Eternity and God

“Allah – The Ever Living“ – Part of our New Existence of God Series

Article by Umar Nasser

“The God of Islam is the same God Who is visible in the mirror of the law of nature and is discernible in the book of nature. Islam has not presented a new God but has presented the same God Who is presented by the light of man’s heart, by the conscience of man, and by heaven and earth.” ¹ – Mirza Ghulam Ahmad (pbuh)

“Are you in doubt concerning Allah, the Originator of the Heavens and the Earth?” (Holy Qur’an; 14:11)

‘God.’

No other word has quite as much power, majesty, fear, love, hope or controversy attached to it. The question of His existence needs little introduction- it is a question that is asked by the heart and mind of every human being, from whichever walk of life they may hail. It’s importance is paramount, since the existence of a Creator, if decided upon, throws one’s mind into a storm of further questions- what was the purpose of God creating us?; how did He create us?; should I care if He is there?; what happens if I don’t?, and so forth. It is a question that every responsible individual must deliberate upon, for the consequences of God’s existence are too immense to ignore out of apathy. Deciding that God exists on a purely rational basis is the first step for many in the journey towards God. As will be explored at the end of this piece, it is certainly not sufficient for true belief in God- however for many of this age the mind must be satisfied before the heart will even incline towards anything less cerebral and more spiritual- and it is that first step which this short piece seeks to help bridge. The aim therefore will be to explain why God must exist, with reference to Islamic sources, whilst also addressing common objections such as the multiverse theory, and the question of what came before God. Following this we will present some extracts on the spiritual search for God. May Allah guide us in our task. Ameen.

Who is Allah?

By the Promised Messiah Hadhrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad of Qadian (as)

”Listen, O those who can, to what God desires from you. And what He desires is only that you become solely His and do not associate any partners with Him, neither in the heavens nor on the earth. Our God is that God who is alive even now as He was alive before. He speaks even now as He used to speak before. And even now He hears as He used to hear earlier. It is a false notion that in these times He does hear but does not speak. But He hears and speaks, too. All His Attributes are eternal and everlasting. None of His Attributes is in abeyance, nor will it ever be. He is the One without any associate Who has no son, nor has He any wife. He alone is the peerless Who has no one like Him. And He is the One Who is unique in that none of His Attributes are exclusively possessed by anyone besides Him. He is the One Who has no equal. He is the One Who has no one to share with Him His Attributes. And He is the One no Power of Whose is less than perfect. He is near, though He is far and He is far, though He is near.

Salam – The forgotten genius

by Suhail Yusuf from Dawn.com 

On a hot summer afternoon in 1940, a boy of 14 was rushing on his bicycle to his hometown near Jhang, part of present day Pakistan. He covered his head under a heavy turban because the barber had accidentally shaved off his hair.

When he reached the town, he saw people lined up on either side of the road, greeting him with loud cheers. The boy had earned a distinction in his matriculation examinations; the young genius had broken all previous records within the province, he was Abdus Salam.

Ahmadiyya Muslim Students in West – Beacon of Truth – 27th January 2013

Please see this excellent Beacon of Truth Programme that was shown on MTA recently. Jonathan Butterworth (AMRA member), Tahir Nasser (President AMSA UK and member AMRA), and Naveed Malik (Chairman AMRA UK) were on the panel.

Very pertinent advice for Students in UK was given alongside information regarding AMSA and AMRA. Please watch and support.

AMRA Presents the Research Cafe

Its exciting news. Ahmadiyya Muslim Research Association (AMRA) is starting a monthly Research Cafe at Baitul Futuh, where the members get to meet, eat together and discuss the latest research developments and questions about science and the existence of God.

Held first Friday of every month, it will be an event like no other, where you can come and discuss your ideas in a receptive and engaged audience. This is an open and informal event for all Khuddam where we share food, have some tea and delve in to intellectual and spiritual discussions with no time limit! So free up your evenings on the first Friday of the month and come and join us after Ishaa prayers.

The first cafe is coming to you this Friday on the 1st of February at 8pm (After Isha at 7:45pm) in the guest room (one with the sofas) in Baitulfutuh. Dinner would be provided.

We encourage all who are interested to attend. We also suggest that you try read up a bit on the attached papers and suggested reading material. If you wish to attend, kindly email us at research@khuddam.org.uk

Wassalam

Naveed Malik (07886425859)
Serving as Chairman AMRA (Ahmadiyya Muslim Research Association)
www.muslimresearchers.org

Programme for Research Cafe Friday 1st of February 2013

Cafe Journal Club Talk

“Combating Malaria in the Developing World” – Naveed Malik

I will be presenting on a 2009 paper entitled “Harmonic Convergence in the Love Songs of the Dengue Vector Mosquito” (please see link), which reports on flight tone behavior between mating mosquitoes. This remarkable behaviour consists of nearby mosquitoes changing the frequencies of their wing beatings and matching them to initiate mating. In this context I will talk about the devastating impact that malaria has in the sub-saharan Africa and other parts of the world, and initiate an interactive discussion with the audience inviting them to come up with biological, chemical or engineering based solution ideas to this problem. With the Ahmadiyya Muslim engineering teams already working in Africa on energy and water based projects, this could be an opportune time for us to come up with low-tech, “out of the box” solutions which could save lives.

Cafe discussion topic – Led by Muddassar Rashid

“Does our study of the Cosmos guide us towards the probable existence of a Designer God? What about the science based arguments (from lack of order, zero energy etc.) which astronomers and physicists present to refute the existence of God? Where is the mark of the Designer?“

Suggested reading: Part IV of “Revelation Rationality Knowledge and Truth” by Hadhrat Khalifatul Masih IV (rt), “God the failed hypothesis” by V. Stenger.

AMRA Symposium

On Saturday 19th of January 2013, members of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Research Association (AMRA) met to discuss natural selection and the existence of God. It was part of an ongoing series, the aim of the event was to prepare our students and non-student Khuddam to counter the atheistic arguments currently prevalent in academic and scientific circles. The particular proposition under discussion was:

MKA Astronomy Club comes to Al-Mahdi Mosque

The newly formed MKA Astronomy Club is coming to Al-Mahdi Mosque this Saturday (29th December) night! This is your chance to learn about amateur astronomy and to try it out for yourself with a telescope-building and a stargazing session with our brand new Celestron telescope (capable of observing planets and nebulae!). For those wondering about the meaning of the universe we even have a discussion forum to satisfy your curiosity.

So don’t miss out on this wonder-filled event coming to your region this Saturday. Please note, hot drinks will be provided!

Preliminary Programme

7:30 Isha prayer
8.00 Tilawaat
8.05 Welcome Address (Muddassar Rashid – Astronomy Club President)
8.20 Gravity and Keplers Law (Foaad Tahir – Club Committee Member)
8.40 Practical session: Building Telescopes and Spectroscopes
9.15 Star-Gazing (weather permitting)
9:45 Discussion Forum: Does the universe have a purpose?

Please also note that on Sunday 10 am we have the Majlis Ansar Sultanul Qalam and Amoor-e-Tuluba workshop for all the northern regions at Al-Mahdi Mosque. http://theartofmisinformation.wordpress.com/masq-conference/

Insha’Allah it will be a productive weekend.

For further information please email research@khuddam.org.uk or contact your Regional Qaid.

MKA Astronomy Club
research@khuddam.org.uk

Blue honey – Bees eating M&Ms

French Bees Produce Blue Honey

By JUJU KIM |  October 5, 2012 |

VINCENT KESSLER/REUTERS

French apiarist Andre Frieh holds a sample of normal honey (right) besides a blue colored one (left) at his home in Ribeauville near Colmar, Eastern France, October 5, 2012.

Mars Incorporated has proclaimed that “Chocolate is better in color” with its M&Ms. But French beekeepers may beg to differ on that.

Since August, beekeepers near the town of Ribeauville, in the northeastern region of Alsace, have been reporting their bees are producing blue and green honey, according to Reuters. And they’ve traced the cause back to a biogas plant that processes waste from an M&Ms factory.

How to Escape from a Black Hole

There are ways out of the gravitational death grip of a black hole — but it’s not easy

By DANIEL CRAY | October 4, 2012 |

AVERY E. BRODERICK/UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO/PERIMETER INSTITUTE

This simulated image shows an energy jet being launched from a spinning black hole surrounded by a disk of accreting material. The black hole is spinning at half the maximum rate, and its mass is that of the black hole at the center of the M87 elliptical galaxy. The central black hole “shadow” due to extreme light bending is apparent here

Morality as Evidence of God

By Zia H Shah

And He (Allah) revealed to it (conscience) the ways of evil and the ways of righteousness – He, indeed, prospers who purifies it (conscience), And he is ruined who corrupts it. (Al Quran 91:9-11)