Do We Need God?

Good question!

Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.

Assalamualaikum wbt.

1. My answer to that question would be in a form of pantun (a Malay traditional poem). Err.. I mean, in a form of another question instead i.e:

2. Does God need us?

3. Ok it's done there. That's my answer. I hope it answers your question, thank you.

4. What? 

5. Right, let me share with you this one ayah (verse) in the Quran. Allah SWT says:

"I do not want from them any provision. Nor do I want them to feed me."

Surah Az-Zariyat, ayah number 57.

6. Do you know what is so interesting about this particular verse?

7. The verse before it!

8. Allah SWT says:

"And I did not create the jinn and mankind except to worship Me."

Surah Az-Zariyat, ayah number 56.

9. So do we need God?

10. To those who don't believe in the need for God, I hope I have firstly made it clear above, that we the believers of God in Islam believe firmly that God is free of all needs. He doesn't need us AT ALL.

11. Now going back to your question, the straight forward answer is yes we need God.

12. But I begin by including the above verse to explicitly explain the purpose of creation, that implies our need for God, while trying to acknowledge the critical importance of denying a misunderstanding that may arise from it i.e do we need God because God needs us? By now you should know that the answer is BIG NO NO.

13. Think of a relationship between a shop owner and a customer. The shop owner needs the customer's money, and the customer needs the shop owner's goods. They both need each other. However this type of relationship doesn't apply to Creator-creation relationship. No symbiosis. No interdependence. Period.

14. Now, to substantiate my answer, let me divert you to another different way of looking at your question.

15. Instead of asking do we need God, what about asking this: Do we (mankind) have any needs?

16. And going a wee bit further than that, who then provides us these needs?

17. Based on these newly constructed queries, I will elaborate on why eventually no one can deny the need for God.

18. Are you hungry?

19. Then you need food.

20. Assuming that you don't want to cook, or don't know how to cook or don't have time to cook (please choose one LOL) then you have to buy food from outside. Say, a restaurant.

21. Now reflect on this, who provides the food? You have to make a deep reflection here and you'll see how astoundingly a large numbers of people are involved in making the food available for you.

22. I'll break it down for you extensively, but I'll try to make it as short as possible insya Allah (God willing).

23. First, you need money to buy food. Who gives you the money? Your employer. Or if you are a student, then the money is from your parents' employers. Where does he get that money from? Well, possibly from a bank. Then who prints the money? The government maybe.

24. Now do you drive a car to get to the restaurant? Who build the road? The car? And all components of the car? The engine? The steering wheel? The foot pedal?

25. The food itself, who cooks it?

26. What kind of food is it? Say, a pizza. What makes a pizza? A flour maybe? Where do you get the flour? From a plant. Who grows the plant? A farmer.

27. The list goes on and on and by now it is never possible for you to deny the fact that you need the employer, the cook, the road builder, the farmer and not to forget you need the land on which the farmer use to grow the plant you get your flour, hence pizza from.

28. If you don't just stop there, you should be able to ask, what if all the people and things I mention above do not exist? Your needs are not fulfilled and eventually you will die.

29. So the next relevant question to ask here is that, who or what causes all of them to exist?

30. And here is when you will realize the relevance of asking on the existence of God, hence the need for Him.

31. Because without Him, all the people and the things that you need will not be there, and this consequently easily proves that because what you need also have the need to be created by God, then you need God.

32. Or if I were to put this in one simple sentence, say you need a car to go to work, and the car needs a road to travel on, automatically it means that you also need the road, no matter how indirect.

33. But it doesn't work that way with God. Our need for God isn't indirect. Instead, we always believe that our need for God is more direct than any direct need for others, because indeed, He to us is the nearest. The Quran says:

"And when My servants ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, indeed I am near..."

Surah Al-Baqarah, ayah number 186

34. Previously you ask this question. Do we need God? Let me now ask you my question instead. 

Do you need a break? LOL. If so, then go take a break, but please do not break anyone's heart, and then come back again here to continue with our discussion.

35. Now, let's continue.

36. In short, what I intend to bring forward here is that if we use our sound and healthy mind, we will realize that denying the need for God is like denying our own needs.

37. Imagine a tree made of LEGO.

38. It doesn't need anything to grow. Well because in fact it doesn't grow.

39. But to make the tree larger, you ought to add more LEGO bricks on it and this means that someone and not the tree itself has to do that for it.

40. However what about the real tree? How does it grow?

41. Who provides all nutrients it needs to grow? Mankind? Have you counted how many trees, and leaves for that matter, that exist in this world? Do you think men can really manage to take care of every single one of them?

42. Also, have you heard of a virgin forest? It is 'virgin' because it not 'touched' by mankind.

43. But undoubtedly, this type of forest is greener and more beautiful in comparison to others. The question is, who designs it, sustains it and causes it to grow?

44. Now how about animals in the wild land? Who feeds them? Or do they go to school to learn some survival skills?

45. Compare this with those captured and kept in zoos. The zoo keepers have to feed them regularly or otherwise the animals will die. 

46. And if you think of this world as a gigantic zoo with no real boundaries, then you will realize that there is a 'hand' involved in making provision to all these animals to live. And I as a Muslim believes as also prescribed in the Quran, that the One who provides these needs to the animals is Him, God Almighty.

"And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows its place of dwelling and place of storage. All is in a clear register."

Surah Hud, ayah number 6.

47. Actually, a very important question you need to ask before you question the need for God is actually whether God exists in the first place.

48. And then reflect upon your own existence in this world. Think about it. Who created you? Did you self-create?

49. Al-Quran poses the same question, yet in a more eloquent way:

"Were they created by nothing, or were they themselves the creators? Or they create the Heavens and the earth? Nay, but they have no firm belief."

Surah At-Tur, ayah number 35-36

50. Think about that. You are the one with question. And you are the one with uncertainties. We instead, already found the answers of all mysteries surrounding our life, through the teaching of Quran. This is our belief, our way of life, called Islam.

51. Before I wrap up, let me touch on two more things here, very quickly.

52. First, our job as a Muslim is simple that we share Islam with the world, but Islam is not a religion of force.

53. Having said that, we believe that who ever that has come across the message of Islam, has to make a firm decision on whether to accept it. For that, I kindly want to share how the Quran describes those who rejected the message, when they (as we believe) are burnt in Hell fire in the Hereafter.

"Had we but listened or used our intelligence, we would not (now) be amongst the Companions of the Blazing Fire."

Surah Al-Mulk, ayah number 10

54. Plenty other verses (ayah) in the Quran explain exactly about the same subject, on how terrible and enormous is the regret or remorse of the people who (for what ever reasons they have) rejected Islam when they are alive on earth.

55. I shall end by talking about our heart. Yes, it's an organ that pumps blood throughout our body. 

56. And let's ask a simple question here. Our heart, does it exist? And secondly, do we need it?

57. We do not see our heart. I've never heard of anyone who has seen his own heart. I mean seeing it live. I don't know, maybe someone has.

58. But it does exist right?

59. What about its need? Do we need it? 

60. Of course we do right? But do we think of our NEED for it everyday?

61. Take a deep breath and think hard now, do you agree with me that there are many things in life, that they exist and we need them but we seldom acknowledge their existence and their importance? Or maybe most of the times we simply forget that we have them?

62. Until?

63. Until we lose them!

64. How many people wake up in the morning and then he counts how many organs are still intact with his body?

65. What about a person who's got an eye sore?

66. He will be reminded of his eye, for as long as the eye sore is there!

67. It is pain (and in a way could also mean absence) of something that would make we start to appreciate what we have.

68. Likewise, we grossly take things for granted when we forget this earth that we live on today are in full harmony and in perfect order. As if we deny the existence, hence the need for its Designer and Sustainer, without whom life on earth is never possible.

69. And for some people, they keep asking blatantly, "O God, if you really exist, why do we have so many sufferings on earth? What are you actually doing? Sleeping?"

70. Although the real question they should be asking is, "O God, if you really exist, why don't you just vanish me to mere dust, and make me perish when I deny your existence and when I deny my total need for you?"

71. Because if you think you should have asked that second question instead, by right you should now FEEL the huge Mercy of Him, that even at a time when you deny His existence, He is giving you a chance to come back to Him.

72. Now the choice is yours. You have intellect. You have a brain. You have a decision to make.

73. Having said all the above, I am closing this article by throwing back the same question to you.

"What do you think? Do we need God?"

74. Allahuaklam. (Truly Allah knows best). Wassalamualaikum wbt. (And peace be with you)

75. P/S: You may read another article (in Malay language though) about an almost similar subject i.e Does God Exist? or Benarkah Allah Wujud? here. Thanks and take care ;-)

-Ibnu Hanaffi

Ex-IMU

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A Leader, a Fighter and a Lover

A leader 

Legend speaks so highly of you, 

As the greatest leader ever existed, 

You open up a country full of virtues, 

The best nation ever created. 

You were invited by two fighting tribes, 

As a leader to bind them together, 

With islam, you finally made them realize, 

And with islam they befriended each other. 

Then come the time of hijrah, 

With the grand arrival of you, ya Rasulullah, 

Together with the Muslim people from Makkah, 

And finally it is formed, the city of Madinah. 

From the birth of this one city, 

Islam had spread enormously, 

As a hard prove of Rasulullah’s audacity, 

And his leadership regardless of his illiteracy. 

Ya Nabi-Allah, 

You successfully shaped a country, 

When I can’t even manage a university.

You moved those around you with love and compassion, 

When I don’t even have such contribution to mention. 

You guide friends and foes, 

Toward greatness here and after, 

While I… 

Hmm… 

A failure trough and trough ain’t I? 

Not even a flicker of light around you, 

Not even a glimpse of shadow behind you, 

Nothing! 

Just another pebble by the street, 

Just another bubble in the sea, 

Just another cloud in the sky, 

Just another dead leaf under the shrub. 

Insignificant! 

A fighter 

Narrators narrated a great deal about you, 

About countless wars you were into, 

About the bravery and strength, 

Of your soul and might, 

A great feat non can easily begets, 

A legend not can easily forget. 

As a warrior you fight for the love of your heart, 

That is Allah, Islam, and us, your ummat, 

You win, you lose, countless of your fight, 

You scarred, you bruised in the fight for our right, 

You were slashed, were stabbed, for us, you’ve never met, 

For us, you have never met, 

For us, whom you, ya Rasulullah, have never met. 

Ya Ummati! 

Ya Ummati! 

Ya Ummati! 

Even in the bridge of death, 

You only spoke of us, think about us, 

Still loving us, care about us, 

Never, ever disappointed with us. 

While us, 

No…while I, ya Rasulullah, 

Only think of myself, 

Here, now and forever, 

Me, myself and I, 

Selfish! 

Hedonist! 

How can I ever say that, 

I wish to follow your footsteps, 

When all I ever do, 

Is 180 degree away from the trail you left, 

SHAME ON ME! 

Owh…I should talk on strength here 

Oh well… 

It’s the strength of heart I guess, 

The boundless strength of heart, 

The strength that seeps into others, 

Strengthening all other hearts, 

Awakening them from their slumbering nights, 

To fight for the truth, for the right, 

With the strength unknown by most, 

For the sake of Islam, the love of our heart. 

A lover 

Books told stories, 

Of your love for Khadijah, 

That transcends even death, 

Deeper than the deepest sea, 

This makes me wonder, 

When she was taken away from you, 

When you were left alone to wonder the endless sea, 

Don’t you feel cold and lonely? 

How can you stand the enormous pressure? 

Are you not suffocated? 

Is there any shackles trying to bind you, 

Pulling you deeper into the lonely sea? 

Did the darkness not blinds you, 

Pulling you away from the right path? 

You were left alone to wonder, 

Beneath the deep, vast sea after all. 

Alone in the deep sea of love, 

Crushed and suffocated by the unforgiving water. 

Believe me, even now, 

I am freezing in the cold sea, 

Suffocating while being crushed by the huge pressure, 

Fighting not to stray away from my path, 

Trying to free myself from this invisible shackle, 

In the frightening, cold sea, 

Shallower than yours. 

Dreaming that one day, 

I am going to be saved, 

By a little mermaid, 

Who doesn’t even realized that, 

I was there, still there, somewhere, 

Along the way, 

In her journey, 

Searching for the sky. 

Owh…the sky! Now I get it, 

I was too obsessed with the ocean, 

I forget that the sky is so magnificent, 

I was possessed by the mythical creature, 

I forget these creatures only exist in myths, 

And I won’t ever meet her, 

Unless I create my own myth, 

And most importantly, I forgot about the creator of all creatures. 

I forgot that you, ya Habiballah, 

You were crushed by the sea, 

But freed by the sky, 

By the bright, boundless sky, 

Warm, soothing and lovely sky, 

Your love for Allah is sky high, 

That it frees you from the sea, 

Protecting you from any harm, 

By giving you soothing warmth 

That the bright light shines your way, 

Preventing you from going astray, 

You were never alone to begin with! 

For Allah is always with you, 

For you love Him as He do you. 

While I… 

Epilogue 

Ya Allah, ya Rabb al-‘alamin, 

I know that I can never be 

As great a person as he is, 

But please, show me the way, 

To be the shadow that follows his every footstep, 

And the footstep of those, 

Whom you shine your light upon. 

I can’t ever be, 

As great a warrior as he is, 

But give me the strength, 

To fight for those whom he fights for 

To protect those he sacrifices for, 

And to help those he wishes to help. 

I can never be, 

A true lover as he is, 

But give me the heart, 

To love those he loves, 

To love those who loves him, 

And to love those who loves you, 

So that you, in return ya Allah, 

Will love me more than my love for others 

Ya Majid, ya Halim, ya Latif, ya Jalil, ya Mujib. 

Amiin. 

By,

MSoc Committee 2011/12

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How to be a Contributing yet a loving Muslim

Assalamu’alaikum warahmarullahi wa barakatuh. 

When my dear friend’s message on my phone reminding me to come up with an article for MSoc blog came to mind, I immediately thought of sharing some words of Prof. Tariq Ramadhan on ‘In the Footstep of the Prophet’ at IIUM, Gombak Selangor. The topic of the talk was mainly on how muslims should contribute to the world, and Professor managed to deliver it in such an awesome way that the two and a half hours talk felt as if it passed just like that.... He made you want to listen to him more but due to the time constrain, you just could not. 

Prof. Tariq started his talk with the notion of ‘loving Allah instead of feeling scared of Him’. Here, he recited the hadith saying that ‘submit to Allah SWT as if you see Him but if you could not, then do it as if He sees you’. Many muslims subconsciously interpret the hadith by thinking Allah SWT only sees the mistakes done by them. Professor reminded us that Allah does not only see but he was very close to innermost intentions of a person. As He is the most loving of all, He is welcoming His servant’s intentions rather than being a punishing God. Therefore, he said, a muslim should love Allah instead. A true love has to be manifested, so keep in touch with Him via the prayers and by following His lover, the Prophet Muhammad SAW. If we love God, we follow the Prophet. Insyaallah, the Prophet would love you and Allah in turn would love you too. Hence, try to turn your relationship with Allah into a love story that you enjoy throughout your life. 

According to Prof. Tariq, muslims would contribute to the world if they see things just like how the Prophet Muhammad SAW sees things. And the Prophet sees things the way as how Allah SWT wants his creations to see. The starting point is the way we see the Nature and the universe. In many verses of the Quran, Allah SWT told the muslims to observe His creations – the earth, the animals, the sun, the moon, the stars and many, many more. Apart from that, He also let his servants know that all of those creations belong to Him and only Him. Thus, a muslim should always remind himself that he owns nothing in this world, including himself. Once he has this consciousness, he would see the Nature and everything above the earth and below it as a gift from Allah the Almighty. He would never destroy it, because he knows it never belongs to him. Instead, he would do his best to make this world a prosperous place to live in and protect the balance of the ecosystem. This is the basis of the khilafah concept, where we use the gift from the Creator for the best interest of everyone with the faith that the gift is not ours, but God’s property. 

Change the way we look at the poor. The Prophet during his time always treated his people with compassions and care. Ignoring the needs of the poor means you are being arrogant. Arrogance is the key factor that leads to total destruction as what happened to the Satan when he was asked to bow before Adam by Allah SWT. Satan was condemned by his Creator and chased out of the Heaven. Thus, arrogance is an act very close to the Satans. Through the syariah law, Allah SWT demanded the muslims to pay zakat in order to cultivate love for the poor among the muslims. He ordered us to fast during the Ramadhan month to allow us to feel the pain of the impoverished people. At this point, Prof. Tariq expressed his disappointment on the muslims attitude during the fasting month. Many muslims failed to spiritually understand the significance of Ramadan by eating excessively when breaking the fast and lazing thoughtlessly during the day. 

Change the way we look at our family members. For the men, see the women in your family as companions. When we look as the children, never see them as possessions as one day they would leave us or the other way round. Instead, always see them as the mercy from the Most Merciful. And more importantly, always treat the parents with full respect, as they are the gateway to the Paradise. In short, in order to be a muslim that contributes to this world, one has to view this world like how the Prophet sees it, as in this person lies all excellent examples to be a successful believer. According to Prof. Tariq, there are four qualities of the Prophet we the muslims must attain- confidence, trustworthy, ambitious and courageous. Feeling confident does not mean that you never doubt yourself in everything you do, but to confidently do your best with the belief that Allah is protecting you. When you are being ambitious, you aim with Allah’s will by praying to Him. 

In the latter half of his talk, Professor pointed out an interesting statement – ‘celebrate this life because this life is important’. He rejected the views saying that this world is a place to suffer in and a muslim must refrain himself from enjoying this life. This is because victimising attitude is not compatible with human’s nature as socialising creations. Hence, Prof. Tariq urged the muslims to believe that both life now and hereafter are equally important. If you live happily in this life with Islamic principles, you will, God willing, live happily after death as well. Hence, a muslim should celebrate this life but at the same time, never forget that he would die one day. Remember that death would be coming to you, but yet do not forget your share in this life. 

Finally, Prof. Tariq stressed the essence of spreading the awareness of being the real khalifah, which is by educating the ummah with meanings. We should be consistent with what we say to others, and show to them that the Islamic way of life is not the harsh one but the right one. And what we say to other people should be in coherent with our actions as well, as actions always speak louder than words. When we are inviting others to engage in Islam, avoid stressing on the rules and regulations. Instead, we should guide them with the akhlak of the Prophet, which is full with tender and compassion. Apart from that, the muslims must always glorify human’s dignity and justice. A true muslim would never differentiate a muslim from a kaffir, and he would always promote solidarity among the human beings without considering their races and backgrounds. We must always bear in mind that the best among us the humans are those with God consciousness. Allah SWT shows His mercy on all of His creations, therefore what right do we have to be unfair towards others? This is one of the questions the muslims should take into account when dealing with the non-believers as well as the muslims who are strayed from the path of Allah. 

In conclusion, a contributing muslim is indeed the one that follows the Prophet’s footstep by looking at things the way he did, treating others with love as he did and trying to achieved all of his good qualities. That muslim is also the one that treasure this life and he always learns to forgive. Last but not least, he is also a muslim that tells the people he loves ‘I love you’.

By:

Cotton-Candy

MSOC Committee 2011/12

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