Faith and Islam as a Way of Life

Study Notes

Interconnection of Faith/Iman and Islam as a Way of Life

Learning objective: Students explore the six pillars of faith (rukun iman) and their relationships to everyday thoughts, words, emotions, and actions.
Belief involves not only knowledge but understanding; true faith expresses itself through actions.
All entities in existence are created; human-made objects like airplanes and computers signify intellectual processes rather than coincidences.
The universe has a beginning; everything that has a beginning cannot emerge from nothing, indicating a creator.
Human life is intricately reliant on environmental balance: distance from the sun, Earth's rotation, and oxygen levels are vital for survival.
Throughout history, humans have sought to understand the existence of God and the creation of the universe.
Aristotle, a Greek philosopher, proposed four causes for everything's existence:
- Material cause: tangible and visible elements.
- Formal cause: structure and design.
- Efficient cause: the principles and agents that initiate events.
- Final cause: the purpose behind occurrences.
These four causes imply that there exists a creator and a purposeful intention behind the universe.
Aristotle's view on motion states that everything moved must be propelled by something external, leading to the concept of a primary mover.
This metaphysical framework influenced later scientists and the development of Neoplatonism in the 3rd century AD, focusing on a singular source of reality.
In the 9th century, Muslim scholars expanded upon Aristotle's ideas; Al Kindi emphasized that God is the Creator (not merely the First Mover) and upheld the principle of Creatio Ex Nihilo (creation from nothing).
God actively sustains and governs the universe, continuously maintaining its balance.
The existence of God is supported by both science and faith, as science allows humans to study and reveal divine greatness in creation.
Evidence of God's presence is evident through creation and the operation of the universe, prompting humans to observe and reflect as guided by the Quran.
Quranic verse QS Al Mulk 3 invites reflection on divine creation, emphasizing the order and perfection in the universe.
God is depicted as the Prime Cause, intricately creating and managing the universe systematically.
Humanity is endowed with intellect to explore natural mysteries, leading to advancements in various branches of knowledge.