Author: Mehrullah Azizi
An Analysis of the History and Beliefs of Buddhism (part 19)
Monotheism as the Source of Spiritual Life
Monotheism (tawhid) is the foundation of the spiritual life of both the individual and society. A life without faith in the Oneness of God is a meaningless life, devoid of true joy. A person who does not believe in God is like the dead—deprived of the pure breeze of true life. For this reason, God Almighty describes disbelievers as “dead” due to their distance from tawhid, as He says: لِيُنذِرَ مَن كَانَ حَيًّا وَيَحِقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ Translation: “That he may warn whoever is alive (in understanding) and that the Word may be fulfilled against the disbelievers.” (Qur’an 36:70) [1]
The existence of God is evident to every rational and sound-natured person; it is an undeniable reality. However, some ignorant and desire-driven individuals deny His existence despite the inner call of their nature.
The existence of God is established through revelation, reason, and human nature. Below are some of these proofs:
1. Scriptural Evidence for the Existence of God
وَلَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن سُلَالَةٍ مِّن طِينٍ ثُمَّ جَعَلْنَاهُ نُطْفَةً فِي قَرَارٍ مَّكِينٍ ثُمَّ خَلَقْنَا النُّطْفَةَ عَلَقَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْعَلَقَةَ مُضْغَةً فَخَلَقْنَا الْمُضْغَةَ عِظَامًا فَكَسَوْنَا الْعِظَامَ لَحْمًا ثُمَّ أَنشَأْنَاهُ خَلْقًا آخَرَ ۚ فَتَبَارَكَ اللَّهُ أَحْسَنُ الْخَالِقِينَ Translation: “And indeed We created man from an extract of clay. Then we placed him as a drop in a secure place. Then We made the drop into a clot, then the clot into a lump, then the lump into bones, and We clothed the bones with flesh; then We produced him as another creation. So blessed is Allah, the Best of creators.” (Qur’an 23:12–14)[2]
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافُ أَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَأَلْوَانِكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّلْعَالِمِينَ Translation: “And among His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your languages and colors. Indeed, in that are signs for those who have knowledge. (Qur’an 30:22) [3]
وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ مَنَامُكُم بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَابْتِغَاؤُكُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَسْمَعُونَ Translation: “And among His signs is your sleep by night and day and your seeking of His bounty. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who listen.” (Qur’an 30:23) [4]
2. Rational Evidence for the Existence of God
Argument from Testimony:
God has testified to His existence through revelation and through His truthful prophets (peace be upon them), who were known for honesty and integrity.
Argument from Nature:
Phenomena such as the emergence of a chick from an egg at the precise time demonstrate a higher power and design.
Sayings of Scholars:
Imam al-Shafi‘i said, “The mulberry leaf—though one—produces different outcomes: silk from the silkworm, honey from the bee, milk from the goat, and musk from the deer. This indicates a wise creator.” [5]
Imam Ahmad said, “The egg, sealed and simple, produces a living creature with sight and form. This is a sign of divine creation.”[6]
3. Philosophical Evidence for the Existence of Allah
Every moving object requires a mover. This chain cannot regress infinitely. Therefore, there must be a first mover, unmoved, independent, and possessing absolute power—who is God. [7]
Additional Hadith on the Recognition of Allah: كُلُّ مَوْلُودٍ يُولَدُ عَلَى الْفِطْرَةِ Translation: “Every child is born upon the natural disposition (fitrah).” (Hadith – Sahih al-Bukhari & Muslim) [8]
This hadith shows that belief in God is innate within human nature.
To be continued…
Previous Part
Sources:
- Ya-Sin: 70.
- Al-Mu’minun: 12–14.
- Ar-Rum: 22.
- Ar-Rum: 23.
- Rida al-Haqq, Al-‘Aqidah al-Samawiyyah, Vol. 2, p. 179.
- Rida al-Haqq, Al-‘Aqidah al-Samawiyyah, Vol. 2, p. 179.
- Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, Tafsir Mafatih al-Ghayb, Vol. 2, pp. 333–334.
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Islam and Contemporary Rationality, p. 51, cited in: Idris Kandahlawi, ‘Ilm al-Kalam, p. 41.
