Author: Mohajer Azizi
Scientology; Its Origins and Beliefs (Part Nine)
The beliefs and ideas of Scientology and a critique of it (continued)
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The auditory (sound-based) argument
The throats and vocal cords of all animals, birds, and humans have an apparently similar structure; however, each produces a different sound. Even among humans, the structure of the throat and mouth is almost the same, yet voices and tones differ: some sounds are beautiful and pleasant to the ear, while others are unpleasant and harsh. Some voices bring joy and tranquility, and others cause aversion and discomfort. This astonishing difference in voices is a sign of the knowledge and power of Allah, the All-Knowing.
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The animal (biological) argument
A chick inside an egg is enclosed and almost motionless. But when the time for its emergence arrives, it begins to strike from inside the shell with its small beak, and by the power of Allah, it cracks the shell and comes out. Even more astonishing is the chick of an ostrich, whose egg is large and extremely hard; almost like a cement or metal covering. Yet the chick, at the exact appointed time, emerges from it. This remarkable phenomenon is itself a clear proof of the existence of Allah and His complete power. [1]
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The rational argument from the Imams and great scholars of the Ummah
The great Imams of Islam also provided strong, rational, and convincing responses to those who denied the existence of Allah, compelling them to accept the truth:
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One day Imam Abu Hanifah (RA) was sitting in the mosque. A group of “Dahriyyah” (those who deny God), who were among his fiercest opponents, entered the mosque. They always sought an opportunity to debate with the Imam (RA) and defeat him. One of them said: O Abu Hanifah! What is your proof for the existence of Allah?
The Imam (RA) asked: Have you ever seen a ship before? He said: Yes. The Imam said: If you were to see a ship moving on the surface of the sea, yet it had no captain, no one steering it, and no one watching over it; would the intellect accept that such a ship moves on its own? He said: No, the intellect cannot accept that.
The Imam (RA) said: “Glory be to Allah! The heavens and the earth, with all their precision and order; the sun, the moon, and the stars revolving in their exact orbits; the seas and the lands arranged in an astonishing system and all of this without planning and without a Creator?! How is that possible?!”
Then he said: “Just as a ship cannot move upon the sea without a captain, this vast and precise world cannot come into existence without a Creator who is All-Knowing and All-Powerful.” Then everyone present recognized the truth of his words, accepted the reality, and repented.
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Imam al-Shafi‘i (RA) was asked: “What is your proof for the existence of Allah?” He said: “The leaf of the mulberry tree.” They asked: “How is the mulberry leaf a proof for the existence of God?” He replied: “This leaf has one taste, one color, and one nature; yet when the silkworm eats it, it produces silk; when the honeybee eats it, it produces honey; the goat, from it, produces milk; and the deer produces fragrant musk! Though all of them eat from the same leaf, the outcomes are different. Therefore, without doubt, behind this astonishing system is a Lord who is All-Knowing and All-Powerful, who has created everything in a specific measure and according to His wisdom.” The people were amazed by his statement and believed in Allah.
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Imam Ahmad (RA) was asked: “What proof do you have for the existence of Allah?”
He replied: “A smooth and polished eggshell.” They asked: “How is the egg a proof for the existence of God?” He said: “Inside it there is no opening; its outside is white and its inside is yellow. No one painted it, and no one constructed it. Yet with the passing of time, from this simple and small shell, a chick emerges with seeing eyes, wings, and beautiful feathers! Is this anything other than the work of Allah, the All-Knowing and All-Powerful?!”
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Hārūn al-Rashīd asked Imam Mālik (RA): “What bears witness to the existence of Allah?”
The Imam (RA) replied: “The differences in voices and languages, and the diversity of dialects.” Then he added: “Just as the ear hears different melodies, there is a God who created all these differences. The One who brought iron, salt, sugar, and lifeless materials into existence in the earth, and placed intellect, understanding, and diverse tongues within human beings without doubt, He is an All-Knowing Creator and an All-Powerful Wise One.” [2]
C: Islam; The Religion of Monotheism and the Criterion for Evaluating Fabricated Religions
From the perspective of Islam, no religion except the divine monotheistic faith; sent by Allah under the name “Islam” for the guidance of humanity; possesses any validity or legitimacy. The laws revealed to Prophet Moses (PBUH) and Prophet Jesus (PBUH) were originally unaltered and in harmony with the teachings of Islam; therefore, they were acceptable. However, after they became changed and distorted, and after the complete religion of Islam was revealed, those religions came to be known as “Judaism” and “Christianity” and lost their validity.
According to the teachings of Islam, the followers of these two religions—after the coming of Islam and their rejection of it are called infidels and polytheists. Now that the previous heavenly religions are not accepted by God, how can non-heavenly, man-made systems such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Scientology be acceptable to the Lord of the worlds?
Allah the Exalted has said: “إن الدين عند الله الإسلام” [3] Translation: “Indeed, the religion that is acceptable and approved in the sight of Allah is Islam.”
Allah the Exalted (in this verse) informs that He accepts no religion from anyone except Islam. What is meant by “Islam” is following the prophets of Allah (PBUT), in every era in which they were sent. This chain of prophets (PBUT) ended with the mission of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). After that, all paths to Allah are only through the call and law of the Prophet of Islam (PBUH). Therefore, whoever comes before Allah after his mission with a religion other than Islam, his religion will not be accepted.
As Allah says in another verse: “ومن يبتغ غير الإسلام دينا فلن يقبل منه وهو في الآخرة من الخاسرين”[4] Translation: “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted from him, and in the Hereafter, he will be among the losers.”
As a result, Allah clearly states in this verse that the only religion accepted by Him is the religion of Islam. [5] Other fabricated systems such as Scientology have no validity; rather, they are among the non-Abrahamic, lifeless, deviant, and atheistic religions.
To be continued…
Previous Part
References:
- Rida al-Haqq, al-‘Asīdah al-Samāwiyyah, vol. 2, p. 179.
- Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, Tafsir Mafatih al-Ghayb, vol. 2, pp. 333–334.
- Āl ‘Imrān: 19.
- Āl ‘Imrān: 85.
- Ismail ibn ‘Umar al-Dimashqi, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, vol. 2, pp. 20–21.
