Second Lecture
The Consequences of Knowing God in our Lives

1. Theism and the Advancement of Knowledge

Suppose your friend brought you a book as a present and told you that it was written by an all-knowing and ingenious author…

You would never study such a book indifferently or perfunctorily. Rather, you would contemplate on every single sentence and on every word. If you could not understand the meaning of any sentence at first glance, you would study it once again to have a better comprehension of it. This is because you were told the writer was not a usual one; on the contrary, you were told that he had special talents.

But suppose you had been told that the book was not written by an expert, but rather by a mediocre writer whose judgments were not to be trusted.

Under such conditions you would not take the book seriously and you would attribute any incomprehensibility in the text to the ignorance of the writer.

The world of existence resembles a huge book in which every word stands for a creature. From the viewpoint of every believer, every particle of this universe is worth our serious attention. A believer in God tries, under the light of theism, to delve into the mysteries of existence with utmost curiosity (and this curiosity has led man to improve his knowledge) since he is aware that The Creator of the Universe is The Almighty God who is The Great Knower.

Such a pious man would easily realize that even the minutest part of The Creator’s work has been designed on the basis of a special wisdom. For this reason, such a person would study the universe more deeply in the hope of comprehending more of the mysteries of this world.

A materialist on the contrary, would not feel the need for profound study of the mysteries of the world since he would attribute the whole of existence to unintelligent nature. However, there are some materialistic scientists who are convinced that a god exists but name this creator nature. This is because in their view nature is extremely well-organized.

In sum, theism is a means for the enhancement of the sciences and human knowledge.

2. Theism, Endeavors and Hopes

When man is confronted with worldly complexities and he feels desperate and alone, belief in God comes to his rescue and enables him to face his problems.

Those who believe in God do not envisage themselves as alone; neither do they feel helpless. This is because God’s Power and Might is beyond all obstacles and no hurdle exists for Him.

True believers with their trust in Allah’s Benevolence, struggle against difficulties with all their strength and do so while they are hopeful of God’s Magnificence that He will remove all obstacles.

It is a fact that belief in God is a fortified place for man; good faith is a means for man’s endurance and stamina; faith in God steadily kindles the light of hope in the hearts of genuine believers.

For this very reason, righteous believers never try to commit suicide. This is because the feeling to commit suicide is a characteristic of quitters, losers and desperate people. The true believer neither becomes hopeless or disappointed, nor does he feel failure or boredom.

3. Theism and the Sense of Responsibility

We know some physicians who provide poor, wretched sick persons with money to fill prescriptions without even asking them for the medical fees. They would even stay at a poor person’s dilapidated house if they feel that the person was in danger. Such physicians are truly pious.

On the other hand, there are some physicians who would not do anything for the poor and sick without first receiving the necessary fees. Such physicians suffer from a lack of faith.

A truly religious individual should always feel a sense of responsibility; he is generous and beneficent. He senses an internal policeman within himself at all times who watches his deeds continuously.

Faithless people however are self-centered, despotic and dangerous. They do not assume any responsibility. It is easy for them to hurt others and abstain from doing good deeds.

4. Theism and Peace of Mind

Psychologists and psychoanalysts inform us that mental diseases are more prevalent in our time than at any other time in the past. They add that one of the factors behind such mental problems is anxiety and worry over future events. Worries over death, wars, poverty and failure are also disturbing in our time.

These scientists add that one of the factors that alleviate worries is faith. This is because one’s conviction and faith deter one from anxiety.

The Benevolent, Generous God, Who is familiar with every action performed by His servants, will help them if they ask Him for assistance. Then the servants will feel peace of mind for they know that God looks after them.

That is why genuine religious people feel tranquil at all times. They are not worried and anxious because they serve God in their deeds. If they lose something in the process, they know they could ask God for compensation. They are delighted even on the war front. The Holy Qur’¡n says in this regard:

الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ وَلَمْ يَلْبِسُواْ إِيمَانَهُم بِظُلْمٍ أُوْلَئِكَ لَهُمُ الأَمْنُ.

Those who believe and do not mix up their faith with iniquity, those are they who shall have security. [Qur’¡n 6:82]

THINK AND ANSWER

Third Lecture
Theism from two Secure Paths

Since antiquity, books about theism have been published and debates have been conducted constantly among experts.

Each scholar has adopted his own special technique and approach to the problem. However, there are two approaches which could safely guide us towards the Great Creator:

1. The way from within (which is the shortest way);

2. The way from without (which is the most enlightened way).

Through the first approach, we will come in contact with our consciences and listen to the call of monotheism from our inner selves.

Through the second approach, we will search in the wide world of creation and observe every sign of God on the forehead of every creature and any particle. Each one of these two approaches calls for a lengthy discussion. However, we will try to briefly discuss each approach.

The Approach from Within

Let us ponder over the following points:

Scientists inform us that anyone who thinks, from whatever race or class, if he himself examines without any special instruments, even to the extent of not hearing about the debate between the believers and the materialists, he would realize that there is a great power supervising the universe which is beyond the material world.

In the bottom of his heart, such a person will feel a delicate call inviting him towards an awesome source of knowledge and power that we call God. This is the call of our pure and flawless conscience.

A person might get distracted by the flashy, material aspects of life and might not hear this call. His involvement in worldly things might hinder him from listening to his own conscience. However, if this person were confronted with natural calamities such as earthquakes and floods, or a wrecked airplane in a hazardous climate, his inner feelings would overwhelm him and would drive him towards the Almighty God whose power lies beyond all other powers.

There are only a very few people in this world who would not resort to such a power at the time of disaster and misery. Of course, this innate feeling is always within us but it is amplified during calamities.

History has repeatedly shown us that those powerful statesmen who would normally abstain from calling God’s name have resorted to God when they felt the very pillars of their power and strength shaky and vulnerable.

Islamic history gives the account of Pharaoh, that when he found himself in the middle of the billowing waves crashing down upon him and realized that the very water which was the basis of the prosperity of his land and of his people was ordered to destroy him, he shouted out in his time of misery, confessing, “Now I admit that there is no God except for the God of Moses.” This cry emanated from his very conscience. Pharaoh and other people hear this call of conscience in the time of misery.

If you look within yourself and search your heart, you will acknowledge the presence of a light deep inside your heart which constantly leads you towards God. You might have repeatedly been faced with delicate problems the solution to which might have been beyond your power. Under such hard conditions you might definitely have resorted to the Supreme Power.

Under such circumstances, a hope mingled with love for that power encompasses your turbulent soul and puts aside the gloomy rays of despair.

However, there remains this touchy question: Is it not possible that we resort to God only because we have been conditioned by environmental factors and parental influence, and that the inner conscience is not the crucial factor?

One is justified to make such an assumption. However, we will present you with a solution in the following lecture. For the time being, let us hear what the Holy Qur’¡n says regarding this issue:

فَإِذَا رَكِبُوا فِي الْفُلْكِ دَعَوْا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ فَلَمَّا نَجَّاهُمْ إِلَى الْبَرِّ إِذَا هُمْ يُشْرِكُونَ.

So when they ride in the ships they call upon Allah, being sincerely obedient to Him, but when He brings them safe to the land, lo! They associate others with Him. [Qur’¡n, 29:65]

Think and Answer