Buddhist · From impermanence to the One who does not pass

“I follow a path, not a God.”

A real conversation about suffering, impermanence, mindfulness, and whether a chain of conditioned things can explain itself.

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Verses for this conversation

“Everyone upon the earth will perish, and there will remain the Face of your Lord, Owner of Majesty and Honour.”

Quran 55:26–27

How the conversation unfolds

01Suffering and craving are both taken seriously
02Everything conditioned always depends on something else
03A chain of dependents needs an independent, uncaused source
04Mindfulness becomes the remembrance of God
05Compassion paired with real, final justice

Let's talk

A conversation between Buddhist and Muslim

Muslim

Hi, how's it going? I'm Hamza. What's your name?

You

Maya. Good thanks.

Muslim

Nice to meet you, Maya. What's your background, faith-wise, if you don't mind me asking?

You

I'm a Buddhist. It's honest about suffering, and I don't need a God for it.

Muslim

I respect that. Islam takes suffering seriously too. It says nothing here lasts. Like it says in the Qur'an 3:185, 'Every soul will taste death.'

You

That's basically impermanence.

Muslim

Pretty much. Chasing stuff that doesn't last just leaves you empty. The Buddha called it craving. We'd say the heart's looking for something this world can't give.

You

Okay, but where does God come into it?

Muslim

Buddhism says everything depends on something else, yeah? Nothing stands on its own.

You

Right. Dependent origination.

Muslim

So if everything leans on something else, what's holding the whole lot up? Something has to not depend on anything.

You

Maybe the chain just goes on forever.

Muslim

Picture a row of dominoes falling forever. Someone still had to tip the first one, otherwise nothing moves.

You

Hmm. Fair point.

Muslim

That's the One who never passes. Like it says in 28:88, 'Everything will perish except His Face.'

You

I love meditation though. I'm not giving that up.

Muslim

You wouldn't have to. We've got dhikr, remembering God. It's mindfulness with Someone on the other end. Like it says in 13:28, 'In the remembrance of God hearts find peace.'

You

And karma?

Muslim

Islam says every bit of good or bad counts, even the tiniest. Like it says in 99:7, 'Whoever does an atom's weight of good will see it.' But there's a Judge who's fair and merciful, not an endless cycle.

You

That's actually quite comforting.

Muslim

It is. Your kindness matters, and nothing goes unnoticed.

You

Where would I start?

Muslim

Read the Qur'an slowly, like you'd meditate on a text. Then sit quietly and just ask, 'If You're there, guide me.'

You

And if I felt it was true?

Muslim

Then the Shahada: 'There is no god but God, and Muhammad is His messenger.' Simple as that. No rush at all, Maya.

Take the next step at your own pace

Nothing here needs a decision today. Read the evidence, ask your own questions, and take as long as you need.

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