Is there a way to identify and understand a correct and straight path to God amidst all that different religions (and their denominational groups) claim to offer? How do we know and distinguish between true concept of God and false beliefs of people? Does Faith in God entail the duty to choose wisely and with equity, and to follow the Right Way at all times? These questions arise in many minds in our times. Especially so when we hear many people, professing different creeds, offering diverging views on the vital issue of spiritual guidance in the Divine Way. Recently, Imam- Jamaat Ul Sahih Al Islam Hazrat Khalifatullah Munir Ahmad Azim (aba) of Mauritius responded to a similar concern raised by a truth-seeker, Mr. Paul Robert Chaiya. His question was like this:
'Mr. Munir Ahmad Azim, you have made your proclamation as the Prophet and Messiah of this era, so why there are so many religions which proclaim to be in the right way? I want your answer. Thank you very much.'
'There are so many sects, cults, religions, philosophies, and movements in the world, all of which claim to be the right way or the only true path to God! How can one determine which one is correct or whether, in fact, all are correct?
One method by which the answer can be found is to clear away the superficial differences in the teachings of the various claimants to the ultimate truth, and identify the central object of worship upon which they call directly or indirectly. False religions all have in common one basic concept with regard to God: They either claim that all men are gods, or that specific men were gods, or that nature is god, or that God is a figment of man’s imagination.
Thus, it may be stated that the basic message of false religion is that God may be worshipped in the form of His creation. False religion invites man to the worship of creation by calling the creation or some aspect of it God. For example, I give you an example Prophet Jesus (as). In Islam, we call him Hazrat Issa (as) – Jesus (as) invited his followers to worship God, but those who claim to be Jesus’ followers today call people to worship Jesus, claiming that he was God.
Buddha – The Prophet Buddha (as) – was a reformer who introduced a number of humanistic principles in the religions of India. He did not claim to be God, nor did he suggest to his followers that he be an object of worship. Yet, today most Buddhists who are to be found outside of India have taken him to be God and they prostrate themselves to idols made in their perception of his likeness.
By using the principle of identifying the object of worship, we can easily detect false religions and the contrived nature of their origin. As God said in the Holy Qur'an:
“That
which you worship besides Him are only names you and your forefathers have
invented for which God has sent down no authority; the command belongs only to
God: He has commanded that you worship Him; that is the right religion, but
most men do not understand.” (Surah Yusuf 12: 40).
It may be argued that all religions teach good things, so why should it matter which one we follow? The reply is that all false religions teach the greatest evil: the worship of creation. Creation worship is the greatest sin that man can commit because it contradicts the very purpose of his creation. Man was created to worship God alone as Allah - as God - has explicitly stated in the Holy Quran:
“I have only created Jinns and men, that they may worship Me.” (Surah Az-Zaariyat, 51: 56)
So, consequently, the worship of creation, which is the essence of idolatry, is the only unforgivable sin. One who dies in this state of idolatry has sealed his fate in the next life. This is not an opinion, but a revealed fact stated by God in His final revelation to man.
When we look, we study the Holy Quran we
see in Chapter 4, Verses 48 and 116 where God says: “Verily Allah will not forgive with joining of partners with Him, but
He may forgive (sins) less than that for whomsoever He wishes.”
So, since the consequences of following a false religion are so grave, the true religion of God must have been universally understandable and universally attainable in the past and it must continue eternally to be understandable and attainable throughout the entire world. In other words, Mr. Robert Paul, the true religion of God cannot be confined to any one people, place, or period of time. Nor is it logical that such a religion should impose conditions that have nothing to do with the relationship of man with God, such as baptism, or belief in man as a savior, or go-betweens.
Within the central principle of Islam and its definition (the surrender of one’s will to God) lie the roots of Islam’s universality. Whenever man comes to the realization that God is one and distinct from His creation, and submits himself to God, he becomes a Muslim in body and spirit and is eligible for paradise.
Consequently, anyone at any time in most remote regions of the world can become a Muslim, a follower of God’s religion, Islam, by merely rejecting the worship of creation and turning to God alone. It should be noted, however, that in order to actually submit to God’s will, one must continually choose between right and wrong.
Indeed, man is endowed by God with the power not only to distinguish right from wrong but also to choose between them. These God-given powers carry with them an important responsibility, namely, that man is answerable to God for the choices he makes. It follows, then, that man should try his utmost to do good and avoid evil. These concepts are expressed in the final revelation as follows:
Always in Holy Quran where God says: “Verily, those who believe that (in the Holy Quran), and those who follow the Jewish faith, and the Christians, and the Sabians (angels and stars-worshippers) - any of these who believe in Allah and the Last Day and work righteousness shall have their reward with their Lord. They will not be overcome by fear of grief.” This is found in (Chapter 2: 62).
So, my dear brother/s if, for whatever reason, they fail to accept the final message after it has been clearly explained to them, they will be in grave danger. The Seal of the Prophets of Islam said: “Whoever among the Christians and Jews hears of me but does not affirm his belief in what I brought and dies in this state will be among the inhabitants of hell.”
Thank you very much. This is my reply. If you have other questions, you can ask me - any question.'