Islam and Evidence

And We have sent down iron, wherein is great strength and many benefits for mankind, so that Allah may test who it is that will help Him and His Messengers, unseen. Certainly Allah is Most Strong, Almighty. Allah is the Creator, Maker, and Giver of Form, and He bears witness that He is the only God. He is the All-Merciful, Most-Merciful, the King, Most Pure, Perfect Peace, Trustworthy, Safeguarder, Almighty, Compeller, and Supremely Great. He has sealed up people's hearts, so they are unaware, and He regulates all affairs from heaven to earth.

He created all things and all might belongs to Him. Thus, Allah is the One, All-Knowing, and All-Wise, who is glorified in the heavens and on earth. He will have mercy on you if He wills, or He will punish you if He wills. We have not sent you to be a guardian over them. Allah is an all-powerful, almighty being who has created the heavens and all things in them.

He has given mankind the gift of iron to use and has promised to be victorious with his messengers. People should love Allah with their whole heart, and those who do not will face punishment. He has subjected the mountains to glorify Him and promised those who respond to their Lord the best. Allah has power over all things, and all things are subservient to Him.

He encompasses everything in His knowledge and determines the pre-ordained decree. The end result of all affairs is with Him and He does whatever He wills. He purifies those He wills and admits those who believe and do right actions into Heavens with rivers flowing under them. Allah knows us best and has mercy or punishes us according to His will. Allah has power over all things in the heavens and earth and is entitled to be feared and to forgive.

He has power to punish and guide whoever He wills, and to bring us all together. He is Almighty and All-Wise, and tests us with the things of this world as a test to know the truthful and fighters among us.

Compilation 1:

Questions:

Believers in Allah are aware that all desires and dreams, no matter how fantastic, can be fulfilled in the Garden. Allah has limitless blessings prepared in the Hereafter, far beyond what any human can imagine. The Prophet encouraged people to strive to reach the Garden, where they will receive all they desire and more. The Garden's blessings are absolute and perfect, surpassing all beauty in this world. People must remember that they can only conceive of a fraction of the Garden's delights due to their limited senses. The Garden holds surprises and blessings beyond our present knowledge.

Life in this world is limited and imperfect, and Allah has created it as such to remind us of the perfect and eternal life that awaits us in the Hereafter. We must strive to live our lives according to Allah's will, so that we may win His favor and be rewarded with the everlasting bliss of the Garden.

The Prophet Muhammad (saas) made his people—who knew about Allah’s existence but did not think about His superior might and thus failed to appreciate His grandeur—admit Allah’s existence and grandeur. Then, he summoned them to take warning and to have fear in Him:

Say: “To whom does the Earth belong, and everything and everyone in it? Tell me if you know the truth.” They will reply: “To Allah.” Say: “So will you not pay heed?" Say: “Who is the Lord of the Seven Heavens and the Lord of the Mighty Throne?” They will reply: “Allah.” Say: "So will you not fear Allah?” Say: “In Whose hands is the dominion over everything, He Who gives protection and from Whom no protection can be given? Tell me, if you know the truth.” They will reply: “Allah’s.” Say: “So how have you been so bewitched?” (Surat al-Muminun, 84-89)

One of the most important attributes of the societies who are ignorant of the morality of the Qur’an is their faith in Allah despite their failure to appreciate His Might and grandeur. The Prophet Muhammad (saas) told his people—those who said that Allah created them in reply to the question, “Who created you?" yet failed to appreciate Him—that Allah had everything underHis control and that ascribing partners to Him would bring nobenefit to them:

If you ask them, “Who created the heavens and theEarth?” They will say, “Allah.” Say: “So what do you think? If Allah desired harm for me, could those you call upon besides Allah relieve my affliction? Or if He desired mercy for me, could they withhold His mercy? "Say: “Allah is enough for me. In Him let the faithful put their trust.” (Surat az-Zumar, 38)

Say: “Who is going to shield you from Allah if it is His will to scourge you? And who can prevent Him from showing you mercy?” They will find no one to protect or help them besides Allah. (Surat al-Ahzab, 17)

Man is a weak being with many inadequacies. He can only lead his life if Allah wills. However, Allah, Who is the Owner of everything, is far removed from all sorts of inadequacies and is exalted above all weaknesses. He is not in need of anything. The Prophet Muhammad (saas) was commanded to speak thus to his nation:

Say: “Am I to take anyone other than Allah as my Protector, the Creator of the heavens and the Earth, He Who feeds and is not fed?” Say: “I was commanded to be the first of the Muslims,” and, “You shall serve no other god besides Him.” Say: “I will never disobey my Lord, for I fear the punishment of a dreadful Day.” (Surat al-An’am, 14-15)

The Prophet Muhammad (saas) told his people that Allah is the One and that He is the sole Possessor of everything.

Say: “Who is the Lord of the heavens and the Earth?” Say: "Allah.” Say: “So why have you taken protectors apart from Him who possess no power even to help or harm themselves?” Say: “Are the blind and seeing equal? Or are darkness and light the same? Or have they assigned partners to Allah who create as He creates, so that all creating seems the same to them?” Say: “Allah is the Creator of everything. He is the One, the All-Conquering.” (Surat ar-Ra’d, 16)

The phrase "We sealed their ears" from the Qur'an has a metaphorical meaning of "We have made them sleep". Recent science shows that the ear is the only sensory organ active while a person is asleep, and this explains why an alarm clock is needed to wake up. This suggests that Allah closed the hearing of certain people, causing them to remain in a deep sleep for years. Therefore, the text is about how ears can be sealed to induce a long and deep sleep.

Note 176. Kazi, 130 Evident Miracles in the Qur'an, 108.