HOW TO PROVE THE EXISTANCE OF GOD

[Rajaee]

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.