{"id":873,"date":"2011-04-15T02:03:14","date_gmt":"2011-04-15T02:03:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bakkah.mryusuf.com\/?p=873"},"modified":"2017-03-15T14:25:04","modified_gmt":"2017-03-15T14:25:04","slug":"why-are-we-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/why-are-we-here.htm","title":{"rendered":"Why Are We Here?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><em>In the Name of <strong>the Almighty God of the universe<\/strong>, the All-Merciful, the One who created the heavens and the earth and everything in them, the only One who deserves mankind&#8217;s worship&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<p>A simple look at the world around us is all it takes to understand what many never take time to reflect upon. The details of this awesome universe we live in undeniably prove the presence of a magnificent and unequalled author.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 100%;\">Some try to deny His existence, relying on their invented theories, assumptions derived from unproven conjecture and guesses. They conjure principles that no rational mind can follow. For example, they say that our universe is a &#8220;cosmic coincidence,&#8221; a result of billions of years of random self-assembly. However, if they would come out of their house in the morning and find a new car in their driveway, they would\u00a0insist that someone\u00a0put it there. Imagine if was said to them: &#8220;No one put it there, in fact the parts just gathered from unknown places and assembled themselves overnight with no one&#8217;s help. This is the result of a cosmic coincidence!&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>No one in his right mind could accept this answer. Indeed our God gave us intellects that do not allow us to believe such nonsense.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 100%;\">So if people can not accept the parts of a single car coming together randomly, then how can they believe that the entire universe accomplished such a feat?! From the sky full of stars and other visual wonders, to\u00a0microscopic organisms we are still discovering, to the intricate design and function of the organs of the human body, can one possibly believe that all of this is the result of a mere coincidence?<\/p>\n<p>Look up and think about how everything you see is organized in such a perfect way! The sun, a ball of fire millions of miles away, provides us with the heat and light we depend on every day. About it, our God says:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">And We have made the Sun\u00a0a blazing, radiant lantern (78:13)<\/p>\n<p>After the length of the day, mankind indeed needs a rest from the warmth and illumination of the sun. Our God causes the sun to set and gives us darkness to rest, and a perfect nightlight &#8211; the moon and the splendorous stars. What masterful organization! Our God says:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">He\u00a0(the Almighty) has put the night and the day in your service, as well as the sun, the moon, and the stars &#8211; all in subjection by His Command. Verily in this there are signs for people of intellect. (16:12)<\/p>\n<p>And\u00a0He says:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">Don&#8217;t you see how Allah merges the night into the day and He merges the day into the night, (don&#8217;t you see) that He has subjected the sun and the moon (to His law), each running its course for an appointed term? And surely\u00a0Allah is well-acquainted with what you do. (31:29)<\/p>\n<p>He\u00a0also says:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">Among His Signs are the night and the day, and the sun and the moon. Do not prostrate to the sun or the moon, rather prostrate to Allah, the One who created them, if you really wish to worship Him. (41:37)<\/p>\n<p>Today&#8217;s scientists comment on the precise balance of the sun and moon, guessing at the innumerous disasters that would occur if the sun or the moon were to stray from their paths the slightest bit. The rational mind can come to only one conclusion, that indeed something is keeping all of this in order. Our God says:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">He\u00a0draws the night as a veil over the day, each seeking the other in rapid succession. He\u00a0created the sun, the moon, and the stars, all governed by His Command. Is it not His Right to create and govern? Blessed is Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of all that exists! (7:54)<\/p>\n<p>We understand quite clearly that, since this\u00a0article you are reading was written, then there was a writer, even though you do not see him. And for every speech there was a speaker, and every delicious dish has a cook behind it. So for every creation, including our very existence, there is indeed a creator.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-style: italic; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 120%; font-weight: bold;\">The Creator is\u00a0Allah Alone<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 100%;\">Now that we agree that we are not the product of chance, that we have been created, let us understand some things about our Creator.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 100%;\">The One who created us, Allah, is also the sole Creator of everything else that exists, as He says:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">Such is Allah, your Lord, the Creator of all things. There is no deity worthy of worship except Him! (40:62)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 100%;\">Because of\u00a0His omnipotent power and control over the universe, it is not befitting for man to believe that He needs anyone to help Him. For verily Allah is Alone and does not share His Majesty with anyone. He is the possessor of infinite mercy and compassion for those who obey Him, and His punishment is the most severe and lasting for those who turn away from Him.\u00a0He says:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">As for those who believed and did righteous deeds, their Lord will admit them to His Mercy, and that will be the Achievement for all to see! (45:30)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 100%;\">And\u00a0He says:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">For those who believe and do righteous deeds, He\u00a0will give them their rewards, and more, out of His bounty. But those who are disdainful and arrogant, He will punish them with a grievous penalty, and they will not find anyone to protect or help them besides GOD. (4:173)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 100%;\">As it is not befitting for us to ascribe a rival, partner, or associate to Him, it is extreme blasphemy to accuse Him of having a father, mother, son, or other descendants or relatives.\u00a0He tells us:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; the Eternal, the Absolute, who did not father anyone, nor is He the son of anyone. (112:1-4)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 100%;\">What a tremendous crime it is to claim that our sole Creator, the One free from all imperfections, has a son! Unfortunately, many believe that Jesus is\u00a0His son! Indeed Jesus holds a high rank, as the Word of\u00a0Allah and the Conveyor of His Message, but not as His son, for\u00a0Allah is high and exalted above such a false claim. About this,\u00a0He says:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">They say: &#8220;The Most Merciful\u00a0has begotten a son!&#8221; Indeed you have put forth a most monstrous idea! It is as if the skies are ready to burst, the earth to split asunder, and the mountains to fall down in utter ruin for what they say about the Most Merciful\u00a0having a son! For it is not befitting for the Most Merciful\u00a0to take a son. (19:88-92)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 100%;\">So\u00a0Allah is the sole Creator and Maintainer of all that exists. He has no partner or affiliate, as He says:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">Follow what is revealed to you from your Lord.\u00a0 There is no god except Him Alone! And turn away from those who join other deities with Allah! (6:106)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-style: italic; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 120%; font-weight: bold;\">\u00a0Do we owe Him something?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 100%;\">If we have understood\u00a0that\u00a0Allah is our only Creator and Provider, and we have seen His Statements denying any partners for Himself, then we want to know: <em><strong>Does He want something from us?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Indeed\u00a0He\u00a0has a right over us, as He created us. He is not asking much. He is only asking us for that which He asked every nation before us &#8211;\u00a0that we obey Him and follow His Messengers. He has asked us to worship Him and not to associate partners with Him. He says:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">For surely We sent a messenger to every nation, commanding them to worship Allah and shun false deities. (16:36)<\/p>\n<p>It is a very simple request, taking into account all He has given us.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">Say: It is He\u00a0who has created you and made for you the faculties of hearing, seeing, feeling and understanding. Little is the thanks you offer. (67:23)<\/p>\n<p>We naturally feel the urge to thank anyone who gives us something. If we thank people for their generosity, should we not then thank the Creator of the people, our Lord, who has blessed us with so much? He reminds us:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">And if you were to try to count the blessings of Allah, you could never enumerate them! Verily, mankind is ever oppressive and ungrateful. (14:34)<\/p>\n<p>So to be truly thankful to Him\u00a0would entail worshipping Him as He has commanded us, obeying Him, and following the Revelation that He sent to us. In doing this, we will fulfill the purpose of our existence, as\u00a0He did not create us without a purpose:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">And I did not create the Jinn or Mankind except to worship Me. (51:56)<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>What if we ignore His Right upon us?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Ignoring the right of\u00a0our Lord and Creator\u00a0is not like ignoring the rights of others. For if you disobey your mother, then you are subject to whatever punishment she is capable of. Likewise, you may lose your job if you ignore the orders of your boss. The judge may send you to jail if you do not appear in court as he requests. But no one can punish you eternally with a torment like what\u00a0Allah has promised for those who reject His Message.\u00a0He is going to establish a Day to judge each and every person. Indeed we will be gathered in front of\u00a0Him to answer for our deeds. About that Day,\u00a0He says:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">For on that Day, His punishment will be such as no one else can inflict, and His bonds will be such as no one else can bind. (89:25-6)<\/p>\n<p>We have the chance now to free ourselves from such a horrible and unending fate. We must look to our relationship with our Creator &#8211; Are we fulfilling His right on us? Are we worshipping Him as He commands us?<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 100%;\">Be aware that His punishment is so severe, that even the most devout deniers\u00a0will believe in Him after seeing it.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">But when they saw Our Punishment, they said: &#8220;We believe in Allah, the One God, and we reject the partners we used to join with Him.&#8221; (40:84)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 100%;\">If we submit to Him, worshipping Him and not associating partners with Him, then for us are the unending joys and delights that He has prepared for us in the Paradise:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">And no soul knows what delights are kept hidden for them, as a reward for what they used to do. (32:17)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 100%;\">For when\u00a0Allah establishes the Day of Judgement, the righteous will hear the call:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">O you resting, satisfied soul! Come happily back to your Lord, as you have gained His Pleasure! Enter and be among My servants, enter My Garden! (89:26-9)<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 100%;\">If we hope to hear this call, then we must put forth the effort now, in this life, before it is too late.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<em><strong>What to do now<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Accept the religion of Islaam. It is what\u00a0our God\u00a0is commanding\u00a0us to do:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">O you who believe! Observe your duties to\u00a0Allah properly, as He deserves, and do not die except as Muslims! (3:102)<\/p>\n<p>Be sincere and dedicate yourself to Him:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-family: arial; color: #006600; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;\">Say: Truly, my prayer, my sacrifices, my life and my death, are all for Allah, the Creator and Nourisher of everything that exists, who has no partner. This am I commanded with, and I am the first of the Muslims. (6:162-3)<\/p>\n<p>Islaam is very easy and practical. There is no conversion ceremony or difficult procedures preventing you from becoming a Muslim. The only thing for you to do is sincerely recite the following statement:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left; font-family: arial; color: #000000; font-size: 100%;\"><em><strong>&#8220;I testify that there is no deity worthy of any form of worship except\u00a0Allah Alone, and I testify that Muhammad\u00a0was His Messenger.&#8221;<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Now follow up your statement with a commitment to learning about your religion, the specifics of what\u00a0Allah wants from you. There is a lot to be learned about\u00a0Him and His Religion, and with each piece of knowledge you will become more and more confident that you made the right choice.<\/p>\n<p>May\u00a0our God, the Almighty, and All-Wise,\u00a0guide us all to what He loves.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Written by:<\/strong> Moosaa Richardson<\/p>\n<p><em>Originally published: 05-07-1423<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>Edited: 07-02-1432<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In the Name of the Almighty God of the universe, the All-Merciful, the One who created the heavens and the earth and everything in them, the only One who deserves mankind&#8217;s worship&#8230; A simple look at the world around us &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/why-are-we-here.htm\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[84,110,64,111],"tags":[108,107,109],"class_list":["post-873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aqeedah-manhaj","category-non-muslims-2","category-original-articles","category-testimony-faith","tag-accept-islam","tag-become-a-muslim","tag-non-muslims"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=873"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5019,"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/873\/revisions\/5019"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bakkah.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}