HOw can you believe in some thing if you don't know what it is?

Question

I was surprised to find out today that neither my mom, or dad have read the whole Quran in translation. Of course we all have read it in Arabic..... So I am sure there are other Muslims who have not read the translation, and I am sure there are other Christians who have not read the bible but are firm believers in the faith.
So how can you be a firm believer with out reading the whole scripture?

YES RAY you might be... at leasts you bothered to read before deciding there is no God, unlike some people who follow like puppets.

Robert G: No, we know how to read Arabic because it is very similar to Urdu, but we don't know the language. Arabic language is one of the hardest to learn. even my 10 year old brother knows how to read it, like people can read Spanish but would not know what it means

Answer 1

I find it very hard to understand how a person can believe in something they do not understand but people do this all the time under the name Traditions of men. They say my father did it and his father did it so it must be OK. Then these same people would tell you that it is faith.
Yes maybe blind faith is what it is too. But this is not that the Bible teaches us about

Answer 2

Well, for many of these people, there understanding of the scripture comes from teaching and church and lectures and explanations of others. It is possible to have a workable understanding of a movie or book without reading it's entirety. If it wasn't, cliff notes would be out of business.

Anyway, think that if these people are really devoted, they likely attend services regularly and have spent a very significant period of time discussing the scripture. Enough to know it quite well, even if they have never sat down and read it cover to cover.

BTW, I was wondering that you said that they read the Quran in Arabis but not in translation. I knew that muslims learned to read arabis. I thought this meant they learned the language. Is this not the case? Or is it just that they do not understand Arabic as well as their native language?

Answer 3

So what you're saying is, you have read and not understood the Qur'an in Arabic, but you haven't read it in a language you do understand? Why not? I'm not even Muslim and I've read the Qur'an! And the Bible.

So no, I don't think you can make a conscious decision about religion without having read its entire book! Mind you, I suppose your case is different because you were raised in the religion, but for adult converts, I really think it's necessary to read an entire religious text before converting to that religion. Otherwise, you are not fully informed.

Answer 4

beliefs and facts are two different concepts. In belief, even if you have not seen it by yourself, there are other manifestations. e.g.Never been to the Artic region or whether GW is true, but there are lots of other factors that points out it's there.About facts, it is there, no one can deny its existence.
Believing in something you don't know is faith.You accepted it whatever it is. But in Islam, it is discouraged. One need to understand what he is to believed in.
With your parents, reading the quran in arabic is sufficient,and most recommended, best if they understood it, memorize even some part or the whole and apply it in life. And with there age, they could have probably heard the translations several times in attending various islamic activities. We are not the judges of other people.

Answer 5

I just spent so little time to read Quran (in comparison with my time to sleep, work and stay in Y! Answers he he he)

But I believe it, coz I hear it from people that I believe will tell me a truth about Quran, My Mom

Since I was a kid, my mom read for me Quran and translated it to language that could be easily understood by a kid (my mom is Arabic literate)

That's why everything that I got from my mom, is stronger than everything that I get by learning by my self.

Answer 6

It is by faith that you believe in your religion because it best describes your attributes to your God. There's a purpose of life. It is true that a person must be fully satisfied in his religion and this comes to knowing the religion that they are following and by reading, it can help the person to know more about what he is following.
In Islam, it isn't only a religion but a way of life, so they got accustomed to follow and adapt the religion they are born with. But to those who are seeking the right path, they search, read and let themselves be satisfied for all the questions left unanswered. I was a convert muslim and my unanswered questions are satisdfied best by the Quran. I undoubtedly embrace Islam. Any religion are called for reading because learning and knowledge will make you free and the purpose of your creation. But the best is following a religion that calls for unity in one God All mighty which doesn't have any partner nor man made. La-Illaha-Ilallah Mohamedan Abduhu warusulluh.

Answer 7

Faith is the belief in things not seen. Have you ever asked God if the Quran is all the truth he has or if he has other writings? And if he does not have other writings why he does not? Or would talking to God with the full belief that he will answer you against your faith? Please do not think I am trying to run your religion down, I am not. I just think those questions need answered by any religion no matter the faith.

Answer 8

Do you believe in physics? Have you ever read a physics book all the way through? If you have, you are in the minority! Two things. One, deep inside your heart or logically you know it is true. Two, people who HAVE read it tell you that it is true, and you believe them. Believing in religion is like believing in anything else. There is more to proving it than a book.

That is not to say I don't think people should read the Quran or Bible. I think they SHOULD. But you definitely don't need to read a book about something to believe in it. You just need to read the book to understand it fully. I believe in physics, but I can hardly say I am an expert on it!

Answer 9

If you pray and God responds, you know he exists. You can use prayer to find out if something is true. Reading scripture gives you the details and helps you learn how to apply what you learn. But scripture without being able to get an answer through prayer, that would perhaps help you be a good person, but would not lead to faith.

Answer 10

The same reason the Asians continue to slaughter sharks by the MILLIONS because they think shark fin is an aphrodisiac, that it will make them live longer and make them more Verile. All proven to be false, but they believe it anyway.

I read a report once that said that over 90% of all Christians have never read the entire bible.