Who judges the contest between visible man and the invisible God?

A fair judge would have to understand everything and be completely impartial, and no human being is that. The only perfect Judge is God Himself, and within themselves every person has their conscience as a witness.

This contest is not new to our age. In every century people have said they believe only what they can see. Pharaoh had a tower built so that he could look for the God of Moses (as), as the first verse above tells us. The question is old. Only the means have changed.

Who should decide this contest? A referee needs two things. He must understand the whole matter, and he must be neutral. If either is missing, his judgement cannot be trusted.

No human being meets both conditions. Every person is a party to the case. We believe or we doubt, and we have our hopes, fears and preferences. Even the wisest person knows only a small part of reality. That is why no human being can have the last word for everyone else.

For the individual, one voice remains that concerns them directly, their own conscience. The Holy Qur’an says that a person is a witness against themselves. Whoever listens honestly within often knows very well whether they are following the truth or avoiding it.

The only perfect Judge, however, is God. He knows everything, and He owes nothing to anyone. In this world only someone who comes credibly in His name can speak on His behalf. So whoever wants to know whether visible man or the invisible God is right should consult their conscience and turn to the One who alone stands above both.