Saturday, October 28, 2006

Thoughts about A Fact that We should Never Forget: Death [1]

People might argue and disagree about many things in life based on their different backgrounds, perceptions and understandings. However, there is one fact in life that no two persons in this world can ever disagree about. This fact is DEATH.

Every human being, no matter how long he/she lives, will die one day. No one can deny this fact. It is something that we see every day. You do not need to do much effort to prove it. Just visit the nearest cemetery and you can see people dying every day. Death might come at any moment. Old people die and young people die. Sick people die and healthy people die. Being young and healthy does not mean that you are so far from death. It still can happen.

Being aware of this fact should not be a cause of sadness. It rather should be a motivation for us to think deeply and honestly about the purpose of our lives. Is there any purpose for our lives? Are we just living to satisfy our desires? What will happen after death? Will we just vanish? Is there really a day that every human being will be held accountable for what he/she did? Does heaven and hell exist? Can you prove it? These are some questions that might arise in your mind when you think about the fact of death. Some people just turn their backs to these questions and try to get themselves busy with their lives. However, every day passes they get closer from their destiny and their lives will get to an end one day. Therefore, it is of great importance to reach an answer for these question before a time comes that we may regret when regret is of no help any more.

Using our minds only to reach answers for the questions mentioned above is impossible. You might guess an answer but you can never be sure about it. Once a person dies, he can not communicate to us what he saw, is seeing, experienced and is experiencing any more.

Fortunately, we do not have to answer these questions by ourselves. All what we need is to realize that we have a creator. A God that created us and created everything in this world. Every thing around us is a clear evidence for the existence of this God. Just think about the things that have direct effect on you: the sun, the moon, your human body, etc... After deep thinking, you will realize that all these things won't function properly unless there is a God that created them and made them look and function the way they do.

This God did not leave the humanity, His creation, to go astray without any guidance. This God did not leave us to guess the answers for the questions about our purpose in life and about our destiney. He rather sent us messengers from amongst us, human beings like us, to teach us our purpose in life. Amongst those messengers are Moses, Jesus and Mohammad peace and blessings be upon them. Mohammad peace and blessings be upon him came with a book from God as did Moses and Jesus. This book is Quran, in which answers for all the above questions can be found easily.

God tells us about our purpose in life in Quran:
"I have only created Jinns and men (human beings), that they may serve Me." chapter 52-verse 56
In other verses God (Allah in Arabic) tells us about the destination of those who follow their evil desires and exceed their bounds and the destination of those who restrain themselves from exceeding the bounds:
"Then for him who transgressed all bounds, (in disbelief, oppression and evil deeds of disobedience to Allah). And preferred the life of this world (by following his evil desires and lusts), Verily, his abode will be Hell-fire; But as for him who feared standing before his Lord, and restrained himself from impure evil desires and lusts. Verily, Paradise will be his abode." chapter 79-verses 37-41

But how to serve God? In what way? Also what are the bounds? What are the evil desires? How to know evil from good? All these questions are answered in detail in Quran. However, not to make this article too lengthy, I will leave exploring the answers to the reader.

[1] These thoughts are inspired by Harun Yahya's documentary "Never Forget":
http://www.harunyahya.net/V2/Lang/en/Pg/WorkDetail/Number/1919

Sunday, October 22, 2006

Thoughts about Allah's Artistry in Color [1]:
2- Perceiving colors is a miracle

It really is!! To be accurate perceiving colors includes a number of miracles. Just think about how many elements in the nature and in the human being itself are involved in perceiving colors.

The first element from the nature is the sun that sends its light to the earth. The sun is the main source of light in the earth. The mechanism by which light is initiated from the sun is a complicated one that involves many tiny steps. This mechanism is a miracle in itself. If the light is absent, then the colors are absent too. The second element from the nature are the molecules that constitute various objects surrounding us, including plants, mountains, animals, etc... The ability of these molecules to absorb all the different components of the light and reflect only one component which is the color we see is the second miracle in this series of miracles. Also, think about the existence of different types of molecules within the same object to show different colors. For example, look at the parrot. Look how many colors it has. Look at the harmony of colors. These multiple colors and the harmony between them are two other miracles.


Next, look at the organs in the human body that are involved in perceiving colors. First, the eye with all the fine details of transfering the outside images to signals that can be detected by the brain. Second, the nerves that transfer these signals to the brain. And, finally the brain itself which allows us to recognize the various colors clearly.

Finally, look at the harmony beween all these elements that results in transfering an accurate image to the human brain. Is it possible that all this happened randomly? If we saw footsteps of a camel in the desert we will know that a camel walked in this place. If we saw a garden having a number of fruitful trees surrounded by a fence, we know that it is owned by somebody. Aren't all the miracles involved in perceiving colors enough proof for the existence of an innnovative creator behind them? Do not they show how great this creator is? Do not they show how capable He is? This creator is the one and only creator of the heavens and the earth. He is Allah (Arabic for God).

[1] These thoughts are inspired by Harun Yahya's documentary "Allah's Artistry in Color": http://www.harunyahya.net/V2/Lang/en/Pg/WorkDetail/Number/1312

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Thoughts about Allah's Artistry in Color [1]:
1- Colorful world makes you happier

It is really amazing this wonderful set of colors that we see around us every where. The movie grabs your attention to this big bounty that many people may not be aware of or may belittle in many cases. This bounty is colors.

Imagine if you were living in a black and white world or even worse imagine if you were living in a totally dark world, how would you feel? Well, if you never saw the colors before, you will just get used to your world. But if you have seen the colorful world and you compare it to the dark or black and white world, for sure you will be feeling miserable.

The first thing that came to my mind when I first saw this movie was this idea: colorful world makes human beings happier. Colors have a strong effect on our feelings. As the number of colors increases and the colors are in harmony, you will be feeling happier to see them. I do not know the scientific explanation of this. I just know that I feel it myself.

Colors are around us every where in the creation of God: plants, flowers, stars, fishes, birds, butterflies, mountains, every thing. The harmony in these colors in the creation and the effect of colors on our feelings is a clear proof of the existense of God. This harmony and these effects can not be just coincidence. They are clearly rules that the human beings and every single creature are bound to. These rules were set by God (Allah in arabic).

[1] These thoughts are inspired by Harun Yahya's documentary "Allah's Artistry in Color":
http://www.harunyahya.net/V2/Lang/en/Pg/WorkDetail/Number/1312