Evidences for existence of God
Knowing God according to the Holy Quran
The Holy Quran has used many simple and very basic techniques to prove the existence of God; methods, which are nice as well as easy to understand for everyone. This style is not complex and difficult like the reasonings employed by philosophy, that it may not be understood by all. This most simple method does not require prefaces and advanced learning. Every person can benefit from it in accordance with his or her awareness and knowledge. That simple and beautiful method is called as ‘evidence of order’ that awakens the innate natures of seeking God. Therefore study and contemplation on the secrets and peculiarities of the created world is one of the best ways of knowing God.
In a large number of verses, Quran has mentioned examples of the astonishing aspects of universe and wants man to think in the right way and to conclude the existence and being of the Almighty Allah from the order and compatibility. According to Quran, each phenomenon of the world is a divine sign (Ayah). Ayah implies a sign or a mark. If man sees the phenomena of the world as they are, he would begin to believe in existence of their creator; although Quran is not a book of natural science that it may discuss secrets of the phenomena of the world in detail and expose them to man. But it has mentioned in brief their astonishing aspects only to prove the existence of the maker of Universe so that it may awaken the minds of those who have the faculty of thinking; and that it may call their attention so that they may discuss and be curious about the exposition of astonishing secrets of Nature and in this way they may begin to have faith in the creator of the world. In addition to this, they may also benefit to secure the needs of life and inhabit the world.
That is why it can be said that the science of knowing man, knowing animals, knowing plants, knowing lands, knowing space, physics and chemistry are the best ways to know God.
In the Holy Quran, there are numerous verses which mention examples of the astonishing aspects of creation which awaken the nature of man to seek God, so that he may begin to have belief in the existence of a wise and a powerful creator through his conscience. So that he may see the creator of the world with the eyes of his conscience and that he may become attached to Him. These verses can be divided into different groups and each of them talk of one particular aspect:
A) Verses that emphasize contemplation on the creation of man:
The Almighty Allah says in Quran:
فَلْیَنظُرِ الْإِنسَانُ مِمَّ خُلِقَ * خُلِقَ مِن مَّآءٍ دَافِقٍ * یَخْرُجُ مِن بَیْنِ الصُّلْبِ وَ التَّرَآئِبِ
“So let man consider of what he is created: He is created of water pouring forth, Coming from between the back and the ribs.” (86:5-7)
And He says:
وَمِنْ آیَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَکُم مِّن تُرَابٍ ثُمَّ إِذَآ أَنتُم بَشَرٌ تَنتَشِرُونَ * وَمِنْ آیَاتِهِ أَن خَلَقَ لَکُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِکُمْ أَزْوَاجاً لِّتَسْکُنُواْ إِلَیْهَا وَ جَعَلَ بَیْنَکُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً إِنَّ فِى ذَلِکَ لَآیَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ یَتَفَکَّرُونَ
“And one of His signs is that He created you from dust, then lo! you are mortals (who) scatter. And one of His signs is that He created mates for you from yourselves that you may find rest in them, and He put between you love and compassion; most surely there are signs in this for a people who reflect.” (30/20-21)
And He says:
وَمِنْ آیَاتِهِ خَلْقُ السَّمَوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلاَفُ أَلْسِنَتِکُمْ وَ أَلْوَانِکُمْ إِنَّ فِى ذَلِکَ لَآیَاتٍ لِّلْعَالِمِینَ * وَمِنْ آیَاتِهِ مَنَامُکُم بِالَّیْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَابْتِغَآؤُکُم مِّن فَضْلِهِ إِنَّ فِى ذَلِکَ لَآیَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ یَسْمَعُونَ
“And one of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of your tongues and colors; most surely there are signs in this for the learned. And one of His signs is your sleeping and your seeking of His grace by night and (by) day; most surely there are signs in this for a people who would hear.” (30/22-23)
And He says:
وَاللَّهُ أَخْرَجَکُم مِّن بُطُونِ أُمَّهَتِکُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ شَیْئاً وَجَعَلَ لَکُمُ السَّمْعَ وَالْأَبْصَرَ وَالْأَفْئِدَةَ لَعَلَّکُمْ تَشْکُرُونَ
“And Allah has brought you forth from the wombs of your mothers – you did not know anything – and He gave you hearing and sight and hearts that you may give thanks.” (16:78)
And He says:
نَحْنُ خَلَقْنَاکُمْ فَلَوْلَا تُصَدِّقُونَ / أَفَرَءَیْتُم مَّا تُمْنُونَ / أَأَنتُمْ تَخْلُقُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْخَالِقُونَ
“We have created you, why do you not then assent? Have you considered the seed? Is it you that create it or are We the creators?” (56:57-59)
And He says:
هَلْ أَتَى عَلَى الْإِنسَانِ حِینٌ مِّنَ الدَّهْرِ لَمْ یَکُن شَیْئاً مَذْکُوراً * إِنَّا خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ مِن نُّطْفَةٍ أَمْشَاجٍ نَّبْتَلِیهِ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ سَمِیعاً بَصِیراً
“There surely came over man a period of time when he was a thing not worth mentioning. Surely We have created man from a small life-germ uniting (itself): We mean to try him, so We have made him hearing, seeing.” (76:1-2)
Points
Important points are mentioned in the above verses for man to contemplate on:
1. Previously man was nothing, except a mixed sperm, which underwent various stages to finally assume the shape of man. This process is worth contemplation and study.
2. Human beings are created in pairs so that they might reproduce and also derive comfort from each other; and God has put love and mercy amongst them, which is one of the divine signs.
3. He created human beings in various colors and races, who speak different languages and this is also a remarkable sign and it is worth contemplation.
4. In the beginning man was not aware of anything and he leant everything from eyes, ears and other senses and conscience. And this too is an astonishing sign worth contemplation and study.
5. Sleep, rest and willingness to obtain livelihood is also a great divine sign.
If man looks at his beautiful structure and ponders well on the extraordinary system and its astonishing aspects, he would conclude that it has not come into being on its own by coincidence. On the contrary it has a wise and a powerful creator.
B) Verses that emphasize contemplation on creation of plants, fruits and human foods:
The Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:
وَهُوَ الَّذِى أَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ نَبَاتَ کُلِّ شَىْءٍ فَأَخْرَجْنَا مِنْهُ خَضِراً نُخْرِجُ مِنْهُ حَبّاً متَرَاکِباً وَمِنَ الْنَّخْلِ مِن طَلْعِهَا قِنْوَانٌ دَانِیَةٌ وَجَنَّتٍ مِنْ أَعْنَابٍ وَالزَّیْتُونَ وَالرُّمَّانَ مُشْتَبِهاً وَغَیْرَ مَتَشَبِهٍ انظُرُواْ إِلَى ثَمَرِهِ إِذَا أَثْمَرَ وَیَنْعِهِ إِنَّ فِى ذَ لِکُمْ لَأَیَتٍ لِقَوْمٍ یُؤْمِنُونَ
“And He it is Who sends down water from the cloud, then We bring forth with it buds of all (plants), then We bring forth from it green (foliage) from which We produce grain piled up (in the ear); and of the palm-tree, of the sheaths of it, come forth clusters (of dates) within reach, and gardens of grapes and olives and pomegranates, alike and unlike; behold the fruit of it when it yields the fruit and the ripening of it; most surely there are signs in this for a people who believe.” (6:99)
And He says:
وَفِى الْأَرْضِ قِطَعٌ مُّتَجَوِرَ تٌ وَجَنَّتٌ مِّنْ أَعْنَبٍ وَ زَرْعٌ وَ نَخِیلٌ صِنْوَانٌ وَغَیْرُ صِنْوَانٍ یُسْقَى بِمَآءٍ وَ حِدٍ وَ نُفَضِّلُ بَعْضَهَا عَلَى بَعْضٍ فِى الْأُکُلِ إِنَّ فِى ذَ لِکَ لَأَیَتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ یَعْقِلُونَ
“And in the earth there are tracts side by side and gardens of grapes and corn and palm trees having one root and (others) having distinct roots – they are watered with one water, and We make some of them excel others in fruit; most surely there are signs in this for a people who understand.” (13:4)
And He says:
فَلْیَنظُرِ الْإِنسَانُ إِلَى طَعَامِهِ/ أَنَّا صَبَبْنَا الْمَآءَ صَبّاً / ثُمَّ شَقَقْنَا الْأَرْضَ شَقّاً / فَأَنبَتْنَا فِیهَا حَبّاً / وَ عِنَباً وَقَضْباً / وَزَیْتُوناً وَنَخْلاً / وَ حَدَآئِقَ غُلْباً / وَفَاکِهَةً وَأَبّاً / مَّتَاعاً لَّکُمْ وَلِأَنْعَامِکُمْ
“Then let man look to his food, that We pour down the water, pouring (it) down in abundance, then We cleave the earth, cleaving (it) asunder, then We cause to grow therein the grain, and grapes and clover, and the olive and the palm, And thick gardens, And fruits and herbage, a provision for you and for your cattle.” (80:24-32)
And He says:
أَفَرَءَیْتُم مَّا تَحْرُثُونَ / أَأَنتُمْ تَزْرَعُونَهُ أَمْ نَحْنُ الزَّ ارِعُونَ / لَوْ نَشَآءُ لَجَعَلْنَاهُ حُطَاماً فَظَلْتُمْ تَفَکَّهُونَ
“Have you considered what you sow? Is it you that cause it to grow, or are We the causers of growth? If We pleased, We should have certainly made it broken down into pieces, then would you begin to lament.” (56:63-65)
And He says:
ألَّذِى جَعَلَ لَکُمُ الْأَرْضَ مَهْداً وَسَلَکَ لَکُمْ فِیهَا سُبُلاً وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجْنَا بِهِ أَزْوَاجاً مِّن نَّبَاتٍ شَتَّى / کُلُواْ وَارْعَوْاْ أَنْعَامَکُمْ إِنَّ فِى ذَ لِکَ لَآیَاتٍ لاُِّوْلِى النُّهَى
“Who made the earth for you an expanse and made for you therein paths and sent down water from the cloud; then thereby We have brought forth many species of various herbs. Eat and pasture your cattle; most surely there are signs in this for those endowed with understanding.” (20:53-54)
Points
Some very important points are mentioned in the above verses also so that man may ponder over them:
1. Man is in need of different types of foods, and vegetation and plants guarantee this need and produce food for him.
2. Plants depend on water for their own growth, which falls from the sky as rain.
3. Although trees and shrubs grow from the same earth and use the same water, they produce different kinds of fruits and grains.
4. Plants, like animals are also created in pairs.
5. Creation of fruits, grains, vegetables are remarkable and deserve contemplation and attention. In these verses, Quran has called attention to the world of plants and vegetation to highlight astonishing aspects of the plant kingdom so that all may become aware of God creator and that they may benefit from them and their fruits.
C) Verses that emphasize contemplation on the importance of rain and water:
The Almighty Allah says in the Holy Quran:
إِنَّ فِى خَلْقِ الْسَّمَوَ تِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَفِ اللَّیْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ وَ الْفُلْکِ الّتِى تَجْرِى فِى الْبَحْرِ بِمَا یَنْفَعُ الْنَّاسَ وَمَآ أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ مِنَ الْسَّمآءِ مِنْ مَّآءٍ فَأَحْیَا بِهِ الْأَرْضَ بَعْدَ مَوْتِهَا وَبَثَّ فِیهَا مِنْ کُلِّ دَآبَّةٍ وَتَصْرِیفِ الْرِّیَحِ وَالْسَّحَابِ الْمُسَخَّرِ بَیْنَ الْسَّمَآءِ وَ الْأَرْضِ لَأَیَتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ یَعْقِلُونَ
“Most surely in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day, and the ships that run in the sea with that which profits men, and the water that Allah sends down from the cloud, then gives life with it to the earth after its death and spreads in it all (kinds of) animals, and the changing of the winds and the clouds made subservient between the heaven and the earth, there are signs for a people who understand.” (2:164)
And He says:
أَفَرَاَیْتُمُ الْمَآءَ الَّذِى تَشْرَبُونَ / أَأَنتُمْ أَنزَلُْتمُوهُ مِنَ الْمُزْنِ أَمْ نَحْنُ الْمُنزِلُونَ / لَوْ نَشَآءُ جَعَلْنَاهُ أُجَاجاً فَلَوْلَا تَشْکُرُونَ
“Have you considered the water which you drink? Is it you that send it down from the clouds, or are We the senders? If We pleased, We would have made it salty; why do you not then give thanks?” (56:68-70)
And He says:
اللَّهُ الَّذِى خَلَقَ السَّمَوَتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَآءِ مَآءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَتِ رِزْقاً لَّکُمْ وَسَخَّرَ لَکُمُ الْفُلْکَ لِتَجْرِىَ فِى الْبَحْرِبِأَمْرِهِ وَسَخَّرَ لَکُمُ الْأَنْهَرَ
“Allah is He Who created the heavens and the earth and sent down water from the clouds, then brought forth with it fruits as a sustenance for you, and He has made the ships subservient to you, that they might run their course in the sea by His command, and He has made the rivers subservient to you.” (14:32)
Points
1. These verses describe the beautiful water cycle in nature. The water in oceans evaporates through heat of sun and appears in the sky in form of clouds; and then through the movement of the winds, is transferred to different parts of the earth, where it falls in form of rain and becomes available for human beings, animals and plants. This is one of the divine signs that He has created such a novel system.
2. Although sea water is saline and bitter, rain water is sweet and potable.
3. Water, which is the nectar of life for plants, animals and human beings; was created as a liquid, so that it may flow in the form of streams to be made available for all and also used as mode of transportation (shipping).
Creation of water and its cycle in nature is one of the amazing signs of His creation and for those who have sense, it is worth contemplation; and the order, coordination and connection between human beings, animals, plants, heat of the sun, wind and earth show that these are the best evidences of the existence of a wise and powerful creator.