The Quranic verses handle dialogue about God's existence through cosmic phenomena. This shows the Quran's practical approach. It does not discuss the issue in an abstract philosophical manner. Abstraction can make the issue non-figurative and leave the intellect inanimate. The Quran debates the issue as a living being. This dialogue fills life with dynamism and renewal. It calls upon man to give thanks to God and worship Him. It connects knowing God to man's need to be thankful for His graces. This makes identifying with God an end in itself and a means to thanksgiving. Man cannot thank or worship something he does not know. The universe and its magnificent things are proofs of God's existence. They are also blessings man ought to appreciate.
This approach makes faith move with the day-to-day movement of life. It moves with the vast universe surrounding man. It gives life an impetus to develop, renew, and carry on. This helps Muslim proselytizers feel part of life during dialogue. It stops others from feeling lost in a haze of abstract ideas. The question of knowing Allah becomes the issue of life itself. It is about life's strength, vibrancy, and continuity. It is not an issue of imagination seeking a foothold in the real world.
The Holy Quran is full of this approach. Here are a few examples:
"And Allah has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and intellect that perhaps you would be grateful." Surah An-Nahl (16:78)
"Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe? And We placed within the earth firmly set mountains, lest it should shift with them, and We made therein [mountain] passes [as] roads that they might be guided. And We made the sky a protected ceiling, but they, from its signs, are turning away." Surah Al-Anbiya (21:30-32)
"Have you not considered your Lord - how He extends the shadow, and if He willed, He could have made it stationary? Then We made the sun for it an indication. Then We hold it in hand for a brief grasp. And it is He who has made the night for you as clothing and sleep [a means for] rest and has made the day a resurrection. And it is He who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy, and We send down from the sky pure water. That We may bring to life thereby a dead land and give it as drink to those We created of numerous livestock and men." Surah Al-Furqan (25:45-49)
As we read these verses, we feel God's presence in our entire life. From our inception to completion, in eating, drinking, and moving, we perceive His power. It is an issue entwined with the secret of life. We cannot be separated from it, not even for a second. Detachment from it would mean detachment from the import of existence. It would become a hypothesis lost among probabilities.
These examples provide Muslim proselytizers with material for discussing any life domain. Once they establish this connection, they can discuss the Divine notion as worthy of debate. This gives it a rational meaning in raising public awareness of Allah.
This role is especially important in the scientific domain. Sciences like botany, zoology, physics, and chemistry can yield secrets. These secrets serve in gaining true knowledge about Allah, the Most Exalted.
Extracted from the Book: “Islam: The religion of dialogue”, p: 111-112
The Quranic verses handle dialogue about God's existence through cosmic phenomena. This shows the Quran's practical approach. It does not discuss the issue in an abstract philosophical manner. Abstraction can make the issue non-figurative and leave the intellect inanimate. The Quran debates the issue as a living being. This dialogue fills life with dynamism and renewal. It calls upon man to give thanks to God and worship Him. It connects knowing God to man's need to be thankful for His graces. This makes identifying with God an end in itself and a means to thanksgiving. Man cannot thank or worship something he does not know. The universe and its magnificent things are proofs of God's existence. They are also blessings man ought to appreciate.
This approach makes faith move with the day-to-day movement of life. It moves with the vast universe surrounding man. It gives life an impetus to develop, renew, and carry on. This helps Muslim proselytizers feel part of life during dialogue. It stops others from feeling lost in a haze of abstract ideas. The question of knowing Allah becomes the issue of life itself. It is about life's strength, vibrancy, and continuity. It is not an issue of imagination seeking a foothold in the real world.
The Holy Quran is full of this approach. Here are a few examples:
"And Allah has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and intellect that perhaps you would be grateful." Surah An-Nahl (16:78)
"Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe? And We placed within the earth firmly set mountains, lest it should shift with them, and We made therein [mountain] passes [as] roads that they might be guided. And We made the sky a protected ceiling, but they, from its signs, are turning away." Surah Al-Anbiya (21:30-32)
"Have you not considered your Lord - how He extends the shadow, and if He willed, He could have made it stationary? Then We made the sun for it an indication. Then We hold it in hand for a brief grasp. And it is He who has made the night for you as clothing and sleep [a means for] rest and has made the day a resurrection. And it is He who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy, and We send down from the sky pure water. That We may bring to life thereby a dead land and give it as drink to those We created of numerous livestock and men." Surah Al-Furqan (25:45-49)
As we read these verses, we feel God's presence in our entire life. From our inception to completion, in eating, drinking, and moving, we perceive His power. It is an issue entwined with the secret of life. We cannot be separated from it, not even for a second. Detachment from it would mean detachment from the import of existence. It would become a hypothesis lost among probabilities.
These examples provide Muslim proselytizers with material for discussing any life domain. Once they establish this connection, they can discuss the Divine notion as worthy of debate. This gives it a rational meaning in raising public awareness of Allah.
This role is especially important in the scientific domain. Sciences like botany, zoology, physics, and chemistry can yield secrets. These secrets serve in gaining true knowledge about Allah, the Most Exalted.
Extracted from the Book: “Islam: The religion of dialogue”, p: 111-112