Moral & Social Issues Is Truth Relative or...
Question:
In one of your writings, you said that people will be awarded on the basis of finding the truth and sticking to it.
So is the truth relative or absolute. Because so many people having different understanding and religion... its all truth for them and they do follow their perception of truth.
I do agree with you on this matter but can you please answer this?
ALLAH HAFIZ,
Your brother in Islam,
Answer:
Truth is not relative. It is absolute. Nevertheless, the understanding, the appreciation and the perception of truth is relative, based upon the knowledge, the training, the exposure, the intelligence and a number of other variables relating to the individual making the decision.
Take the example of Jesus (pbuh). The Jews, the Christians and the Muslims - the three main religions in the world, claiming to be of divine origin - hold Jesus (pbuh) in three different positions. The Jews hold him to be a false prophet, the Christians hold him to be - not a prophet - but a Son of God and the Muslims hold him to be a true prophet of God. Now the three different positions ascribed to Jesus (pbuh) by the three different groups does not imply that the position of Jesus (pbuh) is relative, and thereby, all three positions are correct. On the contrary, it only implies that the understanding of the members of the three groups is relative, based upon a number of factors. The position of Jesus (pbuh), whatever it is, is independent of the understanding and perception of the three groups. It is indeed possible that none of the different prevalent understandings or perceptions about a particular phenomenon are correct. However, it is not possible that all the prevalent contradictory understandings and perceptions are deemed correct and representative of the truth. Thus, in my opinion, truth is absolute and is not dependent on how people understand it, while the understanding and the perception of the people regarding the truth is, indeed, relative.
One may ask: if our understanding of the truth is relative, then how could we be held accountable for following the absolute truth. According to my understanding of the Qur'an, man is required to, sincerely and honestly, search for the truth and live his life in accordance with what he has understood to be God's truth. This search is not merely a temporary stage in one's life. It should remain an ongoing process till the end of one's life. In other words, man should always keep his heart, mind and soul open to accepting and submitting to whatever he perceives to be God's truth. Mistakes and errors in this search for the truth will be forgiven, but arrogance, haughtiness and rejection of what one has understood to be the truth are inexcusable and shall, therefore, not be forgiven. The Qur'an has promised that if a person is honest in his search for the truth and is completely willing to surrender and submit to it, God shall Himself guide him to His absolute truth and open His ways for him.
Keeping the foregoing explanation in perspective, man shall not be rewarded or punished with reference to accepting or rejecting the 'absolute truth', but with reference to his attitude (with reference to his search and submission) toward for this 'absolute truth'.
Moiz Amjad
3rd July 2000
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