Signs leading to faith
The concept that great Islamic scholars refer to as “signs leading to faith” involves all facts of creation, knowledge and evidence of all kinds that lead people to faith concerning the existence and oneness of Allah and revealing His sublime might, wisdom and artistry.
Signs leading to faith are important means whereby people come to believe. Allah notes the danger of “irreligion” when He says in one verse that “most people have no faith.” Someone who does not believe is unaware of much and cannot see the proofs of creation all around. Due to the irreligious nature of the society in which he lives, his mind is smothered in day-to-day details, and his understanding and perceptions are weakened to the innumerable signs of creation around. Yet it may be hoped that if such a person is sincere and of good conscience and is told of the signs leading to faith he can come to believe in the existence and oneness of Allah and the fact that He created all things, living or not, and will see His infinite might and omniscience. Signs leading to faith are means whereby good people unaware of the truth due to irreligious indoctrination can, by Allah’s leave, come to have faith.
It is not only important for unbelievers to reflect on these signs, but also for believers. In the Qur’an Allah commands believers to reflect deeply on the signs He has created in the universe.
A believer must reflect deeply, as well as praying, fasting and performing the other observances. Reflecting on the proofs of creation “in the heavens and earth” stressed in the Qur’an will increase the believer’s faith with certain knowledge. Verses in which Allah reveals that reflection on these proofs increases one’s faith read: “There are certainly signs in the earth for people with certainty; and in yourselves as well. Do you not then see?” (Qur’an, 51:20-21)
These verses explicitly state that the signs leading to faith in a person’s own body and self, and on the earth will lead to faith based on certain knowledge. And that will increase one’s fear of Allah, so one will be even more punctilious about obeying Allah’s commands and prohibitions. Someone who reflects on the signs of creation will be assured that Allah sees his observances and will reward him for his good deeds. In the same way, knowing that Allah will see his slightest error will encourage him to repent and abandon those errors very quickly. Allah calls on believers as follows:
“You who have faith! Have fear of Allah and seek the means of drawing near to Him, and strive in His Way, so that hopefully you will be successful.” (Qur’an, 5:35)
As revealed in this verse, seeking means to draw closer to Allah is a means whereby one may hope for salvation. Signs leading to faith bestow a deeper understanding of the presence and titles of Allah and are means of drawing closer to Him. For example, examining the life forms created by Allah, seeing and reflecting upon their perfect structures and systems, will enable one to witness His might and omniscience from a much closer perspective.
“It is He Who sends down water from the sky. From it you drink and from it come the shrubs among which you graze your herds.” (Qur’an, 16:10)
Reflecting on signs leading to faith and seeing the manifestations of Allah therein will allow one to know Allah better. Thanks to this virtue acquired by someone who begins to know Allah and see His manifestations, one will properly appreciate His might.
For instance, as a result of deep reflection on and knowledge of signs leading to faith, one will better understand this fact; all the billions of people on Earth are known to and under the control of Allah at every moment. The trillions of cells in a body, the billions of human bodies in the world and all the living things in the universe exist and survive by Allah’s choosing; this will obviously require an infinite might, knowledge, wisdom and intelligence to survive. Reflecting on that fact alone will allow one to closely witness the infinite attributes of Allah and properly appreciate His omnipotence.
Allah cites in the Qur’an a tiny fly as an example for people to reflect on, and then reveals that those who are heedless of these facts have failed to properly appreciate His might:
“Mankind! An example has been made, so listen to it carefully. Those whom you call upon besides Allah are not even able to create a single fly, even if they were to join together to do it. And if a fly steals something from them, they cannot get it back. How feeble are both the seeker and the sought! They do not measure Allah with His true measure. Allah is All-Strong, Almighty.” (Qur’an, 22: 73-74)
It is revealed in other verses of the Qur’an that people who do not reflect on signs leading to faith do not fear Allah: “Say: ‘Who provides for you out of heaven and earth? Who controls hearing and sight? Who brings forth the living from the dead and the dead from the living? Who directs the whole affair?’ They will say, ‘Allah.’ Say, ‘So will you not have fear?’ That is Allah, your Lord, the Truth, and what is there after truth except misguidance? So how have you been distracted?” (Qur’an, 10:31-32)
The importance of constant reflection on signs leading to growing in faith and closeness to Allah is emphasized in many verses. For example, it is revealed in the Qur’an that believers think long and hard about the creation of the earth and sky:
“In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of night and day, there are signs for people with intelligence: those who remember Allah, standing, sitting and lying on their sides, and reflect on the creation of the heavens and the earth: “Our Lord, You have not created this for nothing. Glory be to You! So safeguard us from the punishment of the Fire’.” (Qur’an, 3:190-191)
As can be seen from these verses, investigating and learning about signs leading to faith, and thinking properly about them, must be a means whereby one can understand with sure and certain knowledge that all things, living or otherwise, are under the absolute control and dominion of Allah and that understanding will bring with it full submission to Allah.
A believer who knows and thinks about the complex systems in the body and their delicate balances will also realize that the mind that produced these flawlessly functioning systems are not his own; he will know that what he calls his body is a collection of cells made up of atoms with no consciousness, sensory organs or ability to think. As a result of that reflection he will definitively conclude that every cell, and even every atom in his body acts by the will and command of Allah. He will see that there is no room for chance anywhere.
source: arabnews.com
