Have you ever been questioned regarding your faith? Or been in a situation where you have felt the need to share it with someone?
When it comes to people in general, muslims or non muslims, religious disputes are far too common. It usually ends up becoming an endless debate which only leads to frustration, or the whole thing may not amount to anything more than a single and rather pointless discussion on spiritual and theological details. You end up justifying who you are.
How can we get our views across? That’s just it… your views are also seen as your views… your personal understanding of things. This is your belief. And in a sense, it’s true… because each and everyone of us have our own personal journey, our own individual understanding, and our own personal relation to God. What we share is indeed based on our own understanding of things. So what you try to convey to a listener will be perceived as such… your personal understanding… your belief. The truth? Or just a personal point of view? For the listener… it depends.
سورة النمل ٨١-٨٠
إِنَّكَ لَا تُسْمِعُ الْمَوْتَىٰ وَلَا تُسْمِعُ الصُّمَّ الدُّعَاءَ إِذَا وَلَّوْا مُدْبِرِينَ
وَمَا أَنتَ بِهَادِي الْعُمْيِ عَن ضَلَالَتِهِمْ ۖ إِن تُسْمِعُ إِلَّا مَن يُؤْمِنُ بِآيَاتِنَا فَهُم مُّسْلِمُونَ
Surah An-Naml 27:80-81
Truly thou canst not cause the dead to listen, nor canst thou cause the deaf to hear the call, (especially) when they turn back in retreat.
Nor canst thou be a guide to the blind, (to prevent them) from straying: only those wilt thou get to listen who believe in Our Signs, and they will bow in Islam.
What tells about your faith better than the Quran?
سورة الزمر ٢٧
وَلَقَدْ ضَرَبْنَا لِلنَّاسِ فِي هَـٰذَا الْقُرْآنِ مِن كُلِّ مَثَلٍ لَّعَلَّهُمْ يَتَذَكَّرُونَ
سورة النمل ١
طس ۚ تِلْكَ آيَاتُ الْقُرْآنِ وَكِتَابٍ مُّبِينٍ
Surah Az-Zumar 39:27
We have put forth for men, in this Qur’an every kind of Parable, in order that they may receive admonition.
Surah An-Naml 27:1
These are verses of the Qur’an,-a book that makes (things) clear;
The trick then is not so much to convince someone of the truth, but rather to convince them to find it for themselves…
سورة النحل ١٢٦-١٢٥
ادْعُ إِلَىٰ سَبِيلِ رَبِّكَ بِالْحِكْمَةِ وَالْمَوْعِظَةِ الْحَسَنَةِ ۖ وَجَادِلْهُم بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَن ضَلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ ۖ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ
وَإِنْ عَاقَبْتُمْ فَعَاقِبُوا بِمِثْلِ مَا عُوقِبْتُم بِهِ ۖ وَلَئِن صَبَرْتُمْ لَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لِّلصَّابِرِينَ
سورة القصص ٥٦
إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ
Surah An-Nahl 16:125-126
Invite (all) to the Way of thy Lord with wisdom and beautiful preaching; and argue with them in ways that are best and most gracious: for thy Lord knoweth best, who have strayed from His Path, and who receive guidance.
And if ye do catch them out, catch them out no worse than they catch you out: But if ye show patience, that is indeed the best (course) for those who are patient.
Surah Al-Qasas 28:56
It is true thou wilt not be able to guide every one, whom thou lovest; but Allah guides those whom He will and He knows best those who receive guidance.
The Quran is an effective tool indeed, also for those who believe in its message. It is guiding, healing, warning, comforting, all at the same time… by far the best medicine for the soul.
سورة البقرة ٢٦٩
يُؤْتِي الْحِكْمَةَ مَن يَشَاءُ ۚ وَمَن يُؤْتَ الْحِكْمَةَ فَقَدْ أُوتِيَ خَيْرًا كَثِيرًا ۗ وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلَّا أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ
Surah Al-Baqara 2:269
He granteth wisdom to whom He pleaseth; and he to whom wisdom is granted receiveth indeed a benefit overflowing; but none will grasp the Message but men of understanding.
I hope this input has given something to consider and that the first week of Ramadan has passed well. Suitably, given today’s topic, I will share this beautiful song by Maher Zain… “Huwa AlQuran”.
The best of times to you all inshallah.
Peace, happiness, and stay faithful.
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