Dr. Jamal Badawi
Even on a very fundamental level we find that throughout history
there is a very strange phenomenon that people of different backgrounds,
living in so many different parts of the world at different points in
time, have always had this strong urge within themselves to look and to
yearn for the Creator. They see that there is some power, a magnificent
and merciful power that is sometimes interpreted in a mistaken way by
materializing that in some form or other (i.e. idols). The basic
yearning has always been there. Even in places where there is no
recorded history of a particular prophet, people have yearned for a
Creator. That’s what I’m referring to as an innate nature. The Arabic
term is ‘fitra.’ Fitra literally translates to: something that one is
created with or created in accordance with: this innate nature.
Is the intellect an enemy to faith?
All human faculties such as the senses including also the intellect
are part and parcel of the whole process of seeking the truth. None of
these by themselves will be sufficient, but on a whole they are not
really in contradiction. In fact I would say, even more positively, that
from a Muslim point of view one of the main things that make the human
being distinct, one of the basic blessings that he is given by God to
make him different from animals since animals can think as well, is
intellect. So the intellect is a God given gift or blessing. How could
we interpret that as a challenge or antithesis of faith? This doesn’t
really stand.
On the personal or individual level, one doesn’t have to venture far
to realize that God does exist. Just look into yourself, you don’t have
to be a scientist but if you are then you’ll appreciate more the
construction of the body; how it is made up of many cells. One cell
becomes a cell for sight and the other for hearing; it’s amazing. How
does the brain operate? The circulatory system? The digestive system?
The nervous system? Such coordination and beauty [is shown through their
functioning]. This shows that these things didn’t come to be in a
haphazard way, there must have been a deliberate design behind them. So
if you want to find God then look into yourself. The Quran says, “By looking into yourselves, you will find evidence to the presence and powers of God.”
In another verse it even says,
“Do they not reflect in their own minds?”
(30:8) In fact, if one really divorces himself from any prejudice
caused by societal pressures one way or the other, or the worship of
science as the ultimate thing, if one utilizes science in the proper
way, you wouldn’t have to look at the body as a whole, just start
analyzing one single organ and see how it works. Like some scientists
would tell you that in order to duplicate the digestive system you’d
need a huge laboratory and still it wouldn’t operate as efficiently as a
naturally created organ would such as the stomach. We have acids in our
stomachs that can erode metal but it doesn’t hurt us. How could that
be haphazard? If one aspect of that was developed by chance would
everything else falling in line and falling together also happen by
chance?
The Environment and Cosmic Order
Let’s move on to beyond ourselves, to find further evidence, the
Quran also implores people to consider and to think. Take one aspect
that many people think about today as very fashionable, like the
ecological balance for example. Many people would take that as very
clear evidence again that there is a design in this universe; vegetation
as it relates to animal life and to human life; and the various
atmospheric layers that we have. Everything is put together to sustain
human life. If you look into the Quran, you find this mentioned. In one
verse, in the Quran, it says,
“God created everything in exact proportion.”
(16:25) This is a very important term “in exact proportion” it’s not
just that He created but that there is a deliberate design behind
putting all of these things together.
In another verse, when people look at the whole scheme of creation, it says, “Were they created from nothing or are they themselves the creators?”
No one claims that he’s created from nothing nor can he claim that he
is the creator [of the heavens and earth]. Then the verse continues, “Or did they create the heavens and earth?” No one claims that. Then it says, “Nay but they see not.”
(52: 35-36) So the science is there. It’s whether we apply it in the
right place and in the proper way or not that makes the difference.
Finally, if you move into what I would call the third circle, not
just looking into ourselves or the environment around us but looking
into the whole cosmic order, again there is a design. The planets. The
solar system. The way everything is coordinated. The distance between
the sun and the earth, which if decreased may burn everything and if
decreased everything would freeze. This is all deliberate. The
succession of day and night, the circulation or changes of seasons,
which has very important relevance to the lives of the people, to
vegetation, and to animal life; all of these beautiful things that we
are in awe at in the universe, we look at them with great admiration,
definitely show that there is a design behind them and as is obvious any
design needs a designer or creator it.
One verse in the Quran implores us in particular to this area and says,
“Have they not reflected on the domain of the heavens and earth and what God created therein?”
In another verse it also says, in the general sense of the meaning:
in the creation of the heavens and earth and in the succession of day
and night there are certainly signs for those who reflect. Those who
remember God while standing, sitting, and laying down and ponder on the
creation of the heavens and the earth, saying: Our Lord you have not
created this in vain. Glory be to You. Give us salvation from the
penalty of the Fire. (3: 190-191)
Our Own Limitations
In talking about the senses and the intellect or knowledge, I think
anyone, even a person who does not believe in God, would admit readily
that our senses are limited. Our perceptions are limited. Our sight,
hearing, etc- we know that. Also, we know that our perceptions could
also be deceived or they can deceive us. If you put a spoon in a glass
of water, it looks crooked. A very well known phenomenon is of people
traveling in the desert or in hot areas and would see in front of them a
lake or a puddle of water- the mirage- but it actually does not exist.
At the time it’s seen it is a reality to the person seeing it. So our
perception is very useful, but it still falls short of getting to know
everything.
On the other hand, science is fine. Science can resolve many issues
and problems that are purely scientific- that are purely technical.
Science can tell you for sure how to use technology for example to
communicate sounds and pictures; this can be determined fully by
science. However, there are many aspects in lives of people that are
beyond science also. There is the moral aspect, there are the ethical
standards, and there is the application of the fundamental principal of
good and bad. As we said the [principle of good and bad] is instinctive
but still needs some modifications and limitations. And we know
throughout history that people have always had differences as to what
exactly defines the proper ethical or moral standards. In order to
resolve that problem, there must be a higher authority, God, Himself,
telling us and providing us with stable standards of ethics and morality
within which you can interpret various details.
Finally, and perhaps this is in my mind the most important reason, is
that we know that knowledge is not only limited to science or books or
perception. We know that there are certain aspects of knowledge,
legitimate knowledge, which does not lend itself to any of those tools.
For example, take the knowledge of the unseen. What happened in the past
before history was recorded? If you wanted to get any information on
that there is no recorded history. Or at least there is dispute about
the recorded history. Revelation can tell you what, for example, the
stories of previous prophets and what they said and what their message
was.
There are issues that no matter how much you use your mind you will
not be able to arrive at a final conclusion. An example of that would be
the knowledge about God. You can’t feel the presence of God. You can
feel the attributes of God but you can’t have full knowledge without
having a prophet or messenger in receiving that revelation from God and
the communication from Him to us. So, in essence, I don’t see
contradiction. Actually, they all supplement each other. They have to be
simply used in the proper context.
http://www.whyislam.org/god/how-do-we-know-god-exists/
