Guest post: Other religions are God's will
Shaukat Malik is a Muslim-American Certified Public Accountant from Potomac. A native of Pakistan, he arrived in the United States in 1980.
Muslims must accept the existence of other religions as God’s will.
God decides our religion at birth, and judges us based on how we followed our assigned faith. Generally, a child follows the religion of his parents; conversions are rare.
Abraham, Moses and Jesus were all good men and brought good messages of peace. We cannot reject their faith or message outright. The Quran confirms the messages in the Old and New Testaments. All of God's children are entitled to worship whatever faith God has chosen for them. There are many divisions between Muslims, yet they all pray to the same God. We should leave it to God to decide who is right and who is wrong.
Here is a verse from the Quran confirming the existence of other religions acceptable to God that have not been revealed to us. This would cover Hindus and Buddhists and the rest of humanity.
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YUSUFALI: We did aforetime send messengers before thee: of them there are some whose story we have related to thee, and some whose story we have not related to thee. It was not [possible] for any messenger to bring a sign except by the leave of Allah: but when the Command of Allah issued, the matter was decided in truth and justice, and there perished, there and then those who stood on Falsehoods.
PICKTHAL: Verily We sent messengers before thee, among them those of whom We have told thee, and some of whom We have not told thee; and it was not given to any messenger that he should bring a portent save by Allah's leave, but when Allah's commandment cometh (the cause) is judged aright, and the followers of vanity will then be lost.
SHAKIR: And certainly We sent messengers before you: there are some of them that We have mentioned to you and there are others whom We have not mentioned to you, and it was not meet for a messenger that he should bring a sign except with Allah's permission, but when the command of Allah came, judgment was given with truth, and those who treated (it] as a lie were lost.
This verse confirms other messengers and the validity of their messages. Muslims are only 25 percent of planet Earth's population and should worry only about their own conduct and dealings with fellow human beings. Muslims cannot force conversion on the remaining 75 percent of the world, as they are non-muslims by God’s will and design.
The diversity of the human race is further confirmed by the following verse in the holy Quran.
It is by divine design that humanity is diverse, “For, had God so willed, He could surely have made you all one single community.” (16:93)
But God willed diversity and He did so for a purpose: “O men! Behold, we have created you all out of a male and a female, and have made you into nations and tribes, so that you might come to know one another. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of God is the one who is most deeply conscious of Him. Behold, God is all-knowing, all-aware.” (49:13)
God tells us in this verse that beneath our outward differences, we are a single humanity, sharing the same history and as children of Adam we should work together to create a just and fair society.
Muslims should follow the holy prophet's example of forgiving and being humble in our dealings with fellow human beings. Nobody is perfect, and individuals should not be deluded into believing that “my God is better than yours.” We all share the same God.
Each one of us is in this world by God’s will and his plan is beyond human understanding. We must learn to live at peace with each other and practice our faith whatever it may be to create a just and fair society.
Comments
Mr. Malik:
Well said. We must learn to live in peace with each other.
As the Bible says "Blessed are the Peace makers" Mathew
God's plans are beyong human understanding. The most important point is to live and let live.
Religious exremists in every religion must learn from this simple message and not use religion to serve their selfish goals of dominating fellow citizens of Earth.
What would Adam say if he were alive today?
First of all he would be shocked at all the diversity him and Eve have fathered. I do not think they will prefer ther black descendents to white or chinese or Asian. To them we would all be "Their Children" A point brought out very simply by this wonderful peace.
This further confirms that most muslims do not really know their holy book and simply read it parrot fashion without knowing the meaning. Most of the Quran has stories from the old and new testament and can be easily understood by a Christian like me.
Muslims should celebrate what is common between us as Children of Abraham instead of argueing about whose God is better.
There is only one God/Power/Source/Unexplained whatever you want to call it.
Posted by: charles martin | July 13, 2010 10:11 AM
As a Christian, dont forget that there is also only one Son, and He said "no one comes to the Father except through Me." With Muslims, that isnt possible.
Posted by: Clay | July 13, 2010 8:05 PM
Clay,
What you may think is "witnessing" others, including myself, see as a poke in the eye of a man who is seeking brotherhood in a very dangerous world. Even if you believe in the supremacy of your own faith, you might have considered keeping that to yourself and responding to Mr Malik in the spirit of his gesture. Or just keeping quiet for once.
But maybe I still believe in miracles.
Posted by: BankStreet | July 14, 2010 6:12 AM
Its so sad that Muslims are repeatedly blamed for not reaching out, and individuals like Mr. Malik are not encouraged when they reach out. Till we build tolerance amongst all faiths, and more people like Mr. Malik & Bankstreet get vocal, peace and harmony will not prevail.
Posted by: IM | July 28, 2010 4:50 PM