There is only one straight line from one point to
another; so there can only be one path leading a
person to God. This is the true path. The question is:
what does truth consist of and how can it be found?
Fortunately for us, there are not several truths to
choose from. There is only one truth for us to
accept. This solitary truth consists of the teachings
of Muhammad, the Prophet of God, on whom be
peace and God’s blessings. Anyone who earnestly
seeks the truth will find that no exacting choices
have to be made. The choice is between truth and
falsehood; there are no two truths to choose from.
For at least five thousand years philosophers have
searched in vain for truth. Their tedious
investigations have only exposed their inability to
provide conclusive answers. Philosophy seeks truth
by means of rational contemplation; not realizing
that knowledge of the entire cosmos—something
beyond the range of the limited human intellect—is
a pre-requisite for genuine gnosis. The philosopher
can never attain to cosmic knowledge, so that
neither can he conceive of an accurate idea of
reality.
Science has never claimed to be in a position to
explain the truth. It only looks into matters which
can be repeatedly proved experimentally. Science
discusses the chemistry of flowers, but not their
fragrance, for the chemical parts of a flower can be
analysed; its odour cannot. Science has itself
restricted its scope, making it clear that it will deal
only with partial truth and is in no position to
expound on universal realities.
Some spiritual adepts claim, or their followers
believe, that they know all about truth, and can
communicate absolute information concerning it,
but their belief is groundless. They claim to have
reached the truth by means of spiritual disciplines.
The so-called spiritual disciplines are in fact of a
physical nature, and spiritual discovery by means
of physical discipline is an unfeasible proposition in
itself. Secondly, no spiritual adept is free of the
limitations to which all men are subject. The
obstacles which prevent others from reaching a full
understanding of truth also block his path. No self-
discipline can enable man to transcend these natural
limitations and convey to him a knowledge of
absolute truth.
So the stage is left to the Prophet. A prophet is a
human being who asserts that God has chosen him
and revealed true knowledge to him for the
purpose of conveying it to others. Intrinsically, this
is the only plausible claim so far, for only God, who
is eternal and omniscient, can have actual
knowledge of truth. God’s divinity itself is proof of
His all-pervading knowledge of reality. The claim
of one who asserts that he has received knowledge
of truth from God is worthy of consideration.
Here the question arises of there having been not
just one prophet. There are many divine scriptures
and many prophets have been sent to the world;
which of them should be followed? A person who is
really sincere in his search for truth, however, will
have no trouble in finding the answer to this
question. There is no doubt that in the past God has
raised many individuals to the status of
prophethood, but one can judge an event only by
virtue of its historical credibility and only one
prophet possesses credentials which make his
prophethood a historical certainty rather than just a
belief. Of all those who have claimed prophethood,
only Muhammad, on whom be peace and God’s
blessings, can be said to have achieved full
historical credibility. Everything about him is
established historical fact. We are just as well
informed about the Prophet of Islam as we are
about any contemporary person, or even more so.
Apart from him, all prophets are legendary figures.
No complete historical record of them exists, nor are
the scriptures they left preserved in their original
state. Only the life of Muhammad, on whom be
peace and God’s blessings, has been completely
chronicled. The book which was handed over to
people as the inspired word of God is also present
in its original form. So, looking at the matter
rationally, there can only be one answer to the
question. “What is truth?” From a practical as well
as a theoretical point of view, we should accept the
only realistic answer there is. We should not try to
select a solution from a wide range of alternatives.
This truth is the word of God and the word of God
is immutable. God’s commandments never change
either with respect to man or the rest of creation.
The terrestrial and celestial orders have not altered
despite the passing of billions of years. The
principles which govern vegetation and water in
one location are equally applicable in another. That
is the way with God’s commandments to man also:
they are the same now as they were thousands of
years ago. That which applies to one nation applies
with equal force to all.
Some factors in life, such as transport or
architecture, are continually being altered, but truth
always remains the same. Truth is attached to that
side of human nature which never changes. The
truth is concerned with matters like whom one
should accept as one’s Creator and Master; whom
one should worship; whom one should love and
whom one should fear; according to what criteria
one should assess success and failure; what the
purpose of one’s existence is and the focal point of
one’s emotions; according to what code of conduct
one should deal with people. Truth deals with
matters which are not affected by time and place.
Everyone, at all times and in all places, is
confronted by these questions. Just as God is one
and everlasting, so the truth is also one and will
always remain so.
Ref - The Way to Find God
