Aslam

Praise be to Allah.It is the matter of common sense that man

has been created, and the created being must have a Creator. The Creator

of man is Allaah, Who created the heavens and the earth, and created

all things. Man has to acknowledge this reality. It is also the matter

of common sense that the Creator of this universe is the One who deserves

to be worshipped, obeyed, feared, hoped and loved. This means that the

one who does not acknowledge this truth is an atheist and a denier,

and is ignorant and corrupt; his intellect is less than human. Whoever

does not submit truly as a slave to Allaah, Who has created the heavens

and the earth, but is too proud to worship Him, or worships some created

being alongside Him, is refusing to worship Allaah, or is a mushrik

(one who associates others in worship with Him). Both the one who refuses

to worship Allaah and the one who associates others in worship with

Him are kaafirs (disbelievers), like atheists and deniers. Whoever denies

the Creator or refuses to worship Him, or joins others in worship with

Him, deserves the most severe punishment, because for a man to deny

his Creator, or refuse to worship Him, or join others in worship with

Him, is the most serious of human sins, the most abhorrent of beliefs

and the worst deviation. If a person is like this, there is no value

in any good deed that he does. The atheist who does deeds that are good

in his own eyes, and does whatever good deeds he can for his society,

is like a man who kills his father and mother and takes good care of

dogs. Does it not make sense that he should be punished and that his

good treatment of dogs should not count for anything?  The most

important rights are the rights of Allaah, which are that He should

be acknowledged and worshipped. The one who neglects this most important

right will not benefit from anything he does with regard to people’s

rights. Therefore if the atheist does not believe in Allaah and does

not worship Allaah, there cannot be any good in the actions that he

does for people’s benefit. But this atheist or mushrik who treats people

well is still better than the atheist or mushrik who oppresses and mistreats

people, and denies them their rights. He may be rewarded for his good

deeds by being granted provision of food and drink in this world, but

he will have no share in the Hereafter. Look at yourself, and believe

in Allaah and His Messenger, and follow the guidance of Allaah with

which He sent His Messenger (peace

and blessings of Allaah be upon him), the Seal of the Prophets, so that

you might avoid the punishment of Allaah. Know the difference between

the believer and the atheist, the one who worships Allaah alone and

the one who associates others in worship with Him. Allaah says (interpretation

of the meaning):

“The

likeness of the two parties is as the blind and the deaf and the seer

and the hearer. Are they equal when compared? Will you not then take

heed?[Hood

11:24]