An introduction to islam part2
- 1. An introduction to Islam By: Sayed Muhammad Husaini Raqeb Qom,Iran 2015 Part 2
- 2. Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh Dear viewers this is the second session of our class about Islam First of all we take a brief look, back at what we said in last session
- 3. Summary (A) Love Of Knowledge (B) The Sense Of Thankfulness (C) Preventing Possible Danger
- 4. Some Necessary Qualities Of Religion The religion which can fulfill the needs of mankind must have the following qualities: (a) It must satisfy the intelligence and intellect of human beings. Islam gives foremost importance to human intelligence. Islam emphasizes that you must understand the faith and then believe in it. Belief follows understanding, and not vice versa.
- 5. (b) It must teach and demonstrate dignity of human beings. Islam places human beings over and above all other creations of God; it promotes equality among human beings. Islam does not allow human beings to lose their dignity by bowing down in worship to a fellow man, animal or an inanimate object.
- 6. (c) It must be a complete guide to develop the body, mind and spirit of humans as a whole. Islam does not only develop the soul at the expense of the body; nor does it promote the care of the body at the expense of the soul. It promotes development of all aspects of human life in a balanced way.
- 7. (d) It must conform with human nature. The teachings of Islam takes the human nature into consideration. It does not promote, for example, celibacy(not getting married) which is completely against human nature. Prophet Muhammad says: Marriage is my Sunnah that means the way of acting or my teaching to my followers and he promoted this way of satisfying this basic and natural need to the opposite gender.
- 8. (e) It should not be a tool in the hands of oppressors to suppress the masses. Islam promotes social justice and rejects the theory of predestination. The oppression of a tyrant ruler is not predestined by God. This leaves no room for the tyrant rulers and oppressors to say that the masses have been predestined for serving the ruling class, what we saw in the history of mankind.
- 9. Now we want to start a new topic Actually after understanding the necessity of having a religion , it comes to the …
- 10. Ways Of Knowing God
- 11. Man has always found different ways of knowing God. Human beings of various intellectual levels have found their own ways to God. Common people have found simple ways; whereas thinkers and philosophers reached the same conclusion on a higher plane of thought. The two most common ways of knowing the Creator are: • the inner way (which is also the closest way). • the outer way (which is also the clearest way).
- 12. 1st Method: The Inner or Innate Way God has created the inner light in each and every human being. If we go deep within ourselves and touch our souls, we hear the message of God. History and anthropology has shown that if man is left alone and is not indoctrinated by any school of thought— then, sooner or later, his inner voice will lead him to believe in a power as the Creator and Maintainer of this world.
- 13. However, at times this natural feeling is subdued or let’s say affected by external means. But it re-emerges when that person finds himself in difficulties—he naturally prays to a Power whom he believes to be above all powers.
- 14. This is very well portrayed in the talk which Imam Ja`far as-Sādiq (peace be upon him), the sixth Imam of the Shi‘a Muslims, had with an atheist: In this argument we read that Imam Ja’far as-Sādiq (knowing that the guy had gone on sea voyages several times) asked him:
- 15. “Have you ever been caught in a fierce storm in the middle of nowhere, your rudder gone, your sails torn away, trying desperately to keep your boat afloat?” The Atheist: “Yes.”
- 16. The Imam: “And sometimes perhaps even that leaking boat went down leaving you exhausted and helpless at the mercy of the raging waves?” The Atheist: “Yes.”
- 17. The Imam: “Was not there, in all that despair, a glimmer of hope in your heart that some unnamed and unknown power could still save you?” When the atheist agreed, the Imam said, “That power is God.” That atheist was intelligent. He knew the truth when he saw it.
- 18. The “inner way,” in spite of being the natural and closest way of knowing God, is also a very personal way. It is only sufficient for the person who has seen the light within himself. But as far as everyone has this ability ,it is called the first and the closest way of knowing God.
- 19. Now as the time is up I leave you with this question: What do you think the Outer way of knowing God would be? Think about it till the next session
- 20. But before saying good bye Don’t forget to keep in touch with me through : info@onlinehawzah.com Wassalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullhi Wa barakatuh