The goal of Islam

[England my lionheart]

IMO its to get everyone to submit whether they like it or not

 

[tariqkhwaja]

Why does God want us to worship Him?

For our own benefit. So that we can experience His attributes and take benefit from them.

For example, everyday we benefit from the attribute of God that rewards beyond measure our negligible efforts. Or the attribute of forgiveness after we commit an error. These are attributes we humans have the honor of experiencing through are worship of God.

 

[Bob Dixon]

For our own benefit. So that we can experience His attributes and take benefit from them.

For example, everyday we benefit from the attribute of God that rewards beyond measure our negligible efforts. Or the attribute of forgiveness after we commit an error. These are attributes we humans have the honor of experiencing through are worship of God.

Makes sense. Thanks.

Maybe I'll make a thread about this one day so that we can discuss this fully.

 

[tariqkhwaja]

It is said that the first verse of the Holy Quran is a summary of the entire Quran. That being the case the goal of Islam is "Bismillah" which translates to "In the name of Allah". And in fact that is the goal of Islam.

Allah is beyond any human comprehension and we can never completely understand Him. However, we can understand those attributes of His that He has revealed to us. And then we can try to adopt those attributes and become godlike human beings. That really is the goal of Islam.

A few examples:

Attribute 2 of Allah - Ar Raheem - Ever Merciful
That is, Allah is One who rewards efforts. Who gives results for hard work. Who forgives when forgiveness is prayed for. The attribute of Raheem refers to the Allah who gives plentiful for negligible efforts by human beings.
So a human can adopt this attribute after understanding it in his/her own life.

Attribute 1 of Allah - Ar Rahmaan - The Gracious
That is, Allah is One who gives without anyone ever asking. Like the creation of the sun, water, etc. which benefit humans regardless of their religion (or lack thereof).
For a human this may be thought of as the next step after Ar Raheem. To emulate Allah's attribute of Ar Rahmaan and give in charity, help even enemies, etc.

In summary, the first verse (or rather the first half of the first verse - and both examples were from the same verse) really answers the question.

Bismillah - In the name of Allah

I'm quoting myself from this thread itself. Maybe you missed it. This is the correct place to discuss if you please.

 

[Pegg]

You are far from the truth that Islam is about submission!
It is a deep spiritual connection with God!
They pray just as Mahammad (peace be upon him) Abraham, and Jesus did!

Jesus spoke about God as the 'father' of mankind and he taught his disciples to view him as their father.
But i've heard muslims say that God is not their father...he is their 'creator' and they dont call him 'father'

how do you harmonize this fact? Or perhaps i'm mistaken and muslims do view God as their father??

They take the Quran and the Bible seriously!

the bible and quran are quite different in their teachings....and i dont know of any muslims who claim to study both and apply both (that would actually be impossible to do because of the differences)

So im not sure i agree that muslims do take the bible seriously. I would like to know if you've ever studied Jesus teachings and if so, how you reconcile the difference between mohammad and jesus?

 

[Bob Dixon]

Jesus spoke about God as the 'father' of mankind and he taught his disciples to view him as their father.
But i've heard muslims say that God is not their father...he is their 'creator' and they dont call him 'father'

But then again, Jesus wasn't speaking to polytheists and had a lot more freedom in what he was to say.

 

[England my lionheart]

For our own benefit. So that we can experience His attributes and take benefit from them.

What are your Gods attributes and in what way are they a benefit.

For example, everyday we benefit from the attribute of God that rewards beyond measure our negligible efforts. Or the attribute of forgiveness after we commit an error. These are attributes we humans have the honor of experiencing through are worship of God.

I wonder if there is any evidence that your God forgives,i get that a Human forgives and many Humans are very forgiving but saying an attribute of a God is forgiving,well i'd like to see an example of that.

 

[tariqkhwaja]

I wonder if there is any evidence that your God forgives,i get that a Human forgives and many Humans are very forgiving but saying an attribute of a God is forgiving,well i'd like to see an example of that.

Well when we get sick right? Justice and fair would be that if we stay healthy and eat well our bodies should remain healthy but if we don't eat well and our stomach gets upset for example it should deteriorate and cause our death.

Yet in our bodies we find the existence of an immune system. And the immune system exists to rectify the wrongs we have committed. That immune system is God forgiving us for our errors and being more than a Just God. Often the immune system may come into action even without medicines.

But even in the case of medicines the fact that several herbs, spices, etc. exist in nature that cure specific diseases within our body and aid the immuno system is again God forgiving the injustices we commit against our own body.

Of course recovery requires some amount of suffering and effort to find the right medicine. That is our asking for forgiveness (consciously or in the case of Atheists otherwise) for which our Forgiving and Rewarding God often lets us go.

To benefit from that attribute really is what differentiates human beings from the devil. Both commit mistakes but Adam had remorse for his error while the devil was ever more arrogant.

 

[England my lionheart]

Well when we get sick right? Justice and fair would be that if we stay healthy and eat well our bodies should remain healthy but if we don't eat well and our stomach gets upset for example it should deteriorate and cause our death.

Many creatures have immune systems,do they feel a sense of justice

Yet in our bodies we find the existence of an immune system. And the immune system exists to rectify the wrongs we have committed. That immune system is God forgiving us for our errors and being more than a Just God. Often the immune system may come into action even without medicines.

Dogs have an immune system,whether a Dog or a Human is good or bad makes no difference to the immune system,unless of course they over indulge in Alchohol or Drugs,not many Alcoholic Dogs around though.

But even in the case of medicines the fact that several herbs, spices, etc. exist in nature that cure specific diseases within our body and aid the immuno system is again God forgiving the injustices we commit against our own body.

Didn't Humans discover those,i mean its not as if there were signs above certain plants that said this plant cures a cetain illness.

Of course recovery requires some amount of suffering and effort to find the right medicine. That is our asking for forgiveness (consciously or in the case of Atheists otherwise) for which our Forgiving and Rewarding God often lets us go.

Medicine doesn't differentiate between Atheists and believers as far as i'm aware.

To benefit from that attribute really is what differentiates human beings from the devil. Both commit mistakes but Adam had remorse for his error while the devil was ever more arrogant.

Well thats all down to what you believe i guess.

 

[tariqkhwaja]

No medicine does not see belief. I did not want to remotely suggest anything like that. I was just showing an example of forgiveness of God as found in nature. And yes Muslims, non-Muslims, and even animals benefit from this.

Whether creatures "feel" a sense of justice depends on the degree of conscience creatures have. Humans have the potential to feel it for sure.

Humans discovered those but they existed for humans to be able to discover them. The solution existed that is why it was discovered. If it had not existed no amount of discovery could have led to it. I can see why you may want to give credit to humans for discovering the herbs, etc. of medicinal value. But you can't take away credit from The One who created those medicines for us to use.

In the natural scheme of things, my point was, we observe a God Who is just. But then we also see a God (as highlighted by the immuno system in nature) a Forgiving God.

 

[muslim-]

I cant believe no one mentioned this until now (unless I missed something by skimming through the posts)

With no doubt at all or hesitation, the number one goal and message of Islam is monotheism, or to be precise, Tawheed.

This does NOT mean believing in only one God as some think. Because even idol-worshippers considered their idols only as intercessors that bring them closer to God. Tawheed is the message of all prophets from the first to the last.

Its about eliminating any "middle man" between a person and God directing all forms of worship directly to him with no mediators.

This is without doubt the most important concept in Islam.

In Islam works are important, but belief in this is the #1 point stressed upon in all religious texts. Tawheed comes before prayer, before fasting, before anything else.

 

[England my lionheart]

No medicine does not see belief. I did not want to remotely suggest anything like that. I was just showing an example of forgiveness of God as found in nature. And yes Muslims, non-Muslims, and even animals benefit from this.

Whether creatures "feel" a sense of justice depends on the degree of conscience creatures have. Humans have the potential to feel it for sure.

Humans discovered those but they existed for humans to be able to discover them. The solution existed that is why it was discovered. If it had not existed no amount of discovery could have led to it. I can see why you may want to give credit to humans for discovering the herbs, etc. of medicinal value. But you can't take away credit from The One who created those medicines for us to use.

In the natural scheme of things, my point was, we observe a God Who is just. But then we also see a God (as highlighted by the immuno system in nature) a Forgiving God.

IMO there are no examples of forgiveness,Children die of desease hunger and STDs every minute,i give credit to Humans because they discovered all the things that both enhance and malign existence.

 

[tariqkhwaja]

Humans simply discover. They don't create. They take two pieces of complicated creation and merge them together. Even less than that in fact.

Death of children is justice. Nothing unfair about giving life to someone and then taking it away because the gift of life was a gift in the first place. Justice would have been never to create. Generosity is to create and give a life for a certain period of time. To let humans experience reality is a great gift and what makes our life so exciting to live in. That is why few commit suicide.

 

[YmirGF]

Humans simply discover. They don't create. They take two pieces of complicated creation and merge them together. Even less than that in fact.

Not true. If I have an idea. It is an idea. It is my idea. That idea does not exist for anyone else until I put the idea on paper. I then set about building the idea, as outlined in my drawing/instructions. I end up with a finished product. It is disingenuous, to the extreme, to say that I have not created the product.

 

[England my lionheart]

Humans simply discover. They don't create. They take two pieces of complicated creation and merge them together. Even less than that in fact.


Death of children is justice. Nothing unfair about giving life to someone and then taking it away because the gift of life was a gift in the first place. Justice would have been never to create. Generosity is to create and give a life for a certain period of time. To let humans experience reality is a great gift and what makes our life so exciting to live in. That is why few commit suicide.

So its fair and just to give life only for it to be taken away,your God promotes procreation knowing that certain Babies are not going to see their first Birhday,doesn't seem very just to me,especially as your God supposedly knows everything.

I do agree that life is exciting,it always has been,as for experiencing reality,IMO many people shun reality.

 

[tariqkhwaja]

Not true. If I have an idea. It is an idea. It is my idea. That idea does not exist for anyone else until I put the idea on paper. I then set about building the idea, as outlined in my drawing/instructions. I end up with a finished product. It is disingenuous, to the extreme, to say that I have not created the product.

But what is the source of the idea Ymir. Our mind jumps into darkness not really knowing how the search process is taking place ... just like a ship sails in a vast ocean hoping to find land. And then, suddenly, and idea strikes us out of nowhere and the solution becomes apparent.

We cannot even take credit for our ideas. Think about it and tell me if you really know how ideas come to our mind. We just explore the darkness in our mind hoping for a light bulb to appear. That jump into nothingness with hope that some idea strikes is, in fact, prayer to God for help. It is a prayer that even Atheists practice whether they believe so or not.

 

[YmirGF]

But what is the source of the idea Ymir.

As with anyone who the capacity to conceive concepts, the idea originates in the mind. In the above example, I would be the source of the idea. It did not exist prior to being conceived. There is no need to assign the idea to an outside agency. To do so undermines the inherent creativity of our species.

Our mind jumps into darkness not really knowing how the search process is taking place ... just like a ship sails in a vast ocean hoping to find land. And then, suddenly, and idea strikes us out of nowhere and the solution becomes apparent.

Not at all. Our minds react to stimuli from our surroundings. Sometimes, we have original ideas that break new ground. Again, assigning such "creative leaps" to an outside agency minimizes our being to that of empty vessels, the play things of god. I prefer to believe we are a bit more than that.

We cannot even take credit for our ideas.

If you truly believe that then we also cannot be held accountable for our ideas. It's a two way street. At least in my view, we are responsible and we alone are responsible.

Think about it and tell me if you really know how ideas come to our mind.

I have a few ideas... but I recognize that I don't know for sure. The point is - neither do you.

We just explore the darkness in our mind hoping for a light bulb to appear. That jump into nothingness with hope that some idea strikes is, in fact, prayer to God for help. It is a prayer that even Atheists practice whether they believe so or not.

 

[One N only one]

The Goal of Islam is just to make people aware of only one god for entire mankind;and walk on the way to Jannat "Heaven" by following the path which was followed by Ibrahim(a.s.), yeshu (a.s.), moses (a.s.), daud(david)(a.s.),sulaimaan(a.s.),And Lastly by Mohammad(s.a.v.s.).


There is no competitor of God, he never slip, never tires.he is the only one to whom no one has seen yet thats why we cant shape him in any art.


just to show correct path to mankind he has always sent his profet on the earth but people bifurcated themselves into diff religions.


Muslim is the only region which focuses on all profet in its Wholy Book Qur-an.

 

[heretic]

What is the NUMBER ONE goal of Islam?

Eg Salvation or resurrection, entry into Paradise, to be with Allah, worship Allah, pray 5 times a day, help people in need, help people to convert, being a servant of Allah, etc.

This is just a list of brainstorming, so it might not be any of the above listed.

What do you think is the ultimate primary goal of Islam?

(IMPORTANT) I want what the Qur'an say, or your interpretation of what the Qur'an say. But more importantly, I want your opinion of what this goal might be. Please don't just quote. Quoting from the Qur'an without explanation or your personal view is not debating.

I know this verse in the Koran that God created people to be worshipped, will this can be interpreted in several ways , which I think that the point with it ,to open the door of personal undersatanding of worshiping God .

from my point of view the purpose of islam is all the listed above, but it depends on the person him/her self the intention "why" he/she would do. personally building an intimate relatioship of interchanging love and perception with God must be the most important goal in islam and any other religion

 

[tariqkhwaja]

Nice point actually. The Quran points out several vantage points from which we look at the same thing. Each point opening a new avenue of the forms of worship.