How to Know Allah?

by **samirisaoui** Wed Dec 11, 2013 3:14 am

By: Mohamed Okasha
In dealing with issues of creed, we find that the most religion that handled them with utmost accuracy and rationality, from among the three remaining divine religions, is Islam. Actually, it gives an approach that has nothing to contradict with reason, logic or science. Allah (Glory be to Him) in the Qur’an tells us that if you want to know Him better, you are asked to reflect on the nature, think about the universe around you, ponder on the Qur’an, think about yourself and your soul, etc. You are not asked to believe in inexistent things or superstitious matters, but you are only asked to think and give your mind a time to look around.
To know who is Allah , just make use of the following keys:
- reflect on the nature as a whole, Almighty Allah says,
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding. (Aal `Imran 3:190)
Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and earth, and the alternation of the night and the day, and the [great] ships which sail through the sea with that which benefits people, and what Allah has sent down from the heavens of rain, giving life thereby to the earth after its lifelessness and dispersing therein every [kind of] moving creature, and [His] directing of the winds and the clouds controlled between the heaven and the earth are signs for a people who use reason. (Al-Baqarah 2:164)
- ponder on the Creation of things,
Then do they not look at the camels – how they are created? And at the sky – how it is raised? And at the mountains – how they are erected? And at the earth – how it is spread out? (Al-Ghashiyah 88:17-20)
And it is He who spread the earth and placed therein firmly set mountains and rivers; and from all of the fruits He made therein two mates; He causes the night to cover the day. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought. And within the land are neighboring plots and gardens of grapevines and crops and palm trees, [growing] several from a root or otherwise, watered with one water; but We make some of them exceed others in [quality of] fruit. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason. (Al-Ra`d 13:3-4)
- think about Allah’s peerless creation of man,
We have certainly created man in the best of stature. (Al-Tin 95:4)
And certainly did We create man from an extract of clay. Then We placed him as a sperm-drop in a firm lodging. Then We made the sperm-drop into a clinging clot, and We made the clot into a lump [of flesh], and We made [from] the lump, bones, and We covered the bones with flesh; then We developed him into another creation. So blessed is Allah , the best of creators. (Al-Mu’minun 23:12-14)
- contemplate on the eloquence of the Qur’an, ,
Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah , they would have found within it much contradiction. (Al-Nisa’ 4:82)
And We certainly know that they say, “It is only a human being who teaches the Prophet.” The tongue of the one they refer to is foreign, and this Qur’an is [in] a clear Arabic language. (Al-Nahl 16:13)
This considerable link that the Qur’an always draws our attention to is the most significant feature with which Islam is distinguished from other religions, whether divine or not, the link of faith to palpable facts. Although being unseen, Allah (glory be to him) shows you what connects you to Him, what proves His Existence, and what instills His Being in the hearts. The Qur’an relates the stories of people whom Allah made victorious, in spite of their weak preparation, but it was Allah’s Help with them. Also, the Qur’an mentions as an example a situation that most of us may experience one day. If you travel by sea and while in the midst of the sea, the waves go high and you lose every connection to help but to Allah; it is He and no one else who can make the waves calm down and save you.
It is He who enables you to travel on land and sea until, when you are in ships and they sail with them by a good wind and they rejoice therein, there comes a storm wind and the waves come upon them from everywhere and they assume that they are surrounded, supplicating Allah , sincere to Him in religion, “If You should save us from this, we will surely be among the thankful.” But when He saves them, at once they commit injustice upon the earth without right. (Yunus 10:23-24)
Islam never endeavors to convince you to believe in the claimed trinity or that Allah is incarnate in the body of a human being, as in Christianity. Islam addresses your mind before your heart, your reason before your feelings and your knowledge before your customs. It is the last guidance of Allah to all people, so do not miss it.
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Mohamed Okasha is a graduate of Al Azhar University, Faculty of Languages and Translation, Department of Islamic Studies in English. He is a former editor in the Shari`ah section at Islamonline.net. Currently, he is an editor at the EDC (E-Da`wah Committee) in Kuwaithttp://www.the-faith.com/the-holy-quran/quranic-approach-islamic-faith/