Purpose of Life

People everywhere are asking the questions; "What is the purpose of life?" and "Why are we here?"

Some will answer that we are on this earth just to live a happy life. Some have other answers.

Islam is a perfect religion and it provide a clear and concise answers for all questions.

Regarding what is the purpose of life in Islam,

Allah states in the Quran that He created man to be His Khalefah, His trustee on earth (Quran 2:30). Mankind’s basic trust, our responsibility, is to believe in and worship Allah:

  And I did not create the Jinn and mankind except to worship Me (Quran, 51:56-58)

The statement is very simple, but yet how many of us worship Allah ? Therefore, Allah has sent Messengers to human from time to time to deliver the message of Allah. The essence of Allah’s message through all of the prophets which include (Adam, Abraham, Noah, David, Moses, Jesus and also the final messenger Muhammad, May Allah have peace on all of them) was:  O mankind, worship Allah, you have no deity other than Him. (Quran, 7:59,65,73,85; Also 11:50,61,84; and 23:23,32).  

But the question now is : How do we worship Allah if we Don’t know Him ?

Allah have give a very clear answer on this which is from the Surah Al Ikhlas (Sincerity) :

Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute; He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him. (112:1-4)

Also, Allah has to tell us how He wants to be worshipped, which He does in the Quran. He also tells us in the Quran that all Prophets came with the same identical message to their people - that is to believe in Allah and to worship Him. He also tells us in the Quran that all the people of other religions have deviated from the original teachings of their prophets. This is due to two reasons. The first is that earlier scriptures were not preserved simply because of the absence or scarcity of writing paper and so the teachings were transmitted orally and with time became distorted. The second reason is because the clergy of various religions introduced doctrines that were never there 

Because of the changes that crept into earlier religions, Allah tells us that He sent the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as the final messenger and guidance to mankind with a scripture that He promised would be preserved forever. Allah provides a test to prove that the Quran is from Him. Allah says:

 Then do they not reflect upon the Quran? (i.e. its meanings and its objective) If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction. (Quran, 4:82)

The Quran is available for scrutiny and investigation by any person to try to find even one error or contradiction in it. In fact this test must be applied to any other scripture that claims it is the word of God.

Read More

Life is a test

In life from time to time, we will hear that a lot of people's sufferings. When these people suffer in their life, some turn away from Allah in which they say that Allah is not there when they needed Him. But yet some remain to believe in Allah promises. How fortunate for those who continue to believe in Allah promises even when they face a lot of difficulties and trials in their life.

Here I share a simple story which I heard before.

There was once a village. In that village there live a very wealthy man. The wealthy man wealth is almost impossible to finish and he is the owner of the village. One day, the wealthy man go out and announce to all that he will conduct a test to all. He will close his door and all the poeple in the village are compulsory to participate in the test. He promise that the one who waited faithfully at his door until he open it will be made wealthy also.

The first day, all of the villagers waited at in front of the door. But the wealthy man didnt open his door. All the villagers continue to wait. On the third day, some of the villagers begin to question about the sincerity of the owner of fullfilling his promised. Day by day, villagers that wait in front of the owner house reduced. Some of the villagers also start leaving when they are influence by other villagers who left. After ten day, there is only 3 person waiting outside the door. At the tenth day evening, finally the door is open and the three person that is still waiting outside the house is invited into the house and made wealthy after that. The wealthy man kept his promise.

The story above is a simple story but yet it is the same concept as our life. Allah has promises us heaven if we are faithfully to his commandment. The only thing we need to do is continue to believe in Him and do His work and at the end, Insyaallah Allah will reward us.

In the Quran, Allah has promise us that :

If any do deeds of righteousness,- be they male or female - and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be done to them. (An Nisa :124)

For Muslim men and women,- for believing men and women, for devout men and women, for true men and women, for men and women who are patient and constant, for men and women who humble themselves, for men and women who give in Charity, for men and women who fast (and deny themselves), for men and women who guard their chastity, and for men and women who engage much in Allah's praise,- for them has Allah prepared forgiveness and great reward. (Al Ahzab: 35)

Some of us may ask, why do Allah want to test us and not just giving us heaven. In the Quran , Allah has given the answer to all.

That which is on earth we have made but as a glittering show for the earth, in order that We may test them - as to which of them are best in conduct. (Al khaf :7)

He Who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving (Al Mulk :2)

Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere (Al Baqara : 155)

Here Allah has stated that He will definately test us to know which of us is best in conduct or sincere to Him.

But bear in mind that Allah will not test us beyond our capabilities.

On no soul doth Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear (Al Baqara : 286)

Sometimes it is true that we may not get what we want, but it may be because of some reason such as :

If Allah give you want you want straight, it means He love you.
If Allah give you what you want a bit late, it means He want to test you but He still love you.
If Allah don't give you what you want, it means He is giving something better to you.

It is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not. (Al Baqara: 216)

Some of us may fill very stress when facing the test from Allah, but Allah has told us:

And be not infirm, and be not grieving, and you shall have the upper hand if you are believers. (Al Imran : 139 )

Hmm, some of us may also ask how are we going to face the test ?

And seek assistance through patience and prayer, and most surely it is a hard thing except for the humble ones (Al Baqara :45)

Some will also ask, to whom I can depend on when I am facing this test ?

But if they turn back, say: Allah is sufficient for me, there is no god but He; on Him do I rely, and He is the Lord of mighty power. (Al Tawba :129)

When a person say that he give up, Allah has say to them :

Despair not of Allah's mercy; surely none despairs of Allah's mercy except the unbelieving people. (Yusuf : 87)

There may be times where we tend to judge the test face by some people that their test is not heavy compare to those they have seen, but my question to them is who are we to judge whether their test is heavy or not ? It is Allah who give us our test. The test we feel heavy may be light for others and it goes the same for others. When we see others in trouble, we pray for them that Allah help him and guide him and do not burden us with test that we can't handle. Amin

Allah has promise to be with us and help us when we are in test. Be patient and do not give up !

Insyaallah Malay version

Insyaallah English version

Read More

Story of My Journey to Islam

In the name of Allah most gracious, most merciful.

All praise to Allah Almighty for everything that He has done on me and also planned for me.

With this I began my story. I am born as a roman catholic, been baptized and go through the same process as most of the Christian will go through. My family is a normal practicing catholic. We will go to church every Sunday. And being an active person that I am, I will try my best to participate in the church ministry. Beginning as a helper of the priest (Altar Server) to an organist. My life has been a normal person life. During the time when I was young, I will go to Sunday classes every week. At there, we will be taught about the basic Christian faith and also their practice. Been a small boy, I am the quiet type and this has actually made me too shy to ask any question. This goes on until when I was in form five. During form five, I have already being confirmed in the sacrament of confirmation. After I myself has been confirm, I am out to the world to spread the good news of Jesus Christ (pbuh).

For me the test of my Christian faith came when I enter into University. During my university period, I am staying in a house with 8 Malays and also 1 Indian. During that period I myself have a thought of spreading the religion to the Muslim and also the Hindu. This is due to that time the impression of Muslim which I know is really bad and I myself is really confident that Christianity is the one and only true religion. During the first year in university, I have been close with one of the Muslim and we have discussion regarding our differences in faith and the similarities. During the period when staying with them, I have noticed a few things from Muslim which really amazed me and change my image of Muslim:

1. No matter how busy, they will always remember to pray.
2. The female in Muslim will wear tudung which for me is really polite and beautiful.
3. During their prayers, the Muslims really concentrate 100% on their prayers, and not on handphone and other stuff.

Besides this two main factor which really amazed me, I myself also started to like nasyid during the period when I was staying there. Even though some of the nasyid is about praising their God (Allah s.w.t) but the music really attract me. I still remember the first nasyid which I learn to sing was ‘Insan bernama kekasih’. The song was really beautiful and attracts me a lot.

During the first semester, I try fasting with the Muslim during the Ramadan month. And I am really impress with them cause they would get up early around 5am to eat (sahur) and after that fast the whole day until around maghrib only break their fast. The Muslim way of fasting is different from the Christian way of fasting. Christian have several way of fasting during Christian fasting month (lent season) in which some Christian will fast on meat whereas some will fast meat only on Friday. Whereas Muslim will fast on food and drinks including water. I try one day and give up in the middle of the day cause really can’t stand the feeling of thirsty. And it really amazed me when the Muslim can fast for 30 days!

During the second year of university, I continue my discussion with my Muslim friends regarding our question in each other faith from time to time. During the end of my second year, I join scuba diving class, during one of my class in the 5m pool, i was so playful that I get drowned and almost die during the incident. I was hospitalized for 4 days after I drowned. After I return back to study, I continue my life as normal.

During my third year in university, life started to change for me, being a loyal Christian, I myself couple with a Muslim girl and this really makes me wonder whether I have done the right thing. But things didn’t turn out to be what it supposes to be and we break up peacefully and are friends till today. After I break up, I started to wonder what the purpose of life to me is and question regarding Christian faith started to rise up from my mind. I myself try to answer it but yet it still cant be answer. Having no one to approach, I continue to be amazed by the discipline of the Muslims in their prayers and also the way they pray. Therefore I started to approach one of my close Muslim friends asking him to tell me more about Islam.

This close Muslim friend of mine brings me to a mosque. But being a Christian who I am, I myself don’t really want to go. But thinking back, if my faith is strong, going anywhere will not affect one’s faith. Therefore I went to a mosque in Bangsar. At that day I get to know a person named Bro Mas-yuri. He started to ask me what I want to know. Then I reply him saying I want to know more about the differences between Islam and Christianity. But he suggest to me to get to know about the similarities first before going to differences. During that time, he started with similarities from the basic of faith between Islam and Christianity. I do agree with his point that we believe in God and also all from Prophet Adam (pbuh) until Jesus. Then it came to the differences. The things which really shocked me is that he show me all the proves regarding the prophecy of the coming of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in the bible to me and somehow it seems like he know the bible more than me. At that day also I got one book which is a debate between a Christian and Muslim regarding each other faith.

After that discussion with the brother, I still wanted some clarification on the matter which I am confuse in Christianity from Christian people themselves. Therefore I ask one of the teachers which teach at the church, but the answer which I get somehow did not convince me. Therefore I went around searching in the internet and some other sources hoping to search for answer. Finally without much result, I start to read the book which the Brother gave me. I was really amazed at how the Ustaz in the book convince the Christian regarding Islam using Bible. That time my faith regarding Christianity has really shaken. My faith in Christianity went from shaken to collapse when I watch the debate between some overseas priests and one muslim scholar name Sheikh Ahmad Deedat. At that moment, my heart is convince that Islam is the true religion. But I myself is still finding for something which I myself can’t really tell.

This goes on until 8 of august of the year 2008. That time I was still in my practical training period. That day my close friend called me to a talk at UTM, KL. I found out from my friend that the talk was given by people who have reverted to Islam. Therefore on that night, I went for the talk. I was actually just planning to get more info about Islam. But what I have plan is not what Allah s.w.t plan for me on that day. During the speech, when one of speaker describe about God in Islam (Allah) and also its attributes using Surah Al-Ikhlas and also its translation as following :

Say: He is Allah, the One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He begetteth not, nor is He begotten; And there is none like unto Him.

At that time, I felt in my heart saying that THIS IS THE ‘THING’ WHICH I HAVE BEEN SEARCHING FOR. Therefore without much doubt and hesitation, I tell my friend that I decided to revert to Islam. To cut the story short, I revert in front of around 200 students after the speech.

After I revert to Islam, my close friend has introduced to me about some of the famous debate VCD between Ahmad Deedat and also other Christian priest. After I watch a few of it, I get to know more about the weaknesses which is in the bible. At the same time also, my faith in Islam grow stronger.

By watching the comparative religion VCD, it actually made me more interested in going more into comparative religion. Therefore I approach a few friends of mine to learn more about Islam and also Christianity.

After I revert there is a lot of challenges which I faced. From my parents to my relative, all has posted a lot of question to me till this day. There has been time of difficulties for me about how to solve some problem and how to handle some problem in life. But I treat all this problems and challenges as a test from Allah s.w.t as to test on my faith and also to make me grow wiser in life.

I would say anyone who reverts to Islam will have his/her test from Allah. As is written in the Quran, “Allah does not burden any soul with more than it can bear. (Al-Baqarah: 286)

In conclusion, I would say that the only religion recognized by Allah is only Islam and Quran is his words in which it won’t have a single error and contradiction. For Allah has already thrown to us the challenge in Quran which is: “If it (Quran) had come from other than Allah, they surely would have surely found in it many contradictions.”

I end my story with a sentences from a famous person (Albert Einstein): Science without religion is lame. Religion without science is blind”

I pray so that what I have written will be accepted by Allah the almighty whom I pray for mercy and guidance. Amin.

Read More