Religious conception in Islamic civilization

Tuesday, 20 July 2010

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Written by Islamstory

Introduction

Vis-à-vis the illusions, superstitions, and delusions of religious conception in former nations and the mentality of the world when the prophet (PBUH) was sent, there was the contribution of Muslims on the faith of monotheism, the faith that was considered to be Islam's gift to mankind the like of which it has never had nor will ever have until the day of Judgment.

Divinity in the faith of Islam

In the faith of Islam, this world is not without a sovereign lord, but there is only one sovereign lord. He created it, rules it and manages it. His is the creation, commandment, and governance. {Is it not His to create and to govern?} [Al-Araf: 54]

Nothing happens in this world without his commandment and ability. The real cause of this world’s existence is His will and ability. This world, in its entirety, is subject to Him in His universe and existence and is obedient to Him and at His service {to Him submitted all creatures in the heavens and the earth} [Al-Imran: 83]

The creatures that have a will and choice have to submit to him {Is it not to Allah that sincere devotion is due?} [Al-Zumur:3][1]

Because He is the one who created the entire universe and created all creatures, He is the only one who the creatures should worship.

Islam's convincing argument on creation

Islam established a convincing argument that Allah is the creator and that there is no god but Him. Citing the logical, rational proof, Allah, Exalted be He, said: {If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides Allah, there would have been confusion in both} [Al-Anbiya: 22] Allah challenged people very strongly, saying: {Say: "Show me those whom ye have joined with Him as partners: by no means (can ye). Nay, He is Allah, the Exalted in Power, the Wise."} [Saba: 27]

The truth is that this logic was so convincing that people on earth received it with acceptance and conviction and entered Allah’s religion in crowds.

Mistaken are those who think that Islam and the faith of monotheism spread because of the many Arab Muslims spread across the world. Mistaken also are those who think that the Arab Muslims forced people into embracing Islam and monotheism with the force of sword and arms. We may check the history of the world.

The Arab Muslims were a minority and their weapons were weak in quality and quantity. Their economic and military capabilities were so modest. However, the world at the time accepted leaving the religion of the country and the strong, civilized nations and civilizations and entered the religion of this small minority!

The question that may come to mind here is: Why did this happen? Why was there acceptance?!

The answer lies in the fact that it is a convincing religion. It is a faith that completely complies and agrees with nature and logic. This is the faith in which Allah has made mankind to worship the One and Only who has no contestant or partner.

We may ask now:

- Who did originally force Arabs into entering Islam although the prophet and his companions were extremely small in number and weak in power?

- Who did force Egyptians into embracing Islam? Is it reasonable that eight thousand soldiers can force a great people, like that of Egypt whose number at the time of the conquest exceeded eight million?! Egypt was also under the Byzantine occupation and the Byzantine Empire at the time was extremely powerful.

- Who did force the people of Persia who were in huge numbers and had a long history to leave the decades-long worship and embrace Islam?

- Who did force the people of North Africa, Andalusia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turks, and others?

- Who has even forced the world now to enter Islam although everyone can confirm that Muslims are in a far weaker state than others? And it is not at a small level. Islam is even the fastest growing religion in the world now!

The indisputable truth is that the proof of Allah is convincing and the religion of Allah has no loophole or mistake. That is why nobody can read about or know it unless they know it is the truth, whether they embraced it or not.

The other truth is that the impact of the Muslims’ contribution to this religious conception was not limited to those who became Muslims only. It was even of great help to non-Muslims – as will be explained later – on the clarity of their real, religious vision regarding monotheism.

Rational impact of the faith of monotheism

It is no secret that the main rational impact of the faith of monotheism on man is that the entire world follows a single centre and system. Man sees in the widespread parts of the world an evident connection and a unity of law. After this faith, man can come forward with a full explanation of life and base his thought and work in this universe on wisdom and knowledge.[2]

The impact of belief in monotheism on thought

There is no doubt that belief in one able god clears the thought of the confusing polytheism which does not go in line with sound nature. This belief releases the forces of soul and body that believe in Allah who controls all affairs of life and universe and who holds in His hands, Exalted be He, the destinies of the creatures that put their trust in Him on work and activity. They rely on the fact that there is a lord for the universe who sees everything happening everywhere and rewards those who do good with what is best and punishes those who do evil if not in life then in the afterlife. He does not let good deeds go unrewarded and does not permit injustice.[3]

Impact of faith on society

There is no doubt that the most important impact of this faith on society becomes clear we want to set up a clean society, dominated by justice and governed by virtue, a society where there is no crime and there is peace and security everywhere and whose members cooperate on everything that brings welfare and righteousness to it. When we want this, we should establish society on the Islamic faith which is the building block of society. On this basis, the prophet nurtured his companions. So, he created the perfect society and the Islamic nation, which spread in the four corners of the globe, was formed.

Mr Abu Al-Hasan Al-Nadwi said: “The biggest problem, the problem of joining others with Allah in worship and disbelief, was solved. So, all problems were solved. The prophet put up his first fight. So, he did not need a fresh fight for every command or prohibition. Islam gained victory over pre-Islamic paganism in the first battle. So, victory was on its side in every battle. Allah prohibited wine when overflowing cups were in the hands, so the order of Allah stood as a barrier between the wine and the licking lips and burning hearts. And the earthen wine jugs were broken, so it was poured in the streets of Medina. One word removed a deep-rooted habit among the people. They inherited it from their forefathers. {will ye not then abstain} [Al-Maeda: 91] They said: We have abstained, our Lord, we have abstained, our Lord …. The US tried to prohibit wine and used all modern civilization means, such as magazines, newspapers, lectures, pictures, and cinema to explain its harmful effects and spent more than 60 million dollars towards that end. It also printed around ten billion pages, paid around 250 million dollars for the enforcement of the law, executed three hundred people, imprisoned more than half a million, and confiscated properties estimated at around four hundred and four million dollars. However, the American people only became more addicted to the drinking of wine, which forced the government to allow it in 1933. The reason is simple; the implementation of the orders was not based on belief”.[4]

Therefore, Islamic civilization satisfied man with a pure, easy, palatable, inspiring and life-giving faith. So, man has become clear of every fear, got to fear no one but Allah, and knew certainly that only Allah, Exalted be He, is the one who brings harm and benefit, gives and withholds and that He alone suffices mankind with their needs. So, the entire world has changed in man’s view with this new knowledge and discovery. Man has become protected from every kind of slavery, every need and fear from creatures, and everything that distracts mind and confuses thought. Man felt a unity in this diversity and considered himself to be Allah’s most honorable creature, the master of this earth, and the successor of Allah on earth who obeys his lord and creator and fulfill His commandments. Man was this way achieving this great human honour and eternal human greatness.

The greatness of Islamic civilization

It was the greatness of Islamic civilization that presented mankind with this rare gift, the faith of monotheism, which was unknown, obscure, and wronged more than any faith in the world. The faith of monotheism reverberated across the world and left its impact on all universal philosophies and ideologies, whether on small or large levels. So, some of the big religions which were based on and closely connected with associating others with god in worship and polytheism had to confess, even in whisper, that Allah is one who has no partner. These religions were forced to interpret their polytheistic beliefs in a philosophical way that would clear them of the charge of joining others with Allah in worship and innovation and make them similar to the faith of monotheism in Islam.

The men and custodians of these religions started to get too embarrassed to admit and to mention the association of others with god in worship. All these polytheistic regimes were hit with an inferiority complex and humiliation. That gift of monotheism was the most precious gift that delighted mankind thanks to the contributions of Islamic civilization and the mission of the prophet.[5]

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