{"id":8346,"date":"2020-06-20T01:26:31","date_gmt":"2020-06-20T06:26:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/?p=8346"},"modified":"2020-07-26T11:17:37","modified_gmt":"2020-07-26T16:17:37","slug":"die-grossen-fragen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/die-grossen-fragen\/","title":{"rendered":"Die Gro\u00dfen Fragen"},"content":{"rendered":"<h3><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">(part 1 of 3): Who Made Us? <\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">At some point in everyone&#8217;s life comes the point where you ask yourself the big questions: &#8222;Who made us?&#8220; <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">and &#8222;Why are we here?&#8220; <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">So who made us? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Atheists speak of a big bang and evolution, while others speak of God. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Those who answer, &#8222;I don&#8217;t know&#8220; are atheists in every way, not because they deny God&#8217;s existence, but because they fail to confirm them.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">So, the Big Bang may well be able to explain the origin of the universe, but not the origin of the primary dust cloud or primary mass. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">This cloud of dust (which, according to the theory, has gathered and condensed and then exploded) must have come from somewhere. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">And after all that, it contained enough matter not only to form our galaxy, but also the billions of other galaxies in the known universe. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Where did it all come from? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Who or what created the original cloud of dust?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Similarly, evolution can explain the fossil record, but it is far from sufficient to explain the quintessence of human life &#8211; the soul. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">We all have one. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">We feel their presence, we speak of their existence, and occasionally we pray for their salvation. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">But only the religious can explain where it comes from. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The theory of natural selection can explain many of the material aspects of living things, but it fails to explain the human soul.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">No one who studies the intricacies of life and the universe can deny the Creator&#8217;s handwriting. [1] <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Whether people recognize these signs or not is another matter. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The whole point is: when we see a painting, we know that there is a painter. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">When we see a clay pot, we know that there is a potter, and so on. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">So when we look at creation, shouldn&#8217;t we know that there is a Creator?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The theory that the universe exploded and then evolved into a balanced perfection through a series of random events, and the theory of natural selection are little different from the suggestion that sooner or later, if you drop bombs on a junkyard, one everything will be mixed up and a perfect Mercedes will be created. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In the color and the model that our hearts desire.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">We know one thing with certainty: without a controlling influence, all systems degenerate into chaos. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The theories of the big bang and evolution claim the opposite: namely that chaos becomes perfection. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Wouldn&#8217;t it be more sensible to conclude that the Big Bang and evolution were controlled events? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">That is, controlled by the creator?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The Arabs tell the story of a nomad who found an exclusive palace in an oasis in the middle of an otherwise impassable desert. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">When he asked how it was built, the owner replied that it was shaped by the forces of nature. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The wind shaped the stones and blew them to the edge of this oasis, then hurled them until they were shaped like the palace. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Then he blew strands of sheep&#8217;s wool together into carpets and wall hangings, blew wood together to furniture, doors, window sills and sanded them and scattered them into the right places in the palace. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Lightning strikes melted the sand into glass panes and pressed them into the window frames. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">And they melted black sand into steel and bent it into a fence and a gate with perfect alignment and symmetry.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">When we stop rolling our eyes, we get to the point. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Obviously the palace was planned and not built by accident. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Then what (or rather: WHOM) should we trace the origin of things of much great complexity, like the universe or our lives?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Another classic argument for atheism focuses on what people understand as imperfections in creation. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">These are the &#8222;How can there be a god if this-and-that happens?&#8220; <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">&#8211; arguments. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The things under discussion can be anything: from natural disasters to birth defects, from genocide to grandmother&#8217;s cancer. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">That is not the point. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The point is that you deny God because you perceive the injustices of life and conclude that a divine being has not planned our lives to be anything but perfect and has established justice on earth. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Hmm &#8230; is there no other opinion?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">We might as well suggest that God did not create life on earth to create paradise on earth, but rather as a test, the punishment or reward of which will be given to someone in the next life, in which God exercises His ultimate righteousness. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">To support this concept, we can ask who in his worldly life suffered more injustice than God&#8217;s darlings, the prophets? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">And from whom do we suspect that he will occupy the highest ranks in paradise, if not those who have preserved true faith in the face of worldly hostility? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">I hope that with this consideration we will come to the answer to our first \u201cbig question\u201d. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Who made us <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Can we agree that we are creatures and God is the creator?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If we cannot agree on this point, there is little point in continuing. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">But those who agree: let&#8217;s move on to \u201cBig Question\u201d number two &#8211; why are we here? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In other words: what <\/span><\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">is the meaning of life? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Footnotes: <\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">[1] To this end, I warmly recommend reading the following book and leaving aside the author&#8217;s religious preferences A Short History of Nearly Everything, by Bill Bryson. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>\n<span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">(part 2 of 3): The Meaning of Life <\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The first of the two big questions in life is: &#8222;Who made us?&#8220; <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">We discussed this question in the previous article and (hopefully) used &#8222;God&#8220; as the answer. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Because we are creatures and God is the creator. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Now let&#8217;s turn to the second &#8222;Big Question&#8220;, which is: &#8222;Why are we here?&#8220;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">So why are we here? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">To become famous and amass wealth? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">To make music and babies? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">To be the richest man or woman in the cemetery, as we are jokingly told: \u201cThe one who dies with the most toys wins\u201d? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">No, there has to be more than that in life. Let&#8217;s think about it. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Let&#8217;s start with you. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Take a look around. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">When you are not living in a cave, you are surrounded by things that we humans have made with our own hands. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Now why did we actually do these things? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The answer, of course, is that we did things so that they served a purpose for us. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In short, we do things to serve us. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">So, why did God make us, if not to serve Him?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Our purpose is therefore to serve God. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">We receive this message both from the prophets and from the scriptures, but nowhere more clearly than in the Holy Quran, the holy book of Islam: <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">\u201cAnd I (God) created the Jinn and the people for nothing other than Me to serve.&#8220; <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">(Quran 51:56) <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Which brings us to the next point: If we recognize our Creator and that He created people to serve Him, the next question is: \u201cHow? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">How do we serve Him? \u201d <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">No doubt this question should best be answered by the one who made us. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If He created us to serve Him, He expects us to function in a certain way if we are to accomplish our goal. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">But how do we know what God expects from us?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">So let us consider: God gave us light with which we can find our way. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Even at night we have the moon as light and the stars for orientation. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">God gave the animals other orientation systems that are best suited to their circumstances and needs. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Migratory birds can even orient themselves on cloudy days with polarized light. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Whales swim through the oceans by \u201creading\u201d the Earth&#8217;s magnetic fields. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Salmon come back from the open ocean to spawn and recognize their place of birth by their smell, can you imagine that? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Fish sense distant movements with the help of pressure receptors on their side lines. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Bats and the blind river dolphins \u201csee\u201d the sound. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Certain marine organisms (the electric eel is an example of high voltage) generate and sense magnetic fields that enable them <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">to &#8222;see&#8220; in muddy water or in the darkness of the ocean depths. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Insects communicate using pheromones to find the trail to the feed and then back home. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Plants feel the sunlight and grow towards it (phototropism); <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">their roots feel the weight and grow into the earth (geotropism). <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In short, God has given guidance to every element of His creation. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Can we seriously believe that He would not have given us guidance on the most important aspect of our existence, namely our Raison d\u00b4\u00eatre &#8211; the meaning of our life? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">That He would not have given us the tools to achieve our salvation? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Plants feel the sunlight and grow towards it (phototropism); <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">their roots feel the weight and grow into the earth (geotropism). <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In short, God has given guidance to every element of His creation. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Can we seriously believe that He would not have given us guidance on the most important aspect of our existence, namely our Raison d\u00b4\u00eatre &#8211; the meaning of our life? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">That He would not have given us the tools to achieve our salvation? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Plants feel the sunlight and grow towards it (phototropism); <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">their roots feel the weight and grow into the earth (geotropism). <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In short, God has given guidance to every element of His creation. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Can we seriously believe that He would not have given us guidance on the most important aspect of our existence, namely our Raison d\u00b4\u00eatre &#8211; the meaning of our life? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">That He would not have given us the tools to achieve our salvation? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">no instructions given? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">That He would not have given us the tools to achieve our salvation? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">no instructions given? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">That He would not have given us the tools to achieve our salvation?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Of course not. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Through revelation. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Let us think in this way: Every product has special features and rules. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Instructions for use are included for more complicated products whose features and rules are not intuitive. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">These instructions for use are written by the person who knows the product best, which is usually the manufacturer. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">A typical guide begins with warnings of improper use and the possible consequences, followed by a description of how to use the product properly and the benefits it will bring. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Then it also contains special features of the product and instructions for faults and how to remedy them. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">How is that different from revelation?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Revelation tells us what to do and what not to do and why; <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">it tells us what God expects of us and shows us how we can improve our shortcomings. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The revelation is the ultimate directions for use for those who want to use us &#8211; ourselves. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In the world we know, products that do or exceed their job are classified as successful, whereas those that do not. .hmm &#8230; let&#8217;s think about it. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Any product that fails to meet manufacturing standards is either repaired or, in hopeless cases, recycled. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In other words: destroyed. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Ouch. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Suddenly, this discussion becomes frighteningly serious. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Because in this discussion we are the product &#8211; the product of creation.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">But let&#8217;s catch a breath and think about how we deal with the various objects that fill our lives. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">As long as they do what we want, we&#8217;re happy with them. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">But if they no longer serve their purpose, we want to get rid of them. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Some are brought back to the store, others are donated to charity, but they all end up in garbage sooner or later that is buried or burned. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Accordingly, an underperforming worker &#8230; is fired. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Now relax again for a minute and think about it. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Where does this euphemistic expression for the punishment of the underperforming come from? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Hmm &#8230; whoever believes that the teachings of life can be translated into the teachings of religion could now spend a day working in the field.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">But that doesn&#8217;t mean that these analogies are completely invalid. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">On the contrary, we should remember that both the New Testament and the Old Testament are full of analogies, and Jesus Christ taught us to use parables in this New Testament. <\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">So we should take this seriously. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">No, I&#8217;m correcting myself. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">No doubt we should take this seriously. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The difference between heavenly delights and the torments of hellfire is not for fun. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>\n<span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">(part 3 of 3): The need for revelation<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In the previous two parts of this series, we answered the two \u201cbig questions\u201d: \u201cWho made us?\u201d &#8211; God. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">And &#8222;Why are we here?&#8220; <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">&#8211; To serve and pray to Him. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">A third question naturally came up: &#8222;If our Creator created us to serve and worship Him, how do we do that?&#8220; <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">In the last article I suggested that the only way to serve our Creator is to obey His orders, as we were told by revelation. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">But many people would question my statement: &#8222;Why does mankind need revelation?&#8220; <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">&#8222;Isn&#8217;t it enough to be good?&#8220; <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">&#8222;Isn&#8217;t it enough for each of us to worship God in our own way?&#8220;<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Regarding the need for revelation, I would like to make the following points: In the first article of this series, I pointed out that this life is full of avoidable injustices, but our creator is honest and just, and He does not just leave His justice in this life, but also rule in the hereafter. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">However, justice cannot be established without four things &#8211; a judge (ie, the day of judgment), a judge (ie, the creator), witnesses (ie, men and women, angels, creatures) and a code of law to judge ( ie the revelation). <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">So how can our Creator speak justice if He didn&#8217;t prescribe certain laws in their lives? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">That&#8217;s impossible. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If it were, God would act unfairly instead of fairly, because He would punish people for wrongdoing,<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Why else do we need revelation? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Let&#8217;s start with this: Without leadership, mankind could not even agree on social and economic matters, politics, laws, etc. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Then how could we ever agree on God? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Second, nobody writes the instructions for use better than the one who made the product. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">God is the Creator, we are His creatures and nobody knows the overall plan better than the Creator. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Are employees allowed to set their own work plans, duties and wage rates as they please? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Are all citizens allowed to write their own laws? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">No? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Then how should we be allowed to write our own religions? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If history has taught us everything, it is the tragedies that are the results <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">when mankind follows their whims. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">How many have freedom of thought written on their banners and invented religions that gave them and their followers nightmares on earth and damnation in the hereafter?<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">So why is it not enough to just be good? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">And why isn&#8217;t it enough for each of us to worship God in our own way? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Let&#8217;s start with the definition of \u201cgood\u201d. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">There are already differences here: for some it means enormous modesty and to lead a clean life, for others it is madness and physical injury. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">We have a similar experience with the concepts of how we serve and worship our Creator. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">It differs the same way. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">More importantly, to get to the point, nobody can go to a store or restaurant and pay in a different currency than the one that the seller accepts. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">It&#8217;s the same with religion. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If people want God to accept their ministry and worship, they have to pay with the currency that God requires.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Imagine that you are raising children in your house where you have set up \u201chouse rules\u201d. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Then one day, one of your children told you that it changed the rules and things were different now. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">How would you answer <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Most likely with the words: &#8222;You can take your new rules and go to hell with them.&#8220; <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">So let&#8217;s think about it. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">We are God&#8217;s creatures, we live in His universe under His rules and &#8222;go to hell&#8220; God will most likely say to anyone who presumes to override His laws by inventing his own.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">At this point, seriousness is called for. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">We should recognize that all joys are gifts from our Creator and require gratitude. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">If someone receives a gift, who uses it before saying thank you? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">And yet, many of us enjoy God&#8217;s gifts all our lives and never thank you for them. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Or late. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">The English writer Elizabeth Barrett Browning spoke of the irony of the desperate human reputation in The Cry of the Human: <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">And lips say \u201cGod be pitiful,\u201d And lips say, \u201cGod be pitiful,\u201d <\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Who ne&#8217;er said, \u201cGod be praised. \u201d <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Who never said: &#8222;God, you are praised&#8220;. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Shouldn&#8217;t we be behaving well and thanking our Creator now for His gifts, and then for the rest of our lives? <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Don&#8217;t we owe him that?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">You answered \u201cyes\u201d. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">You must. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Nobody would have read this far without agreeing, but there is a problem here: Many of you answered yes, but knew that your heart was not in the Bible. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Or maybe it is in the Bible, but not completely. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">You agree that we were created by a creator. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">You make an effort to understand him. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">And you long to serve and worship Him in the way He prescribes for you. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">But you don&#8217;t know how, and you don&#8217;t know where to look for the answers. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">And that is unfortunately not a topic that can be dealt with in such an article. <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">Unfortunately, this topic has to be dealt with in a book.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\"><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">On the other hand, there is good news that I have already written the book about this, the title is: The First and Final Commandment (soon available in a new edition under the title MisGod&#8217;ed). <\/span><span style=\"vertical-align: inherit;\">So if you like what you read here, I invite you to read what I wrote there.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Source: https:\/\/www.islamland.com\/deu\/articles\/die-groen-fragen-<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>(part 1 of 3): Who Made Us? &nbsp; At some point in everyone&#8217;s life comes the point where you ask yourself the big questions: &#8222;Who made us?&#8220; and &#8222;Why are we here?&#8220; So who made us? Atheists speak of a big bang and evolution, while others speak of God. Those who answer, &#8222;I don&#8217;t know&#8220; &#8230; <a title=\"Die Gro\u00dfen Fragen\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/die-grossen-fragen\/\" aria-label=\"Mehr Informationen \u00fcber Die Gro\u00dfen Fragen\">Weiterlesen<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[193],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-der-sinn-des-lebens"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false,"gform-image-choice-sm":false,"gform-image-choice-md":false,"gform-image-choice-lg":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Site Admin","author_link":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/author\/admin2\/"},"uagb_comment_info":2,"uagb_excerpt":"(part 1 of 3): Who Made Us? &nbsp; At some point in everyone&#8217;s life comes the point where you ask yourself the big questions: &#8222;Who made us?&#8220; and &#8222;Why are we here?&#8220; So who made us? Atheists speak of a big bang and evolution, while others speak of God. Those who answer, &#8222;I don&#8217;t know&#8220;&hellip;","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcT0IL-2aC","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":6847,"url":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/atheists-are-polytheists\/","url_meta":{"origin":8346,"position":0},"title":"Atheists are Polytheists!","author":"Site Admin","date":"7. Juni 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"An atheist is said to be someone who denies the existence of the Creator. This is a good definition, provided that we mean by it that the creator whose existence they deny is the only God of religion, the one true Creator. Otherwise, atheists do believe in creators, albeit they\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;The Existence of God&quot;","block_context":{"text":"The Existence of God","link":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/category\/existence-of-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8350,"url":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/die-wissenschaftliche-welt-wendet-sich-gott-zu\/","url_meta":{"origin":8346,"position":1},"title":"Die wissenschaftliche Welt wendet sich Gott zu","author":"Site Admin","date":"20. Juni 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\"Because I have influenced people, I want to try to make up for the enormous damage I have done.\" (Anthony Flew) Nowadays the newspapers reproduce these regrettable words from Antony Flew, who was a well-known atheist philosopher at the time. The 81-year-old British Professor of Philosophy Flew chose to be\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;DIE EXISTENZ GOTTES&quot;","block_context":{"text":"DIE EXISTENZ GOTTES","link":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/category\/die-existenz-gottes\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":6837,"url":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/the-scientific-world-is-turning-to-god\/","url_meta":{"origin":8346,"position":2},"title":"The Scientific World is turning to God","author":"Site Admin","date":"7. Juni 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\u201cAs people have certainly been influenced by me, I want to try and correct the enormous damage I may have done.\u201d (Anthony Flew) The newspapers these days are echoing with these regret-filled words by Antony Flew, in his time a well-known atheist philosopher. The 81-year-old British professor of philosophy Flew\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;The Existence of God&quot;","block_context":{"text":"The Existence of God","link":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/category\/existence-of-god\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5768,"url":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/are-atheists-moral-or-immoral\/","url_meta":{"origin":8346,"position":3},"title":"Are Atheists moral or immoral?","author":"Site Admin","date":"20. Dezember 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"How can you prove some immorality is haram like whether theft is haram or halal Someone may like to be a gangster. it'll be so useful for me not others lol He will say : I don't care about others The police are in my pocket I will just bribe\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Responses to Allegations&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Responses to Allegations","link":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/category\/responses-to-allegations\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/79672323_2645866115648547_8861163988650557440_o.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/79672323_2645866115648547_8861163988650557440_o.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/79672323_2645866115648547_8861163988650557440_o.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/79672323_2645866115648547_8861163988650557440_o.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6875,"url":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/radko-ex-atheist-czech\/","url_meta":{"origin":8346,"position":4},"title":"Radko, Ex-Atheist, Czech","author":"Site Admin","date":"7. Juni 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"(part 1 of 2): Atheism to Christianity I once knew an atheist who claimed he\u2019d never believed in God\u2019s existence. In his view, believers were supposed to be people of weak character who felt the necessity to find a crutch for their inability and laziness, so they attended church. He\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Why I became a Muslim&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Why I became a Muslim","link":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/category\/became-muslim\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4769,"url":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/can-allah-create-a-god-like-himself\/","url_meta":{"origin":8346,"position":5},"title":"Can Allah create a god like Himself?","author":"Site Admin","date":"7. April 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Question Some atheists ask questions such as, \u201cIf Allaah is able to do all things, can He create another god like Himself?\u201d or \u201cCan He create something so heavy that He cannot lift it?\u201d. Answer Praise be to Allaah. Firstly: The atheist needs someone who will call him to Allaah\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Atheism&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Atheism","link":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/en\/category\/doctrine-and-sects\/categories-atheism\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Can-Allah-create-a-god-like-Himself.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Can-Allah-create-a-god-like-Himself.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Can-Allah-create-a-god-like-Himself.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Can-Allah-create-a-god-like-Himself.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/Can-Allah-create-a-god-like-Himself.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8346","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8346"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8346\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11885,"href":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8346\/revisions\/11885"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8346"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8346"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ask-a-muslim.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8346"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}