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Shiavault - a Vault of Shia Islamic Books Your Questions Answered (volume 6) Q1. How To Deal With Atheist and / Or Agnostic? What is the best way to convince an atheist who claims that there is no God, or an agnostic who says that man's only recognition can be of the phenomenal world, and that man does not and cannot know anything about a spiritual existence, either of God or man or of any after-death state? How can we convince him about Islam?

How would you reply to someone who after hearing the arguments says, "Nobody really knows if this is all true! Nobody knows if there is a life hereafter"? A: The best and safest course for such people will be to believe in a Creator and in the Day of Judgement. The following tradition of Imam Ja'far Sadiq (A.S) shows the reason Why? Ibn Abil 'Awja' and Ibn Muqaffa' were sitting in Masjidul Haram at the time of pilgrimage, with some of their fellow atheists.

(They pretended to be Muslims just to save their skins; but were always openly arguing against the belief in God). Ibn Muqaffa' said, pointing towards the space around the Ka'bah: "Do you see this mob? None among them could be called a human being except that old man (i.e., Imam Ja'far Sadiq A.S). As for the others, they are nothing but catties and animals." Ibn Abil 'Awja' asked him as to how could he say such a thing.

Ibn Muqaffa' said: Because I have found with him (such virtues and knowledge) which I did not find anywhere else. Ibn Abil 'Awja' said: Now it is necessary to test whether what you say is true. Ibn Muqaffa' tried to dissuade him. But Ibn Abil 'Awja' went to the Imam (A.S). He came back after sometime and said: "O Ibn Muqaffa'! He is not just a human being.

If there were in this world a spiritual thing which became a body if he wished so, and turned into a spirit if he wanted to, then it is he." Ibn Muqaffa' said: How come? Ibn Abil 'Awja' said: I sat near him. When all others went away, he started talking (without my asking anything) and said: "If the fact is as they believe and He is as they (i.e. the pilgrims) say, then they would be saved and you would be in trouble.

And if the fact is as you (atheists) say, and not as they say, then you and they both would be equal (and no harm would come to either group.)" I said: "May Allah have mercy on you, what is that which they say and what is that which we say? My belief and their belief is but one." Imam (A.S) said: "How could your belief and their belief be the same?