We, humans, are honored with the blessings of the hearing, the
eyesight, and the most sophisticated brains - three vital tools
to observe, analyze, connect, and react to God's creation and
proofs. Building up the "data base" that leads to the logical
conviction of God's super authority and intelligence relies
mainly on utilizing these three blessings. Yet, most of us have
failed to appreciate or benefit from them.
[67:23] Say, "He is the One who initiated you, and granted you
the hearing, the eyes, and
the brains. Rarely are you
appreciative."
[47:24]
Why do they not study the Quran carefully? Do
they have locks on their minds?
[18:57]
Who are more evil than those who are reminded
of their Lord's proofs, then disregard them,
without realizing what they are doing.
Consequently, we place shields on their hearts to prevent
them from understanding it (the Quran),
and deafness in their ears. Thus, no
matter what you do to guide them, they can never ever be
guided.
[6:39]
Those who reject our proofs are deaf and dumb, in
total darkness. Whomever GOD wills, He sends
astray, and whomever He wills, He leads in a straight path.
The
Majority of People Do Not Believe
[12:103]
Most people, no matter what you do,
will not believe.
The Majority of Believers Destined for Hell
[12:106]
The majority of those who believe in GOD do not
do so without committing idol worship.
Out of His
infinite mercy, God also provided us in the Quran with
lessons for reasoning and critical thinking that would
assist in witnessing His signs and reaching the most logical
conclusions. We learn from these lessons the best
approaches to reflect, debate, and with our argumentative
nature (18:54) in the most rational way.
Either
through a direct question/answer format, narration format,
or use of allegories, the Quran helps us heed and learn the
art of proving the truth in an effective way. There are
numerous examples of God reasoning with us, or messengers
and wise people debating with disbelievers. They
all provide this logical approach - NOTHING after the truth
except falsehood. Presenters of either one carry the burden
of proof. There are many avenues to prove the truth, but it
is impossible to validate falsehood. Those who present
falsehood or lie about God and His words cannot stand any
logical debate because they will always fail to prove their
claims or support their blasphemies against God. They are
speechless when it comes to the following logical questions
or suggestions recommended by God in these debating lessons:
[10:32]
Such is GOD, your rightful Lord. What is there
after the truth, except falsehood? How could
you disregard all this?
Addressing the Disbelievers
[37:155] Why
do you not take heed?
[37:156] Do you have any proof?
[37:157] Show us your book, if you
are truthful.
[2:111] Some have said, "No one will enter Paradise except
Jews or Christians!" Such is their wishful thinking.
Say, "Show us your proof, if you
are right."
[3:93] All
food used to be lawful for the Children of Israel, until
Israel imposed certain prohibitions on themselves before the
Torah was sent down. Say, "Bring
the Torah and read it, if you are truthful."
[68:35] Shall
we treat the Submitters like the criminals?
[68:36] What is wrong with your logic?
[68:37] Do you have another book to
uphold?
[68:38] In it, do you find anything
you want?
Can
They Create a Fly?
[22:73] O
people, here is a parable that you must ponder carefully:
the idols you set up beside GOD can never create a
fly, even if they banded together to do so.
Furthermore, if the fly steals anything from them, they
cannot recover it; weak is the pursuer and the pursued.
[3:61] If
anyone argues with you, despite the knowledge you have
received, then say, "Let us
summon our children and your children, our women and your
women, ourselves and yourselves, then let us invoke GOD's
curse upon the liars."
[3:62] Absolutely, this is the narration of the
truth. Absolutely, there is no god except GOD. Absolutely,
GOD is the Almighty, Most Wise.
[3:63] If they turn away, then GOD is fully aware
of the evildoers.
Reflect on Your Idols
[10:34] Say,
"Can any of your idols initiate creation, then
repeat it?" Say, "GOD initiates the creation,
then repeats it." How could you deviate?
[2:94] Say,
"If the abode of the Hereafter is reserved for
you at GOD, to the exclusion of all other people, then you
should long for death, if you are truthful."
[2:95] They never long for it,
because of what their hands have sent forth.
GOD is fully aware of the wicked.
The Following
are some examples of logical arguments with the people of
the scripture. The same exact technique is being used - we
cannot get any far with falsehood as it has no basis and no
proof.
[3:65]
O followers of the scripture, why do you argue
about Abraham, when the Torah and the Gospel were not
revealed until after him? Do you not understand?
[3:66] You have argued about things you knew;
why do you argue about things you do not know?
GOD knows, while you do not know.
[3:67] Abraham was neither Jewish, nor Christian; he
was a monotheist submitter. He never was an idol worshiper.
Submission (Islam): Abraham's Religion*
[2:135] They said, "You have to be Jewish or Christian, to
be guided." Say, "We follow the
religion of Abraham - monotheism - he never was an idol
worshiper."
[2:139] Say, "Do you argue with us about GOD,
when He is our Lord and your Lord? We are
responsible for our deeds, and you are responsible for your
deeds. To Him alone we are devoted."
[2:140] Do you say that Abraham, Ismail, Isaac,
Jacob, and the Patriarchs were Jewish or Christian?
Say, "Do you know better than GOD?
Who is more evil than one who conceals a testimony he has
learned from GOD? GOD is never unaware of anything you do."
[23:91] GOD
has never begotten a son. Nor was there ever any other god
beside Him. Otherwise, each god
would have declared independence with his creations, and
they would have competed with each other for dominance. GOD
be glorified; far above their claims.
[5:68] Say,
"O people of the scripture, you have no basis
until you uphold the Torah, and the Gospel, and what is sent
down to you herein from your Lord." For sure,
these revelations from your Lord will cause many of them to
plunge deeper into transgression and disbelief. Therefore,
do not feel sorry for the disbelieving people.
The Quran
uses similes and metaphors as powerful tools to highlight
the truth and deliver it in a very clear manner:
Truth vs. Falsehood
[14:24] Do
you not see that GOD has cited the example of the good word
as a good tree whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches
are high in the sky?
[14:26] And
the example of the bad word is that of a bad tree chopped at
the soil level; it has no roots to keep it standing.
[18:45] Cite for them the example of this life as water that
we send down from the sky to produce plants of the earth,
then they turn into hay that is blown away by the wind. GOD
is able to do all things.
[29:41]
The allegory of those who accept other masters beside GOD is
that of the spider and her home; the flimsiest of all homes
is the home of the spider, if they only knew.*
Abraham was
surely a vanguard in reasoning and debating. He went
through great and logical dialogues with himself, his
father, and his tribe. He was indeed a good example for all
generations (60:4). After realizing that a planet, the moon,
or the sun are simply creations and that there must be a
super power that initiated them (6:76-78), he
started campaigning for the path of monotheism. All of his
challenging questions and/or comments to disbelievers
demonstrate the same exact approach - NOTHING after the
truth except falsehood, and the burden of proof is an
obligation that falsifiers cannot fulfill:
[6:78]....
"O my people, I denounce your idolatry.
[6:79] ”I have devoted myself absolutely to the One
who initiated the heavens and the earth; I will never be an
idol worshiper."
[6:80] His people argued with him. He said,
"Do you argue with me about GOD, after He has
guided me? I have no fear of the
idols you set up. Nothing can happen to me, unless my
Lord wills it. My Lord's knowledge encompasses
all things. Would you not take heed?
[6:81] ”Why should I fear your idols? It is you
who should be afraid, since you worship instead of GOD idols
that are utterly powerless to help you. Which side is more
deserving of security, if you know?"
Perfect Security for Believers
[6:82] Those who believe, and do not pollute their belief
with idol worship, have deserved the perfect security, and
they are truly guided.
[6:83] Such was our argument, with which we
supported Abraham against his people. We exalt whomever we
will to higher ranks. Your Lord is Most Wise, Omniscient.
Abraham's Courageous Debate
[2:258] Have you noted the one who argued with Abraham about
his Lord, though GOD had given him kingship? Abraham said, "My
Lord grants life and death." He said,
"I grant life and death." Abraham said, "GOD
brings the sun from the east, can you bring it from the
west?" The disbeliever was stumped.
GOD does not guide the wicked.
[19:42] He
said to his father, "O my father, why do you
worship what can neither hear, nor see, nor help you in any
way?
[19:43] ”O my father, I have received certain
knowledge that you did not receive. Follow me, and I will
guide you in a straight path.
[19:44] ”O my father, do not worship the devil. The devil
has rebelled against the Most Gracious.
[19:45] ”O my father, I fear lest you incur retribution from
the Most Gracious, then become an ally of the devil."
He broke
his people's statues into pieces (21:58) and pointed out
their powerless gods in a very effective and challenging
debate:
[21:62] They said, "Did you do this to our gods, O Abraham?"
Abraham Proves His Point
[21:63] He
said, "It is that big one who did it. Go ask
them, if they can speak."
[21:64] They were taken aback, and said to themselves,
"Indeed, you are the ones who have been transgressing."
[21:65] Yet, they reverted to their old ideas: "You know
full well that these cannot speak."
[21:66] He said, "Do you then worship beside GOD
what possesses no power to benefit you or harm you?
[21:67] ”You have incurred shame by
worshiping idols beside GOD. Do you not
understand?"
Those who
possess intelligence and seek God's guidance learn from all
the above lessons how to process and analyze whatever is
presented to them. They develop the skill of reasoning and
using their brains and they gain the wisdom to distinguish
the proven truth and expose the liars who always fail to
prove their claims - their blasphemies will always go to
waste.
[14:27]
GOD strengthens those who believe with the proven word,
in this life and in the Hereafter. And GOD
sends the transgressors astray. Everything is in
accordance with GOD's will.
The Truth vs Falsehood
[13:17]
He sends down water from the sky, causing the
valleys to overflow, then the rapids produce abundant foam.
Similarly, when they use fire to refine metals for their
jewelry or equipment, foam is produced.
GOD thus cites analogies for the truth and falsehood.
As for the foam, it goes to waste, while that
which benefits the people stays close to the ground. GOD
thus cites the analogies.
Peaceful
Friday and God bless you.
