AlkarbalaAdmitting to the Existence of the Creator of the Universe
Note: This text in an extract from the book Haqqul Yaqeen by shaykh ul-islam Allama Muhammad Baqir Majlisi
We should know that existence of the creator of the universe is more evident than anything else. It is so, because if a person contemplates on the creation of heavens, earth, sun. moon, stars, air, clouds, mountains and seas and all animals and creation of bodies and soul and other miscellaneous things, he reaches a stage of certainty that all these have not come into being without a maker.
On the contrary, the being, which has created them, is not like them; He is perfect in being and no kind of defect is present in His being and qualities. This much brief reasoning is sufficient for the creatures; but we shall present a few detailed reasonings, easily understandable to even the most simple-minded persons.
The first reasoning is that every issue, which a man judges through his intellect, is such that either it is impossible to contemplate on its being without any external issues and that it is not necessary that it should have an external cause; which is known as Necessary Being (Wajibul Wujood).
Or that it is impossible to contemplate on its being; then it is known as impossibility of existence (Mumtinaul Wujood).
However, if it is neither possible not impossible to contemplate in its being, it is known as possibility of existence (Mumkinul Wujood): that is it is both possible for it to exist and not exist. If a cause appears for it, it comes into existence; otherwise it remains non-existent.
Thus, we say that there is no doubt that there are existing beings in the universe. If all the existent beings are included in possibilities (Mumkinaat) and behind them there is no Necessary Being (Wajibul Wujood), in that case if they are regarded as one person; and for all of them it is possible to be non-existent; as without a cause it is impossible for Zaid to exist. Otherwise, it will lead to precedence in absence of a precedent and its impossibility is logically imminent (Badihi Aqli).
In the same way, existence is also impossible without an external cause; and it is necessary that the cause should be present; because it is also imminent that something, which itself is not present, cannot be the cause of existence of something else, and what is beyond all possibilities of existence, is the Necessary Being (Wajibul Wujood). Thus, we conclude that a Necessary Being (Wajibul Wujood) is present.
If it is said that everyone from these parts is the cause of existence of other, without any limit and restriction and their parts are causes of all parts together; we would reply that subject to the condition of existence, the presence of the cause of each of them is necessary, but its non-existence is possible with non-existence of all its causes. Thus, it would entail that there is no Necessary Being (Wajibul Wujood).
The second reasoning is that according to some researchers. like commonality in perceptions results in knowledge, it is impossible that the majority should reach consensus on a false matter or commit a mistake in its truth.
Thus, when all the prophets, saints and intellectuals have reached consensus on the existence of the creator of the universe; on His oneness; and that He is perfect from all aspects and no sort of defect is possible in Him, we realize that this matter is true and that a numerous group has not reached unanimity on a false matter and these perfect intellects have not made a mistake.
Also, the consensus of all them is proof that whether these prefaces are imminent or theoretical, their reasonings are so clear that there is no scope of mistake and doubts in them and this reasoning is very strong.
The third reasoning is those miracles displayed by the prophets and their successors. For example, the staff assuming the form of python, splitting of the sea, enlivening of the dead and bestowing sight to the blind, splitting of the moon into two and making water to flow from fingers or pebbles and other similar miracles, because it is clear to all that such matters are beyond human capacity. Hence, It is necessary that there must be a God. who displays these acts through their hands to prove their veracity.
For most people, contemplation on the unique creations of God, present in the self and the surroundings, show a concise reasoning, which Allah has hinted at in most places in the Holy Quran; and this much is sufficient. On the contrary, the knowledge of the creator of the universe is imminent and all Intellects are created through it.
As the Almighty Allah says: If you ask the idolaters: Who has created the heavens and the earth? They will say: It is Allah. And then said:
أَفِي اللَّهِ شَكٌّ فَاطِرِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ
"Is there doubt about Allah, the Maker of the heavens and the earth?" (Surah Ibrahim 14:10)
He also said that the true religion is the nature of the Almighty Allah, in which He has created human beings:
فَأَقِمْ وَجْهَكَ لِلدِّينِ حَنِيفًا فِطْرَتَ اللَّهِ الَّتِي فَطَرَ النَّاسَ عَلَيْهَا ، لَا تَبْدِيلَ لِخَلْقِ اللَّهِ ، ذَلِكَ الدِّينُ الْقَيِّمُ وَلَكِنَّ أكثر النَّاسِ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ ﴿٣٠﴾
"Then set your face upright for religion in the right state-the nature made by Allah, in which He has made men; there is no altering of Allah's creation; that is the right religion, but most people do not know." (Surah Rum 30:30)
That is why all the prophets were commanded to tell the people about the word of monotheism and to say: "There is no god, except Allah, and not to confess in the existence of the Creator.
Its proof is that when people fall into calamities and they do not have support from any apparent helper, they take refuge in their creator and confess: 'we are having One God, and numerous reliable traditions are recorded about this.
Some intellectuals say that most infidels and ignorant people are apparently deniers of the existence of the Creator, but in their conscience they confess to His reality and existence. Therefore, there is no dispute in the existence of the Creator.
Its explanation is that intellect, reason and texts prove that Allah, the Mighty and the High is higher and greater than that the intelligence of someone else should be able to encompass His being, but this connection is proved and established between the master and slaves due to addition of special mercy, which the essence of all creatures has accepted. That is why, when one is involved in calamities and natural disasters, in which there is no one to seek help from, except the Real Protector, they become humble before Him. This is thus the sign of acceptance of prayer, as mentioned in the verse:
أَمَّنْ يُجِيبُ الْمُضْطَرَّ إِذَا دَعَاهُ
"Or, Who answers the distressed one when he calls upon Him!" (Surah Naml 27:62)
In fact, the fear, terror and restlessness of living beings in such circumstances is also due to this. That is why in every age, period, religion and different sects there is no logical dispute from any sensible person regarding initial creation. On the contrary, there are disputes regarding His qualities, conditions and circumstances.
Fakhre Razi narrates from a person that during a great famine and drought, people went to the wilderness to pray for rain, but their prayer was not accepted. That man says: At that time I went to a mountain and saw a deer sprinting to a pond due to intense thirst; but when it reached the pool, it found it dry. He was absolutely shocked and many a times he shook his head looking at the heavens. Suddenly a cloud appeared and it rained so heavily that the pool began to overflow. The deer drank its fill and went away from there.
According to the author of Rasail Ikhwanus Safa, many a times people saw that due to drought, animals raise up their head to the heavens and plead for water.
It is narrated from a hunter that he saw a mountain cow nursing her young one. He says: When I went to it, it abandoned the calf and fled and I captured the calf. When the cow saw the calf in my hand, she became restless and raised her head to the heavens, as if pleading to court of the Almighty Allah. Suddenly I slipped and fell into a ditch and the calf escaped from my hands. Thus, its dam came running and took it away.
It would not be appropriate at this point to mention all what is stated in traditions regarding this. Therefore, we can simply conclude that whatever is known about the existence of the Creator is so clear that even animals are aware of it.