Opinions of Sunday, 21 August 2016
Columnist: Sheik Ishaak Nuamah
If human beings were to come into being by accident or by sheer chance, their entire life would be based on chance, and their whole existence would be meaningless.
But no sensible person can conceive of his/her life as meaningless, and no rational being would leave his/her existence at the mercy of fluctuating chance. All reasonable human beings try to make their life as meaningful as possible and set for themselves a model of conduct according to some design.
Individuals, groups and nations do plan their course of action, and every careful plan produces some desired effects. The fact of the matter is that the human being does engage in planning of one sort or another, and can appreciate the merits of good planning.
Yet, the human being represents only a very small portion of the great universe. And if he can make plans and appreciate the merits of planning, then his own existence and the survival of the universe must also be based on a planned policy.
This means that there is a Designing Will behind our material existence, and that there is a Unique Mind in the world to bring things into being and keep them in order.
The marvelous wonders of our world and the secrets of life are too great to be the product of random accident or mere chance.
In the world, then, there must be a Great Force in action to keep everything in order. Behind the beauties of nature there must be a Great Creator Who creates the most charming pieces of art and produces everything for a special purpose in life.
This Force is the strongest of all Forces, and this Artist is the greatest of all artists. The true believers and deeply enlightened people recognise this Creator and call Him Allah or God.
He is neither the sun nor is He the moon or any other star, because these things are controlled by a great system, and are themselves made by someone else.
He is different from all these things, because He is the Maker and Keeper of them all. The maker of anything must be different from and greater than the thing which he makes.
We also know that nothing can come to life on its own and that the marvelous world did not create itself or come into existence by accident.
The continuous changes in the world prove that it is made, and everything which is made must have a maker of some sort.
The Maker and Sustainer of the world, the Creator of and Provider for man, the Active Force and Effective Power in nature, are all one and the same, and that is known to be Allah or God.
This is the Secret of all secrets and the Most Supreme of all beings.
The Quran, the True Book of God, says: "It is God Who has made the night for you, that you may rest therein, and the day to see. Truly God is full of Grace and Bounty to men. Yet most men give no thanks. Such is God, your Lord, the Creator of all things.
“There is no God but He; why then do you turn away from Him. Thus are turned away those who deny the signs of God. It is God Who has made for you the earth as a residing place and the sky as a shelter, and has given you shape and made your shapes beautiful and has provided for you sustenance of things good and pure, such is God your Lord.
“So glory be to God, the Lord of the worlds! He is the Living (One); There is no god but He: Call you Him, giving Him sincere devotion. Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds. Qur’an 40:61-5
"It is God Who has subjected the sea to you that ships may sail through it by His command, that you may seek of His Bounty and that you may be grateful. And He has subjected to you, as from Him, all that is in the heavens and on earth. Behold; in that there are signs indeed for those who reflect." Quran 45:12-13.
The Supreme Master of the whole world and the Creator of everything is Allah (God). Because He is Infinitely Great and different from all other beings, man can know Him only by reflection and through meditation.
He exists at all times, and His great power is in action everywhere in the world. Man has to believe in His existence because everything in the world proves that He exists.
Belief in God and His great power alone can provide mankind with the best explanation of many mysterious things in life.
This is the safest way to true knowledge and spiritual insight, the right path to good behaviour and sound morals, the surest guide to happiness and prosperity.
The writer is a Theologian/ Educationist ([email protected])