Search for God
Even history clearly shows and it can be concluded through research and investigation also that the man of the past and even pre-historic man was aware of a higher being (who is named as God or any other name) and he humbled before Him and worshipped Him and performed various rituals to seek His pleasure.
Now the question arises, that how man in the beginning became attentive to God? What was the cause that turned his thinking to God? Which factor made him inclined to go out in search of the creator of universe? What is the aim and cause of this view? Basically which factor was effective in compelling man to think about God and God-worship and to contemplate on these lines?
Replies to these questions are possible if one puts in a little effort: Human beings possess an instinct called as the instinct of finding out the cause of every phenomenon. Since the first day, man was aware of causation and he searched for the cause of every phenomenon and every needful existing being. If he became hungry, he went in search of food, because he considered eating as a cause of removal of hunger. If he became thirsty, he went in search of water, as he considered drinking water to be the cause of removing thirst. If he heard a sound from behind the wall, he became certain that it had a cause and went to find it. If he fell ill, he knew that it was as a result of a cause and he went out in search of its cure. In order to escape cold, he took refuge with heat, since he considered heat to be the cause of removing cold.
Seeking the cause and inquisitiveness is placed in the nature of all human beings. Every man is always trying to become aware of causes. Therefore, with regard to every phenomenon, the question, “Why and for what reason” arises. He always tries to satisfy his sense of curiosity through satisfactory replies.
Man is basically a ‘seeker of cause’ and he cannot give up this instinct or ignore it. All human beings – especially the earliest man – were having this natural instinct. Man lived in this world and was confronted by incidents and astonishing phenomena; the change of days and nights, summer and winter, movement of moon, sun and stars, peculiarities of animals and plants, lofty mountains, vast seas, flowing water bodies…he saw all of this with his eyes and fell into contemplation and asked himself: What is the cause of this world and who has brought it into existence? This universe must definitely be having a cause and the wise and powerful creator has created it and He is controlling it.
In this way, the earliest man became cognizant of Almighty Allah and confessed to his existence, and humbled himself before His greatness and in brief it can be said that seeking God is in the nature of man.
Although a group has fallen into doubts and became involved in worship of false deities and gradually sun worship, moon worship, fire worship and star worship…also appeared in human beings.
However the appearance of false deities is itself proof that man paid attention to his innate nature of seeking cause and concluded that a cause was necessary to control this world. But he fell into misunderstandings with regard to other aspects and considered false gods to be the cause and considered them as true creators, and became involved in their adoration.
In short, it can be said that man searches for the cause of all existing things and phenomena through natural instinct placed in his nature and in this way, he reaches up to Almighty Allah, who is the final cause of all things and One to whom all are needful. In this way, His being is revealed to them and they begin to worship Him.
Quran also considers seeking God to be an innate nature and says:
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ لَیَقُولُنَّ خَلَقَهُنَّ الْعَزِیزُ الْعَلِیمُ
“And if you should ask them, Who created the heavens and the earth? they would most certainly say: The Mighty, the Knowing One, has created them…” (43/9)
And says:
وَلَئِن سَأَلْتَهُم مَّنْ خَلَقَ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَسَخَّرَ الشَّمْسَ وَ الْقَمَرَ لَیَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ فَأَنَّى یُؤْفَکُونَ
“And if you ask them, Who created the heavens and the earth and made the sun and the moon subservient, they will certainly say, Allah. Whence are they then turned away?” (29:61)
Then He says:
وَ لَئِنْ سَأَلْتَهُمْ مَنْ نَزَّلَ مِنَ السَّماءِ ماءً فَأَحْیا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَوْتِها لَیَقُولُنَّ اللَّهُ قُلِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ بَلْ أَکْثَرُهُمْ لا یَعْقِلُونَ
“And if you ask them Who is it that sends down water from the clouds, then gives life to the earth with it after its death, they will certainly say, Allah. Say: All praise is due to Allah. Nay, most of them do not understand.” (29:63)