Some Other Important Matters of Faith in Islam

[ابوالوليد المسلم]

Some Other Important Matters of Faith in Islam (2/2)

Prof. C.A. Babu




6. Belief in Rational Thinking
Faith is not complete when it is followed or accepted blindly. A person who calls himself a Muslim because of his family traditions, or because he has accepted Islam under coercion or blind imitation is not a complete Muslim in the sight of Allah. Faith is to be founded on unshakable convictions based on profound inquiry. A Muslim must build his Faith on firm belief devoid of any doubt or uncertainty. Then only, Faith can inspire action. Unless Faith is harmonized with practice, it cannot lead to salvation.
“Do they not look at the Camels, how they are made? And at the Sky, how it is raised high? And at the Mountains, how they are fixed firm? And at the Earth, how it is spread out?” [The Qur’an Ch: 88 Al-Ghaashiyah, Verses: 17-20]


7. Belief in the Distinction between the Qur’an and the Hadith
There is a clear distinction between the Qur’an and the Hadith, the traditions of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be upon him). The Qur’an is the word of Allah whereas the Traditions of the Prophet are the practical interpretations of the Qur’an. The Prophet’s role was to convey the Qur’an as he received it, to interpret it, and to practice it fully. Such interpretations and practices of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings be upon him) are known as the Hadith, or his Traditions. They are considered the second source of Islam and must be in complete harmony with the Qur’an, which is the first source - the standard and the criterion.
“Obey God, and obey the Apostle: but if ye turn away, he is only responsible for the duty placed on him and ye for that placed on you. If ye obey him, ye shall be on right guidance.” [The Qur’an Ch: 24 Al-Nur, Verse: 54]


Sayings of Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Blessings Be upon Him)
• The ink of the scholar is more holy than the blood of the martyr.
• He who travels in the search of knowledge, to him God shows the way of Paradise.
• Be in the world like a traveler, or like a passer on, and reckon yourself as of the dead.
• Appreciate five things before five others: your youth before your old age, your health before your illness, your wealth before your poverty, your spare time before your hard work and your life before death.
• God does not judge you according to your appearance and your wealth, but He looks at your hearts and looks into your deeds.
• You must give the laborer his full wages even before his perspiration is dry on his body.
• You should not look down upon those who work for you, for they are your brothers whose care has been entrusted to you by Allah and who are the true supporters of your prosperity.
• Whoever has food for a day and a night, it is prohibited for him to beg.
• The love of the world is the root of all evil.
• Wealth properly employed is a blessing; and a man may lawfully endeavor to increase it by honest means.
• It is difficult for a man laden with riches to climb the steep path which leads to bliss.
• The taker of usury and the giver of it, and the writer of its papers and the witness to it, are equal in crime.
• There are two characteristics which cannot be found together in a believer; greediness and a vicious temper.


What Some Reverted Muslims said about Islam:
“I have become a Muslim by force of my study and I have a great regard for it. The Muslims have got Islam as a legacy, hence they fail to recognize its value. In fact, during all the troubles and problems I faced in my life, Islam proved the only cradle of peace and comfort. Whatever thanks I repay to Allah, The Almighty and Exalted, is much less in comparison to what I have got by way of this Blessing.” Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall, England.


“The Holy Qur’an which was revealed nearly fourteen hundred years ago contains even such ayahs which have been discovered with respect to its scientific value much later through scientific research. And this discovery was sufficient for me to believe that the second part of the Kalimah is also believable.”


Ali Sulaiman Banoist, France.
“I was startled to know that a sense of praise emerged from my sub-conscious for those who were still firm in following their religion. This feeling created in me a soft corner for Islam and a desire arose for knowing about that religion.”


Dr. Ta’lim Ali, (formerly Thomas Irving, Canada).
“My study is vast, but the impression produced by the style of expression of the Holy Qur’an has no parallel and can’t be described in words. I thought as if Allah, the Almighty, was Himself addressing me with all His Blessings and Benedictions, and the Qur’an was going to be revealed on me. I felt pity at the Muslims treating Qur’an as they do. They go on reading this Book of Allah like novels. They neither ponder over its meaning nor stop at any point to understand its glory.”


Dr. Ataullah Budgan, Poland.
“Islam has forged in one relation of brotherhood all the people taken out from the boundaries of culture, color and region. So far as marriage and marital life is concerned, they have very deep roots in Islam, and social and biological realties have set the seal of truth upon them. In comparison to the superficial and so-called monogamy of the West, family principles, traditions and regulations of Islam are more practicable.”


Ismail Wieslaw Jazierski, Poland.
“All the comforts, glitters and luxuries are nothing in comparison to the blessings of Islam, the religion of Allah. This alone contains real spiritual happiness, blessings of the world and salvation in the Hereafter.”


Fatima Hereen, Germany.