Why I believe in Allah?

Have you ever seen God? No, right? Why should humans believe something that they could not see?

For an atheist, the logic-based view of the world often leads to doubts about God’s existence. The primary questions they ask are: If God has the power to create and control everything, why do bad things still happen? Why do we experience natural disasters, wars, poverty, and injustice? Why doesn’t God intervene when an innocent child dies in a natural disaster or from violence, like an Israeli bomb in Gaza?

To find an answer, I reflect on my own birth.

Thirty years ago, I didn’t exist in this world. I didn’t request to be born, nor did I choose my parents, gender, or any aspect of my appearance or abilities. But here I am, and every part of my being was selected “naturally.” Some might argue that biology was simply at work. Fair enough.

But do you believe people lived a hundred years ago? Of course, you’d agree. How about a thousand years ago? Again, yes. And yet, we know there was a time when humans didn’t exist. But everything we see—everything that exists—must have had a starting point, right? Even a scientist will tell you the Earth was formed after a massive explosion. Fair enough.

The Big Bang Theory

Everything in the universe—the stars, the sun, and the moon—must have been created at some point. Allah says in the Qur’an:

أَوَلَمْ يَرَ ٱلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوٓا۟ أَنَّ ٱلسَّمَـٰوَٰتِ وَٱلْأَرْضَ كَانَتَا رَتْقًۭا فَفَتَقْنَـٰهُمَا ۖ وَجَعَلْنَا مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ كُلَّ شَىْءٍ حَىٍّ ۖ أَفَلَا يُؤْمِنُونَ
Have those who disbelieved not considered that the heavens and the earth were a joined entity, and then We separated them and made from water every living thing? Then will they not believe?
– Al Qur’an 21:30

Science calls this the “Big Bang Theory,” first proposed by Belgian cosmologist Georges Lemaître in 1931. This verse, however, was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (SAW) 1400 years ago.

Stephen Hawking, one of the most celebrated scientists of our age, had his own theories on the origin of the universe. According to him, the universe created itself due to gravity, with no need for a creator. Some of his key theories include:

The Big Bang was inevitable: The universe could create itself from nothing due to gravity.
No boundaries: The universe has no boundaries, shrinking to the size of a singularity.
Collapse and end: Eventually, the universe will collapse, though time will not reverse.
Multiverse theory: Our universe is one of many that came from eternal inflation.

Simply put, Hawking believed that the universe created itself from nothing and will eventually return to nothing.

But as a thinking person, does this make sense to you? How can nothing suddenly become something on its own?

Let’s set that aside for a moment and consider another question:

What does science say about the soul?

You and I are alive because we have souls, right? Yet, when you ask scientists about the soul, they often admit that science neither confirms nor denies its existence, as there is no definitive proof.

Allah addresses this in the Qur’an:

وَيَسْـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلرُّوحِ ۖ قُلِ ٱلرُّوحُ مِنْ أَمْرِ رَبِّى وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّنَ ٱلْعِلْمِ إِلَّا قَلِيلًۭا
And they ask you about the soul. Say, ‘The soul is something from the command of my Lord, and you are not given from the knowledge but a little.’
– Al Qur’an 17:85

Which explanation resonates more with you?

For me, the Qur’an’s teachings about the creation of the universe and the soul sound far more logical and truthful.

Why Islam, and not Christianity, Judaism, or other religions?

You might ask why Muslims believe Islam is the true religion, as opposed to others like Christianity, Judaism, or Hinduism. Here’s the Islamic perspective:

Finality of Prophethood: Muslims believe that while earlier prophets like Jesus and Moses were sent by Allah, Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is the final messenger. His message, the Qur’an, is believed to have been preserved without alteration.
The Qur’an: Muslims see the Qur’an as the final and unaltered word of God, unlike the Bible and Torah, which have undergone changes over time.
Monotheism: Islam emphasizes strict monotheism (Tawhid), in contrast to the concept of the Trinity in Christianity or the multiple deities in Hinduism.
Prophethood of Jesus and Moses: Islam acknowledges their importance but rejects the Christian belief in Jesus as the Son of God or the idea of crucifixion.
Universality: Unlike Judaism’s focus on a chosen people, Islam is a universal religion open to all, regardless of ethnicity or background.
Fit with Natural Instinct (Fitrah): Islam teaches that belief in one God is an inherent human instinct. It restores the natural state of humanity’s belief in Allah.
Miracles and Preservation: The Qur’an’s miraculous nature and the preservation of Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) teachings are seen as evidence of the truth of Islam.

Why I Believe in Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

For Muslims, belief in Prophet Muhammad (SAW) as the final messenger of Allah is based on several important reasons:

The Final Prophet: Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is the last prophet in a line that includes Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Jesus.
The Qur’an: Prophet Muhammad (SAW) received the Qur’an through angel Jibril (Gabriel), and it remains unchanged, offering guidance for all aspects of life.
Prophecies: His coming was foretold in earlier scriptures, like the Bible.
Exemplary Character: His honesty, compassion, and sense of justice made him a model for all.
Miracles: Among his miracles were the splitting of the moon and the night journey to the heavens (Isra and Mi’raj).
Universal Message: His teachings were for all of humanity, unlike previous prophets who were sent to specific peoples.
Preservation: His teachings have been meticulously preserved in the Qur’an and Hadith.
Consistency with Previous Prophets: His message did not contradict, but completed, the teachings of earlier prophets.

Conclusion

In conclusion, let’s return to the initial questions often posed by atheists: Why doesn’t God stop the bad things from happening in the world? Why are there wars, natural disasters, inequality, and injustice?

Ultimately, my belief in Allah and His messenger, Prophet Muhammad (SAW), is rooted in logic, faith, and the clarity of the Qur’an’s message. The existence of the universe and life itself points toward a Creator, and the Qur’an offers explanations that resonate with both the mind and the soul. Science may offer theories, but the Qur’an provides the truth—truth that has stood the test of time and continues to guide us in this life and the next.

So I’m convinced that Islam is the only true religion.

If Islam is true, then how does it answer those questions? From an Islamic perspective, the answer lies in understanding the nature of life and the divine plan. Life is a test, and free will is given to humans to make choices. Allah allows both good and evil to occur as part of this test, and everything is within His wisdom, which is beyond human comprehension. Natural disasters, wars, and inequalities are tests of patience and faith. The world is not meant to be a perfect place of justice or eternal happiness. That’s what the afterlife is for—where true justice will be served, and every soul will be held accountable for its actions.

As for the suffering of innocents, Islam teaches that trials in this world are temporary and that the hereafter will provide eternal reward or punishment based on one’s deeds. Allah’s wisdom is all-encompassing, and what may seem like suffering to us could have a deeper, divine purpose.

Ultimately, belief in Allah provides a coherent and holistic explanation of existence, purpose, and destiny, one that science and atheism struggle to address comprehensively.