Knowing and Believing

Man is the smartest of all species. From the time life began, man has used his mental capacity to such an extent that would astound our predecessors; from the amazing hi-tech advancements to the scientific breakthroughs, man has been able to step onto the moon and reach beyond the boundaries of earth. And so, we have entered an era of technology where science has taken over most if not all logic.

Allah has given us immeasurable wisdom, wrapped in the realities of this universe, so that man may unravel it, bit by bit, and achieve the very purpose he was created for; to recognize the majesty, glory and magnificence of Allah. We have come a long way in our quest for knowledge but instead of bringing us closer to our creator, our greater understanding of the world is pushing us away in another direction.

Yes! People are very smart. We seem to know everything; we acknowledge Allah’s sovereignty and His complete right to be worshipped, we are aware of the ‘halaal’ and the ‘haraam’, and are thoroughly familiar with the concept of heaven and hell. We are all so well informed indeed; yet somehow, strangely enough, so misguided at the same time, unwilling to take Allah’s word seriously.

Hence, besides being smart, I’m guessing man must also be very bold. Brave are the women, who know Allah has commanded them to cover their ‘Aura’ when in the presence of male company, still, they choose otherwise. Equally brave are the men, who stubbornly persist in drinking, gambling, fornication, lying, cheating, devouring interest etc; and yet they maintain that they know all.

Unfortunately, having mere knowledge isn’t enough; it is more like being stuck in the dark, not knowing what to do with all the information. It’s when we start believing that the light of ‘Imaan’ enters the hearts and enables us to find our way in the darkness. Every time Allah mentions 'people of paradise' in the Quran, He says, it is those who ‘believe’ not those who ‘know’. Understanding without faith is inadequate; it is our belief that inculcates in us the love for Allah and the fear of Him; a force that hinders us from evil and motivates us towards good.

And so, we must not only strive to learn, but we must, in all fairness to our souls, strive to strengthen our ‘imaan’ and prove our merit through submission, for knowledge without belief is fruitless, and belief without obedience is just bold defiance.