Surrounded by students of their own age - friends
influence their beliefs (support them)
Better understanding of Islam
Children are influenced by their parents,
they look up to them as role models.
If their parents are practicing Islam and
firm in their belief in Allah then naturally
the child will follow in their footsteps.
Those around them are practicing
Family, friends and other relatives can provide a supportive network which, encourages child to believe in Allah.
No
Parent's are not always their to guide their children
Leaves children more vulnerable and inclined towards external
influence e.g Media/non-muslim friends.
Forceful parents & other family members
Makes child want to rebel and go against parents belief.
Free will
Humans are still able to make their own decisions, despite
background and upbringing
What is a Muslim upbringing?
When a baby is born the Adhaan is
recited into their ear.
5 pillars are practiced.
Home is kept halal.
Food and drink are halal.
Music isn't played.
Quran often recited.
Iqamah recited in left
ear of new born.
The design argument and belief in Allah
Is the design of creations evidence of Allah's existence?
Yes
William Paley - British Philosopher
He argued that the Earth could not have come into
existence by itself and that there must have have been
someone who CREATED it.
Paley used the analogy of a watch in the desert, with all it's interconnecting complex
cogs, and how it would lead one to believe in a watch maker, to explain how something as
complex and as perfect as the Earth must have a CREATOR.
Only Allah is powerful enough to have designed certain
creations.
E.G The universe.
Humans have been designed in such a way that each person is unique,
only Allah has the power to have created us like this.
E.G The fingerprint of each person is different.
Only Allah could have created the first human.
No
The design of humans is a result
of evolution, not Allah.
Charles Darwin's theory of evolution states that overtime
species evolved to suite the changes in their environment.
The universe wasn't part of a carefully
designed plan it just happened as a result of
matter expanding, according to science
which there is physical evidence for unlike
Allah.
What is the design argument?
The Design Argument
Everything designed has a purpose.
Religious experience and belief in Allah (Numinous,
Conversion, Miracle & Prayer)
Does a religious experience lead to belief in Allah?
Yes
Miracles convince people that only Allah could have done
this because there is no other logical explanation.
E.G The birth of Isa (A.S).
An answered prayer is proof for
people that Allah exists.
E.G Yunus (A.S) in the whale.
Numinous experiences lead one to believe
that a greater presence exists, that can only
be God.
E.G The atmosphere of unity created in a masjid.
A conversion experience changes a persons life. Some do research and
end up enlightened. People are left striving for a connection with Allah.
E.G Cat Stevens, a rock star, converted and changed his name to Yusuf Islam.
No
People often regard religious experiences, such as
miracles as hallucinations.
You aren't in your senses when you're hallucinating or
have a mental illness therefore, anything you
witness/experience is unreliable.
Those who witness such events do not always make the link between these events
and Allah.
Some people completely disregard these
occurrences as special
Key words & definitions:
Miracle - Something which seems to break a law of science.
Answered Prayer - Contacting Allah, usually through
words, by making dua that has been accepted.
Numinous - An indescribable feeling that leaves people
in a state of awe, leading you to believe in a supreme
deity.
Conversion - When your life is changed by giving yourself to
Allah.