Dear Readers,

I would like to explain another important subject within believing in Allah. Some of the scientists think that religion is a "dogma" and the most important obstacle of science. This is certainly a big mistake.

It is obvious that the judgments of the religion are not scientific judgments, but value judgments. Like all value judgments, they are "dogma"s.

"Scientific judgments" are verified and proven by experiments. "Value judgments" are the judgments, which are considered as true and real by many people, and assigned a value to them by the religion, government or a society. 100 $ in your pocket is in fact nothing but a piece of paper scientifically. However the government assigned a value of 100 $ to it. You can exchange any good or service of 100 $ with this piece of paper. A flag equals to a value of 50-100 grams of cotton or wool with paint on it when we consider it scientifically. When we consider it from the perspective of the nation it represents an inestimable value.

Universal truths of all time

Let's consider the judgments of religion now. It is clear that Islam, which is conveyed to people via messengers of Allah (swt) from the first human, is the sole religion in the sight of Allah (swt). The judgments of the religion are certainly value judgments. However, these value judgments are significantly different from the ones (as the value of the money) that people assigned to objects and events. There are no conflicts between basic values of religion with scientific judgments as the both values are assigned by Allah (swt), who also assigns the values of material world. Both of them present the universal truths of all time in different areas (science in material world; religion in human behavior area). Contrary to what some of the scientists believe, judgments of Islam never conflict with scientific judgments. Each finding of science experimentally presents how Islam is right, true and realistic in its judgments.

Science and religion assist each other

Islam is the most important complementary of science because scientific study mostly needs scientific mentality. Scientific mentality requires an objective approach apart from personal feelings, opinions and thoughts. It can only be achieved by an objective perspective by getting rid of will and desires of the nafs (ego). The most effective life style for scientific mentality is Islam.

Whilst Islam is the most important assistance of science, science also helps Islam strongly because science provides opportunities for us to understand the universe better each day. The universe organized and managed by Allah, is a great world which was created by Allah (swt) in which we can see the results of the actional attributes of Allah. Science never denies the existence of Allah (swt) . Each new data, finding and discovery of science helps us understand the greatness of the divine order, increases our love, passion and worship to the owner of the divine order, thereby strengthens our faith.

A person, who denies the owner of the order even he sees, investigates and perceives everything in the order, is like a person, who does not realize that a wonderful painting has an artist.

The unseen world beyond the substance

Dear Readers,

Faith is not related to mind, but it is related to heart. The verses of Qur'an highlight as follows:

"Say, 'Ye have no faith; but ye (only) say, We have submitted our wills to Allah'; For not yet has Faith entered your hearts." [Hujurat, 14]

"For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened them with a spirit from Himself." [Mujadala, 22]

It is natural because "mind" is a mental mechanism, which works on the material world with the data of the material world making interpretations and evaluations on objects, situations, events, places and times. People comprehend and adapt the environment they live in by way of mind. Their behaviors become complete and consistent. They take precautions for the future problems. Mind is also the basis of religion. It is ordered in the Hadiths that:

"The mind is a part of faith." [Bayhaqi]

"The faith of the person depends on his mind." [Abu’sh-Shayh]

"A person without mind doesn't have faith." [Tirmidhi]

But people cannot understand all the existence with mind.

Faith is believing in the unseen

The human mind understands the divine order and comprehends the owner of it. He realizes that Allah (swt) is the owner of His works. As Allah (swt) highlighted in the above verses of Qur'an; faith depends on heart not mind. The great world, which is composed of all of the created things, is not limited to what we can see. There is also a spiritual organization and an unseen spiritual world which can be known by orders of Allah, beyond this material world. The material world is called as the Khalq Alam (The Creatures World) and this spiritual world is called as the Amr Alam (The Command World or The Angelic World). That is an unknown "the unseen realm" for the human. Actually people have small knowledge on the past and future. Therefore, after stating that Qur'an is a guiding book for those who care it, Allah (swt) ordered at the very beginning of Qur'an that:

"Who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them;" [Baqarah, 3]

What does Unseen mean?

The following verses of Qur'an describe the meaning of Unseen:

"But it is righteousness to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers;" [Baqarah, 177]

"O ye who believe! Believe in Allah and His Messenger, and the scripture which He hath sent to His Messenger and the scripture which He sent to those before (him). Any who denieth Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messenger, and the Day of Judgment, hath gone far, far astray." [Nisaa, 136]

The issues, which are known as six pillars of faith together with fate, are the Unseen information which Allah (swt) wishes us to believe. Therefore, a believer must believe everything that He ordered us via His messengers as well as he believes in Allah (swt), the creator and owner of the order which he lives in. He must leave the issues such as "how they are" or "what is their true nature" to Allah (swt) rather than his mind. As the poet stated, the scale of mind do not weigh such a load.

Be entrusted to Allah.