Knowledge as Taught by the Infallible Guides

By: Sayyid Jan Ali Kazmi
It is obligatory on every Muslim to attain the knowledge of the Unity of Allah (Tawheed) of the concept of Justice (Adalat), Prophethood (Nabuwat), Imamat (Imams) and the Day of Judgment. In addition, no person has the right to confirm his faith on the basis that his father had faith in these concepts, and if he does, so it would be a wrong approach towards his faith. This is because to counterfeit (fraud) or imitate (Copy). These matters have been forbidden (prohibit) in Islam, and it is obligatory on every Muslim to seek into these matters. To gain deep and profound (intense) knowledge about Tawheed, Adalat, Nabuwat, Imamat, and Qiyamat and to reach the state of Yaqeen and true wisdom through personal study and hard work and attain the wisdom and knowledge of these central concepts. Thus, it is the personal duty of every Muslim to study these concepts through reason and logic and reach a state of true faith so that a person does not fall into any sort of doubts and is able to convince other people as well.
The Imams and the prophets used to present logical evidences and arguments before the deniers according to the person- ality and the mental level, and under- standing of the other person. Moreover, in this way they had converted many non-believers into Muslims and believers in the existence of Allah.
Once a denier came to one of the Infallible Imam (AS) and asserted (claim),
“O Imam I am a denier am I do not believe in the existence of God” at this the Imam said,
“But your heart is a witness and confirms that there is a God”. At this the man questioned, “But how is that?” The Imam asked the man, “Have you ever been on the sea," and the denier said, “Yes! Many time” after this the Imam asked, “Has it ever happen that while you were on the sea your boat broke and all the people were drowned and you were sure that you would be drown- ed under the flood of the waves too?” and the man answered, “Yes! It did happen once that I was about to be drowned in the sea.” The Imam said, “At that time did your heart not call out for help. Someone whom your heart believed could help you even in a situation where no human being could have assisted you?”
The man replied in amazement, “Yes Imam although I do not believe in the existence of God. But strangely (curiously) enough at that time my heart had hope and faith that there is someone who can save me even when all the odds (probabilities) are against the situation.” So then, the Imam replied,
“This resort of the heart and it’s faith in Some Saviour, is an evidence that your heart believes in the existence of an Omnipotent (Almighty) God who can save you. Even when all possibilities and prospects appear to fade away, and this Saviour and Helper can be no other than Allah.”
Once a man came to the Imam who was stubborn and unreasonable denier of any logic evidences, which the Imam presented before him. He would refuse to accept it as an argument to attract him towards accept- ing the existence of Allah as the creator of the universe, Justice, the Prophethood, Imamat, and the Day of Judgment. When the Imam saw that, the man was a staunch (firm) denier and no argument would thus persuade him towards the truth. Then Imam dealt (behaved) with him thus:
The Imam asked the man, “O’ the one who stubbornly denies the existence of Allah and
the other postulate (claim) of Islam, answer one question of mine. If we the Muslims of the world believe in the existence of Allah and the last Prophet of Allah (PBUH), thus we should keep a firm faith of the Imamat the descendents of the Prophet and the principle of Justice and the intercession period. Finally, the Day of the Judgment is the day on which all the men of the world are been questioned of their acts. They will be rewarded according to the nature of their deeds. You believe in none of these principles and postulates (to assume as true) of faith…then with all our beliefs we are been deprived of any blessing or luxury of life, which you as a non-believers exclusively enjoy.
“Do the Muslims with their faith in all the principles not get educated like you?
Are the Muslims not as intelligent as you?
Do they not eat and drink all that you can (except for things, which are harmful for health)?
Do they not get married according to some conditions just as if you do?
Do they not have children just as you do?
Can they not move about the land as freely and with as ease as any denier as if you can?
At this the denier replied,
“You say the truth you are as free in doing every thing as we can do!”
After this, the Imam addressed him thus:
“Having admitted all that I say, now think for a moment. Then otherwise imagine for a second that if all that we say turns out to be true and there occurs a Day of Judgment on which you are been asked of your beliefs and disbelieves. Imagine for a moment that there
is actually some world after the life of the earth called life of grave (Alim-e-Barzakh).
Then who would be the loser in those situations… either you or us? We the Muslims have nothing to pay for in this life. Our faith has been guaranteed secure even in the hereafter…but you who deny all that we say turns out to be true, you would have to face an eternal loss and would be the losers in the eternal run of life…”
At this the man was so greatly touched that he fell upon the feet of the Imam and declared that he wanted to become a Muslim. Therefore, the basic idea is that every person has to tackle different mannerism (action) to be able to understand the reality of the situation. Thus be attracted towards the true religion and every Muslim should be competent (capable) enough to be able to defend his faith and the principles of his faith in front of a denier.