Faith is something on which rests the very foundation of beliefs of a person. Although, most of the people around the world believe in the existence of God or a supreme being that controls the entire universe including the Heavens and the earth and all celestial movement flawlessly. Unless so designed by God, the celestial movement continues to swim in a time frame that never slows down or speeds up out of the control. These are the signs that God shows to the humans for none other than Him could conceive the fathomless and endless universe whose bounds have yet not been reached by man despite advancements in science and technology.
Despite the Godly signs that convince a man that there is some supreme being that is in control and shapes ups and down of our lives. Yet, there is a small body of men who call them atheists reject the concept of a being called God out there somewhere or everywhere. These people are so rigid in their belief that convincing an atheist that there is a God is a challenging task, especially since atheism often arises from skepticism about religious claims or a lack of belief in the divine.
However, a respectful and open-minded approach can be effective. At the end of this post we share a very meaningful discussion between an atheist and a Muslimah which culminates in convincing the atheist that his belief about non existence of God ws nothing but lack of comprehension and understanding, thus his disbelief.
Before we reach the end to the video, let us run down an approach that each Muslim should be able to adopt to approach issue:
Engage in Rational Dialogue:
A Muslim could begin by discussing the concept of God in an intellectual manner. This includes discussing cosmological arguments like the Kalam Cosmological Argument, which suggests that everything that begins to exist has a cause, and the universe began to exist—therefore, it must have had a cause (God).
Example Argument: "Everything in the universe had a cause. The universe itself, which began to exist, must also have had a cause. The cause must be outside of time, space, and matter, which is what we attribute to God."
Discuss the Fine-Tuning of the Universe:
The fine-tuning argument proposes that the physical constants of the universe are finely tuned for life. If any of these constants were slightly different, life wouldn't exist. This suggests a purposeful design.
Example Argument: "The universe seems to be fine-tuned for life. The odds of life emerging from random processes are astronomically low. This suggests that the universe might have been designed with a purpose."
Share Personal Experiences or the Role of Faith:
Faith often transcends empirical evidence, and a Muslim could share how their belief in God brings them peace, guidance, and a sense of purpose. This can be compelling, even if it doesn’t provide direct evidence of God.
Example: "For me, belief in God gives me a sense of direction and peace that I haven't found elsewhere. It's not just about intellectual arguments, but also about the sense of purpose and connection I experience."
Moral Argument:
Many people believe in objective morality—that some things are universally right or wrong. A Muslim could argue that this sense of objective morality points to a higher moral lawgiver, God.
Example Argument: "The very fact that we have a shared understanding of right and wrong, and that we seek justice, could point to a higher being who established this moral order. Without God, it would be hard to explain why certain moral truths exist."
The Concept of God in Islam:
Instead of focusing on religious texts initially, a Muslim might explain the Islamic concept of God, which is a non-anthropomorphic being, completely beyond the physical world and the limitations of time and space.
Example: "In Islam, God is understood as the Creator, who is beyond the limitations of the physical world and human comprehension. He is not confined to any form or shape, and He has no equal or partner. This concept of God is fundamentally different from human descriptions of gods in many religions."
Encourage Critical Thinking:
A Muslim could encourage the atheist to critically examine their own beliefs about the universe, life, and existence. Engaging in philosophical inquiry and being open to the idea that there may be more to existence than the material world might plant the seed of doubt in the atheist’s stance.
Example: "Have you ever considered that the universe itself, with its complexity and order, may point to a Creator? It's worth reflecting on why we are here and how everything came to be."
Respect for Different Views:
It’s important to approach the conversation with respect for the atheist’s perspective. A hostile or confrontational tone will likely push them away, while a respectful and understanding conversation can lead to deeper discussions about faith and existence.
Example: "I understand that this may be a difficult topic to discuss, but I value your perspective, and I hope we can have an open discussion about these big questions of life."
The key to tackle the issue and talking and convincing an atheist is patience and respect. A Muslim engaging an atheist about the existence of God should aim for an open and respectful dialogue, using reason, philosophical arguments, personal experiences, and an understanding of the atheist’s worldview. It’s unlikely that one conversation will change someone’s deeply held beliefs, but presenting rational arguments and showing the value of faith can plant the seeds of curiosity and openness.
Let us now listen to a very mind boggling debate between an atheist professor who could never be won over for his ideas and a Muslim female student. I for myself have never heard someone so convincingly winning over a staunch atheist to an extent of almost silencing him and forcing him to ponder over his staunch atheist belief and giving it a rethinking. Remember, the Muslim student could only do this because of her extensive understanding of Islam and because of this she could stand firm to her beleif despite being faced with a professor never accepting his defeat:
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door.
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.
May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.
Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.
Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.
Photo | Assistance has been taken from ChatGPT to expand the subject matter at hand.
For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A
Follow @IslamUltimate
If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.
Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.
