How can you be sure that your own faith is the truth?

The tool is reason, but not reason alone. Whoever searches with their best understanding and with inner honesty, free of prejudice, is safe before God, even if they are mistaken.

Every religion, and almost every school within a religion, considers itself true. Noticing this can easily make a person unsure. How can one recognise the right claim among so many? The tool we have for this is our reason. That is why the second verse above demands proof rather than mere wishes.

But reason alone is not enough. Just as important is the inner honesty of the seeker. The first verse above says that even a book free of all doubt only guides the righteous. Someone who has already decided what the outcome must be will not recognise the truth, even when it lies before them. Someone who is honest within, however, will be led to the truth when they meet it.

The Holy Qur’an calls this inner attitude free of prejudice taqwa, meaning fear of God and righteousness. Whoever examines a question with taqwa and with the best understanding God has given them has done what is asked of them. Their conclusions may seem wrong to other people. But they will not be judged by other people. They will be judged by God, who knows their heart.

There is great reassurance in this. God will not punish a person who searched honestly and still made a mistake. It is different when an error comes from a twisted inner attitude. Being sure, then, does not mean that one can never be wrong. It means searching sincerely and with an open mind, and trusting that God will lead the seeker further, as the third verse above promises.