The Qur’an For All Humanity
In the Light of Experience
~ 33 ~
The realisation of God is deeply embedded within
man’s own nature, but rises to the surface only in
times of great calamity, in the face of which he feels
himself helpless. For instance, when a tempest
overtakes his ships on some vast ocean, all artificial
veils are removed from his vision. He recognizes
the One God and starts invoking Him alone.
Man is made to undergo this temporary experience
in order that he may mould his entire life
accordingly, with momentary recognition turned to
permanent faith. But how sad a reality it is that he is
reminded of God only on such occasions as being
engulfed in tempests. It is even sadder that he
becomes oblivious of his Saviour as soon as he is
delivered from the storm.
Accepting the uniqueness of God’s divine nature is
tawheed
(monotheism); refusal to accept it is
shirk
(paganism, polytheism and idolatry). The reality
respectively of
tawheed
and
shirk
are recognition and
non-recognition of the oneness of the godhead.
