Slide 1 :
Slide 2 : Many people – including Muslims ask: “Where is God or Allah? What Image does God or Allah have?”
These questions cannot be easily answered, but let’s see how Imam Abu Hanifah responded when he was asked such questions by nonbelievers.
Slide 3 : To those who ask: “Where is God or Allah?”
Slide 4 : The atheists asked Abu Hanifah:
“When was your Lord born?”
Abu Hanifah replied: “Allah existed first - before history and before time. : Abu Hanifah replied: “Allah existed first - before history and before time.
He added: “What comes before three?”They replied: “Two.” : He added: “What comes before three?”They replied: “Two.”
He asked: “What comes before two?”They replied: “One.” : He asked: “What comes before two?”They replied: “One.”
Abu Hanifah said: “What comes before one?”They replied: “Nothing.” : Abu Hanifah said: “What comes before one?”They replied: “Nothing.”
He said: “If the number ‘one’ is not preceded by anything, then how can the True One and Only God (Allah) be preceded by anything. Allah is Ancient and Eternal. Nothing precedes Him.” : He said: “If the number ‘one’ is not preceded by anything, then how can the True One and Only God (Allah) be preceded by anything. Allah is Ancient and Eternal. Nothing precedes Him.”
They asked: “In which direction does your Lord move?” : They asked: “In which direction does your Lord move?”
He asked: “If you bring a lantern into a dark place, in which direction will its light move?”They replied: “In every direction.” : He asked: “If you bring a lantern into a dark place, in which direction will its light move?”They replied: “In every direction.”
Abu Hanifah said: “If this is how the lantern’s light radiates, then how about Allah’s Light - the Light of the Heavens and the Earth?” : Abu Hanifah said: “If this is how the lantern’s light radiates, then how about Allah’s Light - the Light of the Heavens and the Earth?”
They said: “Define your Lord’s entity. Is your Lord solid like iron; liquid like water; or gaseous like smoke or vapor?” : They said: “Define your Lord’s entity. Is your Lord solid like iron; liquid like water; or gaseous like smoke or vapor?”
He asked: “Have you ever sat beside a dying patient?”They said: “Yes, we have. : He asked: “Have you ever sat beside a dying patient?”They said: “Yes, we have.
He added: "Did he speak to you after he was pronounced dead?" They said: "No." : He added: "Did he speak to you after he was pronounced dead?" They said: "No."
Abu Hanifah asked: “Before he died, did he not talk and move?”They said: “Yes.” : Abu Hanifah asked: “Before he died, did he not talk and move?”They said: “Yes.”
He said: “What changed him?”They said: “His soul departed.” : He said: “What changed him?”They said: “His soul departed.”
He said: “Then isn’t it true that his soul left his body?They said: “Yes.” : He said: “Then isn’t it true that his soul left his body?They said: “Yes.”
Abu Hanifah asked: “Could you describe his soul? Is it solid like iron; liquid like water; or gaseous like smoke or vapor?” : Abu Hanifah asked: “Could you describe his soul? Is it solid like iron; liquid like water; or gaseous like smoke or vapor?”
They replied: “We know nothing about it.” : They replied: “We know nothing about it.”
He said: “If you cannot define the entity of this created soul, then how can you expect me to describe the Divine Entity.” : He said: “If you cannot define the entity of this created soul, then how can you expect me to describe the Divine Entity.”
Let’s repeat this prayer together: “Oh, Allah.” : Let’s repeat this prayer together: “Oh, Allah.”
Allah, help me to uphold the truth against tyrants; and prevent me from advocating injustice to gain the applause of the weak. : Allah, help me to uphold the truth against tyrants; and prevent me from advocating injustice to gain the applause of the weak.
Oh Allah, if you make me rich, do not deprive me of happiness. : Oh Allah, if you make me rich, do not deprive me of happiness.
If you grant me strength, do not take away my mental faculties. : If you grant me strength, do not take away my mental faculties.
If you make me successful, do not deprive me of modesty. : If you make me successful, do not deprive me of modesty.
If you make me modest, do not deprive me of my pride and dignity. : If you make me modest, do not deprive me of my pride and dignity.
Oh Allah, teach me to love others as much as I love myself. : Oh Allah, teach me to love others as much as I love myself.
Teach me to judge myself before I judge others. : Teach me to judge myself before I judge others.
Teach me that tolerance is the greatest strength. : Teach me that tolerance is the greatest strength.
And that vengeance is the first sign of weakness. : And that vengeance is the first sign of weakness.
Oh Allah, if you grant me success,do not blind me by vanity. : Oh Allah, if you grant me success,do not blind me by vanity.
Do not make me despair if I fail. : Do not make me despair if I fail.
Please let me always remember that failure precedes success. : Please let me always remember that failure precedes success.
Oh Allah, if you deprive me of my wealth, do not let me despair. : Oh Allah, if you deprive me of my wealth, do not let me despair.
If you take away my success, give me the strength to overcome failure. : If you take away my success, give me the strength to overcome failure.
If you deprive me of good health, do not deprive me of faith. : If you deprive me of good health, do not deprive me of faith.
Oh Allah, if I hurt others, give me the strength to apologize. : Oh Allah, if I hurt others, give me the strength to apologize.
If people hurt me, give me the strength to forgive. : If people hurt me, give me the strength to forgive.
If I am oblivious to Thee, do not deprive me of Your Forgiveness and Patience. : If I am oblivious to Thee, do not deprive me of Your Forgiveness and Patience.
Oh Allah, You are the All-Powerful, All-Merciful and All-Capable : Oh Allah, You are the All-Powerful, All-Merciful and All-Capable
Ameen. : Ameen.
Dear Muslims: Please send this presentation to all your friends. May Allah reward you for this good deed on the Day of Judgment.Please also pray for the author, and the translator. (Translated by Tarek Sida - 2010) : Dear Muslims: Please send this presentation to all your friends. May Allah reward you for this good deed on the Day of Judgment.Please also pray for the author, and the translator. (Translated by Tarek Sida - 2010)