Belief in God is a natural disposition in man

MODERN religious studies have unveiled many facts that deserve close consideration. The most significant of these is that religiousness is a common tendency in all human beings, both ancient and modern; for no nation has been found to be without a religion. Many scholars consider that the concept of God or religion is generally innate in man, originated in us by a Superior Creator, Most Exalted God Himself. Among the distinguished scholars who adopt the innateness of religion, is the Scottish writer Andre Lynge, whose views in this regard can be summed up as follows:

l Every one is endowed with the notion of causation, which is sufficient to constitute his belief that there is a God Who created the universe. Every person has a certain idea about the creation of things and believes in the existence of a Constructor producing them -·which the person himself cannot do.

l All the ancient·and primitive peoples had a belief in a Father, Master and Creator.

l The notion of religion among primitive peoples emerged in a state of utmost purity and piety, and was followed by the appearance of the concept of legends.

Lynge's theory, however, remained totally unaccepted until the appearance of the historical method of anthropology, which affirmed many of the results Lynge had arrived·at. Among·the significant·researches affirming Lynge's views, are those undertaken by Professor Leopold von Shrauder, of Vienna University, on the Indo­Europeans.

Von Shrauder noticed the presence of the concept of a sublime God with the Aryans, considering that their religion stemmed from three roots: the worship of nature, the worship of the dead, and the belief in a benevolent creator and superior God. He did not indicate, though, which of the three roots had been the eldest, but admitted instead that this needed further investigation.

Dr Crooper published a number of researches on the Californian Indians, in which he proved that these were the oldest tribes in North America. It is evident from his discussion that they had "known"·a superior, benevolent God.

Anthropologist Schmidt has also proved that the African·Pygmies, the oldest human race, believed·in the existence of an exalted God. He has found the concept of oneness among the ·majority of negro tribes and many tribes in South Eastern·Australia, as well as the Indian tribes in North America. In other·tribes, it was the same exalted God. With the progress of these·tribes and their conveyance to other modes of culture, some complexity was imparted to religious thinking, resulting in the belief in more than one god or other superior gods besides the One Superior God.

Renan supposes that the Semites were monotheists by nature. He bases his theory on his study of the gods the Semites worshippped, and on the presence of the root Ilu in their dialects. He maintains that the Semites worshipped·one god, Ilu, whose name was later modified in their dialects into Yahwe, Jahweh, Jehova, and Elohim with the Hebrews; and Allat, Allah, and Ilah with the Arabs. The origin of all these, however, is Ilu.

Dr Paul Clarence Oswald, Professor of Biology, explains: "No doubt, man's inclination to search for a mind more comprehensive than his, more prudent, and more extensive, to help him understand the mystery of the universe - is by itself evidence·enough of the existence of a vaster and more capable authority, that of God and His management. Man cannot fully acknowledge the existence of the Creator on the basis of scientific, material·evidence alone."

"Nevertheless, we can achieve complete belief in God blending scientific and spiritual evidence - in other words, by blending our knowledge of the extremely vast·and complicated universe, with our inner feeling and response to the appeals of emotion and the spirit deep within us. If we set out to count the number of reasons and inner motives that prompt the multitudes of sensible people to believe in God, we shall find that they are quite many and diverse, but strong enough in giving evidence of His presence and calling for faith in Him."

Among the extraordinary features of Islam, is that it preceded knowledge in this regard by 14 centuries. The Qur'an states: 'Set thou thy face steadily to the One Faith; (establish) God's handiwork according to the pattern on which He hath created mankind. No change let there be in the work wrought out by God: that is the standard Religion - but most men understand not. Turn ye back in repentance to Him, and fear Him. Establish·regular prayers, and be not ye among those who join partners with God" (Al-Qur'an 30:30­31).

In this way, therefore, the Qur'an asserts that religion is of man's true nature on the pattern of which God created mankind. The basis of all religion is the belief in the Creator of the universe, and the acknowledgement that He is One with no partner to share with Him His sovereignty. When a person meditates in solitude, he will conceive that he is destined to a powerful and wise God who granted him the favour of life.

The worship and acknowledgement of the One God are evident in the quoted verse. Notice how the first verse is concluded: "but most men understand not." This is quite true, because it is only those who keep up their study on the issue of religion and its effects on people, who will realise that religion is of man's intrinsic nature. The Prophet (peace be upon him) emphasises this point by repeating God's words: "All·mankind was created to worship the One God, but devils swerved people from their Religion and demanded them to ascribe partners to Me."

To the same effect, the Prophet (pbuh)·declares: "Every infant is born in harmony with nature. It is his parents, however, who make him Jewish, Christian or Magian." This·means that every infant, as Islam affirms, is born with a pure, innate·acknowledgement of the One God, not marred by any sense of polytheism. It is society and the family - including the parents, of course - that deflect his innate nature from the Truth with which his spirit was marked.

Man's appeals to the Creator in times of adversity·indicate·that religion is innate in him. According to Professor A Cressy Morrison, "The very fact that man has, at all times·and places since his creation, experienced an urgent need to appeal to a superior stronger and greater authority for help, proves that religion is innate in him; and science has to accept this fact."

The Qur'an announces·this fact in many of its verses: "When trouble toucheth men, they cry to their Lord, turning back to Him in repentance" (Al-Qur'an 30:33). "When a wave covereth them like a canopy (of clouds), they call to God, offering Him sincere devotion" (Al-Qur'an 31:32).

The soul perceives God's existence through its innate nature, and in the time of trouble it turns to Him for help and assistance.