Islam and Evidence

Yusuf and Ibrahim (peace be upon him) are two of the Prophets that are mentioned in the Qur'an, and their lives serve as examples of faith, courage, submission to Allah, and intelligence. These Prophets were content, tranquil, and secure in their faith, and their stories serve as a reminder to believers of the importance of following Allah's teachings. Allah tells us in one verse that: He (Prophet Yusuf) said, «My Lord, the prison is dearer to me than what they call on me to do; and if You do not avert from me their machinations, I will incline towards them and become one of the ignorant.» The Prophet Ya‘qub (peace be upon him), father of Prophet Yusuf , was also a prophet and he was also a very righteous and devoted servant of Allah.

He was constantly praying to Allah and was always aware that, no matter how difficult the situation he was in, Allah would respond to his prayers. Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) respectfully advised his father to abandon his false gods, but his father was unwilling to see him and even threatened to kill him. In spite of this, the Prophet Ibrahim left his father in order to act according to Allah's guidance. Similarly, Prophet Zakariyya (peace be upon him) prayed for a pious son and Allah answered his prayer. Finally, Prophet Yusuf and his father Prophet Ya'qub (peace be upon him) were devoted to Allah and faced difficulties and slander from others.

Despite the adversity, they stayed true to their faith in Allah and were ultimately rewarded with contentment. Prophet Ya'qub (Jacob) demonstrated superior conduct and conformed to Allah's guidance despite the difficult test of his son, Prophet Yusuf (Joseph), being thrown into a well by his jealous brothers. Prophet Ya'qub waited patiently, trusting Allah, and was eventually rewarded with the reunion of both his sons. His example shows that those who remain steadfast in their faith in Allah and His teachings will be rewarded with joy and happiness.

Only in the remembrance of Allah can the heart find peace. Believers have true faith and joy and come to Allah with tranquil hearts. Believers are rewarded with perpetual joy and cheerfulness. Through submission to Allah and the guidance of the Qur'an, believers are aware that every situation can be turned to their benefit. This ensures that believers are always happy, in contrast to disbelievers who are always unhappy and unable to find true contentment.

Believers act with sincerity and bring calm and cheer to those around them, as they possess the incomparable blessing of faith. In contrast, people of ignorance and immorality cannot enjoy life and are plagued by worry and anxiety. Believers are the only ones who can truly have fun and enjoy themselves due to their sincere faith in Allah and the great victory it brings. The power of faith in Allah is strong for believers; it brings them peace of heart and spiritual strength, allowing them to strive for Allah's approval and remain active and vigorous in the face of difficulty. This strength creates in them a desire to do good and never tires them in their efforts, leading to joy in this life and the next.

Believers have a deep faith in Allah and demonstrate their sincerity by their eagerness and willingness to reach their goals. This is contrasted by disbelievers, who are unable to be enthusiastic in any task they do, as they lack faith in Allah and only seek personal gain. Allah rewards the faith of believers by sending them security and peace, and will ultimately provide them with the greatest Abode.

A believer should also note the mercy and justice with which He administers His world, and how He treats His servants with compassion and understanding. Believers have faith in Allah and rely on Him for help and guidance. This faith brings them peace and comfort, allowing them to face their problems calmly and take precautions against further suffering. In return, Allah rewards them with a beautiful life, both materially and spiritually, which can be seen in their open and clear faces. On the other hand, deniers of the faith lack this faith and suffer from psychological and physical distress.

They resort to unhealthy habits like alcohol and drugs in an effort to relieve their suffering, only causing them more harm in the long run. On the Day of Judgment, believers will have radiant faces, while the faces of unbelievers will be gloomy and dust-covered. Allah's infinite might is revealed in every detail of His creation and when believers look at them they are filled with awe and acknowledge Allah's supremacy. Believers have faith in Allah and understand that He is the source of all intelligence and creativity.

They are able to see the divine wisdom in the signs of His creation and remember Him in all things. By looking at the proofs of the creation with insight and wisdom, they can come closer to Allah and experience the true happiness that comes with faith. Deniers of the faith, however, are unable to see this meaning due to their lack of spiritual tranquility and focus on worldly concerns. They cannot experience the joy that comes with acknowledging Allah's supremacy. For believers in Allah, faith is an important part of life that leads to greater appreciation of the beauty around them.

Through faith, believers can recognize that all of the beauty in the world is a gift from Allah, and they can thank Him for it by showing gratitude. This gratitude leads to approval from Allah and greater happiness for believers.

Allah has promised that believers will enjoy the company of beautiful spouses. Allah says:"In them are fair ones, good and beautiful." and"Spouses of equal age" who are "Immortal youths" and "wide-eyed houris." Allah has created everything believers need in order to enjoy the highest level of physical and spiritual pleasure. In Paradise, Allah promises believers eternal bliss and freedom from the defects and shortcomings of life in this world. Believers will be surrounded by natural beauties such as a perfect climate, unceasing water, and lush gardens. They will live in high-ceilinged halls, wear beautiful clothing, and be served by handsome servants.

They will also be accompanied by beautiful spouses who are immortal and ever-youthful. All of these blessings are granted to believers by Allah, who has promised that those who follow His guidance will be rewarded with eternal happiness in Paradise. Believers who have earned Allah's approval will be rewarded with the ultimate luxury and joy in Paradise. They will be clothed in silk and satin, adorned with gold and pearls, and blessed with spouses of unblemished beauty. Allah will also provide them with an abundance of all that they need and desire, and they will be surrounded by other pure believers free from any negative characteristics.

Through this, believers will receive the greatest comfort and peace, experiencing eternal happiness in gratitude for Allah's mercy. Believers strive throughout their lives to gain Allah's approval and Paradise. As a result, they experience true happiness in this world, derived from their faith, and will be rewarded with joy and salvation in the eternal Paradise. Disbelievers, on the other hand, will never know the peace and happiness of faith, and will experience unhappiness and regret in this world and the Day of Judgment.

At higher elevations, oxygen levels in the atmosphere and air pressure decline, causing difficulty in breathing and even anoxia. This can lead to extreme fatigue, headaches, dizziness, nausea, and a loss of judgement, and someone at 5,000-7,500 metres above sea-level may faint and go into a coma. To combat this, oxygen bottles and special clothing are needed to survive at such heights, as well as systems that regulate air pressure on airplanes at 9,000-10,000 metres. Oxygen deficiency can occur at heights of 3,000-4,500 metres, and people may even lose consciousness at such elevations, but can be saved with immediate oxygen treatment.

In the comparison made in the verse below, this physical truth, the changes that take place in the chest with increasing height, is indicated in these terms:

When Allah desires to guide someone, He expands his breast to Islam. When He desires to misguide someone, He makes his breast narrow and constricted as if he were climbing up into the sky. That is how Allah defiles those who have no faith. (Quran chapter 6:125)

Night is a time of stillness and rest for both humans and other living things. In humans, melatonin is secreted which slows down physical movement, making them sleepy and tired. During the night, humans store energy and several chemicals vital for the immune system and growth hormones are secreted. Plants also rest at night, with perspiration in leaves and photosynthesis slowing down as the temperature falls.

At the molecular level, radiation emitted by the Sun during the day activates atoms and molecules in the Earth's atmosphere, which fall to lower energy levels and give off radiation at night. This is further proof of the Qur'an's miracles.

Notes:

180. "Melatoning the Growth Hormone," Health Journal; www.bodyandfitness.com/Beauty/Anti-Aging/melatonin1.htm

181. "Melatonin;" www.stenlake.com.au/ShowDocument.asp?DocumentId=53

182. Dr. William H. Philpott, M.D. and Sharon Taplin, "Therapeutic Sleep;" 

www.magneticjewelryoriginals.com/thersleep.html

183. Marshall Brain, "How Sleep Works," http://fitness.howstuffworks.com/sleep.htm?printable=1

184. "Light, Temperature and Humidity," Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Texas A&M 

University System College Station, Texas; http://aggie-

horticulture.tamu.edu/greenhouse/nursery/guides/ornamentals/light.html

185. "Night-time on Venus", January 18, 2001; http://beta.physicsweb.org/article/news/5/1/10

You would have supposed them to be awake, whereas in fact they were asleep. We moved them to the right and to the left, and, at the entrance, their dog stretched out its paws. If you had looked down and seen them, you would have turned from them and run, and have been filled with terror at the sight of them. (Quran chapter 18 verse 18)

This passage discusses the importance of movement in sleep, and how it affects a person's health. It makes reference to the Companions of the Cave, who remained asleep for hundreds of years without encountering any health issues. It also explains how, when people remain in the same position for a long time, they can suffer from circulation difficulties, sores, and blood clotting. These sores, known as "bed sores" or "pressure sores," are caused by the pressure on one part of the body not moving for a long period of time.

The sores can become serious and even lead to death if not treated, but they can be avoided by changing the position of the body every 15 minutes. This idea was only discovered in the last century, yet it is referred to in the Qur'an, making it a miracle. Thus, the importance of movement in sleep and its effect on sores, blood, and pressure is highlighted.

Notes:

177. Ibid.

178. Treating Pressure Sores (Agency for Health Care Policy and Research: 1994).

179. Kenneth Davis, Jr., "The Acute Effects of Body Position Strategies and Respiratory Therapy in Paralyzed Patients with Acute Lung Injury," Critical Care 5 (2001): 81-87;

www.biomedcentral.com/1364-8535/5/81/abstract

According to the Qur'an, these residences are made of the most precious materials, such as gold and silver bricks, pearls and rubies, and saffron. The hadith further describe the Garden as having abundant wealth, with its walls made of golden and silver bricks and its dust of saffron. These dwellings are said to be in perfect and splendid condition and are never subject to the destructive ravages of time.

Moreover, they are often surrounded by greenery and water, increasing their beauty.`Gold is used to adorn the cities, pillars and buildings, which have been created according to people's desires and are found to be splendid and extravagant. Gold is a rare and valuable metal, and its aesthetic and artistic value makes it the choice for fine works of art.

In the Garden, gold is used to make skyscrapers, mansions, villas and summer houses. Allah has created many beautiful blessings for human beings in the Garden, including a pleasant climate and sweet-smelling musk as mortar for buildings. In the Garden, however, due to the blessings of Allah, the people of the Garden will be able to go around the markets there as much as they wish, and will never tire. The Garden, created by Allah, is a place of luxury and blessings where believers can experience the joys that surpass anything in this world. From palaces composed of emeralds and jewels to pavilions made of pearls and rubies, every aspect of the Garden is perfect and eternal.

People in the Garden will have plenty of food, their own tents of gold, and access to markets of endless variety. Allah has promised these blessings to those who have faith and work to gain entrance to the Garden.

In the Garden, the people will be blessed with a market where they can meet and enjoy each other's company without buying or selling anything. Instead, they will be able to change their physical features - such as their hair and eye colour - at will, and have access to beautiful clothing. Furthermore, they will be able to talk and connect with each other in the Garden, remembering and reflecting on their experiences in the world. This is a great blessing from the Hadith, that those in the Garden will be able to enjoy each other's company and physical beauty without any of the worldly restrictions.

Wealth is often seen as a goal to strive for in life, however this world's wealth is flawed and imperfect. Allah created the world as a transitory place to appreciate the wealth of the Garden, which is everlasting and will bring true pleasure. The Garden is a harmony of Allah's bounty and splendour, and its treasures are limitless. These treasures emphasise the splendour of the Garden, and are given out to those of Allah's slaves whom He wills. Wealth is a major goal for many people, but its power and influence is limited to this world.

Allah, however, offers a wealth of an entirely different nature in the Garden: treasures of beauty and abundance that are beyond any price, such as jewels, precious stones, and pearls. The Garden is a place of eternal abundance, with blessings that never run out and food that never fails. Allah will offer these treasures to His chosen slaves free of charge, offering a wealth unlike any in the world.

Questions:

Allah knows all that is in the land and the sea; there is not a single leaf that falls without His knowledge. Allah is the source of all things and is responsible for both good and evil. He is all-knowing and all-hearing, and He is aware of everything that happens in the heavens and on earth. He guides those who believe in Him and He tests them with both good and evil. He is informed of all things, and He knows what is said openly and what is kept secret.

He is the Preserver of all things and the Originator of the heavens and the earth. He is the Knower of the Unseen and the keys of the Unseen are in His possession. Allah suffices as a Guardian. Allah is the Everlasting Sustainer of all, who knows everything in the land and sea and has power over all things.

He creates out of nothing, knows the Unseen, and sends down abundant rain. He is Rich Beyond Need of any being and has no partner in His Kingdom. He has no son and was not born. Musa and Isa were called upon to spend in the Way of Allah, and Zakariyya was given the good news of a son.

Allah has power over the Hour, which hangs heavy in the heavens and the earth, and will not come upon them except suddenly. He is Exalted Above Any Defect and Praiseworthy. Allah is an all-powerful Lord who has dominion over the heavens, earth, and all things. He is the Inheritor of all things and He knows the exact number of everything. He is the Lord of the East and has the Keys to the heavens and earth.

He sends down provision to His servants in a known measure and is not subject to drowsiness or sleep. Intercession is only possible with His permission. Believers should put their trust in Him and call on Him with sincerity, for He is the Living One and Lord of all the worlds.

Questions:

Allah states in the Qur’an that the number of believers unearth would be always very few and that only this minority of believers would attain Paradise. For this reason, faith is one of the favours that could be granted to a person. However, during our Prophet’s (saas) time, once having faith, certain people attempted to lay our Prophet (saas) under obligation, as if they had done him a favour. In order to explain this very erroneous logic—”They think they have done you a favour by becoming Muslims!”—our Prophet (saas) was commanded to speak thus:

Say: “Do not consider your Islam a favour to me. No indeed! It is Allah Who has favoured you by guiding you to faith, if you are telling the truth.” (Surat al-Hujurat, 17)