Studies in fields as diverse as anthropological, historical and religious have shown that since time immemorial, the concept of God has been deeply embedded in human nature. Man requires a direction in his life and being rational, he also seeks to explain his existence and the world around him.
But, unaided, he can neither set the correct goals himself, nor can he fathom the meaning of life. It is only by accepting a limitless Being like God that this feeling of helplessness can be overcome.
Almost all men and women believe in God in one way or the other. Yet, why are they deprived of divine inspiration? Why do they not at least enjoy peace of mind?
The gap between faith and its outcome may be due to the believer worshipping some non-god. Sometimes a human being or laws of nature are put up on the pedestal of divinity. Monism conceives God as a vague spirit rather than a Being you can contact.
Interestingly, a scholar of comparative religion named Nishi Kant Chattopadhyaye said in 1904 that all religions revealed before 7th century AD had enshrined the concept of one God but their original scriptures could not be preserved by their followers for want of printing technology, so they became subject to human interpolations.
Then came Islam. Its distinctive quality is that its original text has been fully preserved in its pristine form due to the availability of paper (papyrus) at the time and with the invention of the printing press soon after. So anyone who wants to grasp the true concept of God can turn to Islam.
According to the Koran, God alone is the creator and sustainer of the Universe and the Lord of man. God is a living Being. He sees and hears. At all times and in every place, man can contact God directly. God provides guidance to man through His prophets. He is fully aware of human aspirations and He alone can understand and provide for our needs and compensate for our shortcomings.
The writer is a Delhi-based scholar and author.
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