Human Intellect and the Free Will 30th June 2019

The manifestation of enjoying free will. 

(Reading Time: 5 minutes)

God announced to the Angels when He created Adam and Eve: Qur'an (2:30): "When your Lord said to the angels: ‘I am placing on the earth one that shall rule as My deputy,’ they replied: ‘Will You put there one that will do evil and shed blood when we have for so long sung Your praises and sanctified Your name”. God shared with Adam the names of the people to come who shall fare, as the Qur'an (4:69) puts it: “...prophets, the truthful, the ones who testify the truth and the righteous men” exercising their will freely without coercion. Who shall not do evil and shed blood.

The 'free will' that we enjoy has been coupled with the definitive sense of morality from what is wrong from right: Qur’an (91:7-8): “We created the souls and we proportioned it. Then He showed him what is wrong for him and what is right for him”. Through these facets which constitute this species as a homosapien, literally meaning a wise man, God tests us to reach the Truth. It follows that the only manner one is expected to reach the Truth is through the employment of one’s intellect.

For this world to be a testing place, it only makes sense to reach some conclusions based on employing our intellect. Human beings, when deciphering and treading on the path of discovering the realities of the universe as a 'Traveller in the Quest for Truth', in effect do so at one’s level of intellect! Religion or seeking God or seeking the 'Truth' shall remain replete with differences of opinion.

What an exhilarating ride then!

Here again, the Qur’an (7:42) gives a fair account of this 'quest for truth': "But those who believed and did righteous deeds - We charge no soul except [within] its capacity. Those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally". This 'testing place' becomes a great, glorious journey of life! One needs to employ one's intellect and faculties to see what is beyond. That is when God appears in His full Glory and Majesty.

Let there be differences of opinion in this quest for truth!

Let the pursuit be sincere, without prejudice, rising above an arrogant demeanour, revisiting our tenets of faith based on intellect at a conscious level. This is exactly what was meant by God when He declared that He intends each human being to have free will.

The question then arises: How do we see the importance of God granting each of us this FREE WILL within OUR lives?

Aamir Yazdani

 

Dr. Zakir Naik's Reply to a Hindu on the Criterion of Entering God's Paradise 15th June 2019

Respected Dr. Zakir Naik addressing a young Hindu woman in a YouTube clip said that being a Muslim is the key to entering Jannat. 

At the end of the answer, the Muslims sitting there clapped. The clapping showed the Muslims considered themselves heaven-bound and the Hindus (non-Muslims) hell-bound. This is very demeaning to other religions. This is sad! How can Muslims be complacent about their being chosen to enter God's chosen Paradise? Had Dr. Zakir Naik been born a Hindu, I think he would have declared that being a Hindu is the key to entering Bhagwan's (God's) paradise!

God is most fair. He has laid down simple criteria to enter His chosen Paradise: Qur'an (2:62): "Surely those who believe, and those who are Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in Allah and the Last day and does good, they shall have their reward from their Lord, and there is no fear for them, nor shall they grieve". Likewise in the Qur'an (5:69): "Surely those who believe and those who are Jews and the Sabians and the Christians whoever believes in Allah and the last day and does good-they shall have no fear nor shall they grieve". 

Further, the Qur'an (2:111-113): "And they say, "None will enter Paradise except one who is a Jew or a Christian." That is [merely] their wishful thinking, Say, "Produce your proof, if you should be truthful." Yes [on the contrary], whoever submits his face to God while being a doer of good will have his reward with his Lord. And no fear will there be concerning them, nor will they grieve". 

The birth of a soul in any faith DOES NOT make one heaven or hell-bound. Only the 'conscious' relationship with God, based on one's capability, determines one's salvation: Qur'an (7:42): "But those who believed and did righteous deeds - We charge no soul except [within] its capacity. Those are the companions of Paradise; they will abide therein eternally". 

God is (most) fair!

Aamir Yazdani