Are We TRULY Made in the Image of God?

 In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful:

"Say: He is Allah,

The One and Only;

Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;

He begets not,

Nor is He begotten;

And there is none like unto Him."

(Quran 112)

I recently had a conversation with some co-workers in which we explored the relationship between Humans and our Creator. In the course of the discussion, the old fictitious myth that Man was created in the “image” of God was introduced as the basis for a series of unfounded arguments believed by zealous but ignorant people.  This myth is reinforced by Biblical teachings [Genesis 26 – 27] in which God is reported to have made Man in His own image and likeness. The confusion created by this teaching is further reinforced by the common understanding of these terms:” a physical likeness or representation of a person, animal, or thing, photographed, painted, sculptured, or otherwise made visible (Dictionary.com)”. Likeness = “the fact or quality of being alike; resemblance (Dictionary.com)”. It is no wonder therefore that zealous Christians have been led to accept statuary and other depictions of God as a Man possessing extraordinary powers. It is also no wonder that this deliberate fabrication has been used to establish the idea that Jesus (peace be upon him) could be God’s “begotten” son.

Prophet Moses (peace be upon him) has been credited with the writing of the book of Genesis by some Christians while others claim as many as 10 different authors, including Adam and Noah. As with much of Christian literature, this is nothing but conjecture. The multitude of reinterpretations of the Christian Bible refuses to acknowledge the fact that this book is a political fabrication that owes its creation to Emperor Constantine and did not exist in the lifetime of Jesus (pbuh), whom it claims to glorify. Not only is it a fabrication, but it is constantly being reinterpreted to suit the contemporary political norms and fads of each society it encounters.  Therefore, whatever its current believers understand can realistically be viewed as temporary beliefs. Who originated the myth that Man was created in the “likeness and image” of God may never be known, but common logic can defeat this untenable concept when closely examined with an open mind.

If we use the commonly-understood meanings of the above terms, then every human being encountered on the entire planet looks just like God: in color, ethnicity, height and size. There is absolutely no visible difference between them. Even a blind man knows how ridiculous this idea is.  The insurmountable problem with this idea is that no human being could exist according to Exodus 33:20 (“no man may see me and yet live”); John1:18 (“no man has seen God at any time”), 1 John  4:12  (“at no time has anyone beheld God”). These statements from the Bible are as contradictory as one can find anywhere. This leads to the realization that someone is lying here, the question is who? Unfortunately, the average Christian cannot face the realization that he/she is being duped and shuts down the mental faculties when confronted with this contradiction. Something’s wrong with a philosophy that claims, on one hand, to be “the word of God” yet contradicts itself on the other hand.

Christian Bible students usually approach their biblical studies with the preconceived notion that the contents of the book are true. Despite the wealth of information from Christian historical sources that contradict this preconceived notion, many seek merely to justify their beliefs than to verify their views. Zeal is no substitute for wisdom. Serious students of the Bible need to examine the stories told there for veracity and common sense and they need to be aware that myriads of myths abounded in Jewish society from which these stories came. The First Testament section of the Bible consists mainly of pro-Jewish stories. The New Testament section consists of Jewish and non-Jewish stories about the social turmoil created in the Roman dominated society by the work of Jesus (pbuh). It also reports the response he received from both Jewish and Roman officials. Not all reports were written by eyewitnesses and many doubtful events have been chronicled and included in the book. Students need to be mindful that these writings originate from a time predating universal education, when only select people could read and write, and they have undergone many corruptions in translation, especially into English (see foreword of any English translation). Sufficient documentation exists to enlighten any serious researcher into biblical history as to the dubiousness of all the content of the Bible. There is no reason for Christians to remain zealous and ignorant about their beliefs today.

The fact that humans do not control all the processes of reproduction is proof enough of our creation. Some invisible hand controls aspects of which we have no notion or experience. To acknowledge that being as Allah, the Creator, is not nonsensical or far- fetched. But to insinuate that we are the “image and likeness” of our Creator is ridiculous indeed. To create an image of anything, there has to be a visible reference or mental concept.  Humans are simply one of a myriad of species created on planet Earth by a yet unseen Creator, attested to, throughout history, by a multitude of human messengers endowed with qualifying abilities. The only verifiable pronouncement we can make on the topic of human creation is that we, as are all other creatures throughout the universes, are creations of Allah.

The Contradictions of Life

No Resolution Without Allah

Human life is full of obvious contradictions. History has proven that the only sureties in human life are decay and death. Immediately following our birth, we all begin a slow process of decay that culminates in our demise. Despite this obvious pattern of life, we turn a blind eye to the process and engage in building material cocoons in attempts to prolong our physical lives and defeat death. Our medical establishments dedicate themselves to seeking ways and means of cheating death and preserving our physical bodies. Our technological industries create gadget after gadget in search of the “next big thing” to resolve our problems. “Science” has been “close” to finding answers to our social problems for centuries.  Yet invisible forces relentlessly continue to ravage our bodies from the inside out in incomprehensible ways, destroying every vestige of power we think we possess. Even our acknowledged “wisest” philosophers succumb to these forces and have no defense against their relentless assault. 

Throughout the history of human existence on Earth, we have recorded the rise and fall of human civilizations. All of them battled and failed to overcome the mysterious forces that relentlessly lead us into reluctant decomposition over the length of our existence. Wealthy nations fared as dismally as poor nations. Yet, despite all these records, human beings, as a species, continue to instinctively crave material possessions and this earthly life with all its contradictory promises. Impressive “intellectuals” and “philosophers” have spouted “their” resolutions to humanity’s problems for centuries to no avail. Esoteric philosophies have fared no better than “radical” ones in attempts to create “Paradise” on Earth. Yet human society continues to promote and grasp at shallow, ignorant, intellectual trends, each making unattainable promises. We stubbornly and contemptuously reject the obvious solution to our dilemma because it is too simple and “unscientific” for our taste. It clashes with our inflated opinions of human “independence” and “autonomy”.

The futile “war “on aging is noteworthy comment on the folly of human society. Humanity has chosen to accept illusion over reality. Millions of dollars are thrown away daily in pursuit of the fountain of youth to halt the march of time by people who know the effort is futile.  Man’s inhumanity to Man is a continuing testament to ignorance. Wars of domination and aggression are becoming increasingly more destructive to our living environment as individuals try to impose their dominance over others for greater personal material gain. Corporations have now replaced governments in the quest for dominance, overtly destroying the remaining semblance of human consideration for financial gains. Our very global environment is now in blatant jeopardy of destruction by those who seek to fashion it into their earthly paradise.

Allah, out of His boundless Mercy, has voluntarily shown us the way to live in this earth environment. He has told us through His Revelations and prophets, if we want to listen, the realities of this stage of Life. Man’s prolonged search for a workable philosophy to produce peace and happiness on this earth is futile unless it embraces wholeheartedly the instructions of Allah. Man, with all his ignorance and arrogance, cannot devise such a philosophy without the input of the Creator. We do not have adequate information to independently create this philosophy. We cannot control the invisible forces that exist and influence the universal environment.  To benefit from and in this stage of life, we must accept the Creator’s educational information.  Human society has continuously rejected Revelation and the prophets of Allah out of pure arrogance and human history is littered with the unsavory results. It is time for us to quit the fallacy of thinking we don’t need Allah’s guidance in our lives and societies. As a noted individual once cautioned: "those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Isn’t it about time that thinking men and women everywhere abandon the conjecture of Man and return to the guidance of Allah?

 ***********************************************************************************
Ready for deeper Insights, DOWNLOAD MY FREE BOOK
***********************************************************************************

Insights From The Holy Quran : Surah Fatihah

  The Quran is an exceptional message. It speaks for itself. 

 It defines itself for those who believe in it and for those who don’t. Every chapter of this message carries gems of wisdom for those who believe in it and for those who would study it with an open mind. The Quran needs no defenders and it speaks only to those who are ready to hear its message. To those who approach it seeking to discredit its teachings, it becomes a mass of frustrating language and concepts.

  It encourages its readers to think about the issues it brings before their eyes and minds. It exhorts its readers to become “people of understanding”.  Therefore, every sincere, inquisitive, thoughtful reader of the Quran will derive personal realizations based on their individual level of mental and spiritual development. It is, therefore, not unusual for your concepts to evolve and change as you perform ongoing Quranic research.

 There is no priesthood, nor clergy, in the Islamic lifestyle. Quranic research produces “scholars”, men of learning who dedicate their entire lives to understanding the concepts of Life and living presented within the pages of the Quran and the recorded teachings (called Hadith) of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). While these scholars are treated with high regard and respect by Muslims, every individual Muslim has the right to draw differing conclusions from that of any scholar. The only sources with which a Muslim will not argue are the Quran itself and the certified teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It is within this context that I share my insights into the chapters of the Quran. May Allah be our Guide.

  Surah Fatihah, the opening chapter of the Quran, consists of only 7 verses. It sets the attitude for approaching the message of the Quran. It is a direct conversation between the person seeking guidance for his/her life and a well-defined Deity, Allah. The entire chapter is a request for correct guidance from a seeker to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of all Life forms. The seeker identifies whom he/she is seeking with this plea: “Master of the Day of Judgment”.  The seeker identifies him/herself as dedicating all worship and obedience to the Master of the Day of Judgment. “You alone do we worship and You alone do we ask for help”.  The plea is extremely specific. “Show us the straight way; the way of those on whom You have bestowed your Grace; those whose portion is not wrath and who go not astray”. This is a cry for specific guidance! This is a cry for a light to live by, from the only God this person will acknowledge, Allah. This is a plea for Allah to take this person under His Own tutoring, answer all Life questions and show him/her how to live successfully.

The person who sincerely makes this plea demonstrates a desire to stop stumbling around in life like most people do. This person wants a clearly defined lifestyle with a clear understanding of life’s purpose; positive relationships with others in the universal environment; not just humans but the other types of creatures which all contribute to the world we know. This person wants a purposeful, productive, successful life; one that he/she can be proud of when it comes to an end, as it is destined to eventually do. This person wants to walk the path that pleases his/her Creator and is mindful of the meeting with the Creator on the Day of Judgment. This is a plea from the soul and it is a plea that must be heard and answered by a Just and Merciful Creator. The answer comes in the subsequent chapters of the Quran.

If we bear in mind that the Quran was revealed by Allah Himself, through the Angel Gabriel, to Muhammad (peace be upon him), we immediately learn some of Allah’s characteristics, “Most Gracious, Most Merciful, Sustainer of all the worlds”. Note the term “worlds”, signifying that Allah has created other worlds and creatures other than just the Earth or the human species. The message immediately broadens one’s mind to take into account the other life species that exist within our environment and beyond. One can say that the Quran instantly creates a universal consciousness within its readers. This universal consciousness is heightened throughout the rest of the Quranic teachings by accounts from the history of earlier populations and explanations of how sinful actions affect society.

The plea to “Show us the straight way; the way of those on whom You have bestowed your Grace; those whose portion is not wrath and who go not astray” is a recognition that others have received and followed a guided path before us. It is also a recognition that not all lifestyles are right and that our misguided perceptions can lead us into harm’s way. Good intentions are no substitute for intelligent actions. This verse creates that awareness in us and signifies our willingness to enter into a contract with Allah to follow Guidance from Him when it reaches us.

While these are not the only conclusions that can be drawn from reading this chapter of the Holy Quran, these are some of the conclusions I have drawn from my studies of its first chapter. As I have previously mentioned, the Quran teaches its readers according to an individual’s personal level of preparedness. Therefore, I invite whoever has an interest in learning more about the Quran (and the Lifestyle, Islam, that it teaches) to acquire a copy of the Quran from the neighborhood mosque (it is usually given freely), and personally read it. Translations are available in every popular language. The only requirements are a sincere desire to learn and a willingness to listen to what the Quran has to say. If you wish to tell me about your personal experiences while studying the Quran, I would be absolutely delighted. Post your comments below.
 ***********************************************************************************
Ready for deeper Insights, DOWNLOAD MY FREE BOOK
************************************************************************************ 

Life Questions, Quranic Insights

Ever since I can remember, I have been a student of Life.  As a young child, I can remember looking at the stars in the night sky and trying to decipher the messages I was convinced that they contained.  I believed then that if I could unravel the messages, I would learn the true meaning of life.  I had questions I needed answered throughout my teenage life and could find no satisfactory explanation in all the books I read or from all the "learned" people I questioned.  And I had a lot of questions I wanted answered convincingly.  What exactly is a “human being"?  What is my purpose for being?  What is the purpose of Death?  Is the Day of Judgment real? Why is there a Day of Judgment? What is Heaven? What is Hell? Why do evil people seem to prosper while good people suffer? Who or what is God? Who or what is the Devil? Why was he after humans? Most importantly, after I die, what happens next? To me, these have been vital questions that must be answered for me to enjoy my existence on planet Earth.  My heart and my brain were not satisfied until that day when the Quran came into my life and began giving me startlingly clear insights into my Life and its purpose.

What I am Not

The information you will read here is not a scholarly treatise.  I am not a “Quranic Scholar”.  I am not a Muslim Imam.  I am not thoroughly versed in the Law and history of Islam and the Quran.  I do not know all the Hadith (teachings attributed to Prophet Muhammad Mustafa [peace be upon him]). I am not a Guru or Spiritual Leader of any kind. The Quran is written in Arabic and I am not an Arab nor do I speak the language.  I study the English Translation of the Quran provided by Yusuf Ali. I am not the most learned of Muslims you will ever meet nor am I the best example of a practicing Muslim. I am not trying to convert you to Islam or to turn you away from your beliefs.  I am not an evangelist of any sort nor am I a prophet or messenger of any kind.  As a matter of fact, those who know me will tell you that I am not a “religious” man. I am simply a man who has found a message that answers my questions and that I can believe in.

What I Am and Why I am Writing

I am a father of 6 children and grandfather of several more.  All of my kids are already grown and are raising children of their own. Like me, they have questions about Life and its purpose and meaning.  This information is primarily for them.  If it benefits anyone else, I pray that they will pass this on to those they love and cherish.  I have been a student of the Quran for many years and will continue to be until the day of my last breath.  I was 21 years old when the Quran found me.  I say this seriously, because I had given up on ever finding the answers I needed to make my life worthwhile.  I had not known that the Quran existed nor what was its message.  I had been an avid student of the Bible until it could no longer stand up to in-depth scrutiny nor answer my questions.  Empty religious dogma and rituals did not quench my thirst for knowledge nor did they interest me any longer. Then I existed in the land of the bewildered, until I met a Muslim from whom I demanded a look at the message that had shaped him into the man I had come to know.  That encounter changed my life, as I hope this information I present here will help to change yours. The information I present to you is a condensation of the insights into Life that the Quran gave me and is a purely personal perspective.  It does not represent the views of any Muslim sect nor is it sanctioned by any “religious” authority. These are my personal Quranic insights into my personal questions about Life.  Your answers may be different.  May Allah guide you in your quest for truth and knowledge.

Necessary Tools for Understanding This Information

The perspectives presented here are all derived from my study of the Quran.  I shall be quoting citations from the English Translation of The Quran by Yusuf Ali.  Although there are many other translations, I have found this one easy to understand yet most elegant in translation.  It is not my purpose to agree with his conclusions or his approach to the message.  However, he provides extensive, informed background and insights into the conditions existing during the time of exposition of the Quran and for many events mentioned by Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] in the Quran. In some instances, I shall write the entire verses I am citing, while at others I shall quote the beginning and end of the verses.  Therefore, I would encourage interested readers to acquire a copy of this translation of the Quran so that they can follow the context in which I write and draw my conclusions.  Check with the Muslim mosque in your area to see if you can receive a copy of the Quran (it may be free of charge).  I must caution you that the Nation of Islam and the Ahmadiyyah Movement are not credible sources for obtaining materials on Islam. You will fare much better seeking out the Sunni mosques in your area. As you read the Quran, in book form, please keep in mind that this entire message was presented by Muhammad [pbuh] as a live, spontaneous, continuing dialogue, at various times, over a period of 23 years to an audience of real people who used it to change their personal lives and communities.

My Philosophical Approach

 In my studies, I read the chapters of the Quran in sequence.  I have found this practice most enlightening and informative and I will be commenting on sequential verses and chapters of the Quran.  Sometimes, one verse may provoke lengthy insights, at other times, I may require several verses to obtain the insights I comment upon. It is not my purpose to create a scholarly treatise or alternative interpretation of the Quran.  I am simply sharing my personal insights into my personal questions about life, as obtained from my current study of the message of the Quran. Personally, I accept the Quran according to its own definitions of itself. I take it at face value. You do not have to. Personally, I have accepted Islam as my lifestyle. You do not have to, nor am I asking you to. Personally, I accept the Quranic concept that the entire expanse of the Universe, with all its myriad life-forms, planets, constellations and solar systems, is the work of only One, Indivisible, Unimaginable, Omnipotent and Omniscient Being to whom it will always belong.  You do not have to.  The Quran claims itself to be a Message from this Being, which it calls Allah, to all humans and intelligent creatures on planet Earth. This is the philosophical approach that I accept and use in my study of its teachings.

One Simple But Necessary Request

The only request that I make of my readers, is that they study this Message, without religious prejudice or bigotry, for the purpose of understanding what it is presenting to them. Approach the study of the Quran with the same healthy curiosity that you would any other book that you have never read before.  I am aware that such a request may be impossible for some of you, but I feel that it is the only way that you will be able to appreciate the depth and insights of the Quran.  If you engage in a dialogue with the Quran, it will speak to you like it continues to speak to me.
 ***********************************************************************************
Ready for deeper Insights, DOWNLOAD MY FREE BOOK
************************************************************************************

Islam: It's About You and Your Life Philosophy

This blog is personal. Every opinion expressed here, every insight given, every philosophical concept, every question answered, is all personal. It reflects the philosophical evolution of an ordinary person taught a new concept of Life by the Quran, Islam's Holy Book. I consider myself a work in progress. I will always be a work in progress, Islamic progress. I want to achieve the mental state of Muslim: total submission of my ego and desires to the Will of Allah. This blog, therefore, will be an insight into the personal journey of an ordinary man's transformation from ignorance to enlightenment, using the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) to answer the troubling questions of Life, as I know it. For those of you who follow my evolution, I will be saying things with which you may agree and things with which you will disagree. I am ok with that. This blog is not for your pleasure, it is for my experience.

So if you find some benefit from my insights, feel free to use them. If you wish me to clarify for you how I arrive at a particular conclusion, feel free to ask. I will answer your question to the best of my ability and reserve the right to speak freely and personally to you. I am not speaking to you as a member of a group, class or denomination, not now, not ever! All my observations about anything will be as I personally feel about it. YOU are free to agree or disagree with MY views. Having said that, and hopefully laid the foundation for my upcoming observations, here's a snapshot about me.

 I was born 61 years ago in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. My father was a carpenter and my mom was a homemaker. We were nominally Christians. We based our life philosophy on the veracity of the Biblical view of life as we understood it. My parents were not church-going folk. Their time was preoccupied with providing sustenance for 10 siblings and I from the meager resources of a carpenter's salary and a home-maker's earnings. However, as kids, our lives were tolerable and carefree. Our parents ensured we all got an education; some of us more than others. Along with 3 of my brothers, I completed a High school education at one the more prestigious schools in my area. I attended the national University for less than 3 months because my understanding of the printed facts of History did not jibe with the spoken views I was expected to accept. You could say that I was rather unconventional in my view of historical (and political) reality. My professor and I mutually agreed that I would not succeed at academics if I could not accept the "official" explanations of world events.

 As a child, I always had strong interest in God and "religious" matters. Although my family was officially Anglican (English Catholic), I learned most of my Christian views from itinerant Baptist and Evangelical preachers until I attended a Catholic high school for further education. Priests, in my youth, were considered to be the ultimate source of "religious" knowledge. They were portrayed as having a direct link to God; they could forgive your "sins" and make things alright between you and God just like that. They could give you Penance, (a task that clears your sinful state), if you confessed your sins to them and you would not have to worry about going to Hell (a very bad place) when you died. Attending high school gave me open access to priests, so I voraciously absorbed as much "religious knowledge" as I could get. Meeting a monk was the highlight of my youth! I decided there and then that I would become a monk one day so that I, too, could be closer to God than other people.

 But first, I had to become a priest. I began attending Catholic studies with the aim of perfectly understanding everything about religion. I hung on every word the instructing priests said...until we came to the part about "divine mysteries". Something wasn't right with the explanations. I had always been taught that God was NOT a man; that He had neither mother nor father; that He could NOT die; that we could NOT see Him in this life. I was ok with that. After all, priests and preachers would not lie about God...or would they? I had also been taught that the Bible was the absolute "word of God", absolute Truth. To satisfy my mind and reconcile my heart to the "divine mysteries" being taught by the priests, I began studying the Bible "with a fine-tooth comb", as we say back home. The more I studied, the more questions I developed. I accepted the story of Jesus (peace be upon him) being the "son" of God, but could not accept the idea that God would commit adultery with Mary to produce a child, since adultery and fornication were condemned as "grievious sins". I could not understand the concept of Jesus being "God Himself" as a man born from a woman He had impregnated Himself. I struggled terribly with the concept of God being "three different persons" but still only "One" being. My mind was horribly twisted when I tried to fathom the concept that Mary was the "mother" of God, who was the "father" of Jesus, who was God Himself and the "son" of God at the same time. The Bible confirmed that God had no mother or father.

Something was terribly wrong here. God would not lie to us, would He? He would not condemn adultery while doing it Himself, would He? How could he be His own father and son and impregnate His own mother? Why would He allow Himself to be killed by a mob of sinful humans so that He could forgive them for the sin of their ancestors and their wrongdoings in the future? Why put Himself through all that torture when He had the power to simply forgive and let bygones be bygones? I was taught that God COULD NOT DIE! I felt that "Something" was wrong with the whole story. Finally, in a bid to clarify my understanding, I asked the priest about these "divine mysteries" that I could not fathom no matter how faithfully I tried. He shocked me into understanding that I was being a child of Satan to harbor such questions. I had to accept the official dogma on something called Faith or I could not go to Heaven. I was crushed. All my hopes and dreams were dashed. My life was over. I had nothing left to live for if I could not go to Heaven. What was the use of trying to live a good life if I was already condemned to Hell and there was nothing I could do about it? I accepted the priest's condemnation wholeheartedly. After all, he had the hook-up with God and he would know these things.

 Needless to say, My life went steadily downhill after that. My early adulthood was a crap shoot. I had no sense of value as a human being. Heck, nobody I talked to could tell me what a human being was. So I passed the time in one distraction or another. Finally, I discovered that there were other life philosophies which differed from the Christian viewpoint. I dabbled in "Eastern" philosophies for a while but never could reconcile idol-worship with reality. It just never made sense to me how worshiping a statue you made could work for you. I became irreverent until the Quran found me one day. It found me; I never even knew the Quran existed.

 At 21, I was something of a smart-ass. I used to make fun of a Muslim co-worker. I was a constant thorn in his side. The characteristic I most recall about him was his patience with me. No matter how hard I tried, I could not rile him. He answered my most ridiculous questions seriously. He would absorb my taunts without flinching. He would give me pertinent answers for my twisted comments. He never lost his cool with me, no matter what. Finally, I asked him about his life philosophy. He told me it was called Islam. Curious, I demanded to read the Quran upon which this philosophy was based. He reluctantly gave me a copy, along with a host of handling instructions. It was an eye-opener! It answered all the most haunting questions I had been living with until then. It also assured me that no man had power over the mercy of God and that God had the final say over a man's fate at a future meeting called Judgement Day - a day that comes after one's death. It also explained to me that my current behavior helps determine my future destination at the hands of God. It also offered to show me how to change my behavior day by day to create for myself a life worth living with a chance of Mercy from God on the Day of Judgement. I accepted that offer and here I am today, still pursuing that course. I am becoming Muslim and I want to tell you about my experiences on the path.
  ***********************************************************************************
Want deeper Insights, DOWNLOAD MY FREE BOOK
************************************************************************************