Why do we believe?
Surely We created man of the best pattern; then We reduced him to the lowest of the low, save those who believe and do good deeds. (95:4-6)
Belief is a relation, which connects man to his Creator
We, human beings, can only reach the highest degree of our potential and become worthy of paradise by means of “faith”. The darkness of unbelief reduces us to the lowest level of our creation. Belief connects us to our Majestic Creator, and our value derives from using our belief to show the Divine art and manifest the Divine Names.
The only reason we are here on earth is to reflect His beauty, His power. As human brain is limited and cannot understand God’s essence, attributes comprehensively, we are responsible as humans to reflect his attributes as God’s representatives here, on earth. In fact, every creature, from the smallest living to the heavens, everything witness to his great power, though the only responsibility to represent Him, with the capacity of intellect and free will, is given to us. Unbelief breaks this relation, thereby concealing the Divine art and reducing our value to that of a mere physical entity with almost no value (a physical entity diminishes and perishes by time and is no valuable than an animal).
The value of the iron (or any other material) from which a work of art is made differs from the value of the art expressed in it. Sometimes they may have the same value, or the art’s worth may be far more than its material. An antique may fetch a million dollars, while its material is not even worth a few cents. If taken to the antiques market, it may be sold for its true value because of its art and the brilliant artist’s name. If taken to a blacksmith, it would be sold only for the value of its iron.
Similarly, each person is a unique, priceless work of God Almighty’s art. We are His Power’s most delicate and graceful miracles, beings created to manifest all His Names and inscriptions in the form of a miniature specimen of the universe. If we are illuminated with belief, these meaningful inscriptions become visible. Believers manifest these inscriptions through their connection with their Creator, for the Divine art contained in each person is revealed through such affirmations as: “I am the work of the Majestic Creator, the creature and object of His Mercy and Generosity.” As a result, and because we gain value in proportion to how well we reflect this art, we move from insignificance (in material terms) to beings ranked above all creatures. We communicate with God, are His guests on Earth, and are qualified for Paradise. (For instance, prayer is a form of communication with God, who speaks to us through Prophets and Scriptures).
But if unbelief is ingrained in us, all of the Divine Names’ manifestations are veiled by darkness and thus become non-expressive. Most meaningful instances of that sublime art and elevated inscriptions are concealed. Unbelievers attribute such art and inscriptions to trivial causes, nature and chance, thereby reducing them to plain glass instead of invaluable diamonds. Thus, unbelief is like reducing the value of a diamond to a coal. See the example, here.
Belief is both light and power
Belief is both light and power. Indeed, whoever attains true belief can challenge the whole universe and in proportion to the strength of his belief, be relieved of the pressures of events. He lives the life in this world comfortably until his last day, since he has been relieved of his burden by entrusting it to the Power of the Absolutely Powerful One. By contrast, if he does not rely upon God, the weight of the worldly life will force him down to the lowest of the low.
Belief, consists of the affirmation of Divine Unity, which requires submission to God, and submission requires reliance upon God, and that reliance yields happiness in both worlds. Such reliance upon God should not be misunderstood as ignoring “cause and effect” phenomenon. Rather, it means that one should think of causes as a veil covering Power’s hand. One observes them by seeking to comply with the Divine Will, which is a sort of worship in action. However, such desire and seeking is not enough to secure a particular effect or result. We must understand that, in accordance with right belief, the result is to be expected only from God, the All-Mighty as He is the only creator of the results.
To understand the true meaning of trust in God, consider this example: Once two people boarded a ship with heavy burdens. One put his burden on the deck immediately after boarding and sat onto it to keep it safe. The other one, even after being told to lay his burden down, refused to do so and said: “I won’t put it down, because it might get lost. Besides, I’m strong enough to carry it.” His friend told him that his behavior was obviously ridiculous and there were people looking at him and making fun of him. So, people who rely upon their egos and get all burden of life to their own shoulders resemble to this man. They are not aware of the fact that they lack the power and ability to manage the life on their owns.
Put your trust in God and be delivered from all burdens. Doing so will deliver you from being ridiculous, the pressures of this life and the torments of the Hereafter.
This text is slighlty modified version of original translation of 23rd Word, Risale-i Nur Collection, by Said Nursi Bediuzzaman. The original text can be found on the web at http://www.dislam.org/content/view/180/5/
Belief is a relation, which connects man to his Creator
We, human beings, can only reach the highest degree of our potential and become worthy of paradise by means of “faith”. The darkness of unbelief reduces us to the lowest level of our creation. Belief connects us to our Majestic Creator, and our value derives from using our belief to show the Divine art and manifest the Divine Names.
The only reason we are here on earth is to reflect His beauty, His power. As human brain is limited and cannot understand God’s essence, attributes comprehensively, we are responsible as humans to reflect his attributes as God’s representatives here, on earth. In fact, every creature, from the smallest living to the heavens, everything witness to his great power, though the only responsibility to represent Him, with the capacity of intellect and free will, is given to us. Unbelief breaks this relation, thereby concealing the Divine art and reducing our value to that of a mere physical entity with almost no value (a physical entity diminishes and perishes by time and is no valuable than an animal).
The value of the iron (or any other material) from which a work of art is made differs from the value of the art expressed in it. Sometimes they may have the same value, or the art’s worth may be far more than its material. An antique may fetch a million dollars, while its material is not even worth a few cents. If taken to the antiques market, it may be sold for its true value because of its art and the brilliant artist’s name. If taken to a blacksmith, it would be sold only for the value of its iron.
Similarly, each person is a unique, priceless work of God Almighty’s art. We are His Power’s most delicate and graceful miracles, beings created to manifest all His Names and inscriptions in the form of a miniature specimen of the universe. If we are illuminated with belief, these meaningful inscriptions become visible. Believers manifest these inscriptions through their connection with their Creator, for the Divine art contained in each person is revealed through such affirmations as: “I am the work of the Majestic Creator, the creature and object of His Mercy and Generosity.” As a result, and because we gain value in proportion to how well we reflect this art, we move from insignificance (in material terms) to beings ranked above all creatures. We communicate with God, are His guests on Earth, and are qualified for Paradise. (For instance, prayer is a form of communication with God, who speaks to us through Prophets and Scriptures).
But if unbelief is ingrained in us, all of the Divine Names’ manifestations are veiled by darkness and thus become non-expressive. Most meaningful instances of that sublime art and elevated inscriptions are concealed. Unbelievers attribute such art and inscriptions to trivial causes, nature and chance, thereby reducing them to plain glass instead of invaluable diamonds. Thus, unbelief is like reducing the value of a diamond to a coal. See the example, here.
Belief is both light and power
Belief is both light and power. Indeed, whoever attains true belief can challenge the whole universe and in proportion to the strength of his belief, be relieved of the pressures of events. He lives the life in this world comfortably until his last day, since he has been relieved of his burden by entrusting it to the Power of the Absolutely Powerful One. By contrast, if he does not rely upon God, the weight of the worldly life will force him down to the lowest of the low.
Belief, consists of the affirmation of Divine Unity, which requires submission to God, and submission requires reliance upon God, and that reliance yields happiness in both worlds. Such reliance upon God should not be misunderstood as ignoring “cause and effect” phenomenon. Rather, it means that one should think of causes as a veil covering Power’s hand. One observes them by seeking to comply with the Divine Will, which is a sort of worship in action. However, such desire and seeking is not enough to secure a particular effect or result. We must understand that, in accordance with right belief, the result is to be expected only from God, the All-Mighty as He is the only creator of the results.
To understand the true meaning of trust in God, consider this example: Once two people boarded a ship with heavy burdens. One put his burden on the deck immediately after boarding and sat onto it to keep it safe. The other one, even after being told to lay his burden down, refused to do so and said: “I won’t put it down, because it might get lost. Besides, I’m strong enough to carry it.” His friend told him that his behavior was obviously ridiculous and there were people looking at him and making fun of him. So, people who rely upon their egos and get all burden of life to their own shoulders resemble to this man. They are not aware of the fact that they lack the power and ability to manage the life on their owns.
Put your trust in God and be delivered from all burdens. Doing so will deliver you from being ridiculous, the pressures of this life and the torments of the Hereafter.
This text is slighlty modified version of original translation of 23rd Word, Risale-i Nur Collection, by Said Nursi Bediuzzaman. The original text can be found on the web at http://www.dislam.org/content/view/180/5/
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