Albert Einstein's - 3 types/levels of religiosity (my Islamic perspective)

I learnt that Albert Einstein, through his scientific understanding of the universe, do believe in a supreme being, who have designed the universe and us. 

However, he has classified this understanding of the Supreme Being, through the creations of the universe and of us, being the most intellectual and highest level of religiosity, and that the first two is not relevant to him.  That's where we differ. 

This is found in his collections of writings, in a compiled book - 'The World As I See It', under the topic of Religion and Science.

According to Einstein, there are 3 types of religiosity :

1. Religion based on fear.

He said, the most primitive form of religion is the one based on fear, where people feel the need to ask from and depend on a Being, who will nourish them  or protect them from danger or sickness.

2. Religion based on social and morality needs. 

When people became more 'civilised' people find the need for a guidance on right and wrong, and the need for reward for good things and punishment for bad things.

3. 'Cosmic' Religion.

The last one - cosmic religion, which Einstein subscribes to, is when people observe and discover the grandness the perfectness and magnificent order that the creation around us and within us are, therefore discovering the greatness of the Supreme Being.

Personally I find his thoughts on the 3 levels of religiosity to be enlightening.  All three types of religiosity is valid and mentioned in the Quran,  And it is no surprise - God is All Encompassing.  Different kinds of religiosity may reach the souls of different types of people. However,  the common factor that must exist in all 3 levels of religiosity is that the person should never ever associate any other beings with GOD, believe in the life after death and the day of Judgement. 

Einstein, through his scientific findings in the absence of "free will" cannot understand why God would punish someone for something that is beyond the man's capacity to choose.  A similar thought and question were also mentioned by a sahabah, and a modern scientist Briane Green. 

In the case of the Sahabah, this hadith from Bukhari from the Book of Divine Will " While we were sitting with the Prophet (ﷺ) who had a stick with which he was scraping the earth, he lowered his head and said, "There is none of you but has his place assigned either in the Fire or in Paradise." Thereupon a man from the people said, "Shall we not depend upon this, O Allah's Apostle?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "No, but carry on and do your deeds, for everybody finds it easy to do such deeds (as will lead him to his place)." The Prophet (ﷺ) then recited the Verse: 'As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah..' (92.5) "

So what do we do?  With this knowledge, instead of being arrogant, trying to know everything that God does (when God already said, men's knowledge is too little), we should, in our current state of understanding and capacity, compel ourselves to do good, and put our hope in God to make us the inheritors of the Heavens. 

In the case of Briane Green, in the conversation he has with Forbes' Dan Potterfield, written in an article dated July 21 2020, even though he is a strong believer of 'no free will'  (in our Islamic terms, I would say that everything is fated, written, as Allaah said) - he still believes that everyone is still responsible for what their particles do.  Should a person be punished for the wrong that he does?  If punishment is a consequential perspective to shape future behaviours, he believes it is justifiable.   (I cannot begin to tell you how many of his words just reminds me of ayahs in the Quran.. like this punishment to shape future behaviours.. "And we will surely let them taste the nearer punishment short of the greater punishment that perhaps they will repent" Q-AS-Sajdah 32:21)

In Islamic terms, I would say, this is the part, where to me, it is a test of our humility and submission (our Islam).  We have to SUBMIT to all Allaah has said in the Quran. God does what He Wills.  Put your trust in God - God is a Just God.  God knows best.  Humans know much much too little to comprehend. Just focus on doing good now.  (Focus on the 'here', because 'there' it disintegrates - says Briane Greene)

"On the earth are signs for those of assured Faith,  As also in your own selves: Will ye not then see?"  Q - Azzariyat 51:20-21

May Allaah guide us all. 

Descriptions of a believer

Interesting that Allaah has referenced the Torah and Gospel with regards to some of the descriptions of a believer.   In the Quran, believers are stern toward disbelievers (in confrontations), yet compassionate amongst believers.  Torah points to believers having a mark - from frequent worship, a consistent worshipper and in the Gospel, the believers have their beliefs very firmly rooted.

 Surah Al Fath, ayat 48:29 

( 29 )   Muhammad is the Messenger of God. Those with him are stern against the disbelievers, yet compassionate amongst themselves. You see them kneeling, prostrating, seeking blessings from God and approval. Their marks are on their faces from the effects of prostration. Such is their description in the Torah, and their description in the Gospel: like a plant that sprouts, becomes strong, grows thick, and rests on its stem, impressing the farmers. Through them He enrages the disbelievers. God has promised those among them who believe and do good deeds forgiveness and a great reward.

Some descriptions of the believers, Allaah said in this ayat, is mentioned in the Torah and the Gospel. I was curious by what was said in the Gospel, this that Allaah mentioned. Alhamdulillaah for internet and search, it's easy to find those information today.

Here is the description found in one of the English version  (New King James Version) of many versions of the Bible under book of  Matthew 13:1-9

On the same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the sea. 2 And great multitudes were gathered together to Him, so that He got into a boat and sat; and the whole multitude stood on the shore.

3 Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: “Behold, a sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. 6 But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. 8 But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

 Allaah did say, this latest revelation, will confirm what came before (of the original revelations). In the ayat just before ayat 29, i.e. ayat 28 :

It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest it over all religion. And sufficient is Allah as Witness. 

Stories from my bapak (Chapter 2)

 TEMASEK childhood stories

 In Temasek, Mat Nor - Madrasah Wak Tanjong  - pioneer in this school.

Mat Nor was the only person in the village to have a brick house.  Everyone else was living in wooden houses.    For the first madrasah,  Used to be just a tent, and later on,  they went on to construct a row of classes, only 3 or 4 classes. 

morning madrasah and afternoon, normal school.

Madrasah used to also teaches how to give 'syarahan', that is to do public speaking or preaching.  But bapak said, he just couldn't do it.  He couldn't speak in front of people.  His other friends could and would sometimes be invited to speak in other schools or events. 

Ngaji is also in the mornings - it's first come first serve.  Bapak would follow his father to the mosque for subuh and after subuh, would immediately go to the ngaji place to place his bag or something - to reserve the queue position, and return home first.  They will come back about 730 am to start the ngaji class.  There are times when he arrived there and someone would have arrived earlier to start reading.

Kedai kachang pool at pasar geylang was there even when he was a kid.  He claims it to be the best kachang pool in Singapore  The kachang pool beans would be squashed when the dish is being prepared to serve.   The shop is still there, run by the later generations. 

Stories from my bapak. (Chapter 1)

Alhamdulillaah, at age 77, my father is still healthy and relatively still strong.  He lives on his own now, after my mother's passing.  He cycles to the mosque daily.  He buys his food or sometimes he cooks easy dishes with ready made cooking pastes.   On weekends, he travels to visit his children, my brother and me.

Bapak was born in Melaka, Malaysia.  At about the age of 10, his family moved to Temasek, Lorong Engku Aman.   When I was a child, I thought it was Long Kwa Man.  Then, for a short time, he stayed in KL before returning to Singapore to work.   

Nowadays, he would tell me stories of his childhood and younger days.  I'd like to keep some here, so that I will not forget. 

MELAKA Childhood stories :

His house in Melaka is one house before the main road. And across that main road, was the sea.  Though his house is that near to the sea, his grandmother was a very strict person and did not allow the grandchildren to play at the sea, at all.    My father and his siblings could only watch from across the road, other kids playing at the sea.   My father and his siblings could only play around their house area and village, not across the road. 

Before maghrib, they must all be home, to take their baths and change to clean clothes, and can no longer step outside the house.  Sometimes they would sit at the verandah to watch other children who are still playing, till late.

Every morning, breakfast was putu piring and coffee.   My father would walk about five minutes to the house selling putu piring, which was towards the deeper end of the village.   Payment for the putu piring are made monthly.  This was apparently quite a common practice in the olden days with some shops and sellers. They would record the takings and payments in a small popular notebook, used to be sold in mamak shops, the 'buku tiga lima' (555)..  I've seen those notebooks at mamak shops during my younger days.   

One of those mornings, he was assigned to pick up the putu piring for breakfast and make payment, He was given a five ringgit note.    However, he forgot about it.  He collected the putu piring and returned home.  He didn't even know he had lost the money, and only realised when he was asked, if he had already paid the person.  I wanted to ask, what happened then, like was he scolded or beaten? But I didn't get the [mental] chance. 

Other stories, including the Temasek stories in other posts insyaaAllaah. 

Answering Ex Muslim's 16 questions

Questions posted on the website for ex muslims in singapore - that also makes me ponder and want to answer for myself.  Bismillaah. 

16 Questions Ex-Muslims Have For Muslims In Singapore

[1] Censoring others
If someone insulted Islam or Allah or the Prophet, what would your response be? If you could just shut someone up to prevent him from insulting or critiquing Islam, would you?  >> Say, 'salam' and leave.  (Q:25:63)

[2] Critique of Islam
What about the critique of Islam? Is that permitted or should that not be allowed? Are there questions that cannot or should not be asked, pertaining to Islam? If so, what are they? And why can’t those questions be asked? Does critique and honest curiosity count as intolerance and hatred towards Muslims and Islam?  >> Permitted.  Ponder, seek knowledge, think.  (Q:30:8)

[3] Misconceptions about Islam
What are some questions that you think non-Muslims in Singapore might have about Muslims in Singapore? Do you think that ex-Muslims are mistaken in the way that they have perceived Islam? Or how about non-Muslims, in what ways do you think that non-Muslims have false assumptions about Islam?  >> People make false assumptions about Islam when they look for answers in people, rather than trying to find the answers themselves, directly from God's Words (the Quran), first and foremost.

[4] Being Offended
Is an offence taken or given? Who is responsible as in the case of Charlie Hebdo for the retaliatory actions of the murderers of the editors?  >>  The people who commit the actions are responsible for them.   

[5] Apostasy of a family member
If someone in your family chose to leave Islam, would you still consider him family? Will he be treated the same, or differently? If differently, how so? Why?  >>  Yes, still a family till we leave this world.  Until then, we will make doa that Allaah brings peace in our minds and guides us all, forgive our sins and let us finally die as Muslims, and that we may meet again in Jannatul Firdaus.   Allaah is Most Merciful.

[6] Friendships with Ex-Muslims
If your friend chooses to leave Islam, do you think it is possible for you to still continue being friends with him? How so?  >> yes of course, as per normal.  Just like how I'm now friends with other non Muslims. 

[7] Equality of gender in Islam
Would you say that Islam in Singapore treats women equally? Even though in Islam it clearly states in the Quran that a woman will receive half the inheritance of her male sibling, among other things, and that sharia dictates that a woman’s testimony is only half the value of that of a man’s?  >> Yes, the Creator, The Merciful is fair and the Creator knows His creations best.  Each of us have a role to play.   You earn some, you learn some.  On the other hand, in a marriage, women has a right over the husband's money - but the husband has no right over the wife's money - it's her own and not her responsibility to feed her family.  

[8] Consequences of Muslim apostasy in general
If a Muslim leaves Islam in a country where sharia is the law, is it right, or necessary, to kill him, as stated according to sharia law?  >> What is syaria law?  Are you referring to something decided by a government of a country, by a people.  in the Quran though, there is no compulsion in religion (Q:2:256)

[9] Relevance of the Quran
What are the verses in the Quran today that no longer have any relevance in today’s society? Since some verses are said to be only contextually and historically relevant and that a lot of the context then, it does not apply now. How many percent of the Quran is irrelevant today?   >> 100% still relevant.    In the Quran there are many stories, lessons, examples, advice, instructions and restrictions.    All of it helps a person live this life with purpose and some guidance on how to act and react. 

[10] Emulating the Prophet
What are the practices of the prophet that should not be emulated? Is fondling a girl and underage marriage allowed or even to be recommended or is that no longer recommended? Is slavery in Islam condoned, if it was still permissible today?
*Sahih Bukhari 3:38:504 *Sahih Bukhari 7:62:16 *Sahih Bukhari 7:62:17

>> Nobody can emulate every single thing about the prophet's SAW actions.  Some are exclusive to him SAW, as a prophet.   What is 'underaged' marriage?  My late grandaunt was married at 12 years old - was that underaged?  currently in rural Indonesia it is common and normal for girls to be married at 14, 15 years old.  Is this 'underaged' in Singapore 2021 context based on common age of marriage?  Slavery is discouraged if it was permissible, therefore the freeing of a slave is a great act of charity and a means of atonements.  

[11] Islam, a religion of peace
Is Islam a religion of peace? If so, why do Muslims around the world act in a non-peaceful manner when they find something offensive. Numerous Bangladeshi bloggers have been hacked to death on the streets for blasphemy. A fatwa calling for the death of blasphemers was imposed by Ayatollah Khomeini to Salman Rushdie in 1989. Theo Van Gogh, the film producer of Submission(2004) was killed as a response for his role in making the film, that criticized Islam’s treatment of women.  >> This is akin to asking: if Singapore is a peaceful country, why is there still murders and thefts and harrasment in Singapore?  Did the government teach the citizens so? Are Singaporeans gangsters and murderers?  

[12] Other Muslim denominations in Singapore
How do you view Shi’ah’s in Singapore and the other Muslim denominations? Are they to blame for anything or everything bad that has happened in Islam?  >> what??  why??  People create sects, but by God - Muslims are only Muslims. Muslims are those who believe and worship One God, believe in the Day of Judgement, and do good deeds. 

[13] Implementation of Sharia Law
If possible, should you want for the full extent of Sharia law in Singapore, given that the Sharia is supposedly the highest standard of ruling in any society, after all, it was decided by Allah?   >> What constitutes the FULL extent of sharia law?  If it includes that - even if a leader's child, commits a robbery, they'd be subjected to the same punishment.  That if a person is caught in the act of indecency, by one who was spying on him, then the accusation is invalid.  If a person accuses a woman of adultery, that they must have discovered not by spying, and have 4 witnesses who actually saw them in the act.  and if after accusing, the person cannot produce the 4 witnesses, then the accuser himself would be flogged.   - all this included?   Sadly, there is no known country leaders known to me, that can carry out the FULL extent.   Plus Singapore is not a Muslim country. 

[14] Refusal of Sharia Law
What would it mean if a Muslim refuses sharia law, does that make him a hypocrite? Does that make him a non-Muslim? >> No, especially when the person is only a housewife and does not run the country. 

[15] The correct brand of Islam
Who is practicing the right brand of Islam? It is always said that anything that doesn’t seem right in Islam is due to misinterpretation. Any unfair punishment or unequal treatment is said to be a wrong interpretation of the doer’s part. So who is actually interpreting it correctly then?   >> Only God can interpret correctly - people always try their best to interpret them, but in the end - God will judge.  And as long as one is sincere in his actions and has tried his best, Allaah is Most Merciful.  

[16] Are you happy that we are happy after leaving Islam? If not why is that so? Why are you sad when we’re happy. We are happy for you, why can’t you be happy for us?  >>  If you have a child, who wants to play on a busy road and he says he will be happy running around, or else, he will throw tantrums and be so sad and angry, would you be happy to let the child go and play on the road?  Why can't you be happy for him, if he said he will be happy?   This is a delicate situation for the believers (and especially the parents who love their children, it pains them lah, when they are afraid of what will happen to you on Judgement Day).  Some of them don't know how to react to this.  Some other parents, maybe can only do our best to try and be an examplary Muslim, and until the day they return or we die, pray to Allaah for guidance and Mercy and leave our affairs to Allaah.   Allaah is Most Merciful. 

May we all be guided, and may we all have peace.