Evidence of Existence of God
Submitted by Rashid Jahangiri.
Reading a write up ‘The Bible of Militant Atheism’ by Aasem Bakhshi, on Richard Dawkins book ‘The God Delusion’. Aasem Bakhshi writes in last paragraph:
“Regarding the kind of evidence that would convince him regarding the existence of God, Bertrand Russell once replied that if a voice from the sky would reveal to him each and every thing that is going to happen in next few hours and that would eventually happen also, he may consider the possibility of existence of God.”
HMGA also gave the argument to prove the existence of ‘Living God’ that Allah communicates with him and informs him about the future events. Based on divine communications he predicted future events both good and bad, of all kinds.
Complete article available on Pak Tea House blog:
http://pakteahouse.wordpress.com/2009/10/28/the-bible-of-militant-atheism/
From Zahid Aziz:
It might have convinced Bertrand Russell but if he tried to convince others of it on the basis of his own experience he would have faced the same opposition and scepticism that all men of God received!
By the way, Bertrand Russell’s mother’s brother was one Henry Stanley (d. 1903), the 3rd Lord Stanley of Alderley. This Lord Stanley had embraced Islam in his youth. As a British diplomat he had lived in parts of the Muslim world. He had deep knowledge of several languages and of Islamic law.
According to Maulana Muhammad Ali in a footnote in Bayan-ul-Quran, Lord Stanley used to cry in tahajjud prayers. It was that mention that once set me off to try to find who this “Lord Stanley” was.
His father, the 2nd Lord Stanley, was a British minister under several prime ministers in the 19th century. Lord Henry Stanley’s death was reported by Maulana Muhammad Ali in the Review of Religions for February 1904. He was given Islamic funeral rites by an imam from the Turkish Embassy in London, and was buried in the family grounds in Cheshire, England.
From Usman:
“he may consider the possibility of existence of God.”
So he would not believe in God…but only consider the possiblity of his existence. This is interesting, as even Dawkins in the end says that “there is probably no God”. Of course Dawkins argument is that the burder of proof on existence of God and not on non-existence. In any case, its all down to probabilites and possiblities as far as human philosophies go….which is why HMGA stressed on the concept of a living God that communicates with his creations. As HMGA said that the ultimate stage of belief is in experiencing God…and the lower stages are by reasoning and logic which lead to the probability of his existence.
From Ikram:
@Usman: “…which is why HMGA stressed on the concept of a living God that communicates with his creations.”
Islam is a living religion from a living God, and Allah guarantees, with certain conditions being met, of His ongoing communication by various means with mankind, which can be an ultimate one-on-one experience and proof of His existence as communication of God with man is the fundamental basis of religion:
42:51. It is not given to a human being that Allâh should speak to him except by direct revelation or from behind a veil or by sending a messenger (- an angel) who should reveal (to him) by His command what He pleases. Indeed, He is the Most Sublime, the All-Wise. [Note: veil also implies veil of sleep i.e. dreams as well as divine inspiration, which can be hidden to everyone else, but the recipient]
Inspiration is usually a result of focused pondering which is common in creative moments of artists, poets, writers and scientists e.g. “Eureka” moment of Archimedes. August Kekulé’s own account of breakthrough in organic chemistry of discovery of benzene ring structure is possibly a close approximation of the above:
“I was sitting writing on my textbook, but the work did not progress; my thoughts were elsewhere. I turned my chair to the fire and dozed. Again the atoms were gamboling before my eyes…My mental eye, rendered more acute by the repeated visions of the kind, could now distinguish larger structures of manifold conformation; long rows sometimes more closely fitted together all twining and twisting in snake-like motion. But look! What was that? One of the snakes had seized hold of its own tail, and the form whirled mockingly before my eyes. As if by a flash of lightning I awoke…”
And similarly when Kekulé had the vision leading to Structural Theory in organic chemistry:
“….I fell into a reverie, and lo, the atoms were gamboling before my eyes. Whenever, hitherto, these diminutive beings had appeared to me, they had always been in motion. Now, however, I saw how, frequently, two smaller atoms united to form a pair: how a larger one embraced the two smaller ones; how still larger ones kept hold of three or even four of the smaller: whilst the whole kept whirling in a giddy dance. I saw how the larger ones formed a chain, dragging the smaller ones after them but only at the ends of the chains….”
However, such a phenomenon does not differentiate between good and bad as even a trickster can have an ingenious idea. Similarly, a “true” dream can be revealed to anyone, not necessarily a chosen one, though it needs interpretation:
12:36. And with him there entered the prison two young men (- the butler and the baker of the king). One of them said to him, `I see myself (in a dream) pressing grapes.’ And the other said, `I see myself carrying upon my head bread of which the birds are eating. Inform us of the interpretation of these (dreams) for we surely find you of the doers of good to others.’
12:37. He said, `(Do not worry,) I shall inform you of the interpretation of these (dreams) before the meal you two are given comes to you. This (my ability to interpret, you should bear in mind) is a part of that knowledge which my Lord has imparted to me…
12:41. `My two fellow-prisoners! as for one of you, he will pour out wine for his lord to drink and as for the other, he shall be crucified so that the birds will eat (flesh) from off his head. The matter about which you inquired stands decreed.’ [Note: Here the narration is about Joseph while imprisoned, interpreting the dreams]
Whereas phenomenon of revelation is a divine communication where information is received with no control of the recipient. The medium of communication is within the scope of human faculties e.g. auditory, visual or insight and the message has to contain new information hitherto unknown to man. Such revelation is to be distinguished from psychotic experiences of auditory or visual hallucinations or delusions, for the mere fact that in psychosis there is an inherent non-productive disorganization, distress, disability and dysfunction to it, where as the divine revelation is consistent with morality, source of enlightenment for the recipient, serves a higher purpose for the recipient by solving a problem at hand or prophesizing the future events and that such revelations are the very basis of major religions which historically have resulted in virtuous sea change and growth of the messengers and the humanity at large.
72:26. He alone knows the hidden (future) and He does not grant predominance to any one over His secrets,
72:27. Except to him whom He chooses to be a Messenger (of His, to whom He frequently tells many news about the hidden future). (And when He does this) He orders an escort of (guarding angels) to go before him and behind him;
72:28. That He may make it known (to the people) that they (- the Divine Messengers) have properly delivered the Messages of their Lord. He encompasses (in His knowledge) all that they have, and keeps count of all things.
42:52. (Prophet!) just so (as We sent revelations to other Prophets), We revealed to you the Word by Our command. (Before this revelation) you did not know what the Divine Book was nor (which of) the faith (it teaches), but We made it (- Our revelation to you) a light, whereby We guide such of our servants as We will. And truly you are guiding (mankind) on to the straight and right path,
42:53. The path of Allâh to whom belongs all that lies in the heavens and all that lies in the earth. Behold! to Allâh do all things eventually return.
As to medium of revelation of Quran, it probably was not auditory or visual; rather it was deep communication to Muhammad’s mind:
26:192. And verily this (Qur’ân) is a revelation from the Lord of the worlds.
26:193. The Spirit, Faithful to the Trust (- Gabriel) has descended with it.
26:194. (Revealing it) to your heart with the result that you became of the Warners (- a Prophet of God);
References:
Does God Hear Man’s Prayers? – Mirza Ghulam Ahmad
The Holy Quran – Allamah Nooruddin
From Zahid Aziz:
In Barakat-ud-Dua (Ruhani Khaza’in, v. 6, p. 19-23, footnote), Hazrat Mirza sahib distinguishes on the one hand between the ‘revelation’ received by scientists, thinkers and poets (i.e. creative artists), which is due to the inner potential, nature and knowledge of those persons, and is a consequence of thinking and pondering, and on the other hand that received by prophets and auliya which is entirely from an external source. While distinguishing between the two, he regards what arises in the hearts of the former as also coming from God.
He writes: “… For example, the inventor of the railway was inspired and the inventor of the telegraph was inspired..” (p. 21)
He refers to verse 91:8, “So He reveals to it its way of evil and its way of good”, to show that the ideas arising as inspiration in the minds of the former group can be good or bad.