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What is the teleological argument or "Burhān an-Nadhm" This argument is one of the most straightforward, as it relies on observations of the natural world rather than complex philosophical concepts. It's no coincidence that the Quran frequently points to the universe and its contents as evidence of a Creator.[1] Martyr Morteza Motahari defined this argument as the negation of the universe's accidental existence, arguing that accidents lack causes. He categorizes causes into four types: material, formal, efficient, and final. He then refutes the misconception that atheists deny the existence of efficient causes, asserting that both theists and atheists agree on this point. The primary difference lies in the recognition of a final cause. Believers in God posit a purpose and goal for the creation and its marvelous order because the mere existence of an efficient cause is not sufficient to bring about such precise order! It is necessary that there be a will and a purpose behind this order, otherwise, it would be like a child who picks up a pen and draws on a piece of paper. The child's action includes all causes, even an efficient cause, but there is no goal in it, and it is merely engaged in drawing meaningless lines on paper that have neither order nor convey any meaning. Another example for better understanding is a book. The author intends a meaning behind every word he writes, which together lead to sentences, paragraphs, and different pages, which necessarily require a specific order to convey that meaning. Just like the order we observe in the universe! Just as we infer the existence of a knowledgeable author from a well-structured and informative book, we can deduce the existence of a supreme being from the intricate order of the universe. The teleological argument posits that the universe's design necessitates a designer, much like a book requires an author. This designer, we infer, must possess attributes far beyond our comprehension.[2] [1] Quran: 2:164, 6:97, 42:29, 39:20-21 [2] Motahari, Murteza, Majmu'eh Asar, 1376, vol. 4, pp. 62-66
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What is the argument of “Possible and Necessary Being”? This Argument which is called "Burhān al-Imkān wa al-Wujūb" in Arabic, is a pioneering concept of Islamic philosophers, and it is considered as one of the most robust proofs for the existence of God.[1] The argument is summarily expressed by Nasir ad-Din Tusi as follows: Everything that exists is either contingent or necessary. Contingent beings require a cause outside of themselves. If that cause is necessary, then the existence of a necessary being (God) is proven. If that cause is contingent, it too requires a cause, leading to an infinite regress. Infinite regress is impossible. Therefore, the chain of contingent beings must terminate in a necessary being.[2] Based on the argument, Allah (s.w.t) or "Wajib al-Wujud" is a being that has existence from himself as part of his nature. Nothing has grated him the existence, nothing is the cause for his existence, and nothing can cause him to cease to exist. Some simple examples: "Salt and saltiness". salt is salty by nature and nothing has given it this quality. actually it can be the cause of other thing's saltiness. "Oil and oiliness" is a perfect illustration of an intrinsic property. It's a defining characteristic that sets oil apart from other substances. "Water and wetness" serves as another simple and tangible proof for proving our point. Conclusion The existence of a supernatural being that has intrinsic quality of existence is rationally necessary, otherwise, it leads to "infinite regress" and invalidity of "principle of causality" [1] Tusi, Sharh al-Isharat wa at-Tanbihat, 1375 SH, vol. 3, pp. 66-67 [2] Tusi, Sharh al-Isharat wa al-Tanbihat, 1375 SH, vol. 3, pp. 18-20 -
How can the existence of God be proven? The fundamental question of proving the existence of Almighty God as the Creator and Sustainer of the universe is one of the most critical beliefs in Islam. It serves as the bedrock upon which other beliefs, such as monotheism, prophethood, and Imamate, are built. Therefore, it is essential to note that the proof of God's existence must rely on rational arguments, as the Quran and hadith cannot be used as primary evidence due to the risk of circular reasoning. Initially, it must be understood that all arguments employed to prove the existence of God are grounded in three fundamental principles that must first be established: 1. The principle of avoiding circular reasoning 2. The principle of avoiding infinite regress 3. The principle of causality. Circular reasoning It is a logical fallacy where the conclusion of an argument is already assumed in the premise. It's a flawed form of reasoning because it doesn't provide any new evidence or support for the claim. Here's a simple example: Premise: Ghosts exist because people have seen them. Conclusion: People have seen ghosts, so they must exist. As you can see, the conclusion is simply a restatement of the premise, providing no additional proof. Infinite Regress Infinite regress is a logical problem that occurs when a process or argument can be traced back indefinitely, leading to an endless loop. It often arises in situations where a concept or event is defined or explained in terms of itself, creating a circular dependency. infinite regress in causality means that every event has a cause and the cause itself has a cause leading to an infinite chain of causes. one of the ways of addressing the challenge of infinite regress, especially in theology, is to break the chain by adding an independent cause which is Allah (s.w.t) The principle of causality In Islamic Kalam, this principle is known as "Asl al-ʿilliyya", which is a fundamental concept. It posits that every event has a cause or reason behind it. This principle is closely tied to the Islamic belief in God as the ultimate cause and creator of all things.