Inherited faith

In my previous input “A journey to faith”, I started to write about my journey to Islam and briefly mentioned about carrying this faith in my heart among non muslims. Quoting the input: “Many people rely on an “inherited” faith. I myself went from an inherited faith to confirm the faith I now hold.” We will look at that but first we need to understand, what exactly is an “inherited” faith? As you may have guessed, it is a faith that has been passed on from parent to child. The child grows up with the faith and passes it on to their children, from one generation to the next.

Humans generally want to fit in. Family, friends, society. The person accepts without question. It just is. Given how this world is full of distractions, it’s not a far leap to imagine that a majority of people in this dunya follow this kind of journey in life. Humans of different religions inherit a faith and passes it on, without making an effort to understand what they actually believe.

سورة الزخرف ٢٢
بَلۡ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا وَجَدۡنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٖ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَٰرِهِم مُّهۡتَدُونَ

Surah Az-Zukhruf 43:22
Nay! they say: “We found our fathers following a certain religion, and we do guide ourselves by their footsteps.”

So, with that in mind, as I am initially coming from an inherited faith… you may get a deeper appreciation of the words I shared in the previous input when I said… “it’s like you’ve been walking around in your own reality and then opening the door to see the world for the first time.” All because I was blessed with the curiosity to open the Quran and start reading it. It gave me a larger and more clear idea of life, and so much more than that. Alhamdulillah endless times.

سورة الكهف ٥٤
وَلَقَدۡ صَرَّفۡنَا فِي هَٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ لِلنَّاسِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٖۚ

سورة النمل ١
تِلۡكَ ءَايَٰتُ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانِ وَكِتَابٖ مُّبِينٍ

Surah Al-Kahf 18:54
We have explained in detail in this Qur’an, for the benefit of mankind, every kind of similitude

Surah An-Naml 27:1
These are verses of the Qur’an,-a book that makes (things) clear;

Investigating, learning, confirming the faith we believe in, rather than simply just accepting it… it’s something I can, from personal experience, say is a very rewarding experience. After all, we owe it not only to Him but also to ourselves, to seek to understand the faith that He has given us. I recently encouraged it so I will do it again… Ramadan is a good time, as many people read the Quran in hopes of pleasing Him, earning spiritual rewards, thawab (ثواب)… while that is a good thing to strive for, don’t forget that one of the most beautiful rewards you may be granted is… insight. Clarity. Wisdom. Seek that, and He may grant it. Something you can use in this dunya to stay strong on the path.

سورة البقرة ٢٦٩
وَمَن يُؤۡتَ ٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ فَقَدۡ أُوتِيَ خَيۡرٗا كَثِيرٗاۗ

Surah Al-Baqara 2:269
and whoever is given wisdom has been given much good