Wednesday, December 29, 2010

The Origin of Human Belief

“O mankind!  Be conscious of your Lord, who has created you from one soul (Adam), and out of it created its mate (Eve), and out of the two spread many men and women.  And remain conscious of God, in whose name you demand [your rights] from one another, and of these ties of kinship.  Verily, God is ever watchful over you!” (Quran 4:1)
Tawhid was the norm from the days of Adam until shirk emerged.  Allah says in the Qur'an:

 
Sahih International
Mankind was [of] one religion [before their deviation]; then Allah sent the prophets as bringers of good tidings and warners and sent down with them the Scripture in truth to judge between the people concerning that in which they differed. And none differed over the Scripture except those who were given it - after the clear proofs came to them - out of jealous animosity among themselves. And Allah guided those who believed to the truth concerning that over which they had differed, by His permission. And Allah guides whom He wills to a straight path.
Muhsin Khan
Mankind were one community and Allah sent Prophets with glad tidings and warnings, and with them He sent the Scripture in truth to judge between people in matters wherein they differed. And only those to whom (the Scripture) was given differed concerning it after clear proofs had come unto them through hatred, one to another. Then Allah by His Leave guided those who believed to the truth of that wherein they differed. And Allah guides whom He wills to a Straight Path.
"Mankind was one single nation, and Allah sent Messengers with glad tidings and warnings...(al Baqarah 2:213)





Thus a noble civilization is one which creates a suitable environment- political, social, economic, cultural and material-that will enable man to direct himself toward the worship of  God alone and to adhere strictly to His commandments in all his activities, unimpeded by the institutions of the society.
No matter how advanced a civilization may be in sciences, literature and arts; no matter how colorful its achievements in architecture, furniture, clothing and cuisine; no matter how far a civilization has advanced in material progress; in the Islamic View, it still remains "backward" and "deficient" so long as it falls short of creating an environment appropriate to the worship of God and the observance of His commandments as embodied in the Shari'ah.

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