in your book.
Are you hoping nobody will question it?
Believe me, it will always be questioned, because in the Western Democracies, there is a well-educated population who do not accept everything that some "holy" source tells them.

[k.m.m]