Many people throughout the world today
are searching for the truth; they search for meaning in their lives, and
wonder what life is all about. Men and women ask the question, why am I
here? In the midst of suffering and pain, humankind calls out silently
or loudly asking for relief, or understanding. In the midst of pleasure
often, a person seeks to understand the source of such elation.
Sometimes people contemplate accepting Islam as their true religion but
find many obstacles seem to be in the way.
In life’s most joyous moments or darkest
hours, a person’s most instinctive reaction is to reach out for a
connection to some sort of Supreme Being, to God. Even those who would
consider themselves atheists or non-believers have at some stage in
their lives experienced that innate sense of being part of a grand plan.
The religion of Islam is based on one
core belief, that there is One God. He alone is the Sustainer and
Creator of the Universe. He is without partners, children, or
associates. He is the Most Merciful, the Most Wise, and the Most Just.
He is the all Hearer, all Seer, and the All Knowing. He is the First, He
is the Last.
It is comforting to think that our
trials, tribulations, and triumphs in this life are not random acts of a
cruel unorganised universe. Belief in God, belief in One God, the
Creator, and Sustainer of all that exists is a fundamental right.
Knowing with certainty that our existence is part of a well-ordered
world and that life is unfolding as it should is a concept that brings
serenity and peace.
Islam is a religion that looks at life
and says this world is but a transient place and our reason for being is
to worship God. Sounds simple doesn’t it. God is One, acknowledge this
and worship Him and peace and serenity are obtainable. This is within
the grasp of any human being and can be had simply by believing
sincerely that there is no god but God.
Sadly in this brave new century, we
continue to push the boundaries and rediscover the world in all its
glory but have forgotten the Creator, and forgotten that life really was
meant to be easy. Finding our connection to God and establishing a
relationship with Him is paramount if we are to live peacefully and
throw off the shackles binding us to pain, psychological turmoil and
sadness.
Islam, what Muslims believe to be God’s
final religion, was revealed for all people, in all places and at all
times. It was not revealed for men or for a particular race or
ethnicity. It is a complete way of life based on the teachings found in
the Quran and the authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad. Once again,
sounds simple doesn’t it. Guidance revealed by the Creator to His
creation. It is a foolproof plan to achieve everlasting happiness in
both this life and the next.
The Quran and the authentic traditions
explain the concept of God and give details of what is permissible and
what is forbidden. They explain the basics of good manners and morals,
and give rulings about worship. They tell stories about the Prophets and
our righteous predecessors, and describe Paradise and Hell. This
guidance was revealed for all of humankind, and God Himself says that He
does not want to place humankind in difficulty.
“God does not want to place you in
difficulty, but He wants to purify you, and to complete His Favour to
you that you may be thankful.” (Quran 5:6)
When we reach out to God, He listens and
responds and the truth that is Islam, pure monotheism, is revealed. This
all sounds simple, and should be uncomplicated, but sadly, we,
humankind, have a way of making things difficult. We are contrary and
stubborn yet God continuously leaves the path clear for us. Just a
little slide to the right or to the left will find us on the path to
righteousness and eternal paradise.
Accepting Islam as the one true religion
should be simple. There is no god but God. What could be clearer than
that statement? Nothing is less complicated, but sometimes considering
the prospect of redefining out belief system can be scary and fraught
with obstacles. When a person is considering Islam as their religion of
choice they are often overcome by reasons for not accepting what their
hearts are telling them is the truth.
Currently, the truth of Islam has become
blurred by what appears to be a set of rules and regulations that seem
almost impossible to fulfil. Muslims do not drink alcohol, Muslims do
not eat pork, Muslim women must wear scarves, Muslims must pray five
times every day. Men and women find themselves saying things like, “I
could not possibly stop drinking”, or “I would find it too difficult to
pray every single day let alone five times”.
The reality however is that once a person
has accepted that there is no god but God and developed a relationship
with Him the rules and regulations drift into insignificance. It is a
slow process of wanting to please God. For some accepting the guidelines
for a happy life is a matter of days even hours, for others it can be
weeks, months, or even years. Every person’s journey into Islam is
different. Every person is unique and every person’s connection to God
comes about via a unique set of circumstances. One journey is not more
correct than another.
Many people believe that their sins are
too big and too frequent for God to ever forgive them. They hesitate to
accept what they know is the truth because they fear they will not be
able to control themselves and give up committing sins or crimes. Islam
however is the religion of forgiveness and God loves to forgive.
Although the sins of humankind may reach the clouds in the sky, God will
forgive and go on forgiving until the final hour is almost upon us.
If a person truly believes that there is
no god but God, he or she should accept Islam without delay. Even if
they believe they will continue to sin, or if there are some aspects of
Islam they do not fully understand. Belief in one God is the most
fundamental belief in Islam and once a person establishes a connection
with God changes will occur in their lives; changes they would not have
believed possible.
In the following article we will learn
that there is only one unforgiveable sin and that God is the Most
Merciful, oft Forgiving.
ACCEPTING ISLAM (PART 2 OF 2): THE RELIGION OF FORGIVENESS
We finished part 1 of Accepting Islam by
suggesting that if a person truly believes there is no god but God, he
or she should accept Islam immediately. We also put forward that Islam
is the religion of forgiveness. No matter how many sins a person may
have committed he or she never becomes unforgivable. God is the oft
Forgiving, Most Merciful and Quran stresses these attributes more than
70 times.
“And to God belongs all that is in the
heavens and all that is in the earth. He forgives whom He wills, and
punishes whom He wills. And God is oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Quran
3:129)
There is however, one sin that God will
not forgive and that is the sin of ascribing partners or associates to
God. A Muslim believes that God is One, without partners, offspring, or
associates. He is the only One worthy of worship.
“Say (O Muhammad), He is Allah, (the)
One. Allah-us-Samad (The Self-Sufficient Master, Whom all creatures
need, He neither eats nor drinks). He begets not, nor was He begotten;
And there is none co-equal or comparable unto Him.” (Quran 112)
“Verily, God forgives not that partners
should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that
(anything else) to whom He wills.” (Quran 4:48)
It may seem strange to say that God is
the Most Merciful, and stress that Islam is the religion of forgiveness
while also saying that there is one unforgivable sin. This is not a
strange or unreliable concept when you understand that this grave sin is
only unforgivable if a person dies without repenting to God. At any
time, up until a sinful person draws his last breath he or she may turn
sincerely to God and ask for forgiveness, knowing that God truly is the
Most Merciful Oft Forgiving. Sincere repentance assures God’s
forgiveness.
“Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief), their past will be forgiven.” (Quran 8:38)
Prophet Muhammad said, “God will accept
His slave’s repentance so long as the death rattle has not yet reached
his throat.” Prophet Muhammad also said, “Islam destroys that which came
before it (sins)”.
As discussed in the previous article,
often when a person is contemplating accepting Islam they are confused
by or even ashamed of the many sins they may have committed over their
lifetime. Some people wonder how they can ever be good, moral people
when in the shadows lurk their sins and crimes.
Accepting Islam and pronouncing the words
known as the Shahada or testimony of faith, (I testify “La ilah illa
Allah, Muhammad rasoolu Allah.”), wipes a person’s slate clean. He or
she becomes like a newborn baby, completely free from sin. It is a new
beginning, where one’s past sins can no longer hold a person captive.
There is no need to be haunted by past sins. Every new Muslim becomes
unburdened and free to live a life based on the fundamental belief that
God is One.
When a person is no longer held back by
the fear that their pasts sins or lifestyle prevents them from leading a
good life, the path to accepting Islam often becomes easier. Knowing
that God can forgive anyone, of anything, is certainly a comforting
prospect. Never the less, understanding the importance of not
worshipping anything or anybody other than God is paramount because it
is the basis of Islam.
God did not create humankind except that
they should worship Him alone(Quran 52:56) and knowing how to keep that
worship pure and unadulterated is imperative. However, the details will
often be learned after a person has recognised the sublime truth of the
way of life that is Islam.
“And follow the best of that which is
sent down to you from your Lord (i.e. this Quran, do what it orders you
to do and keep away from what it forbids), before the torment comes on
you suddenly while you perceive not!” Lest a person should say: “Alas,
my grief that I was undutiful to God (i.e. I have not done what God has
ordered me to do), and I was indeed among those who mocked.” (Quran
39:55-56)
Once a person has accepted the truth of
Islam, thus accepting that there is no god but God alone, there is time
for him to learn about his religion. There is time for him to understand
the inspirational beauty and ease of Islam, and to learn about all the
prophets and messengers of Islam including the last prophet, Muhammad.
If God should decree that there is not time, and that a person’s life
would end soon after accepting Islam it could be seen as a sign of the
mercy of God. Surely a person as pure as a newborn baby would be
destined for eternal paradise; by the mercy of God, and His infinite
wisdom.
When a person is contemplating accepting
Islam, many of the barriers that he or she perceives are nothing more
than illusions and tricks from Satan. It is clear that once a person has
been chosen by God, Satan will do his upmost to lead that person astray
and bombard them with small whispers and doubts. The religion of Islam
is a gift, and just like any other gift it must be accepted, and opened
before the true worth of its contents can be revealed. Islam is a way of
life that makes eternal bliss in the hereafter an achievable dream.
There is no god but God, the One the Only, the First and the Last.
Knowing Him is the key to success and accepting Islam is the first step
on a journey to the hereafter.
Footnotes:
At-Tirmidhi
Saheeh Muslim
I testify that there is none worthy of
worship except God Alone and I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of
God. For more information about Shahada please
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