A paradox of faith and doubt in religion

Mohammad Mehedi Hasan

Doubt means that we have 50 to 50 percent possibility in our mind about the rightness or
otherwise of something. If we weigh both options against each other, we come to the conclusion
that they weigh equally. Therefore, doubt exists when there is confusion, tension, ambivalence
and wandering. It is a sign of heart disease.

While certainty is the state of definitely known and it establishes the concept of beyond doubt or
question. According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, certainty refers to assurance, conviction,
doubtlessness and sureness. It also cites the state of mind in which one is free from doubt or the
quality or state of being impossible to avoid or evade.

There are some Muslims who do not have sincere faith and firm belief in Allah, the Prophet
(SM) and the Day of Judgment. They are in a state of doubt. They adopted Islam for the purpose
of acquiring material benefits from the world. If they continue to be rewarded in the form of
wealth, security and fulfillment of their materialistic desires, they will remain steadfast in their
faith, but if they encounter hardship, poverty, disease or other miseries, they will abandon
religion and they move towards infidelity.

The Holy Quran explains the state of mind in the Surah Al-Fath. A group of Bedouins came to
Medina and accepted Islam just because of the namesake. They only declared their faith verbally,
but in their hearts they had no faith or conviction. As long as their wealth continued to increase
and there was no occasion for disease and loss, horses continued to breed and women continued
to produce male offspring; they always said that Muhammad (SM) is a promising man and his
religion is the truth.

But when the climate of Medina did not suit them, they fell ill. When their animals began to die,
they began to say: This sorcerer Muhammad (we seek refuge in Allah) is inauspicious and his
religion is baseless. He has given us nothing but loss and misery.

Naturally, people want to see more evidence to support the divine revelation. These are simple
doubts which can be healed by learning more about Islam and experiencing more signs from
Allah. Experiencing these simple doubts is not blameworthy. In contrast, serious doubts, rooted
in arrogance or denial, can rise to the level of disbelief.

Therefore, believers must insulate themselves from doubts and protect their faith as if it were a
precious treasure threatened by thieves from all sides. Doubt about Islam is classified by scholars
as a disease of the heart that must be removed by certain knowledge.

However, it is inevitable that a believer will experience doubt at some point, as even the Prophets
were plagued by doubts from time to time.
Abu Huraira reported (Sahih al-Bukhari 4.537) that the Prophet (SM) said: “We are more likely
to doubt than Abraham, when he said: O Lord, show me how You give life to the dead.”

Allah said: Do you not have faith? Abraham said: Of course, but rather to put my heart at rest.
(2:260)

The writer is a senior sub-editor at the Daily Sun