Donald W. Flood, Ex-Christian, USA (part 2 of 2)

By Donald W.  Flood

Prophet Muhammad in the Scriptures

Another interesting point I learned about concerns Biblical prophecies on the advent of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him. I discovered that clear prophecies exist in the Bible, (even though the original text had been distorted), foretelling the coming of Prophet Muhammad after Jesus.[1]  Muslim scholars have affirmed that the description by Jesus of the one to come after him (in the verses cited below) cannot apply to any other person but Prophet Muhammad.  Furthermore, there is a verse in the Holy Quran confirming what Jesus said regarding this point,

“… O Children of Israel, I am the Messenger of God to you confirming what came before me of the Torah and bringing good tidings of a Messenger to come after me, whose name is Ahmad.” (Quran 61:6)

The name Ahmad is another name for Prophet Muhammad and is derived from the same root word.

Prophet Muhammad in the Quran

I observed that the Quran directs us to believe in God and Prophet Muhammad as in the following verse:

“Say, [O Muhammad], ‘O mankind, Indeed, I am the Messenger of God to you all. To Him belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth.  There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death.   So believe in God and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in God and His words, and follow him that you may be guided.’” (Quran 7-158)

I came to know that the Quran also refers to Prophet Muhammad as the last prophet:

“Muhammad is not the father of [any] of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of God and last of the prophets…” (Quran 33:40)

Even though God states in the Quran that Muhammad is the last prophet, I discovered that Muslims still believe in and accept all the previous prophets, along with the revelations they received in their original form.[2]

The Quran: The Last Revelation

I comprehended that due to innovations attributed to Divine revelation that the need arose for another prophet after Jesus with another revelation after the Gospel to be sent by God.  This is why God sent Muhammad with the last Message, (i.e., the Quran), to bring all of mankind back to the belief in and worship of One God, without partners or intermediaries.  According to Muslims, the Holy Quran is the permanent ultimate source of guidance for mankind offers a rational and historical elucidation of the magnificent role of Jesus.  The name Jesus is cited twenty-five times in the Quran, and there is also a chapter called Maryam (Mary), named after the mother of Jesus.

Regarding the Divine authenticity of this revelation, I found the following Quranic verses very compelling:

“And it was not [possible] for this Quran to be produced by other than God, but [it is] a confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of the [former] Scripture, about which there is no doubt, from the Lord of the worlds.” (Quran 10:37)

And,

“And indeed, it is the truth of certainty.” (Quran 69:51)

Similarly, I was concerned about the adulteration of the Quran since this was a major problem with the previous revelations.  I read that the Quran will never change or be abrogated:

“Indeed, it is We who sent down the Message and indeed, We will be its guardian.” (Quran 15:9)[3]

I was also informed about some of the scientific phenomena mentioned in the Quran, which give credence to the belief that the Quran is the literal word of God.  There are verses describing human embryonic development,[4]  mountains,[5]  the origin of the universe,[6]  the cerebrum,[7]  seas,[8]  deep seas, and internal waves[9]  and clouds.[10]  It is beyond explanation that anyone, more than fourteen hundred years ago, could have known these facts, which were found or confirmed only recently by advanced mechanisms and sophisticated scientific procedures.

Islam: The Essence and Culmination of Revealed Religions

Muslims believe that the essential purpose for which mankind was created is the worship of God.  As He said in the Quran,

“And I did not create the jinn [i.e., a type of creation, created by God from fire] and mankind except to worship Me” (Quran 51:56)

Related to this, a well known Islamic scholar from the West says, “The most complete system of worship available to humans today is the system found in the religion of Islam, The very name ‘Islam’ means ‘submission to the Will of God’.  Although it commonly is referred to as ‘the third of the three monotheistic faiths’, it is not a new religion at all.  It is the religion propagated by all the prophets of God. Islam was the religion of Adam, Abraham, Moses and Jesus.”[11]

In addition he states, “Since there is only One God, and humankind is one species, the religion that God has ordained for humans is [essentially] one…  Human spiritual and social needs are uniform and human nature has not changed since the first man and woman were created”.[12]

Uncovering the fact that the message of God has always been the same, I realized it is the duty of all human beings to seek the truth and not just blindly accept the religion that their society or parents follow. According to the Quran,

“You worship besides Him mere names you have named, you and your fathers, for which God has sent down no authority.” (Quran 12:40)

Regarding fitrah [i.e., the inherent nature of man to worship God prior to the corruption of his nature by external influences], Prophet Muhammad said,

“Every child is born on the Fitrah (pure Human nature) and his parents convert him to Judaism or Christianity or Magianism.  As an animal delivers its calf in a pristine fashion, do you find it mutilated?” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

Furthermore, God says,

“So direct your face [i.e., self] toward the religion, inclining toward truth.  [Adhere to] the fitrah of God upon which He has created [all] people.  No change should there be in the creation of God.  That is the correct religion, but most of the people do not know.” (Quran 30:30)[13]

 Moreover, I learned there is no other religion acceptable to God besides Islam, as He clearly states in the Quran:

“And whoever desires other than Islam as a religion, never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.” (Quran 3:85)

I deduced that man might neglect the guidance of God and establish his own standards of living.  Ultimately, however, he will discover it is only a mirage that alluded him.

A Traveler

As I continued to read the Quran and learn about the sayings and doings of Prophet Muhammad [the Sunnah], I noticed Islam views man as a traveler in this life and the ‘Home’ is in the next life for eternity!  We are here for a short period and we cannot take anything with us from this life except our belief in God and our deeds.  Thus, man should be like a traveler who passes through the land and does not become attached to it.  As travelers on this journey, we must understand that the meaning of being alive is to be tested.  Hence, there is suffering, joy, pain and elation.  These tests of good and evil are intended to evoke our higher spiritual qualities.  Yet, we are incapable of benefiting from these tests unless we do our best, have complete trust in God and patiently accept what He has destined for us.

The Road to Paradise

It was very meaningful to me to learn about Paradise since this must certainly be the ultimate goal of every individual.  Regarding this eternal home, God says,

“And no soul knows what has been hidden for it of comfort for eyes [i.e., satisfaction] as a reward for what it used to do.” (Quran 32:17)

I also became aware of a pleasure that is beyond all imagination, which is to look at the Creator Himself.  I wondered who were the souls worthy of such a reward?  This reward of Paradise was priceless.  I was told the price is true faith, which is proven by obedience to God and following the Sunnah (way) of Prophet Muhammad.

I grasped that mankind must worship God to attain righteousness and the spiritual status necessary to enter Paradise.[14]  This means human beings have to comprehend that worship is as indispensable as eating and breathing and not a favor they are doing for God.  Likewise, I found out that we need to read the Quran to find out what kind of people God wants us to be and then try to become as such.  This is the road to Paradise.

Overcoming an Obstacle

At this point, I felt about 80% sure I wanted to become a Muslim, but something was holding me back.  I was concerned about the reaction of my family and friends if they knew that I had become a Muslim.  Shortly thereafter, I expressed this concern to a Muslim who told me that on Judgment Day, no one will be able to help you, not your father, mother or any of your friends.[1]  Therefore, if you believe Islam is the true religion, you should embrace it and live your life to please the One who created you.  Thus, it became very lucid to me that we are all in the same boat; every soul shall taste death and then we’ll be liable for our particular belief in God and for our deeds.[2]

A Meaningful Videotape

By this stage in my search for the truth, I was on the verge of embracing Islam.  I watched an Islamic lecture on videotape about the purpose of life. The main theme of this lecture was that the purpose of life may be summed up in one word, i.e., Islam (submission to the Will of God).

An additional point was that, unlike other religions or beliefs, the term ‘Islam’ is not associated with any particular person or place.  God has named the religion in the following Quranic verse:

“Indeed, the only religion acceptable to God is Islam…” (Quran 3:19)

Anyone who embraces Islam is called a Muslim regardless of that person’s race, sex or nationality.  This is one of the reasons why Islam is a universal religion.

Prior to my search for the truth, I had never seriously considered Islam as an option because of the constant negative portrayal of Muslims in the media.  Similarly, it was disclosed in this videotape that although Islam, is characterized by high moral standards, not all Muslims uphold these standards.  I learned the same can be said about adherents of other religions.  I finally understood that we cannot judge a religion by the actions of its followers alone, as I had done, because all humans are fallible.  On that account, we should not judge Islam by the actions of its followers, but by its revelation (the Holy Quran) and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him.

The last point I picked up from this lecture concerned the importance of gratitude.  God mentions in the Quran that we should be grateful for the fact that He created us:

“And God has brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and hearts [i.e., intellect] that perhaps you would be grateful.”  (16:78)

God has also cited gratitude along with belief, and has made it clear that He gains nothing from punishing His people nor will He gain anything when they give thanks to Him and believe in Him.  He says in the Quran,

“What would God gain from your punishment if you are grateful and believe?” (Quran 4:147)

The Truth Unveils Itself

As soon as the videotape had finished, I experienced the truth being unveiled.  I felt a huge burden of sins flying off my back. Moreover, it felt like my soul was rising above the earth, refusing the makeshift delights of this world in favor of the eternal joys of the Hereafter.  This experience, coupled with the long process of reasoning, solved the ‘purpose of life puzzle’.  It revealed Islam as the truth, thereby replenishing my ‘spiritual landscape’ with belief, purpose, direction and action.  I therefore entered the gate of Islam by saying the declaration of faith required to become a Muslim: Ashhadu an La ilaha illa Allah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasoolu llah.  (I bear witness that there is no deity but God and Muhammad is His Messenger).  I was informed that this formal testimony confirms one’s belief in all the prophets and messengers of God, along with all of His Divine revelations in their original form, thereby updating and completing one’s religion to the last of the prophets [Muhammad] and to the final revelation of God [the Quran].  The following point became overwhelmingly clear to me: Had Jesus been the last prophet of God and had the Gospel been the final revelation, I would have attested to that.  As a result, I have naturally chosen to follow the final revelation from the Creator as exemplified by the seal of the prophets.

Impressions of a New Muslim

During my search to find the truth, the lesson which transcended all lessons was that all objects of worship other than God are mere delusions.  To anyone who sees this clearly, the only possible course is to bring one’s own will and actions into complete unison with that of God.  Submitting to the Will of God has enabled me to experience inner-peace with the Creator, with others and finally, with myself.  Consequently, I feel very grateful, that by the Mercy of God, I have been rescued from the depths of ignorance and have stepped into the light of truth.  Islam, the true religion of all times, places and peoples, is a complete code of life which guides man to fulfill the purpose of his existence on earth, and prepares him for the Day when he will return to his Creator. Following this path in a devout manner enables one to gain the pleasure of God and to be closer to Him amid the endless delights of Paradise while escaping from the punishment of Hellfire. Another bonus is that our present life will be much happier when we make such a choice.

A Deceptive Enjoyment

Embracing Islam has given me more of an insight into the illusive nature of this life.  For instance, one basic object of Islam is the liberation of man.  This is why a Muslim calls himself ‘Abdullah’, the slave or servant of Allah (i.e., God) because enslavement to God signifies liberation from all other forms of servitude, and although modern man may think that he is liberated, he is in fact a slave to his desires.  He is generally deceived by this worldly life.  He is ‘addicted’ to hoarding wealth, sex, violence, intoxicants, etc.  But above all, he is often seduced by the capitalist system that tends to work through the invention of false needs, which he feels must be satisfied instantly. God says in the Quran,

“Have you seen the one who takes as his god his own desire?  Then would you be responsible for him?  Or do you think that most of them hear or reason?  They are not except as livestock.  Rather, they are [even] more astray in [their] way.  )” (Quran 25:43-44)

Correspondingly, we should not let our zeal to enjoy the pleasures of this fleeting life jeopardize our opportunity to enjoy the bliss of Paradise.  As God says in the Quran:

“Beautified for people is the love of that which they desire – of women and sons, heaped-up sums of gold and silver, fine branded horses, and cattle and tilled land.  That is the enjoyment of the worldly life, but God has with Him the best return [i.e.  Paradise].  Say, “Shall  I inform you of something better than that?  For those who fear God will be gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they abide eternally, and purified spouses and (they will attain the) pleasure of God…” (Quran 3:14-15)

Therefore, the real competition in this life is not the accumulation of wealth or the desire for fame; it is racing with one another to perform good deeds to please God, while having our lawful portion of enjoyment in this life.[3]

The Right Path to God

There are many religious alternatives available to man and it is up to him to choose the one he wishes to follow.  He is like a merchant with many goods in front of him, and it is his choice which one to trade in.  He will obviously select the one he thinks will be the most lucrative.  However, the merchant is unsure and has no guarantee of prosperity; his product may have a market and he may make handsome returns, but he could just as easily lose all of his money.  In contrast, the believer in the Oneness of God who submits to His Will (a Muslim), is completely sure that if he follows the path of guidance [the Quran and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad] there will undoubtedly be success and reward waiting for him at the end of this path.  Fortunately, this success also starts at the beginning of the path.

Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri, may God be pleased with him, narrated that God’s Messenger said, “If a person embraces Islam sincerely, then God shall forgive all his past sins, and after that starts the settlement of accounts: the reward of his good deeds will be greater in value by ten to seven hundred times, and an evil deed will be recorded as it is unless God forgives it .(Bukhari)

Epilogue

Based on my search for the truth, I concluded that the precise way we believe in God and the deeds we perform determine our future condition for eternity.  Our Creator is giving us all an equal chance, regardless of our circumstances, to earn His pleasure in preparation for Judgment Day, as in the following Quranic verses:

“And obey God and His messenger that you may obtain mercy.  And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden [i.e., Paradise] as wide as the Heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous.” (Quran 3:132-133)

If we sincerely seek the truth of this life, which is Islam (submission to the Will of God), God will guide us there, God Willing.  He directs us to examine the life and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad as he is the best role model for mankind to follow. Furthermore, God directs us to investigate and ponder what He says in the Quran.  One will see that the Quran is indeed like a persistent and strong knocking on a door, or loud shouts seeking to awaken those who are fast asleep because they are just completely absorbed by this life on earth. The knocks and shouts appear one after the other: Wake up!  Look around you!  Think!  Reflect!  God is there!  There is planning, trial, accountability, reckoning, reward, severe punishment and lasting bliss!

Clearly and unequivocally, the best way to live and die in this world is as a righteous Muslim!  When one comes to the conclusion that Islam is the truth, he should not delay in becoming a Muslim because he may die first, and then it will be too late.[4]

A few months after embracing Islam, I found two verses in the Quran that mirror what the American Muslim told me regarding how we should live and die:

“And Abraham instructed his sons and [so did] Jacob, [saying], “O my sons!  Indeed God has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except while you are Muslims.” (Quran 2:132)

And,

“O you who believe, fear God as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims [in submission to Him].” (Quran 3:102)



Footnotes:

[1] See Deut. 18:18-19; Isaiah 29:12; John 14:12-17, 16:5-16; Acts 3:22.

[2] See 2:136.

[3] Also see Quran 4:82.

[4] See Quran  23:12-14.

[5] See Quran 16:15; 78:6-7.

[6] See Quran 21:30; 41:11.

[7] See Quran 96:15-16.

[8] See Quran 25:53; 55:19-20.

[9] See Quran 24:40.

[10] See Quran 24:43.

[11] The Purpose of Creation, Dr. A. A. B. philips, p. 49, Dar Al Fatah, Sharjah, UAE, 1995. See Quran 3:67; 3:84.

[12] Ibid . p. 50.

[13] Also see 2:170; 10:19; 31:21; 43:23; 49:6; 53:23.

[14] See Quran 2:111-112; 10:63-64.

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