Demonstration on the Existence of Allah

By: Sayyid Jan Ali Kazmi
Burhan-e-Nazm means that there is great co-ordination (cooperation), congruence (coinci- dence) and concurrence (coincidence) in all the creation of the world. Be it the life style of the tiny ants, which live underground or be it the orbiting (circling) of the planets round the sun in the solar system and the great galaxies. For instance it occurs in the Holy Quran that,
“There is a constant shower of stones (meteors)” and all the stars, which fall from the sky, are the shower, which the Quran explains about but despite all this; its effects do not disturb people on the earth. This is because of the great congruence found among the various creations of the universe; the earth is been covered with a layer of tiny dusty particles, reaching the surface of the earth. Even though, great stones have fallen from space onto the earth. Therefore, there is co-ordination and harmony among the creation of the universe, which would never have been possible because of an explosion or a bang (loud noise).
Therefore, there is a great co-ordination found in all the creatures of the world. We explore and learn more about these creatures and find the element of congruence in these creatures. Our faith is in the existence of God, who is omnipotent and all Knowing, is confirmed and all sorts of doubts and uncertainties are washed away from our minds.

After the Burhan-e-Nazm, we can enter the realm (kingdom) of Burhan-e-Harkat, which is logical evidence over the existence of Allah as the maintainer of the universe.

BURHAN-E-HARKAT
There are many verses of the Holy Quran which testify that there is mobility, motion or movement in the universe without which the universe would be stagnated (motionless) but the Prophet of Allah explained this concept through an incident in very appealing manner. Moreover, there is a great message for thought in this incident in which the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) asks an illiterate woman to present an argument to prove the existence of Allah as the maintain- er (provider) of the universe. The message in the tradition is that the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) does not approve of a blind faith in the existence of Allah and every man should have enough sense and reason to be able to defend his faith through logical arguments. This is because calling oneself a Muslim just because ones parents were Muslims is not sufficient. In Islam and it was the idolaters who used to present this excuse and explana- tion before the Prophets of the past and the last Prophet of Allah (PBUH) that, “We found our ancestors (descendents) and fore-fathers (ancestors) following the religion therefore we follow their foot-steps (tracks). Nevertheless, Islam does not permit this blind acceptance of ones ancestors faith rather it demands personal study and individual effort to understand the religion one follows. In Furu-addin, it is obligatory to follow a religious scholar, who is the most pious and scholarly in the world. Taqleed is due to intelligence, wisdom and nature of human being, like for instance, if our eyes are bad or we have a problem with the heart we go to specialist of that organ. Same when something is been related to the religion then we should go to that particular scholar and follow his instruction. Whereas, in Usool-e-Din we have to investigate and understand it ourselves. Whereas, the message of the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) is that even if a person believes in Allah but lacks evidence and proof of his faith then this is not a great success and the ultimate triumph because the entire essence of faith is lost in this kind of ignorance.
There is no restriction in being a Shia or a Sunni, however, whatever faith we follow we should be able to understand the funda- mental concept of our religion through wisdom and knowledge. We should be able to defend those concepts of faith through logical argument, Quranic evidence and from the traditions of the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) and purify our faith only for the sake of Allah. If all the Muslims are able to understand, the basic message of Islam then all the sectarian (prejudice) violence and disagreements would be resolved (solved) in no time. Presently there is great misunderstanding of our beliefs and therefore it results in sectarian violence and intolerance (unable to endure) among the various school of thoughts. This is all because we are lagging far behind in both our logical and spiritual wisdom and knowledge ‘Marafat’ of Allah and the Ahlul-Bait, which is a sad prospect (outlook) indeed.
The tradition goes; once the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) came across an old woman who was spinning (turning), a wheel to make thread and cotton buds. The Prophet of Allah (PBUH) asked the old woman who appeared uneducated and illiterate whether she believed in the Unity (Oneness) of God. At this the woman said,
“Yes by the Grace of God I am a Muslim woman.” The Prophet of Allah (PBUH) asked the woman,
“If you have faith in the Unity of God then what argument and evidence do you have to prove your faith, that there is a God who maintains this universe?” The woman who was spinning the wheel at once took off her hands from the pedals of the wheel and said, “O Prophet of Allah (PBUH) this an evidence of existance of God” and the prophet of Allah said,
“This is not enough try to explain it to my companions” and the woman explained it as thus,
“O Prophet of Allah (PBUH), until I keep spinning the pedals of the wheel the wheel keeps working and as soon as I stop pedaling the wheel stops to spin. So if this simple little wheel requires a spinner to spin it and makes thread and cannot move without the help of an external force. Then how is it possible that the rising and setting of the sun and the moon, the coming of the day and the night keep coming without the help of a Force or Creator of force that sets all these things in motion?”
This is a simple yet very philosophical argument on which many discussions and books have been written over the year, which proves that nothing has the power to move until there is a force exerted (put on) to cause the movement. This is been called Burhan-E-Harkat, which is a demonstration or proof of the existence of Allah through the concept of motion and mobility, found in things.
For instance we know that a thing even as little as tiny pebbles of stone need some pressure an force to move them from one place to another and it might be displaced with the help of air or wind. A child can easily set tiny pebbles in motion by throwing them at a little distance. If we ask a child to move a heavy stone weighing about six tons it would be impossible for the child to move the stone even fractionally (fragment). However, maybe a strong man might be able to create some motion and movement in the heavy stone because he has the force required and the power demanded in the act. Nevertheless, if the same man is been asked to move a mountain it would be impossible for the man rather it would be impossible for a thousand men to move the mountain from its place even fractionally. This is because the mountain is very huge cannot be moved by any number of people because the amount force and power required in the act is beyond the ability of all men of the world working together. Even if some dynamite or explosion are been used the mountain cannot be moved and set in motion. Now, the question is that not all the men of the world with their collective effort, cannot set a single mountain in motion then,
how is the earth, which, consists of thousands of heavy mountains and millions of other creatures on its surface, is set in such smooth motion.
The smooth motion of the earth is in itself evidence that here is not only movement but also balance maintained in the motion of the earth and the entire universe. The Holy Quran affirm, “The earth is set in motion”
This factor is been confirmed by science after great research in the area. Now the question is that if there is motion in the earth then what is the type of motion, which does not disturb the life of the human beings living on the surface of the earth? And the Holy Quran provides the answer when it affirms (declare),
“The earth has been set in motion, which is similar to the swing of the child in the lap or cradle.” This is a beautiful similitude, which clarifies the type of motion in which the earth has been set by Allah that the movement of the earth is so peaceful and in a single pace, that disturbance is ever created in the life of the human beings living on the earth. This factor of the earth and the nine planets of the solar system being in motion affirm that the Creator of the universe has maintained a certain balance. The sensitive proportionality (degree) in the movement of the earth and the other planets of the solar system are constant in motion.
This motion is not a source of commotion (disturbance), turbulence (commotion) and upheaval (disruption) in the existence of the creatures of the world but it is rather a sour-
ce of serenity (peaceful) and tranquility in the various courses and operations of the world. The night approaches the day and the growth of fields according to the seasonal changes in the climate. The winter and summer the hibernation (resting state) of animals in the winter etc, are all because of this motion and movement of the earth.
This movement and motion found in the earth is a demonstration and a proof that the One who has caused this motion is Great and Omnipotent who has the power and the force to set such great bodies of the stars and the planets in motion. At the same time maintain a sensitive pace (speed) in the motion of these heavenly bodies.
All these evidences on the presence and existence of a creator and a maintainer of the universe are categorized as Marafat-E-Aqli (which can be attained through a study of books and research either scientific or Quranic).

But there is another knowledge which is more powerful then above.it can only be abtain through worsip and piety .Man has to go little further to tread the path of greatest triumph and attain the status of steadfast faith or the rank of YAQEEN. Moreover, this rank and status is been attained through practical efforts and constant presence in the court of Allah and the Ahlul-Bait.
It is Marafat-e-Kalbi or spiritual wisdom of Allah, which actually withholds man from committing sins and indulging in forbidden acts and here logical wisdom and knowledge is not enough. For instance, all the doctors in the western countries are aware of the negative effects of drinking wine and a long catalogue (list) is been presented before a customer who enters the drug store to buy a medicine. But despite the fact that all the doctors have a logical wisdom and knowledge of the bad effects of wine on the functioning (working) of the heart, the liver, the brain etc, yet they do not abstain (refrain) from drinking wine is because these people lack a spiritual insight and are limited to the logical knowledge. This proves that one is only able to quit a bad habit or a sin only a logical wisdom is not enough but a spiritual insight is also required. In addition, this spiritual insight is the door to achieve the ultimate triumph.

AHLUL-BAIT ON THE HIGHEST LEVEL
OF YAQEEN OR FAITH
There are various stages of faith, Yaqeen. Various worships which have been made obligatory for the Muslims like prayers, fasting, Hajj, Amar bil Ma'aroof, Jihad etc are a means to achieve the stage of Yaqeen. Thus the spiritual and Divine realities are opened before the man and he treads (steps on) the path of success and triumph through his faith. For instance, it is because we lack the ultimate faith or Yaqeen in the hereafter and the Day of Judgment. We keep indulg- ing in the act of slandering and backbiting.
But on the other hand if, for once, we are able to see the sort of food which is being prepared for us as a result of this act of slandering and back-biting we would never dare to commit the sin again. If man, were able to see with his own eyes the food of blood and pus (yellowish white fluid which excretes after a wound), which would be given to a backbiter in the hereafter. He would never slander in his life. When a man reaches the stage of conformation or Yaqeen then it becomes very difficult for him to get involved in the sinful act after witnessing the consequences (outcome) of that act with his own eyes.
Often a question, which is been raised in the debates on the Infallibility of the Ahlul-Bait, is that whether the Ahlul-Bait does not have the power and the capacity of committing sin in them and it was for this reason they could not commit any act of sin.
Now if this perception (comprehension) is been accepted as true then the Ahlul-Bait should have been called angels because only the angels are created thus that they do not have the power and the capacity of sin in them. Nevertheless, the Greatness of Ahlul-Bait surpasses (exceed) even the angels because they are placed at the highest and the last rank of faith or YAQEEN. The fact is that the Ahlul-Bait due to their wisdom and knowledge of the world after death, their confirmed faith in the Day of Judgment, the punishment of hell and the pleasures of paradise. These are been placed at such a high level of ultimate (maximum) faith or Yaqeen, that they can actually behold the consequences of things before them. Thus because of their knowledge and wisdom of the consequences of sin is been protected from committing sin although they have the power to commit sin in them. And to say that the Ahlul-Bait do not have the power to commit sin would not be an attribute (credit) but it would mean that we are trying to bring them down to the level of the angels whereas they (Ahlul-Bait) in their qualities are superior to the angels also.
Let us take an example to make the concept clear. Can a person who knows that in the sewerage (gutter) tube, which falls into a dirty pond, there is nothing else than filth and dirt and garbage would we be ever expected to eat that filth? The question appears a little naïve (artless) because no sensible man can say that any person who has the knowledge of filth and dirt could ever eat the dirt consciously. The reason behind this is that the person has seen with his eyes therefore believes or has YAQEEN that it is dirty and injurious (damaging) to health. When a person is a witness himself and has confirmed faith over the disadvant- ages of things, he would never dare to commit the act even though he has the power to do so. What stops a man, from not eating the filth and dirt, his knowledge? Although he has equal power to eat dirt as he has to eat cakes and pastries. However, what restrains him from eating the dirt is his confirmed belief and knowledge of the dirt and filth. Similarly, the Ahlul-Bait is at such a high rank of belief that even though they possess the power to commit sin they never do so because of their knowledge, wisdom and Yaqeen that committing a sin is equal to eating filth and dirt.
Similar is the case with a common man, that if he is able to behold the consequences of his sin and the type of punishment and afflictions, which are being prepared for him as a result of his sins he would never, be able to commit sin and crime. A blindman can fall into a pit (hole) because he lacks sight and vision but a person who is been gifted with eyesight would never fall into the pit because he can see and confirm that he would fall in the pit and get hurt or die. Therefore, people who commit sins and crimes are actually blind and oblivious (unaware) of the hereafter and thus fall into the pit of hell and affliction both in the world and the hereafter.
Moreover, once a man is able to control himself, abstain from sin and licentiousness (obscenity). The Prophet of Allah (PBUH) has stated a man may be gifted with a spiritual eye through which he is able to see beyond the veil of the temporary world into the divine realities of the spiritual world. However, the first condition is that a man gets rid of his love of the worldly attractions thus, directs his entire concentration tow- ards Allah and purges (cleanse) all his body parts from all types of sins and errors. Only in this way by removing the veil (curtain) created by the thickness of our sins would we be able to reach a state of YAQEEN and thus achieve the ultimate success and the greatest triumph as promised by Allah.
All the worships are a means to kill and subdue (crush) the physical desires and raise the man in the spiritual realms (domain). For instance, the act of fasting is not only limited to the physical hunger but the message of Ramadan and the act of fasting is that a man refrains from the lust of physical yearnings (longing) and thus increase his spiritual hunger and satisfy his spiritual desires.
It is for this reason that at the time of opening the fast various prayers like ‘Dua Iftitah” must be read and recited to be able to understand the glories of the creation of Allah and the greatness of the Ahlul-Bait.
Similarly, there are other prayers “Dua Saher (Supplication of Midnight)” which can be read at the time of keeping the fast so that along with the physical satiation (satisfaction) of the stomach some spiritual satiation of the soul is also made possible.