The Role of the Mind

After years of study abroad a young man returned with three questions which could not be answered by any person he had met. In order to help him solve this problem his parents found a local scholar to answer these questions. The dialogue was as follows:


Young man: Who are you? Can you answer my questions?
Scholar: I am one of Allah's(SWT) slaves and Insha-Allah (God willing), I will be able to answer your questions.

Young man : Are you sure? A lot of Professors and experts were not able to answer my questions.
Scholar: I will try my best, with the help of Allah(SubHana Wa Ta`ala ).

Young Man: I have three questions:

- Does God exist? If so, show me His shape. 

- What is taqdir (fate)?

- If Shaitan (Satan) was created from the fire, why at the end (i.e.after judgement day) will he be thrown into hell that was also created from fire. It certainly will not hurt him at all, since Shaitan (Satan) and the hell were created from fire. Did God not think of it this far?

Suddenly, the Scholar slapped the young man's face hard.

Young Man [feeling pain]: Why do you get angry at me?
Scholar: I am not angry. The slap is my answer to your three questions.

Young Man: I really don't understand.
Scholar: How do you feel after I slapped you?

Young Man: Of course, I felt the pain.
Scholar: So do you believe that pain exists?

Young Man: Yes.
Scholar: Show me the shape of the pain!

Young Man: I cannot.
Scholar: That is my first answer. All of us feel God's existence without being able to see His shape.

Scholar: Last night, did you dream that you will be slapped by me?
Young Man: No.

Scholar: Did you ever think that you will get a slap from me, today?
Young Man: No.

Scholar: That is takdir (fate).
Scholar: My hand that I used to slap you, what is it created from?

Young Man: It is created from skin.
Scholar: How about your face, what is it created from?

Young Man: Skin.
Scholar: How do you feel after I slapped you?

Young Man: In pain.
Scholar: Even though Shaitan (Satan) and also the hell were created from the fire, if Allah wants, insha-Allah (God willing), the hell will become a very painful place for Shaitan (Devil).