President Obama said, “I am a black man who grew up without a father. I know the cost that I paid.” In a Father’s Day speech in 2008 he said, “Children who grow up without a father are five times more likely to live in poverty and commit crimes, nine times more likely to drop out of school and twenty times more likely to end up in prison.” Children suffer when fathers are absent.
Muslims often reject the idea of Allah as Father. But the Holy Books share why it’s important that Allah is a Father to his people. Let’s think about why Muslims need God as Father.
No Father in Islam
Muslims speak fondly of the “Ninety-Nine Beautiful Names of Allah.” But, Father is not one of them. Barak Obama said it was costly not having a human father. Is it costly for Muslims not to have a heavenly Father? Perhaps there are yearning hearts like that of Bilquis Sheikh.
“I Dared to Call Him Father”
Bilquis Sheikh (1912-1997) came from a prominent Muslim family in Pakistan. She was searching to know Allah. A Christian doctor suggested that she pray to Him as a Father.
She did, crying out, “Father, oh my Father God.” He spoke to her.
Then she asked God about the Quran and the Bible. “Which one is your book?” she asked. She heard a voice say, “In which book do you meet Me as your Father?”
Of course, it was the Bible. She became a follower of Isa Al-Masih. She told her story in the book, “I Dared to Call Him Father.”
The Father Who Cares
The Torah and Zabur tell us that Allah (God) is a caring Father. “Sing to God … His name is the Lord – rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows …” (Zabur 68:4-5). Allah (God) the Father cares about you in your joys and in your pain.
The Father Who Loves
John, the disciple of Jesus, was overwhelmed by the Father’s love. He wrote, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (Injil, 1 John 3:1).
What a privilege to have this special relationship with the God who created the universe, to be His children and to have fellowship with Him!
The Father Who Prepared an Eternal Home
Isa Al-Masih (Jesus) comforted His children. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms …” (Gospels, John 14:1).
Isa Al-Masih (Jesus) went on to say if that were not so, He would go and prepare a place for them. Then he “… will come back to take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (Gospels, John 14:3). Heaven will mean being with the Father (Allah) forever.
Isa Al-Masih (Jesus) Is The Way to the Father
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’” (Injil, John 14:6). God wants to be your Father too. Call out to Him in the name of Isa Al-Masih (Jesus).
SOME QUESTIONS FOR THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW
We encourage our readers to comment on the article above. Comments that don’t directly relate to the topic will be removed. Please start a dialogue with us by focusing on one of the following questions:
- Reflect on what your human father means to you. Would you miss your human father if he was no longer alive?
- Is Barak Obama right in saying that society suffers when fathers are absent? Do you think Muslims might suffer since they don’t know God as their Father?
- Would you like to know God as a loving Father? If so, contact us or do what Bilquis Sheikh did by reading the Torah Zabur, and Injil.
[We invite you to visit us at http://www.isaandislam.com/way-of-salvation to learn more about God’s gift of Salvation. God loves you and waits to hear from you. Jesus clearly said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Injil, John 14:6). For a deeper understanding of Jesus, we suggest you subscribe to “Isa, Islam, and Al-Fatiha” at this link.]
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1 Corinthians 8:6 says, “Yet for us, there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through who are all things and through whom we exist”.
Luke 11:2-4 says, And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation.”