“Each child is born in a state of “pure monotheism”, then his parents make him a Jew, Christian or another religion” (Bukhari)
According to this statement of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), everyone enters this world with the basic knowledge of the oneness of God and the difference between right and wrong. Of course after being born innocent, we are all then subject to the influence of our family and society at large. If a child is born to non-Muslim parents then it can be assumed that they will raise their child according to their own system of belief. The child has no say in the matter until they reach the age of discernment. However, all humans are born with the instinctive attachment to God without the influence of doctrine. This spirituality draws them closer to the Creator of this World. For many, this inclination opens their eyes and causes them to reflect upon the validity of their own beliefs. It also empowers them to ask questions and seek knowledge to ensure that they are following the correct path of righteousness.
The right to choose our own religion is the most powerful choice any of us can make. Some humans choose to believe and worship in a certain manner because that is what they saw their parents doing. Others turn down the misguided path of Atheism, perhaps, because they have become disillusioned with religion altogether or because a smooth-talking scientist caught their attention with their assertions that this World merely evolved by chance. Even a child could make an argument to refute this claim that has taken, so-called, scientists years to formulate. For example, if a child indiscriminately throws several building blocks into the air, the blocks land randomly to the floor. The blocks don’t land in the formation of a perfectly stacked building! Neither do they land in any form whatsoever. The same thing goes for the universe. We see a vast system of complex organization, especially here on the Earth. Everything is explicitly planned and structured according to a plan. So, who planned it all?
The Planner
The answer to who planned this Universe and everything in it can be found in your own heart. Why does your heart beat? If you ask a Scientist he will say that it is electricity from your brain. But where did that electricity come from? Are you plugged into something? How do our bodies function at all? The stomach digests food more efficiently than any manmade machine ever could. Everything that exists, whether it is the human body or the stars in the sky, was intelligently designed by the command of the Most Wise and Gracious Creator.
The Reality
In His infinite Love, Compassion and Beneficence, God Almighty sent Prophets (pbut) to guide humanity to live a spiritual life of worship and piety towards others. He supported His Prophets (pbut) with miracles to shake man out of his slumber and open his eyes to their Lord. These miracles have been recorded in all the books of God and prove that there is a Master Creator who not only created this Universe but has complete control over it. God created the Laws of Nature and can change them at will.
Seekers of truth often reach a point of confusion upon realizing that believers of every religion, sect or philosophy all claim to have the one and only correct ideology. For those who believe in God there are only three possibilities:
-Everyone is right.
-Everyone is wrong.
-Only one is right and the rest are following religions that have been tainted by the hands of man.
However, everyone cannot be right since each religion differs from the other in their basic foundations. Every religion views the nature of God and how we relate to Him differently. Similarly, everyone cannot be wrong. Many people believe that all religions are wrong because of the evils of man who happened to claim religion. As a result, many humans have followed a path of Atheism or left it up to themselves to determine who Allah is and how He should be worshipped. That’s why God sent Muhammad (pbuh) with the Qur’an as the last chance for mankind to get it right and worship the One and Only God who has no partner in His divinity or dominion. Even critics of Islam have no choice but to concede to the fact that the Holy Quran is the only Scripture that has not been tampered with and is in agreement with modern science.
God Almighty has provided us with guidance to lighten our path and lead us back to Him. We innately lack the knowledge and wisdom to hold such a responsibility by ourselves. God is most perfectly Just. He has given us a chance to make our lives full of purpose during our time on Earth so that we can be judged fairly on the Day of Judgment.
The reality is that only one religion can be right. Indeed God sent Prophets to all people throughout the ages. It was the responsibility of religious leaders to preserve the scriptures and apply their laws from Prophet to Prophet and nation-to-nation. No doubt they failed. Muslims believe that God revealed the same religion to each Prophet. That religion was Islam, which means to submit to the Will of God and seeking His Forgiveness in sincere repentance when coming up short.
Other religions are called by different names like Judaism and Christianity. However, these names are manmade labels. In the Bible, for example, there is not an instance where Jesus (pbuh) refers to his religion as ‘Christianity’. Islam means to live in submission to the One and only God. I ask the sincere reader who believes in Prophets, Did those Prophets teach anything else but living a life seeking to please God in submission to His will? Of course they did. The Holy Qur’an repetitively states that the Prophets called mankind to Islam.
Clearing your Prejudices
For seekers of the truth, when choosing your own religion consider these points:
-God gave us the ability and intellect to make this crucial decision, hence it is our decision and we don’t need our parents, family, or society to make it for us.
-God did not leave us to go astray without any guidance. Indeed, He sent us Prophets (pbut) with scriptures to show us the right path. The proof of this is in the various miracles performed by these Prophets (pbut), which have been recorded throughout time.
-Seeking the pure message of God is vital as all humans will be called to account for their chosen faith and actions in life, which will inevitably determine thier eternity.
-One can only make a fair rational decision in seeking the right religion if emotions and prejudices, which often blind one to the truth, are put aside.
Is Islam Right for You?
You may have never thought that one day you would be able to change the religion your parents taught you about. Remember that nothing is set in stone and you have a right to believe as you see fit. When thinking about Islam for your religion, consider these facts about it:
* Islam is consistent with logic and rational thinking.
* Islam opens the door for anyone to challenge its authenticity. It also provokes you and shows you how to challenge it, that you may achieve certainty in it.
* Islam provides the needed answers for all important and fundamental questions concerning God, the purpose of life, and the Hereafter.
* Islam is supported by contemporary miracles and proofs. For example, the Holy Quran that was revealed 1,400 years ago reveals innumerable miracles that are 100% compatible with recently established science. Read “The Bible, the Quran, and Science” by Maurice Bucaille who accepted Islam after researching for this book.
* Islam combines the awareness of the Hereafter with our daily lives making a strong bond between the two through our sense of accountability.
* Islam is more than a “religion” in common terminology. It truly is a comprehensive system of life with a detailed law and ethical system. It establishes systems for worship, family living, government, politics, education, economics and social relations.
* Islam is based on a established system of law founded on authentic texts (statements of God and His messenger). It is not based upon human emotion, philosophies or religious hierarchies that have no solid foundation in authentic revelation.
* Islam encourages people to seek knowledge and contribute to the world.
* Islam provides true equality, solving the age-old problems of race and gender. Islam treats all believers as equals irrespective of race, gender, nationality, or social status.
The choice is yours to make. Don’t rely on what others say or be afraid to forge your own path.
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