Table of Contents
The Main Point
The Reason Behind the Question
Awham and Mushir are students at the same university. Their departments are different, but there is no lack of sincerity between them. They are each other’s best friends. Lately, observing Awham’s movement and behavior, Mushir has grown suspicious. He notices a kind of skeptical air in Awham’s words and tone. One day he asks him directly, “Awham, what is your problem?”
“Nothing much. I am just suffering from a little fluctuation.”
“What fluctuation, may I know?”
“Tell me, Mushir, what is the use of this religion and all that? And among so many religions, which one will you fully consider correct, the true religion?”
“Why, Islam alone is correct. What is there to doubt?”
“You just said Islam is correct. That is only self-defense. You are saying your religion is correct. Others will say their religion is correct. Do you know what the truth is, Mushir? Religious people are basically selfish. Each one only cares about his own. They do not look at everything neutrally, with a free mind.”
Mushir said, “All right, I understand. Tomorrow I will take you to someone. Go to him and ask every question that is in your mind. I hope you will receive satisfying answers.”
The next afternoon, Mushir set out toward the person he had in mind, taking Awham with him. Of course, Awham did not agree so easily. Under Mushir’s insistence, he agreed on one condition: “If that person cannot answer Awham, then Mushir must accept that Awham is right.”
Mushir said, “You just come. If you do not get an answer, then you will naturally be proven right. And if you do get an answer, then…?”
From a distance, Mushir pointed toward a man and said to Awham, “That is the person I told you about.” Awham looked and saw a fair-skinned man with a full beard, wearing a Punjabi and a turban on his head. With a tone of contempt, he said, “This cleric is only fit to chew dates. What answer will he give to my questions? These questions of mine are not collected from some ordinary book. They are taken from the books of Aroj Ali, known as a self-educated philosopher.”
Mushir said in a comforting tone, “Let us see what happens.”
They went to that man, and Mushir greeted him with salam. He replied to the salam, embraced Mushir saying, “Mushir bhai, you are here,” and both of them recited the supplication taught by the Prophet: “Allahumma zid mahabbati lillahi wa rasulihi” — “O Allah, increase our love for Allah and His Messenger.”
Mushir introduced Awham to him: “This is my friend Awham. And Awham, this is Hafiz Mawlana Ihtijaz.”
When Ihtijaz extended his hand to shake Awham’s hand, Awham grasped it and shook it in a way that announced: “I am completely modern. I am not a medieval cleric like you, who shakes hands, embraces, and recites prayers.”
The previous night, Mushir had told Ihtijaz everything over the phone. So nothing new needed to be explained here. Ihtijaz took them to his hostel room. He ordered some snacks and drinks and sent a friend to the nearby shop. Ihtijaz was staying in the hostel while pursuing higher studies after Dawra-e-Hadith. After speaking with Awham for a while in the room, Ihtijaz understood where Awham’s problem really lay.
Ihtijaz said, “Awham da, I will address you as ‘da’ — elder brother. I hope you will not mind.”
Awham smiled and said, “Of course, call me that. Why would I mind? It is a sweet form of address.”
“Okay, da. Then we can enter the main discussion. So, da, which question of Aroj Ali Sahib is disturbing your mind? Which one would you like to begin with? Kindly tell me.”
The Depth of the Question: The Problem of Disagreement in Religion
Awham looked at him with a sidelong glance and said, “You people practice so much religion and say that religion has come from the Creator. Then why is there so much disagreement about religion and the Creator? In plain words, in the language of Aroj Ali Sahib, I want to know: ‘There is no end to disagreement in the world of religion. Where two opinions cannot be true at the same time, how can hundreds of opinions held by hundreds of religions be true? If you say that truth is one, then the question arises: which one and why? That is, what is the criterion of truth? What is the test of truth?’”
Ihtijaz said, “Awham da, the question raised here about religion must certainly be about religions that acknowledge the existence of the Creator. Because whatever headache Aroj Ali Sahib or his followers have is about religions that acknowledge the existence of the Creator. In particular, their headache over Islam has no end. Such questions from him and like-minded people are basically directed at religious people who acknowledge the existence of the Creator. They themselves do not believe in the Creator, just as Buddhists do not in that sense.”
“On the other hand, although Buddhism may have taken the form of a religion in scriptural terms, since it does not acknowledge the existence of the Creator and does not claim to be a religion given by the Creator, the question does not arise whether that religion came from the Creator, whether they possess the speech of the Creator, or whether they are correct by such examination. Since they do not claim a religion received from the Creator, and since they have accepted that theirs is a man-made religion, there is no need to raise a question to prove it wrong. It is automatically invalid. A religion made by human beings will inevitably be covered with errors, deviations, and superstitions. Searching there to see whether it is the correct or incorrect religion is like groping in darkness.”
“In denying the Creator, Buddhists are essentially cousins of atheists. So here one may find the touch of atheism, not the existence of faith. Therefore his question should be directed against those who stand opposite him and claim a religion received from the Creator. Is that not so?”
Awham’s natural answer came: “Yes, that seems to be the case.”
“Then listen, Awham da. Before understanding the answer to this question, we must first place a few more questions before us by way of introduction. Such as: Does the Creator exist? If He exists, how many are there? One or many? Is there any need for religion to come from the Creator? If so, which one? And so on.”
“We will first examine whether there is anyone called the Creator. Look, da, whatever is perishable must necessarily have been created. What has not been made cannot be broken. Just as what has not been created cannot be perishable or decaying. The matter to observe is whether this earth, the planets, stars, moon, and sun are perishable or not.”
The Existence of the Creator: In the Light of Reason and Science
One of the leading physicists of the world, Lord Kelvin, said, “Chemistry reveals this fact: inorganic matter is gradually disappearing. Some decay very slowly, while some decay very quickly. Therefore it can be said that the existence of matter is not eternal.”
Scientist Isaac Newton, through the discovery of the theory of antimatter, also informed us that this universe is gradually advancing toward destruction. For just as there is this Universe, there is also an Anti-Universe. Both are expanding. Whenever one comes into contact with the other, the most unprecedented event of the world will occur. Nothing will remain. Everything will be annihilated.
On the other hand, the Big Bang theory tells us that this universe had a beginning at one time. Therefore it must have an initiator. So what do you understand, Awham da? Is this universe eternal and everlasting? Never. That means this universe was created at a certain point. This is the idea of the Creator we received according to the information given by science. Now look at what scientists have said about sensing the Creator.
In an article titled “God Spot Is Found in the Brain,” Professor Dr. V. S. Ramachandran of the University of California said that belief in the Creator is deeply rooted in the human mind.
On 2 November 1997, The Sunday Times published a scientific report. It said that scientists claimed to have discovered a place in the human brain called the “God module,” which plays a major role behind human belief in religion. Neurological research showed that those who practice a great deal of spirituality have certain neural connections in the frontal part of the brain, and when they think and reflect about the Creator, those nerves become electrically active.
If this research is true and if something called the “God module” really exists, then it proves that the neural connections in the brains of atheists are different from those of normal human beings. Scientists have been compelled to reach the conclusion that belief in the Creator is certainly an innate matter. It is not something merely taught. Belief in the Creator is an inherent and natural feature of human beings. Now, if someone does not believe in the Creator, then it must be understood that he is disturbed.
“Look, Awham da, opium addicts face the possibility of their lives becoming endangered if they do not take opium at the proper time. But for that reason, opium consumption cannot be called their natural habit. Rather, taking opium is a filthy habit that they have artificially developed. It is an enemy of their natural state. In the same way, belief in the Creator is a natural matter for human beings. If someone does not believe, then it must be understood that he is no longer a normal human being. Rather, with a corrupted body and mind, he is moving toward becoming an abnormal beast, which will take him beyond the boundaries of oppression, tyranny, social corruption, injustice, and moral transgression.”
“If you search for the Creator even in the light of reason, there are so many arguments that they cannot all be stated. Consider one simple argument. If I say about the shirt you are wearing that it has no maker, that its stitching and buttons all came together by themselves, would you accept that?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Then use a little intelligence and tell me, da: how could this vast universe come into existence so finely and systematically without a Creator? How can countless planets and stars move in their own orbits in such order without a controller? Even a small boat needs a boatman to steer it. Do you understand, Awham da, how inevitable the truth of the Creator is?”
Mushir looked into Awham’s eyes and saw a silent sign of affirmation.
Is the Creator One or Many? A Rational Analysis
Ihtijaz said, “Da, now we will examine whether the Creator is one or many. You will see that those who believe in the Creator in this world are divided into two groups. Either they believe in one Creator, Allah, or they believe in multiple creators. The main philosophical argument of those who believe in many gods is this: ‘The world is full of different types of elements. These elements are distinct and separated from one another. The visible world is full of diversity, and this diversity proves that behind this visible world there are numerous beings.’”
“Come, da, let us analyze in the light of reason whether it is possible for there to be multiple creators, and how valid the argument of the believers in many gods really is.”
“One. If there were multiple creators, how would there be unity among them? Each would surely want to manifest his own lordship. If one wanted to send rain, another might want to give burning sunlight. If one wanted to cause a flood, another might want to split the earth open with the drought of Chaitra. They would remain engaged only in conflict with one another. The name and trace of creation would not even appear. Therefore, those who believe in multiple creators cannot give any reasonable explanation for many creators and the unity and order of the world.”
“Two. Because there is diversity in the universe, it does not follow that the Creator must be many. We see diverse children born in the house of the same mother and father. Does the diversity among the children prove that their parents are multiple? Certainly not. Then how does the diversity of creation prove that the Creator is multiple?”
“Three. By Creator we mean an infinite being. Even those who believe in many creators consider the creator to be infinite and most powerful. But da, have you thought about this: belief in multiple creators diminishes the Creator’s infinity and absolute power. For if there were multiple creators, naturally the existence of one creator would end at a point and the existence of another creator would begin, and each would be established as powerful separately. If so, where would the Creator’s infinity and total power remain?”
“Four. Belief in multiple creators came from human fear. In ancient times, after the passing of a prophet, people began to regard whatever they feared as a god. In this way, the idea of multiple gods became established in society. It is not founded upon sound judgment or reason.”
“Now do you understand, Awham da? It is not multiple creators, but one Creator alone that is reasonable. Only if there is one Creator can all His attributes, including His infinity, remain intact.” Awham kept listening continuously. It seemed he had even forgotten to swallow.
Ihtijaz continued, “Da, the philosopher Galloway said in his Philosophy of Religion: ‘To explain finite, contingent, and dependent objects or events in the real world, there is a need for one infinite, self-dependent, and necessary truth. And that truth is God.’”
“Pay attention to the philosopher’s statement, da. If the Creator were multiple, then He could neither be self-dependent nor infinite. Why could He not be infinite? We have already understood that in such a case each creator would need to have a definite body, which would abolish the Creator’s infinity.”
“Now we will see why multiple creators could not be self-dependent. Self-dependence is a quality that applies only to a complete, eternal being. If a being possesses this quality, he never needs anything. If there were multiple creators, each would have a specific body. Consequently, each would require a specific place to reside, and the creators would constantly quarrel over their dwellings and spaces.”
“When someone becomes dependent on a place to live, then he must be counted as a resident like human beings. And an ordinary being like human beings can never be self-dependent and the Creator of the universe. Therefore, the Creator of this universe is the eternal, infinite, single being — Allah Most High.”
“Do you understand, da? The self-dependence of the Creator also demands His oneness. From the discussion so far, we have received two things:
One. There is a Creator of the created world.
Two. That Creator is one. It is impossible for Him to be multiple.
“Awham da, many people ask here: what was before the Creator? Or who created Him? But they do not understand that whoever is created is himself a created being. Something created cannot be the Creator. Therefore, the very word Creator means He was not created. He is self-existent and always exists. Since He exists eternally by Himself, by what logic can the question arise that something existed before Him?”
“We may look again at a statement of the philosopher Galloway. He said, ‘Every event in the world is bound in a chain of causes, and therefore God or the Creator exists as the ultimate outcome or cause of the world.’”
“In his philosophical view, he described that one supreme being as the ultimate cause. But we will say: He is such a being who is the Creator of all causes, and the chain of causes comes to an end with Him.”
“The reason for saying it this way is that all causes found within the world are also part of creation. If we also call Him a ‘cause’ in the same sense, then He becomes mixed up with the ‘causes’ of the created world. But He is the Creator of all those causes as well. So when, after tracing the chain of worldly causes to its final limit, we find what appears to us as the ultimate cause — and when no explanation of it can be made by anything within the world — He is a transcendent and supernatural Supreme Being above even that. He is in reality the Creator even of what human beings identify as the ultimate cause.”
“To explain why I do not want to call Him merely the ultimate cause, let me give an example. Look, da, within us there is a ‘memory power’ by which we remember or retain things. This power of memory has been placed in our brain through countless cells. When we think of something or try to remember something, these cells become active and restless. Through this, we can present something from memory before someone or preserve something within our memory.”
“We see that, as the ultimate cause of our memory power, there are certain cells. But where did those cells come from? If the One from whom they came is also a ‘cause’ in the same way, then what is the difference between those created cells and Him?”
“The matter is this: for the sake of understanding, we call that being in philosophical language the Absolute Cause. In reality, He is more than cause and effect. When we search for the chain of existence of anything in this world and, according to our knowledge, reach the edge of all causes embedded within creation, the last ‘cause’ we identify is still something below Him. When He is above and beyond even that, then asking ‘what was before Him’ can only be called ignorant questioning, foolishness, and intellectual excess.”
“To understand more simply why there cannot be anything before the Creator, let us look at another example, da. I count from 1 to 5. Now notice: why did the number 5 become 5? What worked as the cause behind it? Certainly, the number 4 caused the number 5 to be 5. Likewise, why did the number 4 become 4? Certainly because of number 3. In this way, 3 is 3 because of 2, and 2 is 2 because of 1. Now the question is: because of what did 1 become 1? Do you have any answer, Awham da?”
Awham was completely silent.
“Do you understand, da? There can be nothing before it as a cause. One itself is the final step of all numbers. In the same way, the Creator is one and single. At the end of all sequences of cause and effect, we find Him as the ultimate step. Everything was dissolved into Him. There is nothing before Him. Just as it is pointless to ask what cause exists before the number 1, it is likewise ignorant and unreal to ask what exists before the one Creator.”
“Now we will see, da, whether there is any necessity for religious laws and commands to come to us from this Creator. After that, we will move to the answer to your raised questions. But let me say briefly: since it has been proven that the Creator necessarily exists and that He is one, you can understand that among the many existing religions, the religion that believes in one Creator is the one that will be true. Anyway, let us see whether there is a need for religion to come from the Creator.”
“Awham da, the reason for discussing this question is that some blind followers of Aroj Ali Sahib raise this question to suggest that there is no such thing as true religion. They think that religion is not needed for good and evil, benefit and harm, social order, or state administration. Every person in the world of disbelief tends to think this way. Their reason is that the human conscience is sufficient as the measure for judging justice and injustice, honesty and dishonesty, and so on.”
Humanity Versus Impulse: The Limits of Conscience
“If we understand the question above, then you will easily get the answer to Aroj Ali Sahib’s question: ‘What is the criterion of truth?’ Let us try to understand the matter. You certainly know, da, how many basic elements are found in the human body.”
“Yes. By ‘basic elements’ in the human body, we generally mean chemical elements — the elements by which the entire body is composed.”
“More than sixty elements are found in the human body. Among the notable ones are hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, calcium, iron, potassium, and so on. There is also a matter called metabolism, which we express by saying that there is ‘fire’ in the body. Exactly speaking, this is not fire. It is a process — the process through which the body takes energy from food. Although heat is also present in it. Ancient philosophy described this as the existence of fire in the body.”
“Right, da.”
“Through the combination of hydrogen and oxygen, we get water here. Through the combination of nitrogen and oxygen, we get air. Through calcium, iron, potassium, and the like, we get earth. In metabolism, we find energy and heat. When cellular respiration takes place in the body, some energy goes into ATP — Adenosine Triphosphate — as usable energy, and some energy comes out as heat. Therefore, in the combination of these, we find the existence of water, air, earth, and a kind of fire.”
“Now let us observe some of their characteristics. You have surely seen that when wind rushes in a direction, it overturns everything. Who does not know about the devastation of cyclones? When air blows, it blows recklessly. It does not consider whether someone is being harmed or benefited. Right, da?”
“Yes, certainly.”
“So we see that within human beings there is an element called air, which is imbalanced and reckless.”
“Then look at another element in the human body called fire. Tell me, da, when fire begins to burn something, does it show mercy?”
“Certainly not.”
“That means fire too is an imbalanced and reckless element. Correct?”
“Yes.”
“Another element in the human body is water. When floodwaters come down, when water begins to flow in a direction, does it flow with balance? Does it come in a measured way and then stop? Does it run about very justly?”
“Certainly not.”
“Now look at earth. If you leave something on the ground and return after some time, you will not find it in the same condition. You will see it gradually sinking into the soil. The soil is swallowing it. It does not consider whether it should swallow it or not. That is the nature of earth. Whatever is placed on its chest, it swallows. It does not care about anyone’s property. It does not understand whether this is its own right or someone else’s right. It has no time to think about these things. It is reckless.”
“Besides, because of the desire to expand land and territorial borders, how many brave heads have been made dusty in the soil? Can history accurately count it? More wars than most other causes have occurred because of this land. Whether it is a struggle for power or a struggle to abolish social inequality, all of them have aimed, in one way or another, at establishing control over some territory. Thus it may be said that there is a relation between earth and the unstoppable desire for power. Earth itself is also reckless. A human being made of that earth will naturally want to establish his own dominion recklessly, with not even a trace of humanity — is that not what should happen?”
“All in all, we see that the basic elements present in the human body are imbalanced and reckless. Seeing this condition, the angels asked Allah Most High about the wisdom behind creating human beings. They understood that a humanity created from such elements would descend upon the earth into corruption, conflict, struggle, and a life full of clashes.”
“Now tell me, da, can one ever expect to receive a balanced and correct conscience from such imbalanced elements? Is there any possibility of receiving a balanced conscience, da? Of course, in some cases it may be seen that conscience can determine correctly. And in some cases it will be seen that it cannot. Even the amount that it can determine correctly is only the result of the humanity placed within him by the Creator as a human being.”
“But humanity alone is not sufficient to determine right and wrong in all cases. When someone’s self-interest is struck, that humanity flees from within him. On the other hand, if there is a religious law that has come from the Creator, then even if his humanity does not function, the law will make clear before him what is right and what is wrong.”
“So, da, when from a human being created from imbalanced materials we obtain an imbalanced conscience, tell me: can that conscience be the measure for determining truth and falsehood, justice and injustice, and so on?”
Awham sat utterly silent, absorbed only in listening.
Ihtijaz said, “Awham da, how can a human being formed from imbalanced, reckless elements rise to ‘insaniyat,’ that is, humanity?”
Awham said, “When a balanced psychology is formed within him, only then can that be possible.”
“Exactly, da.”
“Now think, da: through what will this balanced state enter human beings? We have already seen that it is not possible through conscience. For conscience itself is trapped within imbalanced elements, driven by their impulses. Therefore it too is imbalanced. It too cannot understand what is humane and what is anti-human.”
“To confirm the truth of my words, I want to present before you two recent incidents as clear proof. On 5 and 6 February 2018, two horrifying news items were covered by two London daily newspapers.”
On 5 February 2018, one headline in London’s Daily Metro read: “Father and his daughter get married and have a baby.” The incident occurred in North Carolina, America — the fertile land of modern civilization, as they call it. A 40-year-old father married his 18-year-old daughter. Two years after the marriage, in September 2017, they even had a child.
The second incident, on 6 February 2018, appeared on the international page of the Evening Standard with a headline like this: “11-year-old’s baby fathered by brother, 14.” The incident took place in a hospital in the Murcia region of southern Spain, where an 11-year-old girl gave birth to a child. Police investigation revealed that the father of the newborn was none other than the girl’s own 14-year-old brother.
“Tell me, da, what did their conscience tell them at the time of such vile acts? Surely their conscience told them that this was their personal sexual freedom. But what does civilized society, and your conscience, say?”
“Our conservative society would certainly describe it as the extreme boundary of obscenity and corruption.”
“Then it becomes clear, da, that human conscience is not the same for everyone. Therefore this conscience cannot be a universal standard. These were two incidents widely published in newspapers. Apart from that, lying on the seashore wearing bikinis is a daily occurrence in the Western world. To their conscience, these things are modern civilization. But to your conscience and mine, it is barbarism. Likewise, to a thief’s conscience, stealing is merely a profession; to a robber’s conscience, robbery is also only a profession. But to your conscience and mine, these are not professions; they are brutality. In short, conscience is not capable of being the ultimate standard. Then what is the path by which humanity, or insaniyat, can enter human beings?”
The Necessity of Religion: Why Revelation and Law Are Needed
“Tell me, da: if you make a machine, can anyone know better than you how to benefit from that machine in a balanced and proper way?”
“Certainly not.”
“If you yourself do not explain how to operate the machine, is there a possibility that others may create serious problems with it?”
“Certainly.”
“Then what does reason demand? That you yourself should explain how to operate the machine, right? Since that is the safe arrangement.”
“Yes, certainly.”
“Exactly, da. You would explain it. Otherwise, far from gaining benefit from the machine, others may damage it before it even starts.”
“Now think for a moment: is operating the machine you made more difficult, or is managing human beings within the universe more sensitive? Upon reflection, it becomes clear that guiding human beings is necessarily more important and difficult. Because the balance of the entire created order is determined by their conduct. So is there any safe arrangement, other than a law coming from the very Creator, for establishing a balanced condition within creation?”
Not a word came from Awham’s mouth. His manner suggested a positive response.
“Listen, da. For human beings formed from reckless elements to rise into a balanced state and become truly humane, there is no way except religious law coming from the Creator. Therefore religion is the only means that gives human beings their natural state and balanced condition.”
“What did you understand by analyzing the basic elements used in forming human beings, da? Can human beings, by themselves, rise to such an important level as insaniyat, that is, humanity? Never. So we understand that to make human beings sound in nature and join the ranks of those who possess a balanced psychology and humanity, there is no way except a role, rule, or constitution coming from their own Creator.”
“Just as only you can best explain how to use the machine you made, because you know best what problems may arise in it and for what reasons, in the same way — indeed hundreds of times better — the Creator knows what contains benefit for human beings and what contains harm. Therefore it is logical that the rules and principles for human life should be made known by Him.”
“Only the rules, principles, path, and method declared by Him can raise human beings into humanity. Look, da, human beings have been created with such elements that can be controlled in special ways under special processes. In the same way, human beings too can be controlled and raised to humanity through special rules and principles. But that this cannot be achieved through laws produced by the human brain and conscience — we have already seen through rational discussion. Therefore those rules must come from the Creator.”
“On the basis of this wisdom, the rules of the Islamic system of governance came. If one studies them in the light of reason, it becomes clear that these rulings work in an astonishing way to keep a reckless humanity, filled to the bones with uncontrolled impulses, upon the right path.”
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