A Test From Allah

I’m a “live and let live” type of person. So when I heard that an old colleague had left Islam and had become an atheist, I did not mourn or gasp. I believe in that hadith, where becoming believers would not add anything to Allah or His Kingdom, and becoming disbelievers would not take anything away. It was this 50 year old man’s choice to leave Islam, there is no compulsion in religion, I heard my thoughts say.

But that was until I heard that he had appeared on television to declare his disbelief and in detail state what he found doubtful in the religion. He declared that there was no God and that the Qur’an wasn’t from Him. He began to urge Muslims to examine the faith and follow his footsteps. I watched in shock.

This time I did gasp. It’s one thing to leave a religion quietly and live your life the way you want, it’s another when you try to confuse others, put doubt in their heart and make a movement out of it.

I felt pity for the man for trying to weaken a person’s faith. But it only strengthened mine. On television he talked of the numerous Islamic organisations he had worked for and even showed pictures of himself alongside his staff to prove it. I know many of the staff members were upset that they were shown on television without their permission.

But what was more upsetting to them was that he was once a youth leader and now had many children confused. Even some adults that were among those who had watched the show admitted that if this man had lost his faith, then their faith was beginning to weaken too. They say that because they believed him to be quite a religious man.

But others argued, believing he wasn’t so religious but had gone through hell and back throughout his entire life. Some who knew this man well, believed he had done this solely for money and fame.

I just wonder what he achieved by publicising it. Maybe it is just a test, the way things are supposed to be nowadays. Those who watched it and had their faith strengthen by it, then maybe you could suggest that this man did them a favour for tasting the pureness of faith again.

And for those who watched and felt themselves straying, maybe it is a test of faith from Allah, to see if they are true believers. If not, then they knew where the door was. Allah doesn’t need anyone; it is us that need Him, sow ma ahan walaalayaal..