Trying to learn about Islam
Allah says in Qur'an 2:239: "He has taught you that which you knew not." And the Prophet Muhammed(saw) said: "Whoever adopts the path of seeking knowledge, Allah eases for him the way to Paradise."
Hello to all,
A friend has been introducing me to the Islam faith for a few months now.
I know that he wants me to find some answers as I lost faith in my own religion some time ago (was christian but have been athiest for some time) but still consider myself a good and spiritual person.
I do believe that Islam is a very beautiful religion and I like a lot of the concepts but the more I research the more I find it conflicts with my own belief system and I am finding it harder and harder to imagine myself following it.
Looking at it from an outsiders point of view I have a question which I'm really really hoping will not offend anyone, I'm just niave and want to learn.
Zina=sin
As I understand it, Zina is sex before marriage (to all the people on here who have stuck with this rule, I take my hat off to you, that is quite amazing) and is wrong. Anyone who commits this sin is going against God/Allah's rules and needs to repent. This much I follow. But is there not a contradiction? I have seen it written on here that Allah/God is the best planner and everything that happens in life is from his plan, that the choices you make aren't really your choices, they're his/hers/God's/Allah's. Can that not mean that two people who meet, find eachother attracitve and commit this sin, have done so because it has been in this plan. I really don't want to offend anyone, please understand this, but I just don't follow how anyone can be responsible for a sin if it's not even been your own choice?
Also, I have been told that all bad things that happen are also part of this plan. I may be getting hung up on the whole plan thing, but I really don't believe that God/Allah would desire a child to be harmed or abused by an adult. I don't see how this can be a good thing as in a test for the life after death. It upsets me that this could even be considered.
On top of this I have been told that it is written all sins can be forgiven except one, the equal worship of another or making a partner for God/Allah. So basically, if someone masacres a group of people, this can be forgiven, but saying that there is more than one God can not? How can this be? How can people who have done such terrible things live happy with the knowledge that as long as they don't believe in an equal to God/Allah, they will reach paradise?
I truely hope I haven't caused any offence but as I have said in a previous post (which I'm really hoping won't be removed) I like to research things I don't know or understand before I can embrace them. I'd love to be able to embrace Islam as I truely am looking for answers in life that will help me to find faith again, however while these questions haunt me I know I'll never be comfortable with any religion.
Please help.
- Ruby83
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Ruby, I appreciate you continuing to seek the truth by writing to us and asking. It shows that you have an open and inquiring mind. You have given no offense and you should never apologize for seeking understanding.
A lot of your confusion seems to be stemming from a few basic misunderstandings.
1. Free Will
It's not correct that our choices are not truly our choices, or that Allah makes the choices for us. Actually Islam is very clear that we human beings have been given free will. That is what differentiates us from the angels (who have no free will but simply obey Allah's commands), or even the animals, trees and mountains. Animals operate out of instinct, without an understanding of good and evil, but we human beings make our choices in life, whether to be good people or bad. Allah does not force us one way or another. If He did, it would not be a true test, would it? That's why Allah holds us accountable on the Day of Judgment for our choices, because they truly are our choices..
2. Qadar - Predestination
You may be thinking of Qadar, which is one of the six Islamic pillars of faith. Qadr means Divine predestination. However, it does not mean that our choices in life are forced. It doesn't refer to that at all. Qadar refers to those things that happen to us from beyond our control, for example the time and place of our birth, natural disasters, accidents, illnesses, and the time of our death. As Muslims we accept that there are things we cannot control, and when they occur we do not blame God, or rail against our fate. We stay patient and faithful.
3. The evil that men do
It does not mean that we accept the evils that human beings commit, whether murder, child abuse, rape, or whatever. We absolutely reject those acts and condemn them, and we must work constantly in this world to prevent such things, and to create a better society.
Nor does Allah want us to do evil, nor would He ever desire for a child to be hurt. He created us in goodness, to be good. That's why He has constantly sent us Prophets and Messengers to tell us to be righteous, and why He revealed books like the Torah, Gospels and Quran. Because He desires for us to be pure, not to be evil. But, as I said, He does not make the choice for us. He does not force us.
4. Shirk - associating partners with Allah
In your final question, you asked about Shirk (associating partners with Allah, worshiping false gods), and how this can be the only sin that Allah does not forgive. Again, there is a misunderstanding here. It does not mean that Allah will automatically forgive everything else, including massacres or whatever. In fact the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) mentioned the case of a woman who shut a cat up without food or water until it died, and he said that she would be in Hell. And that's for a cat. So imagine the punishment for people who murder and abuse other people. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) also described punishments in the Hereafter for people who commit murder, or who steal the property of an orphan, or even those who do good deeds only for show (for example).
It should also be made clear that the lack of forgiveness for Shirk applies to those who die in that state, not to those who repent during life.
So when people die in a state of sin, if they are believers in Allah, He may forgive them or may punish them, according to the situation, and whatever is most just for that person. However, if they die in a state of Shirk, there is no forgiveness for them.
To me this is understandable. If I'm a judge, and you made a mistake and come to me asking for mercy, I might be merciful or not. I'll look at your history, the severity of your crimes, and the sincerity of your contrition, and I'll make a judgment. However, if you don't recognize my authority, and you don't ask me for forgiveness, and in fact you reject me altogether, then why would I bother with you? And in fact the Quran tells us that on the Day of Judgment, Allah will tell those who worshiped false gods to call upon their gods, and see if they can help them. And they will find no help.
I hope I have answered your questions, Insha'Allah. If not, let me know and I'll try to clarify further.
Wael
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
Elaborating further on the concept of Qadar in Islam, here is an article from IslamOnline.net:
In his commentary on the book Al-`Aqidah At-Tahawiyyah, Ibn Abi Al-`Izz, may Allah bless his soul, states:
‘Belief in Allah’s Decree and Preordainment consists of two parts: The first part is related to Allah and is attributed to Him, which we are supposed to accept and believe in. The second part is related to the servant and is ascribed to him or her. In the latter part sometimes we accept and be pleased with it; sometimes we are supposed to reject it and show dissatisfaction with it.
To illustrate, killing oneself is viewed through two perspectives: on the one hand, it is Allah’s Preordainment and its occurrence is a reflection of the Divine Decree. On the other hand, it is certainly an act carried out by a mortal, with full and unimpaired awareness. We are supposed to reject the latter part.’
Thus, as Ibn Abi Al-`Izz, may Allah bless his soul states, each sin we commit has two considerations like this: we believe that Allah destined everything even sins, and we are supposed to turn penitent to Allah because we commit them willingly and out of our full sense and consciousness.
You have a chance to be a good Muslim through your character and deeds, or you may follow the Shaytan (Satan) and take the wrong way. In both cases, there is Divine Decree but you are the one who chooses which way you wish for yourself. This indicates that the concept of Allah’s Preordainment of man’s affairs does not give a person an excuse to do whatever he likes and then attributes his deeds to the qadar of Allah, as Allah has told us what to do and what to avoid in a crystal clear way. Qadar does not mean that Allah forces you to go to the wrong way or commit sins. Every one has his or her own choice and Allah told us the reward of good deeds and the punishment of bad deeds. Thus, everyone is held accountable for his or her own deeds.”
Elaborating on the question in point, we’d like to add that there are two circles of qadar a Muslim should know about. In his commentary on Al-`Aqidah At-Tahawiyyah, Ibn Abi Al-`Izz states: “There are two circles of knowledge. The first circle relates to the lawful will of human beings. In that arena, man is accountable for everything he does because he has the reason and power to do or not to do. That is why anyone who has not reached puberty, is insane, or is asleep is not held accountable for what he does because he does not have the option and will in what he does. However, when having full control of himself and his mind, it won't be plausible for someone to say, ‘I drink alcohol because Allah has predestined me to drink’, or ‘I do not pray because Allah has not predestined me to do so.’ Our answer to that person is: ‘You have a free will by which you can decide what you want to do and what you do not.’ That is the first circle of qadar.
The other circle is completely governed by the Will of Allah, and this is of the ghayb (unseen or unknown) dimension. Man does not have any access to that circle. Ghayb is usually the area that Allah knows about, and maybe Allah let some of His servants or Messengers be aware of something of that ghayb. As the Qur'an says in surat Al-Jinn, “He is the knower of the unseen and He reveals unto none His secret save unto every messenger whom He has chosen and then He makes a guard to go before him and a guard behind him.” (Al-Jinn: 26-27)
In that circle, as man has no access to know what is predestined for him, he has no right to talk about it because everything of that circle is fully governed by Allah’s Supreme Will. Man cannot talk of anything of which he is not provided with knowledge. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, taught his Companions to avoid arguments or debates concerning such issues.”
Shedding more light on these two circles, the eminent Muslim scholar, Sheikh Muhammad Al-Hanooti, member of the North American Fiqh Council, adds:
“There are two circles of qadr. One of those circles is called the circle of the lawful will. In that circle, man can decide what to do or what not to do. He has a full free will. There is nothing compulsory for man in that circle. Everything of that circle is his responsibility. He can be praised if he complies with the law. He will be condemned if he violates the law. No one in this circle will justify what he does or what he neglects as a matter of qadr.
The second circle is that of the unseen or ghayb. Allah decides whatever He wills, but no one has an access to that circle. No man can ever allege that he can reach this circle. Man has no authority to interrogate anything of that circle. Allah says, “He is never questioned for what He does, but people are accountable.” (Al-Anbiya’: 23) We know that the first circle is ruled and controlled by the second one, but we are not provided with any access to it. For instance, why did Allah create Iblis? We know certainly that this is of the second circle. Allah has a wisdom that we don’t know. The Qur’an tells us that we could like something whereas it is bad for us or dislike something whereas it is good for us because Allah knows, but we don’t know. We should focus in everything from birth to death on the first circle.”
Someone asked recently whether the feelings of love that we have for a person are a part of Qadar. In other words, did Allah put those feelings in our hearts, and are we therefore destined to follow them?
I don't know the answer to this. However, I can point out that if you have feelings of attachment or love for a bad person, then that is not from Allah. Allah would not put love in your heart for an abuser, or manipulator, or betrayer. Many women write to this website saying that their husband or boyfriend beats and abuses them, or is an adulterer or drug addict, or all combined, but they can't leave him because they "love" him. This is not genuine "love", but simple attachment, and fear of separation. It is not healthy or good, and no one can use the excuse of Qadar to justify it.
What if the person that we love is a good person? Again, I don't know whether we can attribute such feelings to Allah. But I can point out that regardless of our feelings, we are responsible for our actions. I believe that people come into our lives for a reason, and that Allah sends us the people we need in order to move forward in life. If knowing someone brings us closer to Allah, then Alhamdulillah the effect of that person on our lives has been good. But our actions must at all times be according to what Allah has dictated. We are responsible for that.
Beyond that I cannot say. And Allah knows best.
Wael
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
As salamu alaykum,
Thank you, Wael.
María
Hi Wael
Thank you so much for the response. I love this site, I really do, you give such in depth answers.
This has helped to clear up a lot of questions I had/have. I actually reverted on the 30th of December and this is the first of me seeing the reply to this post so thank you so much for answering me.
I'm waiting with excitment for my english translastion of the Qu'ran and I'm sure I'll find a lot more answers within.
I'm going to have a look at the answers to my other post now (sorry for being a pain and sending 2 at once!)
again, thank you so much for your reply
: D
Congratulations Ruby. May Allah make this path easy for you, aameen.
SisterZ
IslamicAnswers.com Editor
Assalam o alaikum sister Ruby83,
Masha Allah! congratulations on making the right decision. May Allah Almighty help you in learning and understanding further about Islam in right perspective and also help you implement it in your everyday life. Sister! Believe it or not; While replying to one of your earlier question about your situation with your boyfriend (sorry if I m wrong for not remembering it), I had this feeling that inshaallah Allah SWT will guide you to right path because you were on quest of finding the truth. May Allah reward your efforts in seeking the truth. (Amin)
Wasalam,
Mks1982.
Aww thanks everyone! You are all fantastic people, thank you so much 😀