THE WORD OF GOD

The remedy for ignorance is asking questions. (Prophet Muhammad) The spirit of enquiry is the hallmark of an open society and the above saying of the Prophet aptly illustrates this principle. A culture of curiosity and open-mindedness will foster development in any society by motivating its members to learn enthusiastically and enrich their knowledge. This is because awareness of one’s ignorance is half of knowledge, as it becomes a stepping-stone to seeking and finding answers. A questioning mind is like a flowing river that is replenished with fresh thoughts and ideas and continues on its journey. YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED How does the Quran describe God? The Quran says: “He is God the One, God, the Self-sufficient One. He does not give birth, nor was He born, and there is nothing like Him. (112: 1-4) This chapter, entitled Ikhlas (Oneness), gives us the essence of monotheism. Not only does it tell us of the oneness of God, but it also makes it clear what the oneness of God means. He is one and all depend upon Him. He depends on none. He, in His own being, is all-powerful. He is a unique being who has no equal or compeer. The concept of One God and its discovery is the actual beginning point and the supreme concern of Islam. What is the goal of Islam? The goal of Islam is to induce man to give up his ungodly ways, so that he may lead a totally God-oriented life. A life that is not God-oriented will be concerned with just worldly materialistic issues. Man will become subservient to his desires attaching importance to immediate interests; he will fall prey to negative feelings such as anger, hatred, jealousy, egoism, etc. or he will simply run in any direction he finds open before him, without giving his destination much thought. On the other hand, a God-oriented path is one on which he earnestly considers God’s commands. He sets his course after serious deliberation on the basis of accountability, instead of pursuing immediate gains or temporary satisfactions.