Many different kind of studies: anthropological, psychological, historical, religious… have shown that, since time immemorial, the concept of God has been deeply interwoven in human nature. Indeed, the concept of God is quite indispensable to man. Consciously or unconsciously, he is compelled to give this concept the central position in his life. Even apparent atheists, when faced with some crisis, spontaneously call out to God. In this matter, there is no known exception.
Man requires a proper goal for his activities, in order that he may continue his journey through life with satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment. At the same time, being an explanation-seeking animal, he seeks to explain his existence and the world around him. But, owing to his limitations, he feels helpless. Unaided, he can neither set himself the correct goals, nor can he fathom the meaning of human life. It is only by accepting a limitless Being like God that this feeling of helplessness can be overcome. As experience has shown, most men and women live lives of largely unfulfilled desires. It is God alone who can give any ray of hope for their fulfillment, just as it is God alone who can give man the correct objectives. But perhaps most important, man, owing to his peculiar nature, wants to lead his life with the courage of conviction. And there is no other source of this conviction save God.
As studies have shown, all men and women believe in God in one way or the other. Now the question arises as to why these believers in God do not arrive at the result they expect from their ‘belief’. Why are even the believers in God deprived of divine inspiration? Why do they not at least enjoy peace of mind? Even those who have put up plaques in their homes and offices with such legends as: “We trust in God” are denied that blessing of God, which should have come to them because of their trusting in Him in the real sense. These believers in God inevitably feel that they have not been able to establish a genuine ‘communion’ with Him. Despite belief in God, people’s lives are sadly lacking in divine blessings.
This is the problem facing all men and women. Every man and woman believes, ideologically, in one god or the other. But so far as the result of such belief is concerned, it is not forthcoming. Every individual, from his own personal experience can understand that this problem is not one of lack of belief but rather of an absence of any outcome of belief in God. This is a universal truth which anyone can understand just by taking stock of the events of his own life.
There could be only one possible reason for this gap between faith and the result of faith. And that is the so-called believer may be worshipping some non-God in the name of God. In such a case it is but natural that, in spite of believing in some god, he/she will not receive the result of belief.
The reason for this is that people usually associate themselves with some non-God or the other. Although they utter such words as ‘We believe in God’, in practice they have made themselves subservient to some non-deity. There are times, when some living or dead human being is placed upon the pedestal of divinity. Some, under the influence of humanism, have accorded the seat of God to man – what is called ‘transfer of the seat from God to Man’ in the jargon of Humanism. Others have ‘discovered’ the law of nature as an alternative to God, while yet others believe in the monistic concept of God, according to which God is a vague spirit, rather than a Being with whom contact may be established.
If you misdial a number on your telephone, you will very likely hear this recorded voice from the telephone office: “This number does not exist.” This is exactly the state of affairs today. People are calling upon such beings, in the name of God, as have no existence in reality. That is why their call receives the answer: “This god does not exist.”
The Way to Attain Peace
Peace is essential for a better way of living-peace of mind, peace in the family and peace in nature. Today, in our modern, technological world, man apparently has access to everything he desires. In the absence of peace, however, everything has been rendered meaningless. What is needed to redress the balance is love, compassion, tolerance, forbearance and the spirit of co-existence.
How can we attain peace? The formula is very simple. Take your share without usurping that of others. Fulfill your needs without depriving others of theirs. Satisfy your desires without thwarting others and fulfill your ambitions without denying others the right to do likewise. In short, solve your own problems without creating problems for your fellow creatures. Peaceful co-existence is the only way of existence in this world.
However, a peaceful life can be achieved only when human beings learn what their limitations ought to be. According to the Divine law, you can take from the world whatever will satisfy your need – not your greed. You may do business with others, but you may not exploit them. You may also establish your individuality, but not at the cost of the family and society. In daily existence, you may lead your life by maintaining social traditions and not by destroying them. You have the freedom to lead your own life, but by caring in the process for the rest of your society and not by neglecting it. Resources may be utilized for the benefit of humanity, but not for the sake of destruction. You are free to use peaceful methods, but you are not entitled to use violence. You can make use of nature, but only by maintaining its balance: the equilibrium of nature must never be disturbed. You have the freedom to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, but not to manufacture destructive weapons. You are at liberty to nurture feelings of love and compassion, but not to give way to hatred and prejudice. You are free to fulfill your physical desires, but not by spiritually killing your soul. In short, you have the freedom to enjoy life by sharing with others, but certainly not by eliminating them.
The Price of Peace
We cannot have anything in this world without paying for it. Everything has its price and this is particularly true of peace. If we want peace, we should be ready to pay for it or stand deprived of it. What is the price of peace? It is simply tolerance. We live in world of differences, and these differences cannot be eliminated. Therefore, we have only two options before us: adopting the policy of either tolerance or intolerance. While the latter leads to violence, the former ensures peace. Where there is tolerance there is peace, and where there is intolerance, there is war and violence. This is the only universal formula of tolerance for peace, and this same formula may be successfully applied to one’s family life and to social life, at the national level as well as at the international level. Peace requires us to foster a culture of tolerance, for intolerance can lead only to war.
Man requires a proper goal for his activities, in order that he may continue his journey through life with satisfaction and a sense of fulfillment. At the same time, being an explanation-seeking animal, he seeks to explain his existence and the world around him. But, owing to his limitations, he feels helpless. Unaided, he can neither set himself the correct goals, nor can he fathom the meaning of human life. It is only by accepting a limitless Being like God that this feeling of helplessness can be overcome. As experience has shown, most men and women live lives of largely unfulfilled desires. It is God alone who can give any ray of hope for their fulfillment, just as it is God alone who can give man the correct objectives. But perhaps most important, man, owing to his peculiar nature, wants to lead his life with the courage of conviction. And there is no other source of this conviction save God.
As studies have shown, all men and women believe in God in one way or the other. Now the question arises as to why these believers in God do not arrive at the result they expect from their ‘belief’. Why are even the believers in God deprived of divine inspiration? Why do they not at least enjoy peace of mind? Even those who have put up plaques in their homes and offices with such legends as: “We trust in God” are denied that blessing of God, which should have come to them because of their trusting in Him in the real sense. These believers in God inevitably feel that they have not been able to establish a genuine ‘communion’ with Him. Despite belief in God, people’s lives are sadly lacking in divine blessings.
This is the problem facing all men and women. Every man and woman believes, ideologically, in one god or the other. But so far as the result of such belief is concerned, it is not forthcoming. Every individual, from his own personal experience can understand that this problem is not one of lack of belief but rather of an absence of any outcome of belief in God. This is a universal truth which anyone can understand just by taking stock of the events of his own life.
There could be only one possible reason for this gap between faith and the result of faith. And that is the so-called believer may be worshipping some non-God in the name of God. In such a case it is but natural that, in spite of believing in some god, he/she will not receive the result of belief.
The reason for this is that people usually associate themselves with some non-God or the other. Although they utter such words as ‘We believe in God’, in practice they have made themselves subservient to some non-deity. There are times, when some living or dead human being is placed upon the pedestal of divinity. Some, under the influence of humanism, have accorded the seat of God to man – what is called ‘transfer of the seat from God to Man’ in the jargon of Humanism. Others have ‘discovered’ the law of nature as an alternative to God, while yet others believe in the monistic concept of God, according to which God is a vague spirit, rather than a Being with whom contact may be established.
If you misdial a number on your telephone, you will very likely hear this recorded voice from the telephone office: “This number does not exist.” This is exactly the state of affairs today. People are calling upon such beings, in the name of God, as have no existence in reality. That is why their call receives the answer: “This god does not exist.”
The Way to Attain Peace
Peace is essential for a better way of living-peace of mind, peace in the family and peace in nature. Today, in our modern, technological world, man apparently has access to everything he desires. In the absence of peace, however, everything has been rendered meaningless. What is needed to redress the balance is love, compassion, tolerance, forbearance and the spirit of co-existence.
How can we attain peace? The formula is very simple. Take your share without usurping that of others. Fulfill your needs without depriving others of theirs. Satisfy your desires without thwarting others and fulfill your ambitions without denying others the right to do likewise. In short, solve your own problems without creating problems for your fellow creatures. Peaceful co-existence is the only way of existence in this world.
However, a peaceful life can be achieved only when human beings learn what their limitations ought to be. According to the Divine law, you can take from the world whatever will satisfy your need – not your greed. You may do business with others, but you may not exploit them. You may also establish your individuality, but not at the cost of the family and society. In daily existence, you may lead your life by maintaining social traditions and not by destroying them. You have the freedom to lead your own life, but by caring in the process for the rest of your society and not by neglecting it. Resources may be utilized for the benefit of humanity, but not for the sake of destruction. You are free to use peaceful methods, but you are not entitled to use violence. You can make use of nature, but only by maintaining its balance: the equilibrium of nature must never be disturbed. You have the freedom to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, but not to manufacture destructive weapons. You are at liberty to nurture feelings of love and compassion, but not to give way to hatred and prejudice. You are free to fulfill your physical desires, but not by spiritually killing your soul. In short, you have the freedom to enjoy life by sharing with others, but certainly not by eliminating them.
The Price of Peace
We cannot have anything in this world without paying for it. Everything has its price and this is particularly true of peace. If we want peace, we should be ready to pay for it or stand deprived of it. What is the price of peace? It is simply tolerance. We live in world of differences, and these differences cannot be eliminated. Therefore, we have only two options before us: adopting the policy of either tolerance or intolerance. While the latter leads to violence, the former ensures peace. Where there is tolerance there is peace, and where there is intolerance, there is war and violence. This is the only universal formula of tolerance for peace, and this same formula may be successfully applied to one’s family life and to social life, at the national level as well as at the international level. Peace requires us to foster a culture of tolerance, for intolerance can lead only to war.
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
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