The Basic Tenets of Islam: Allah is near to man
Contents
- Preface
- There is no god but allah
- Allah encompasses everything
- Allah is near to man
- Allah created everything according to a fixed decree
- Allah has power over everything
- Allah sees and knows everything
- All beings are subjected to allah
- False beliefs about allah
- Faith in allah free of idolatry
- Assessing allah with a just assessment
- Allah's infinite greatness and power
- Love of allah and fear of allah
- The qur'an is a guide
- Belief in the books revealed by allah and belief in his messengers
- Faith in the angels
- The temporary nature of the life of this world
- It's a magnificent blessing to love allah with passion
- Man is being tested
- Death is not the end
- Belief in the hereafter
- Faith in the day of judgment
- The resurrection
- The day of judgment
- Paradise and hell
- Everything is positive in paradise, and everything is negative in hell
- The aim is to attain the good pleasure of allah
- Sin and repentance
- Scrupulousness regarding religious observances
- The morality of religion is in conformity with the natural inclination of mankind
- Believers must be together and cooperate
- The last word
Many people think Allah is far away. However, as stated in the Qur'an, "... Surely your Lord encompasses the people with His knowledge..." (Surat al-Isra': 60), He is very near. He sees and knows every aspect of a human being, and hears every word he utters. He is knowledgeable of even one's inner thoughts. This is related in the Qur'an as follows: We created man and We know what his own self whispers to him. We are nearer to him than his jugular vein. (Surah Qaf: 16)
Allah is so near to man that He hears the prayer of everyone-even if he prays inwardly-and it is He Who answers it:
If My servants ask you about Me, I am near. I answer the call of the caller when he calls on Me. They should therefore respond to Me and believe in Me so that hopefully they will be rightly guided. (Surat al-Baqara: 186) Allah knows what a person harbours in his heart. He knows whether he engages in a deed to earn His consent, or to satisfy his own lower soul. Allah reminds us that He knows our inner thoughts:
... Know that Allah knows what is in your selves, so beware of Him! And know that Allah is Ever-Forgiving, All-Forbearing.
Though you speak out loud, He knows your secrets and what is even more concealed.
Allah's Messenger, the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) also reminded Muslims that when they prayed Allah is very close to them by saying, "You are calling a Hearer, One very close by; the One Who you are calling is closer to each one of you."(Al-Bukhari and Muslim) As He is with you at every moment, Allah is with you as you are reading this book; He sees what you are doing and knows what you are thinking. This fact is related in the Qur'an as follows:
Do you not see that Allah knows what is in the heavens and on the earth? Three men cannot confer together secretly without Him being the fourth of them, or five without Him being the sixth of them, or fewer than that or more without Him being with them wherever they are. Then He will inform them on the Day of Resurrection of what they did. Allah has knowledge of all things.