September 1996: Page 1, 2, 3, 4

Rabi II 1417

Volume 12 No 9


In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Submitters Perspective

Monthly Bulletin of the International Community of Submitters Published by Masjid Tucson

One Universal God

“God bears witness that there is no god except He, and so do the angels and those
who possess knowledge. Truthfully and equitably, He is the absolute god;
there is no god but He, the Almighty, Most Wise.” (3:18)

Several surveys conducted by research groups have shown that most adults think God is the same in all religions. 65% of Americans in the Barna Research Survey felt that they all pray to the same God, although they call Him by different names.

The population group surveyed was randomly selected and was composed of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, etc. While it is clear from such studies that we believe in the same Universal God, it has been customary for each religious sect or congregation to consider their God as being only theirs and being unique to their belief.

It is very surprising that highly educated people who put great thought into what college to seek admission to, what kind of car to buy, etc., would accept unhesitatingly, without question, in fact, blindly, the religion they were born into, when it is in reality the most important decision in their lives. Actually, even

though the majority of us believe in God, we have a human factor attached to the worship of God in one form or another. The majority of us cannot envision praying to God directly. Most believe that an intercessor, usually in the form of a dead saint or prophet, is necessary for the ultimate contact.

It is this human factor that is causing division, hatred and bitter wars among the very people who profess to believe in God. Common sense then tells us that if we discard the human factor and pray to God alone, regardless of the name used for God or for the religion, we would then be united and capable of solving our problems.

The Lord Our God is Lord alone. Therefore you shall adore the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind and with all your strength. (Deut. 6:4 5 and Mark 12:29)

The Quran which is the Final Testament considers all religions devoted to God alone as being valid and acceptable, as long as certain minimal criteria are met.

to God alone guarantees salvation:

Surely those who believe, those who are Jewish, the Christians, and the converts, anyone who believes in God and the Last Day and leads a righteous life will receive their recompense from their Lord. They have nothing to fear nor will they grieve. (Quran 2:62)

While the Old Testament talks about God as Lord of the heavens and the earth, so does the Quran. The Old Testament has this to say about God:

Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the Lord He is God, in the heavens above and upon the earth beneath. There is none else. (Deut. 4:39)

The Quran says in verses 35:65-68:

Say, “I warn you, there is no other God besides God, the One, the supreme, the Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything between

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