There are some who do not believe in God, or who do not believe in the God we believe in. That may frustrate some of us, and we may try to force others to believe. But to do so is fruitless. We can't force someone to see what they do not see. If we try to force, we will only cause greater conflict, and more resistance.
We should have the same attitude as Muhammade and say as he said, "You go your way and I'll go mine."
We can, of course, explain what we believe. We can give our perspective on local history, for example. Some may say "The Civil War was caused by many events" and leave it at that. Others may say that God used the Civil War to end the atrocity of slavery. This doesn't mean God caused the Civil War, but used it for His work.
Even so, Muhammad used the story of a local event about an elephant to speak of God's involvement in local history. That makes sense.
Also, Muhammad spoke of how God helps in his life. "There are many evils around us", he said. Evil human beings. Evil curses. Evil desires against us. God is the light in the midst of the darkness, the refuge from the storm of evil. Satan himself speaks evil to us and about us. But God and God alone allows us to be protected.
"And so I seek God" says Muhammad. You may seek other things. Money, perhaps. Science. Power. Force. "But I," said Muhammad, "have my hope in God alone."
There is no compulsion in religion. In Islam, belief alone is not good enough---right belief must lead to right intentions that promote right actions---the 3 things go together in a package. That is why it is not any use to force someone--because while the person may comply outwardly---no one else can control his intentions without his will.
ReplyDeleteExcellent point, kat.
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