Comments on: What to Make of Mother Teresa’s Crisis of Faith? http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/ Discourses in the Intellectual Traditions, Political Situation, and Social Ethics of Muslim Life Tue, 22 May 2012 23:57:00 +0000 hourly 1 By: Istila http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-102023 Istila Fri, 08 Jul 2011 01:59:24 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-102023 Salams, Allah swt in the holy Quran in chapter 4:94 says clearly: O ye who believe! When ye ''''go abroad'''' in the cause of Allah, investigate carefully, and say not to any one who offers you a salutation: "Thou art none of a believer!" Therefore carefully investigate. If someone believes in God, then how can they be disbelievers? If someone was not born a Muslim and so did not understand the concept of shirk in Islam, then how can they be punished in Hell? If someone is going through trauma, loneliness, severe trials and even suffers from mental & emotional exhaustion, how can you judge & blame them to be disbelievers, hypocrites or inferior? If someone humble & truthful is confused from constantly working to relieve the suffering of people from a crisis and has not found any Muslim community to give them hope, then whose fault is it? Is charity & aid only given to Muslims? Who is the final judge of any person's faith, you, or Allah? Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, "Whoever said 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah' and has in his heart good (faith) equal to the weight of a barley grain will be TAKEN OUT of Hell. And whoever said: 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah' and has in his heart good (faith) equal to the weight of a wheat grain will be taken out of Hell. And whoever said, 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah' and has in his heart good (faith) equal to the weight of an atom will be taken out of Hell." Sahih Bukhari (Book #2, Hadith #42) - http://www.searchtruth.com/ If thise of you Muslims who are too proud to accept that you too may be involved in hidden shirk & think of yourselves too special, good or humble, then why don't you pray for the mercy of his people, like Prophet Isa did here in the Quran: "....I watched over while living in their midst, and ever since You took me to You, You Yourself have been watching over them. You are the witness of all things. If You punish them, they surely are Your servants; and if You forgive them, surely You are Mighty Wise." Quran 5: 116 And again here: "If Thou dost punish them, they are Thy servant: If Thou dost forgive them, Thou art the Exalted in power, the Wise." Quran 5: 118 Allah will say: "This is a day on which the TRUTHFUL will profit from their truth: theirs are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath,- their eternal Home: Allah well-pleased with them, and they with Allah: That is the great salvation, (the fulfilment of all desires). Quran 5:119 Verily, those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ], as well as those who follow the Jewish faith, and the CHRISTIANS, and the Sabeans - ALL who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous deeds - shall have their REWARD with their Sustainer; and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve. I hope this makes it clear to those with a "holier than thou" attitude that there is no place in Islam for selfish pride & arrogance: ..Verily, Allâh does not like such as are proud and boastful; Those who are miserly and enjoin miserliness on other men and hide what Allâh has bestowed upon them of His Bounties.... Qur'an 4:36-37 Salams,

Allah swt in the holy Quran in chapter 4:94 says clearly: O ye who believe! When ye ””go abroad”” in the cause of Allah, investigate carefully, and say not to any one who offers you a salutation: “Thou art none of a believer!” Therefore carefully investigate.

If someone believes in God, then how can they be disbelievers?

If someone was not born a Muslim and so did not understand the concept of shirk in Islam, then how can they be punished in Hell?

If someone is going through trauma, loneliness, severe trials and even suffers from mental & emotional exhaustion, how can you judge & blame them to be disbelievers, hypocrites or inferior?

If someone humble & truthful is confused from constantly working to relieve the suffering of people from a crisis and has not found any Muslim community to give them hope, then whose fault is it? Is charity & aid only given to Muslims?

Who is the final judge of any person’s faith, you, or Allah?

Narrated Anas: The Prophet said, “Whoever said ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’ and has in his heart good (faith) equal to the weight of a barley grain will be TAKEN OUT of Hell. And whoever said: ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’ and has in his heart good (faith) equal to the weight of a wheat grain will be taken out of Hell. And whoever said, ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah’ and has in his heart good (faith) equal to the weight of an atom will be taken out of Hell.”

Sahih Bukhari (Book #2, Hadith #42) – http://www.searchtruth.com/

If thise of you Muslims who are too proud to accept that you too may be involved in hidden shirk & think of yourselves too special, good or humble, then why don’t you pray for the mercy of his people, like Prophet Isa did here in the Quran:

“….I watched over while living in their midst, and ever since You took me to You, You Yourself have been watching over them. You are the witness of all things. If You punish them, they surely are Your servants; and if You forgive them, surely You are Mighty Wise.” Quran 5: 116

And again here:

“If Thou dost punish them, they are Thy servant: If Thou dost forgive them, Thou art the Exalted in power, the Wise.” Quran 5: 118

Allah will say: “This is a day on which the TRUTHFUL will profit from their truth: theirs are gardens, with rivers flowing beneath,- their eternal Home: Allah well-pleased with them, and they with Allah: That is the great salvation, (the fulfilment of all desires). Quran 5:119

Verily, those who have attained to faith [in this divine writ], as well as those who follow the Jewish faith, and the CHRISTIANS, and the Sabeans – ALL who believe in God and the Last Day and do righteous deeds – shall have their REWARD with their Sustainer; and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve.

I hope this makes it clear to those with a “holier than thou” attitude that there is no place in Islam for selfish pride & arrogance:

..Verily, Allâh does not like such as are proud and boastful; Those who are miserly and enjoin miserliness on other men and hide what Allâh has bestowed upon them of His Bounties…. Qur’an 4:36-37

]]> By: Mantiki http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-88439 Mantiki Tue, 18 Jan 2011 11:50:10 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-88439 It is not unusual for spiritual experiences to be followed by absence or emptiness. I had a vivid perception of God's love 30 years ago when I broke down in tears at my sins and prayed for redemption calling to God in the name of Jesus. It blew away forever all doubts I had. God not only exists but is Personal. I've had spiritual and psychic experiences since then but in relation to God - nothing approaching the first experience. Yet I'm happy and somehow feel His approval and that my attitude and work is pleasing to Him. Similarly, in reading books on meditation and Buddhism I've read about similar, one-off "peak" experiences of feeling "oneness" with God. One novice bemoaned the fact that after experiencing this feeling once, he could not attain it later. His instructor slapped him on the head for his arrogance that he thought he could summon God at will through his own efforts. "You are lucky to have achieved it at all!" We all should think likewise. I have a belief that we experience this spiritual vacuum for 2 reasons. The first is that it arises from a unique brain state that is impossible to reproduce for most people and is attainable only rarely by others. Not to worry though because the barriers fall when we are near death and the immanent release of our souls makes it unavoidable. The second is that if it were easy to perceive God, we would aspire to nothing else and neglect the various reasons and tasks we came to Earth to perform - we might as well have stayed in "Heaven"!!! So don't despair - and find / keep to the Faith that you have chosen for yourself. It is not unusual for spiritual experiences to be followed by absence or emptiness. I had a vivid perception of God’s love 30 years ago when I broke down in tears at my sins and prayed for redemption calling to God in the name of Jesus. It blew away forever all doubts I had. God not only exists but is Personal. I’ve had spiritual and psychic experiences since then but in relation to God – nothing approaching the first experience. Yet I’m happy and somehow feel His approval and that my attitude and work is pleasing to Him.

Similarly, in reading books on meditation and Buddhism I’ve read about similar, one-off “peak” experiences of feeling “oneness” with God. One novice bemoaned the fact that after experiencing this feeling once, he could not attain it later. His instructor slapped him on the head for his arrogance that he thought he could summon God at will through his own efforts. “You are lucky to have achieved it at all!” We all should think likewise.

I have a belief that we experience this spiritual vacuum for 2 reasons. The first is that it arises from a unique brain state that is impossible to reproduce for most people and is attainable only rarely by others. Not to worry though because the barriers fall when we are near death and the immanent release of our souls makes it unavoidable. The second is that if it were easy to perceive God, we would aspire to nothing else and neglect the various reasons and tasks we came to Earth to perform – we might as well have stayed in “Heaven”!!!

So don’t despair – and find / keep to the Faith that you have chosen for yourself.

]]> By: Adil http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-88426 Adil Tue, 18 Jan 2011 06:59:57 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-88426 P.S. As for Mother Theresa in particular, we can not say what her end will be since we do not know whether she knew enough about Islam to be held accountable for not accepting it, nor do we know what her beliefs were at the time of her death. P.S. As for Mother Theresa in particular, we can not say what her end will be since we do not know whether she knew enough about Islam to be held accountable for not accepting it, nor do we know what her beliefs were at the time of her death.

]]> By: Adil http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-88421 Adil Tue, 18 Jan 2011 05:55:33 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-88421 A person that joins others in worship with God or rejects His guidance is not a good person in the absolute sense. God has a greater right to our good behavior than creation. The crime of shirk or kufr is not out-weighed by good behavior to people. A mushrik or kafir is a greater criminal in the court of God than someone who is bad to creation. A person that joins others in worship with God or rejects His guidance is not a good person in the absolute sense. God has a greater right to our good behavior than creation. The crime of shirk or kufr is not out-weighed by good behavior to people. A mushrik or kafir is a greater criminal in the court of God than someone who is bad to creation.

]]> By: Confused http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-88408 Confused Mon, 17 Jan 2011 23:54:17 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-88408 I have read some of these comments and have felt compelled to write, I never usually do. I was born a muslim and have been brought up a muslim but over the last decade I have had a crisis of faith to. I can relate to Anon I have wished for death on many occasions so the pain I feel inside would stop. It is hard to talk to people about these thngs as people automatically judge you if you say what you feel. I find it hard to believe that some of you atleast are seeming to enjoy the fact that mother Theresa had this crisis of faith so you can say haha I knew we were right and i find it hard to accept that she will not go to jannah (Heaven) Just because she wasnt a muslim. Is it fair that a bad muslim should go to jannah when a good non believer will go to hell? I find this difficult to accept. I have read some of these comments and have felt compelled to write, I never usually do. I was born a muslim and have been brought up a muslim but over the last decade I have had a crisis of faith to. I can relate to Anon I have wished for death on many occasions so the pain I feel inside would stop. It is hard to talk to people about these thngs as people automatically judge you if you say what you feel. I find it hard to believe that some of you atleast are seeming to enjoy the fact that mother Theresa had this crisis of faith so you can say haha I knew we were right and i find it hard to accept that she will not go to jannah (Heaven) Just because she wasnt a muslim. Is it fair that a bad muslim should go to jannah when a good non believer will go to hell? I find this difficult to accept.

]]> By: Marcus http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-74810 Marcus Sun, 29 Aug 2010 10:39:44 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-74810 Mother Teresa has come back into focus since it is her centenary year. I have read your assessment of her experience of the dark night of the soul with interest, and even some of triumphant comments all with the exception Sara smacking of self-righteousness. Islamic prayer perhaps is designed by rules to be a one way communication and submission to Allah. I quote from your article "This is the fundamental mistake they made, and you can see the effects that it has on the purity of one’s soul, and the relationship one has to Allah, As-Samad (The One everyone is need of, but He needs no one)." Contrast this with the Christian understanding of prayer which is an out pouring of the heart to God, Our Father, who has carved each one of us (all humans and His creation) on the palm of His hand and will never forget us, because He loves us with an unconditional love. As the relationship of love grows between a father and child... the outpouring and sharing of what lies deep within as part of prayer is a deepening of a personal relationship with a personal God. The Muslim understanding is that God has no need for us, except within our submission, but the submission seems to suggest a relationship of a slave to a mighty master, not of father and child. Also Islam seems to be guided by a ‘convenient truth’ that in saying what it does blinds Muslims eyes to any other faith… the ayaat: “And We have put a barrier before them, and a barrier behind them, and We have covered them up, so that they cannot see” (36:9). “Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearings, (i.e. they are closed from accepting Allah’s Guidance), and on their eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be a great torment” (2:7)”, works in the reverse. It is this barrier put before Islam that has created the biggest mass movement of intolerance in human history and has led many a radical Muslim (also prayerful in the slave to master submission sense) to murder without conscience their way to Darul Islam. Contrast this with the work of the missionaries of charity and other Christian charities as a result of their prayers. The dark night of the soul is a mystical prayerful experience that even the Lord Jesus Christ went through in the garden of Gethsemane. St John of the cross first highlighted it. Many of the greatest Christian saints have experienced it. Obviously it is a spiritual experience that lesser mortals cannot comment on and hence I can only imagine it. Note….it is not that God has never been with them…He was and is the source of their work initially calling them and leading them to amazing acts of pure goodness….but appearing to have temporarily abandoned them. None of these saints had fallen…it is a reflection of the book of Job. Some of them like St. Francis of Assisi were rewarded with the stigmata. Muslims are familiar with God testing Abraham….Why is it you think mother Teresa is not worthy of a test? During this holy month of Ramadan, maybe it would do good to reflect on Mother Teresa’s acts of kindness and charity…before condemning her to fire. Remember… most of the prophets and all Islam’s earlier prophets were either Jew or Christian were rewarded in heaven after spiritual struggles on earth. Peace be with you. Mother Teresa has come back into focus since it is her centenary year. I have read your assessment of her experience of the dark night of the soul with interest, and even some of triumphant comments all with the exception Sara smacking of self-righteousness. Islamic prayer perhaps is designed by rules to be a one way communication and submission to Allah. I quote from your article “This is the fundamental mistake they made, and you can see the effects that it has on the purity of one’s soul, and the relationship one has to Allah, As-Samad (The One everyone is need of, but He needs no one).” Contrast this with the Christian understanding of prayer which is an out pouring of the heart to God, Our Father, who has carved each one of us (all humans and His creation) on the palm of His hand and will never forget us, because He loves us with an unconditional love. As the relationship of love grows between a father and child… the outpouring and sharing of what lies deep within as part of prayer is a deepening of a personal relationship with a personal God. The Muslim understanding is that God has no need for us, except within our submission, but the submission seems to suggest a relationship of a slave to a mighty master, not of father and child. Also Islam seems to be guided by a ‘convenient truth’ that in saying what it does blinds Muslims eyes to any other faith… the ayaat: “And We have put a barrier before them, and a barrier behind them, and We have covered them up, so that they cannot see” (36:9). “Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearings, (i.e. they are closed from accepting Allah’s Guidance), and on their eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be a great torment” (2:7)”, works in the reverse. It is this barrier put before Islam that has created the biggest mass movement of intolerance in human history and has led many a radical Muslim (also prayerful in the slave to master submission sense) to murder without conscience their way to Darul Islam. Contrast this with the work of the missionaries of charity and other Christian charities as a result of their prayers.
The dark night of the soul is a mystical prayerful experience that even the Lord Jesus Christ went through in the garden of Gethsemane. St John of the cross first highlighted it. Many of the greatest Christian saints have experienced it. Obviously it is a spiritual experience that lesser mortals cannot comment on and hence I can only imagine it. Note….it is not that God has never been with them…He was and is the source of their work initially calling them and leading them to amazing acts of pure goodness….but appearing to have temporarily abandoned them. None of these saints had fallen…it is a reflection of the book of Job. Some of them like St. Francis of Assisi were rewarded with the stigmata. Muslims are familiar with God testing Abraham….Why is it you think mother Teresa is not worthy of a test? During this holy month of Ramadan, maybe it would do good to reflect on Mother Teresa’s acts of kindness and charity…before condemning her to fire. Remember… most of the prophets and all Islam’s earlier prophets were either Jew or Christian were rewarded in heaven after spiritual struggles on earth. Peace be with you.

]]> By: Islam Hussen Pakhtoon http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-66672 Islam Hussen Pakhtoon Sun, 09 May 2010 02:06:41 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-66672 Yes we are, All good that is done will be rewarded as Allah is All merciful and Compassionate. However for the disbelievers they are rewarded in this world and have no share in the hereafter. Mother Teresa clearly would have recieved the message of Islam like any other individual but for what so ever reason only Allah knows she clearly didn't want to except the truth. Yes we are, All good that is done will be rewarded as Allah is All merciful and Compassionate. However for the disbelievers they are rewarded in this world and have no share in the hereafter. Mother Teresa clearly would have recieved the message of Islam like any other individual but for what so ever reason only Allah knows she clearly didn’t want to except the truth.

]]> By: lutfi http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-48831 lutfi Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:22:12 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-48831 People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway. If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway. What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway. If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway. The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway. You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God; It was never between you and them anyway. Mother Teresa People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

Mother Teresa

]]> By: lutfi http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-48830 lutfi Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:10:27 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-48830 God is not in praying and believing only. It's not enough. God is not in praying and believing only. It’s not enough.

]]> By: lutfi http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-48828 lutfi Mon, 07 Sep 2009 06:04:35 +0000 http://muslimmatters.org/2007/08/29/what-to-make-of-mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/#comment-48828 Are you people think only of yourselfs ?? Are you people think only of yourselfs ??

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