One who refuses to acknowledge something as true denies something very important. It is the aspect of realization. To realize oneself, others, and God is what belief is. Denial of God results in the denial of anything and everything around oneself. What’s left for the disbeliever is darkness upon darkness.
Or [the state of a disbeliever] is like the darkness in a vast deep sea, overwhelmed with a great wave topped by a great wave, topped by dark clouds, darkness upon darkness: if a man stretches out his hand, he can hardly see it! And he for whom Allâh has not appointed light, for him there is no light. (Qu’ran 24:40)
The disbeliever may feel good at the moment. Key words here are: at the moment. But Allah delays the punishment for the disbelievers. When the punishment comes though, there will be no reprise or delay.
And, [O Muhammad], warn the people of a Day when the punishment will come to them and those who did wrong will say, "Our Lord, delay us for a short term; we will answer Your call and follow the messengers." [But it will be said], "Had you not sworn, before, that for you there would be no cessation? (Qu’ran 14:44)
To have disbelief in the truth that is already in your heart is to deny your very existence. One will see those who disbelief live in very dark, lonely lives. They do great evil in disbelieving, as they turn away from the remembrance of Allah (God in Arabic) and mock those who disbelieve. They do great evil without even second thought. They have no morals, and follow no code of conduct except that of arrogance.
Atheism is the prime example of this lack. Atheism is not a religion, but rather a lack thereof. It is the denial of existence, although they say it is only the denial of God. Little do atheists know that they are denying all reality. Why? You’re about to see.
An atheist believes in facts. That belief is based on known truths. There’s a problem here. Why? That’s because these facts, are in fact, not facts. They are variable. Say one believes the Earth revolves around the Sun. This is seen as knowledge. The problem with this is that a few hundred years ago, the Sun was known to revolve around the Earth. And a little bit before, the Earth was known to be the center of the Universe. This wouldn’t fly in our time. We have much more ‘knowledge’ than before.
Fact is variable. It is dependent on truth, not the other way around. For all we know, we might discover that the Sun is actually not hot at all, and somehow gives off powerful light and heat enough to cause survival to humanity. Not too long ago was it discovered that the fastest medium of speed in the universe, the speed of light, was exceeded!! It turns out neutrinos are faster than the speed of light, and a billion of them had already passed before finishing reading the very words in front of you.
So you see, the atheists live in a hypocrisy. That’s because they do indeed have faith, but faith in science. That’s their god. The problem is that fact is never static, it always changes. It is subjective to change.
They change with their beliefs to and fro. They go between their desires, unable to believe in the same thing.
75. If We had mercy on them and removed the distress which is on them, they would obstinately persist in their transgression, wandering in distraction to and fro. 76. We inflicted Punishment on them, but they humbled not themselves to their Lord, nor do they submissively entreat (Him)!-77. Until We open on them a gate leading to a severe Punishment: then Lo! they will be plunged in despair therein! (Qu’ran 23:75-77)
To be an atheist is an extremely grave evil. One can’t even begin to imagine how dark and evil it is. Today, atheism is thrown into people’s souls left and right like it’s nothing. Disbelief is an accepted norm. But little do people know that acceptance of people matters not, when God won’t accept you.
When disbelief occurs, thus, the denial of one’s self occurs. That’s because of this verse: “And indeed We have created man, and We know whatever thoughts his inner self develops, and We are closer to him than (his) jugular vein,” (Qu’ran 50:16) So those very thoughts of oneself are nullified because of their denial of God’s eternal existence. He encompasses all, so denying God is to deny his creation as well, which means…you lose yourself.
Darkness upon darkness, the disbelievers lose themselves. They know no limit if they have no medium of righteousness. They don’t know who they are. They have…no meaning. What’s their purpose if they don’t believe in God? Their aim in existence is lost, and they are like one who is living underneath a bridge but never rising above it where real life is. Reality passes them by when they don’t know it. And they think themselves happy. But their happiness is false.
Disbelief doesn’t just occur in atheists. In a different form, it occurs in the hypocrites. And it also occurs in the non-Muslims. When someone is sinning, he is considered a disbeliever at that moment. That is because he is denying the truth. How does this work? This works because he is denying belief in a way because knowing God, he would never do it. To see God outright, he would be humbled, and would be overwhelmed. But that’s an aspect of disbelief, too. That is because they didn’t have faith in the first place, so what would proof do them now? Lacking faith is to lack subsistence, you aren’t realizing yourself because you fail to acknowledge the reality. What is physical can’t compare to what is spiritual. Spiritual sensation is far beyond physical proof and faith only coincide when it’s too late for the disbelievers.
Let’s say someone is generally a believer, but then oppresses someone he considers weak. At that moment, he is a disbeliever. This is also a way of being a hypocrite as well. He believes and fears Allah one moment, but then he forgets Him, and why would he forget Him? It’s because he doesn’t have a true belief. He turns his back when he needs to turn to God. He needs to prevent his evils, but he fails to believe in Allah that moment. In one’s heart it should be clear one shouldn’t abuse another human, and that is belief; but to abuse after belief existed in your heart in a way nullifies it. But don’t despair. Don’t despair because Allah is the Most Merciful. That’s what the disbelievers mainly fail to realize.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “I swear by Him in whose hand is my soul, if you were a people who did not commit sin, Allah would take you away and replace you with a people who would sin and then seek Allah’s forgiveness so He could forgive them.”
Allah loves those who turn in repentance. Those who wrong themselves, then repent…they are the ones who have true belief!
They will prosper, and you will see their faces radiating with pleasure.
“And as for those who were made to be happy, they will be in Paradise, abiding therein as long as the heavens and the earth endure, except what your Lord should will – a bestowal uninterrupted.” (Qur’an 11:108)
They are the ones who are upon true guidance. They are not pessismistic, they don’t lead gloomy lives, they don’t have an aura of darkness about them. Instead, they emit an ambience of light! They share this light with others, and they love one another for the sake of Allah. Not like the atheists and disbelievers, who don’t care for one another, who are always sulking, always pessimistic, lash out at anything they see to quell their desires. No, they are not the same.
Then is one who was a believer like one who was defiantly disobedient? They are not equal. (Qu’ran 32:18)
So I urge you to confirm. Confirm the truth that is already with you from the words you read before you. Don’t fall into darkness. Know that Allah takes out people from the darknesses and into the light, and the false idols the disbelievers worship take them out of the light into darknesses. And the path of those darknesses are many.
To finish, I will conclude with eleven verses from the beautiful chapter of the beautiful noble Qu’ran, The Believers:
1. The believers must (eventually) win through,- 2. Those who humble themselves in their prayers; 3. Who avoid vain talk; 4. Who are active in deeds of charity; 5. Who abstain from sex, 6. Except with those joined to them in the marriage bond, or (the captives) whom their right hands possess,- for (in their case) they are free from blame, 7. But those whose desires exceed those limits are transgressors;-8. Those who faithfully observe their trusts and their covenants; 9. And who (strictly) guard their prayers;- 10. These will be the heirs, 11. Who will inherit Paradise: they will dwell therein (for ever). (Qu’ran 23:1-11)