Fifth Proof

Though similar in nature, the fifth proof advanced by the Holy Qur’an in support of the existence of God is far more forceful in terms of the strength of its argument.

Allah says:

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Blessed is He in Whose hand is the kingdom, and He has power over all things; Who has created death and life that He might try you—which of you is best in deeds; and He is the Mighty, the Most Forgiving. Who has created seven heavens in harmony. No incongruity canst thou see in the creation of the Gracious God. Then look again: Seest thou any flaw? Aye, look again, thy sight will only return unto thee confused and fatigued.

There are those who say the entire universe came into existence by chance with matter spontaneously forming to bring everything into being. They turn to science to show it is possible the world came together and rotates on its axis on its own, without someone [to sustain it] and make it turn. However, in the above verses, Allah the Exalted answers this contention by saying that there is never a system of design to those things which come together through chance, rather they are marked by disorder. A painting is made using various colours, but if they were aimlessly splashed across a canvas, would a picture still emerge? Similarly, houses are made from bricks; however, if a group of bricks were thrown together would a building still be formed? Even if it is hypothetically accepted that certain things arise from chance, the system and operations of the universe are such that no one can conclude they came into existence by themselves. Let us suppose for a moment the earth arbitrarily emerged from matter and humanity has its origins in chance, but even then, when one looks closely at human creation it is impossible to conclude that such a perfect genesis could emerge from a random cause.

In our general experience of the world, we find that certain features or qualities of objects lead to their creator. When a person views a magnificent work of art, they recognise it has been created by a skilled artist and when a person reads a fine piece of literature they are able to discern it has been produced by a distinguished writer. The more coherent such a work shows itself to be the more apparent the greatness and magnificence of its maker or writer becomes. How then can people imagine that such a beautifully arranged world came into existence arbitrarily and by itself?

Consider for a moment that where human beings have been invested with the capacity for development, they have also been given intelligence so that they can turn their thoughts into action. Further, because human beings need to labour for their sustenance, they have been endowed with such physical bodies as let them move around to gather provisions. If trees require nourishment from the ground, they have been given roots through which they are able to feed themselves; if lions are carnivorous animals, they have been given claws with which to hunt for prey; if horses and cows consume grass, they were made with necks which could easily bend down and pick at it; and if camels were meant to eat thorns and the leaves of trees, they were given tall necks. Did such a [complex] system emerge arbitrarily? Was chance able to discern that camels would require long necks, lions would need claws, trees would need roots and human beings would need legs? Is it plausible to believe that phenomena springing from chance would result in such a perfect design?

Then if human beings were given lungs, they were also provided air with which to breathe; if their life was made dependent on water, it too was bestowed to them through the sun, clouds [and all other parts of the hydrological cycle]; if they were given eyes, then to help them function sunlight also existed so that they could see by means of it; if they were given ears, pleasant sounds were created; exquisite foods were made available along with our tongues and fragrances were present to stimulate our noses. Chance may have given birth to our lungs, but what brought oxygen into existence? It could be assumed that chance resulted in the creation of our eyes, but how formidable the likelihood of a sun coming into existence millions of miles away to enable them to function properly. Chance may have given birth to our ears, but what power created sound for them to hear; we may accept that dogs and bears randomly came to be found in snow-capped countries, but how did they come to possess such long hair that it protected them from the cold; if chance gave birth to thousands of afflictions, it also gave birth to the requisite cures; chance created stinging nettles which at a touch cause itchiness and it also created spinach as a remedy.

The random chance of atheists is a peculiar thing indeed. It provided for the birth and regeneration of those things that were destined to die, but did not fasten a regenerative cycle to those things that do not meet with [a quick] death. If human beings did not die after their birth, the world would soon have come to an end, hence why death is inextricably attached to them. Whereas celestial bodies like suns, moons and planets do not have a life cycle.

No less astonishing is the fact that because the sun and moon have the powerful attraction of gravity, they are at such a massive distance from one another so that they do not collide. Does not all of this show that the universe emerged from a creator who is not only all-knowing but possesses infinite knowledge? His laws are so perfect, they do not contain any sort of contradiction or incongruity. Even my own fingers appear to me as a proof of His existence. If, with the knowledge that has been extended to me, I had been given the claws of a lion, I would never have been able to write. God gave claws to lions instead of knowledge, just as He gave me knowledge and the fingers with which to record it.

Countless experts and scholars are employed day and night to help improve the governance of nations, yet occasionally they commit such grievous errors that they cause great damage to the state and sometimes bring about its destruction. However, if we accept the workings of the universe emerged from chance alone, it is peculiar to think that thousands of intelligent minds make mistakes, but chance succeeds without fail. The truth is: there is a creator of this universe who is a master over its entire extent and magnitude. He is mighty . Were it not so, such purpose and design would never have been apparent. As the Holy Qur’an says, cast your eyes in every direction and it will become fatigued [from the search]; an order will be manifest in everything. The virtuous are conferred their reward while the wicked receive their punishment. Everything within the universe functions according to its allocated task and does not desist for a moment. This is an extensive subject but I will end the discussion here. For those who have been given wisdom, a simple hint should suffice.