At the Osoul International Centre for Islamic Advocacy,
every new release that we produce gives us a great opportunity
to interact with our readers. All our releases
have the same overall objective; to present Islam to
mankind, as it truly is. We aim to make people aware of Islam’s fine aspects and profound teachings
and to show clearly that it is the only faith that provides practical and effective solutions to
all the problems faced by humanity. Islam gives clear and solid answers to all of the questions that
have troubled people over many generations, such as: How did we come into existence and why
do we exist? Where do we go from here? Furthermore, Islam is the only religion that requires its
followers to love and respect all the prophets God sent, particularly Moses and Jesus (peace be
upon them both).
We take great care to provide solid and rational proofs for our arguments, so as to give our readers
the reassurance they need, and our releases also refute the accusations levelled against Islam and
provide clarification to people’s misunderstandings of Islamic teachings.
By God’s grace, Islam is the fastest growing religion in our time, as confirmed by a study undertaken
by the Pew Research Centre(1), and our motive is to make this great divine faith known to
all people.
This book, . and The End, deals with questions of the creation, existence and progress
of the universe. This is a subject that has been raised by many communities throughout the
ages, yet Islam addressed it in a most direct and clear way right from its earliest days. Islam gives
detailed explanations where details are needed and clarifies the issues that need to be clear in
people’s minds. The Islamic view of this issue is that God is the Creator of the world we know and
all that lies beyond it. He is in no need of anyone of His creation, but they all need Him. Belief
and good action based on faith and following the teachings of God’s messengers will definitely
benefit man.
In the book, the question is raised of the purpose of the creation of mankind and the jinn. The author
responds to this question by saying that the ultimate objective of creation is that all creatures
must submit themselves to God and worship Him alone.
The author concludes his thesis by stating that all aspects of life in the universe will inevitably end
in death, confirming the Qur’anic statement: “All that lives on it perishes; but forever will remain
the face of your Lord, full of majesty, granting grace.” (55: 26-27)
We hope that readers will find this book useful in adding to their knowledge and understanding
of Islam.
Basil ibn Abdullah Al-Fawzan
Executive Director
(1) “The Future of the Global Muslim Population”, Pew Research Center, 27 January 2011, Available a t
http:http://goo.gl/k0FJ8Y.
Foreword
FOREWORD
All praise be to God, the Lord of all the worlds, the Creator of the heavens and earth
and all creatures living in them. May God grant peace and blessings to Prophet
Muhammad, God’s final Messenger, whose message brought mercy to all mankind.
May He also give His blessings to all the prophets and messengers whom He sent to
guide mankind out of darkness and into light.
Dr. Abdul-Rahman Al-Sheha
9
And may Allah exalt the mention of our Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, and render him safe
from every derogatory thing, who said:
“All people are from Adam, and Adam was created from dust.” [Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi]
And may Allah render his household and Companions safe from every derogatory thing.
The origin and creation of the universe is an issue which has concerned man throughout
the ages, especially non-Muslims. Yet, since Islam has clarified and expounded all
matters that need clarification, Muslims are thus not puzzled or confused in regards
to this matter, nor do they invent ideas regarding these phenomena, which may be
discarded with the advent of a new discovery.
We firmly believe that whatever is mentioned in the Qur’an and authentic Sunnah
regarding these issues is the truth to which all theories must conform. All that differs
with it would indeed be proven false.
Allah the Creator of the seen and unseen worlds, is not in need of His creation; rather,
His creation is in need of Him. Allah says:
(O mankind! You are those in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need, the
Praiseworthy. If He wills, He could destroy you and bring about a new creation. And
that is not hard for Allah.) [35:15-7]
You alone would benefit from your belief and righteous deeds. Allah says:
(If you disbelieve - indeed, Allah is Free from need of you. And He does not approve for
His servants disbelief. And if you are grateful, He approves it for you; and no bearer of
burdens will bear the burden of another. Then to your Lord is your return, and He will
inform you about what you used to do...) [39:7]
Allah says in Hadeeth Qudsi(1):
‘Allah said: ‘O My slaves! I have forbidden oppression for Myself, and I have made it
forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another. O My slaves, all of you are
astray except those whom I have guided, so seek guidance from Me and I shall guide
you. O My slaves, all of you are hungry except those whom I have fed, so seek food
from Me and I shall feed you. O My slaves, all of you are naked except those whom
I have clothed, so seek clothing from Me and I shall clothe you. O My slaves, you
commit sins by day and by night, and I forgive all sins, so seek forgiveness from Me
(1) Hadeeth Qudsi: A hadeeth is a narration of the speech, actions, tacit approvals, or characteristics of the
Prophet. A Hadeeth Qudsi is a hadeeth in which the Prophet narrates the words of Allah.
All praise is due to Allah Who said:
(O man! What has made you careless concerning your Lord, the Most Generous? [He]
Who created you, fashioned you perfectly, and gave you due proportion; in whatever
form He willed, He put you together.) [82:6-8]
Introduction
.
10 11
(Verily! Those who believe and do righteous deeds shall have the Gardens of Firdaws(3)
for their entertainment.) [18:107]
Allah safeguards and protects Islam until the establishment of the Final Hour. Allah
says:
(Indeed, it is We who sent down the revelation and indeed, We will be its guardian).
[15:9]
Regardless of the efforts of the enemies of Islam to distort the image of Islam and
falsely accuse it, Allah, will safeguard it. Allah says:
(Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it; [it is] a revelation from
a [Lord who is] Wise and Praiseworthy.) [41:42]
In the end, Allah’s legislation, His Deen, and His people will be the successful. Allah
says:
(Verily, those who oppose Allah and His Messenger are abased as those before them
were abased. And We have certainly sent down verses of clear evidence. And for the
disbelievers is a humiliating punishment.) [58:5]
Regardless of the efforts of the enemies to stop the spread of Islam, they will not be
successful. Allah says:
(Verily, those who disbelieve spend their wealth to avert [people] from the way of
Allah. So they will spend it; then it will be for them a [source of ] regret; then they will
be overcome. And those who have disbelieved - unto Hell they will be gathered.)
[8:36]
The law (Shari’ah) of Allah will prevail, His command is everlasting and His Deen will
remain. Allah says:
(They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His
light, although the disbelievers dislike it.) [61:8]
Allah promised to grant victory to it and make it apparent. Allah says:
(It is He who sent His Messenger with guidance and the religion of truth to manifest
it over all religion...) [48:28]
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“This Deen will reach every place which sees night and day. Allah will not leave a
(3) The highest level of Paradise (jannah).
and I shall forgive you. O My slaves, you will not attain harming
Me so as to harm me, and you will not attain benefiting Me so as
to benefit Me. O My slaves, if the first of you and the last of you,
and the humans of you and the Jinn(2) of you, were all as pious
as the most pious heart of any individual amongst you, then this
would not increase My Kingdom an iota. O My slaves, if the first
of you and the last of you, and the humans of you and the Jinn of
you, were all as wicked as the most wicked heart of any individual
amongst you, then this would not decrease My Kingdom an iota.
O My slaves, if the first of you and the last of you, and the humans
of you and the Jinn of you, were all to stand together in one place
and ask of Me, and I were to give everyone what he requested, then
that would not decrease what I possess, except what is decreased
of the Ocean when a needle is dipped into it. O My slaves, it is but
your deeds that I account for you and then recompense you for. So
he, who finds good, let him praise Allah, and he who finds other
than that, let him blame no one but himself.’” [Muslim]
Islam is the Deen (way of life) which Allah has chosen, is pleased
with and has legislated for His slaves. People are in dire need of
its laws to organize the affairs of their private and public lives,
their internal and external affairs. Besides the great importance
paid in Islam to general principles and fundamentals, it has
not neglected secondary issues. It also has created equilibrium
between the physical and spiritual aspects of life. Allah says:
(This day, I have perfected your Deen for you, completed My Favor
upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your Deen.) [5:3]
When man implements Islam in his life, he would feel the pleasure of
comfort, self-satisfaction, and spiritual ease. Allah says:
(And We have sent you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) not but as a mercy for the
worlds.) [21:107]
In the Hereafter, Allah would be pleased with him, and admit him in
Jannah (Paradise) wherein he will live an everlasting life. Allah says:
(2) Jinn: A creation from the unseen having free will like the humans, made from a
smokeless flame of fire.
Introduction
●● The Shari’ah of
Allah will prevail,
His command is
everlasting and His
Deen will remain.
●●When man implements
Islam in his life,
he would feel the
pleasure of comfort,
self-satisfaction, and
spiritual ease.
.
12 13
They do this because Islam would definitely bar them from achieving their goals,
and it would also prevent them from exploiting their peoples, since Islam forbids
oppression in all its forms, and it forbids enslaving people. This is a grave sin, especially
when those wronged are the weak. Islam forbids societies, groups and individuals to
belittle others. Allah says:
(O mankind! We have created you from a single male and female, and We made you
into different nations and tribes that you may come to know one another. Indeed, the
most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is
Knowing and Acquainted.) [49:13]
I will use the Noble Qur’an in writing this book, since Allah has stated that man cannot
discover the truth about . of creation by himself. Allah says:
(I made them not to witness the creation of the heavens and the earth, nor their own
creation, and I would not have taken those who misguide as assistants.) [18:51]
The other source I will use is the authentic Sunnah(4). I will avoid correlating the facts
mentioned in the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah of the Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم with modern
science, theories, and discoveries; for those theories which are regarded as true today
may be falsified by other theories tomorrow. Many theories once held true in the past
have now been proven incorrect due to the progress of modern science. And Allah
always speaks the truth:
(… And of knowledge, you have been given only a little.) [17:85]
Abdurrahmaan b. Abdul-Kareem ash-Sheha
(4) Sunnah: The ‘Way’ of the Prophet. It sometimes denotes the way he did something. Here it means the
collection of the speech, deeds, and tacit approvals of the Prophet, also known as hadeeth.
house made of mud nor a tent of camel hair except that Allah will
make this Deen enter it, either by the might of the mighty or the
humility of the meek: the mighty through whom Allah will give
might and honor to the Deen of Islam, or the meek through whom
Allah will humiliate disbelief.” [Ahmad, Ibn Hibbaan, Haakim]
The Deen of Islam is spreading and people are accepting it in
large numbers, even though Muslims are not conveying it as they
should. The main reason behind this is that Islam is congruent with
the natural disposition of man. It fulfills his desires and secures
his stability in all aspects; psychological, social, economical and
political. Another reason is the inner-strength which Allah instills in
His slaves to aid them.
On the other hand, the opponents of this noble religion are
mustering all their resources to turn people against this Deen, and
to prevent people from accepting it, and to place obstacles in its
path, and to scare people away from it by portraying Islam as a
backward Deen which promotes terrorism.
●● Allah is One; He has no
partner who shares His
domain. He has no wife
or child and all creation
depends upon Him.
●● The Deen of Islam is
spreading and people
are accepting it in large
numbers, even though
Muslims are not
conveying it as they
should.
Introduction
Dr. Abdul-Rahman Al-Sheha
15
WHO IS ALLAH?
Allah says:
(He is the First and the Last, the Ascendant and the Intimate, and He is, of all things,
Knowing.) [57:3]
Allah also says:
(He is Allah, other than whom there is no deity, Knower of the unseen(1) and the
witnessed. He is the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. He is Allah, other than
whom there is no deity, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Perfection, the Bestower of Faith,
the Overseer, the Exalted in Might, the Compeller, the Superior. Exalted is Allah above
whatever they associate with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor, the Fashioner;
to Him belong the best names. Whatever is in the heavens and earth is exalting Him.
And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.) [59:22-4]
Allah also says:
(Allah - there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of [all] existence.
Neither drowsiness overtakes Him nor sleep. To Him belongs whatever is in the
heavens and whatever is on the earth. Who is it that can intercede with Him except
by His permission? He knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after
them, and they encompass not a thing of His knowledge except for what He wills. His
footstool extends over the heavens and the earth, and their preservation tires Him
not. And He is the Most High, the Most Great.) [2:255]
In Islam, Allah is known; for the Deen explains who Allah is, and informs us of His
beautiful attributes, and how we can ask and seek nearness to Him. Among Allah’s
attributes are the following:
Allah exists. The universe and all that is within it are proofs of His existence. Allah
says:
(Say: “Observe what is in the heavens and earth.” But of no avail will be signs or warners
to a people who do not believe.) [10:101]
Allah is One; He has no partner who shares His domain. He has no wife or child,
and all creation depends upon Him alone. He has no partner, rival or equal; all things
are in need of Him, while He stands in need of none of His creatures. He was not
(1) That which is absent, invisible, or beyond the perception of the senses or of the mind and therefore is unknown
to man, except for what Allah chooses to reveal.
BELIEF
IN ALLAH
Belief in Allah, His existence, and His Oneness is the basis of Islamic Shari’ah. Belief in
this pillar would cause one to believe in the other pillars of faith, which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم
informed us about when Jibreel asked him:
‘Tell me about faith (Imaan)?’ He replied:
“To believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers, the Last Day, and that you
believe in Predestination, its good and evil consequences.” [Muslim]
Belief In Allah
.
16 17
One should know, though, that Allah’s Names are not limited. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“No slave says upon feeling stress or sadness:
‘Allahumma innee ‘abduk, ibnu ‘abdik, ibnu amatik, nasiyatee biyadik, madin fiyya
hukmuk, ‘adlun fiyya qada`uk, as`aluka bikull-ismin huwa lak, sammayta bihi nafsak,
aw anzaltahu fee kitabik, aw ‘allamtahu ahadan min khalqik aw ista´tharta bihi fee
‘ilm il-ghaybi ‘indak, an taj‘al al-Qur`ana rabee‘a qalbee, wa noora sadree, wajalaa`a
huznee wa dhahaaba hammee.’
Meaning: O Allah, I am Your slave, son of Your slave, son of Your female slave, my forelock
is in Your Hand (i.e. You have total mastery over me). Your command over me is forever
executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You
which You named Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your
creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the unseen with You, that You make
the Qur’an the life of my heart and the light of my chest, and a departure for my sorrow
and a release for my anxiety…’
…except that Allah will cause his sorrow to disappear and replace it with joy.” [Ahmed,
Saheeh ibn Hibbaan](2)
Allah has Names and Attributes which are not like unto His creation. Allah exists, and
His existence is unlike that of His creatures. He hears and nothing is like unto Him in
this attribute. He sees, and nothing is like unto Him in this attribute. This general rule
applies to all His Names and Attributes. Allah is as He described Himself:
(Allah knows what is [presently] before them and what will be after them, but they do
not encompass it in knowledge.) [20:110]
Man cannot comprehend the magnificence of Allah. Allah, the Exalted, says:
(Vision perceives Him not, but He perceives [all] vision; and He is the Subtle, the
Acquainted.) [6:103]
Due to the fact that humans have been created with the innate nature to inquire and
find out the truth about various matters, pondering about Allah and His presence
would not negate faith; rather, it would be a sign of one’s belief.
PROOFS OF THE EXISTENCE OF
ALLAH
(2) Authenticated as Saheeh by Sheikh Al-Albaani (may Allah have mercy on him).
begotten, nor does He beget. Allah says:
(Say: “He is Allah, [who is] One; Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He begets
not, nor was He begotten and there is none comparable unto Him.)
[112:1-4]
Allah is All-Knowing and His knowledge encompasses
everything. Allah says:
(And, [O Muhammad], you are not [engaged] in any matter or recite
any of the Qur’an and you [people] do not do any deed except that
We are witness over you when you are involved in it. And not absent
from your Lord is any [part] of an atom’s weight within the earth
or within the heaven or [anything] smaller than that or greater but
that it is in a clear register.) [10:61]
Allah is Ever-Living, and He never dies. Allah says:
(He is the Ever-Living; there is no deity except Him, so call upon Him,
[being] sincere to Him in religion. [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord
of the worlds.) [40:65]
Allah is All-Just. He is not a tyrant; He does not oppress, nor is
injustice feared from Him. Allah says:
(And We shall set up the balances of justice on the Day of
Resurrection, then none will be dealt with unjustly in anything.
And if there be the weight of a mustard seed, We will bring it. And
Sufficient are We as accountant.) [21:47]
Allah is Unique. Nothing resembles Him, nor can anything be
compared to Him regarding His attributes or actions. To Him belongs
complete perfection in every aspect. Whatever He wills would come
to pass; and what he does not would never be. Allah says:
(Allah - None has the right to be worshipped but Him. To Him belong
the Most Beautiful of Names.) [20:8]
Allah says:
(The Creator of the heavens and the earth … There is nothing like
unto Him, and He is the Hearing, the Seeing.) [42:11]
Allah has many Names and Attributes which are indicative of His
perfection and magnificence. If one wishes, he may refer to books
which detail them.
●● Allah has Names and
Attributes which
are not like unto His
creation. Allah exists,
and His existence
is unlike that of His
creatures.
●● Allah is One; He has no
partner who shares His
domain. He has no wife
or child and all creation
depends upon Him.
Belief In Allah
.
18 19
the [right] way. And the plan of Pharaoh was not except in ruin.) [40:36-37]
This call is not restricted to a certain time or era; rather, it is the nature of the calls of
those who reject and belie the truth due to their ignorance, as Allah says:
(And those who have no knowledge say: ‘Why does not Allah speak to us or why does
not a sign come to us?’ So had the people before them said words of similar import.
Their hearts are alike; We have indeed made plain the signs for people who believe
with certainty.) [2:118]
Or due to pride, as Allah says:
(And those who do not expect the meeting with Us say, “Why were not angels sent
down to us, or [why] do we [not] see our Lord?” They have certainly become arrogant
within themselves and [become] insolent with great insolence.) [25:21]
Or due to injustice, as did the Children of Israel; Allah says:
(And [recall] when you said, “O Moses, we will never believe you until we see Allah
outright”; so the thunderbolt took you while you were looking on.) [2:55]
THE PROOFS OF
THE EXISTENCE OF ALLAH
The result of pure and unadulterated human nature. Indeed a person who has a
pure nature and clear understanding would know certainly that nothing exists
Everything in this universe is a definite proof of the existence of a
Creator [Allah] who created it. Those who have sound intellect and
natural disposition will understand this fully.
Those who reject the existence of Allah do so because they seek
tangible proofs which they can perceive through their senses. They
contradict themselves, for they believe in intangible things within
this universe by observing their signs and effects.
For example, they believe in gravity without being able to see it;
they perceive it only through its effects, since objects are drawn
towards the earth. They believe in magnetism without being able to
see it; they perceive it through its effects, since metallic objects are
attracted to each other. They believe that they have intellects while
they cannot see their intellects! They believe in all these things
(while depending on their senses) even though their senses may
give them a false perception about things, which is well-known. For
example, a stick placed in water seems bent, and two parallel lines
at a distance seem to intersect; also, our head always seems to be
upright, whether we are at the North Pole, the South Pole, or at the
Equator. These examples prove that without intellect, one may be
given a false perception if he depends solely on his senses.
Without intellect, we would have no knowledge. So those who
limit attaining knowledge to what is perceived through the senses
have indeed made a mistake! Is it logical to reject the belief in Allah,
because Allah cannot be perceived through one’s senses? Even
though they believe in all that surrounds them through their effects
and signs! Seeking tangible evidences for the belief in the existence
of Allah has distanced many from believing in Allah by pondering
His signs.
Allah says:
(And Pharaoh said, “O Haman, construct for me a tower that I might
reach the ways - the ways into the heavens - so that I may look at
the God of Moses; but indeed, I think he is a liar.” And thus was made
attractive to Pharaoh the evil of his deed, and he was averted from
●● Those who reject the
existence of Allah do
so because they seek
tangible proofs which
they can perceive
through their senses.
●● Everything in this
universe is a definite
proof of the existence
of a Creator [Allah] who
created it. Those who
have sound intellect
and natural disposition
will understand this
fully.
Belief In Allah
.
20 21
beings dispersing [throughout the earth]. And of His signs is that He created for you
from yourselves mates that you may find tranquility in them; and He placed between
you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought.
And of His signs are the creation of the heavens and the earth and the diversity of
your languages and your colors. Indeed in that are signs for those of knowledge.
And of His signs is your sleep by night and day and your seeking of His bounty.
Indeed in that are signs for a people who listen. And of His signs, He shows you the
lightening [causing] fear and aspiration, and He sends down rain from the sky by
which He brings to life the earth after its lifelessness. Indeed in that are signs for a
people who use reason. And of His signs is that the heaven and earth remain by His
command. Then when He calls you with a [single] call from the earth, immediately
you will come forth. And to Him belongs whoever is in the heavens and the earth.
All are to Him devoutly obedient. And it is He who begins creation; then He repeats
it, and that is [even] easier for Him(3). To Him belongs the highest attribute in the
heavens and earth. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.) [30:17-27]
Allah also says:
(…the sun, the moon, and the stars, [all] subjected by His command. Unquestionably,
His is the creation and the command; blessed is Allah, Lord of the worlds.) [7:54]
The wondrous creation of mankind and the beautiful form they are created in, and
the ability which Allah has endowed them. Allah says:
(And on the earth are signs for the certain [in faith]. And in your own selves. Then will
you not see?) [51:20-21]
The animals and the different ways humans benefit from them, in the form of
food, drink, clothing, and as means of transportation. Allah says:
(And indeed, for you in grazing livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from what is in
their bellies - between undigested food and blood - pure milk, palatable to drinkers.
And from the fruits of the palm trees and grapevines you take intoxicant and good
provision.(4) Indeed in that is a sign for a people who reason. And your Lord inspired
to the bee, ‘Take for yourself among the mountains, houses, and among the trees and
[in] that which they construct. Then eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of your
(3) This is in regards to humans, for repeating something is easier than doing it the first time. As far as Allah is
concerned, they are both the same; they are both easy.
(4) This verse was revealed before the prohibition of intoxicants. It alludes to the fact that there are both evil and
good possibilities in certain things.
without something bringing it into existence, and nothing
happens without a specific reason. For example, if you enter a
room and see a table, your mind will come to the conclusion that
this table did not come into the room by itself; rather, someone
brought it in. Even the simplest of people upon seeing footprints
would state that they indicate that someone tread this path. A
dark night, a bright day, the sky with its great stars, the earth with
its deep valleys, the ocean with its great waves; are these all not
but indications of the existence of Allah?
The verses of the Qur’an. There are many verses which encourage
people to ponder about this universe which surrounds them and to
think about the different creations found within them. All these are
proofs of a Creator who takes care of its affairs. Allah says:
(Say: “Look into all that is in the heavens and the earth”, but neither
signs nor warners benefit those who believe not.) [10:101]
The following are a few examples which prove the
existence of the Creator:
The perfection with which the universe is created, and beauty
of the planets which swiftly travel in their specific orbits, as well as
other celestial bodies; if these were offset from their orbit even
slightly, it would result in a catastrophe the extent of which only Allah
knows. Since . of their creation, they continue to move
according to a precise system. Allah says:
(He has created the heavens without any pillars that you see and has
set on the earth firm mountains, lest it should shake with you.) [31:10]
Allah also says:
(So exalted is Allah when you reach the evening and when you
reach the morning. And to Him is [due all] praise throughout the
heavens and the earth. And [exalted is He] at night and when
you are at noon. He brings the living out of the dead and brings
the dead out of the living and brings to life the earth after its
lifelessness. And thus will you be brought out. And of His signs
is that He created you from dust; then, suddenly you are human
●● There are many verses
which encourage
people to ponder
about this universe
which surrounds them
and to think about the
different creations.
●● a person who has
pure nature and clear
understanding would
know certainly that
nothing exists without
something bringing
it into existence, and
nothing happens
without a specific
reason.
Belief In Allah
Dr. Abdul-Rahman Al-Sheha
23
Lord laid down [for you].’ There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors,
in which there is healing for people. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give
thought.) [16:66-69]
The plants, trees, and crops in their various shapes, and colors from which man
benefits in the form of food, drink, shelter, and medicine. Allah says:
(And it is He who spread the earth and placed therein firmly set mountains and rivers;
and from all of the fruits He made two mates; He causes the night to cover the day. Indeed
in that are signs for a people who give thought. And within the land are neighboring
plots and gardens of grapevines and crops and palm trees, [growing] several from a
root or otherwise, watered with one water, but We make some of them exceed others in
[quality of] fruit. Indeed in that are signs for a people who reason.) [13:3-4]
The different creatures which traverse the earth in their various shapes, forms, and
unique qualities. Allah says:
(Allah has created every [living] creature from water. And of them are those that move on their
bellies and of them are those that walk on two legs, and of them are those that walk on four.
Allah creates what He wills. Indeed, Allah is over all things competent.) [24:45]
The astonishing organization and cohesion present between all constituents of
the creation. This cohesion and intricate balance guarantees the continuation of life
of the creation. Allah says:
(He created the heavens without pillars that you see and has cast into the earth firmly
set mountains, lest it should shift with you, and dispersed therein from every creature.
And We sent down rain from the sky and made grow therein [plants] of every noble
kind. This is the creation of Allah. So show Me what those other than Him have created.
Rather, the wrongdoers are in clear error.) [31:10-11]
The wondrous way provisions are distributed and provided to all creatures. Allah
says:
(And there is no creature on earth but that upon Allah is its provision, and He knows
its place of dwelling and place of storage(5). All is in a clear book.(6)) [11:6]
Allah also says:
(And how many a creature carries not its [own] provision. Allah provides for it and for you. And
He is the Hearing, the Knowing.) [29:60]
(5) Before birth (in the uterus) and after death (in the grave).
(6) Al-Lawh-ul-Mahfoodh, the Preserved Tablet in which everything that came into existence was written 50,000
years before the creation until the Day of Resurrection.
Belief In Allah
.
24 25
fitrah(7) of Allah upon which He has created [all] people. No change should there be in the
creation of Allah.(8) That is the correct Deen, but most of the people do not know.) [30:30]
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said:
“Every child is born on the Fitrah [Natural Disposition]; But his parents, turn him into a
Jew or a Christian….” [Bukhari]
Even if a man’s natural disposition is deviated, he still tends to look up to a power
upon Whom he can turn to in times of need, as was the case in previous nations; they
would take idols as gods and worship them. They would also worship the sun, moon
and stars. This is a common instinct among humans; although some reject it out of
arrogance or stubbornness. This innate nature is most often revealed when in a dire
situation: if a person falls sick, or is overcome by an evil, he would involuntarily call out
and say: ‘O God!’ or he would look towards the sky, in acknowledgment of an almighty
force, who can resolve his problems. Allah says:
(And when affliction touches man, he calls upon Us, whether lying on his side or
sitting or standing; but when We remove from him his affliction, he continues [in
disobedience] as if he had never called upon Us to remove an affliction that touched
him.) [10:12]
The challenge of the Qur’an:
The Qur’an challenges the whole creation to create anything which has a soul,
whether they do so collectively or individually. Allah says:
(O people, an example is presented, so listen to it. Indeed, those you invoke besides
Allah will never create [as much as] a fly, even if they gathered together for that
purpose. And if the fly should steal away from them a [tiny] thing, they could not
recover it from him. Weak are the pursuer and pursued(9).) [22:73]
This is because the soul is from the affairs of Allah. No one knows its reality except
Him. Allah says:
(And they ask you, [O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم], about the soul. Say, ‘The soul is of the affair of
my Lord. And mankind have not been given of knowledge except a little.) [17:85]
(7) Fitrah: The natural inborn inclination of man to worship his Creator prior to the corruption of his nature by
external influences. Thus, Islamic monotheism is described as the religion of fitrah—that of the inherent
nature of mankind.
(8) i.e., let people remain true to their fitrah within the religion of Islam.
(9) A comparison is made here to the worshipper of a false deity and that which he worships.
Allah, the Exalted, has informed us that all creatures within the
universe have been created in pairs; (for example) the sky and earth,
night and day, death and life, happiness and misery, the sun and
the moon, the moving and motionless, hot and cold, good and evil,
disbelief and belief. This is present in the animal world and in plants
as well; and among things we have knowledge of and things we do
not. Allah says:
(And of all things We created two mates; perhaps you will remember.)
[51:49]
Pondering upon these creatures would increase and deepen
one’s belief in Allah, and this is a trait of the intellectual people of
understanding. Allah says:
(Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky, and We
produce thereby fruits of varying colors? And in the mountains are
tracts, white and red of varying shades and [some] extremely black.
And among people and moving creatures are grazing livestock
are various colors similarly. Only those fear Allah, from among His
slaves who have knowledge. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and
Forgiving.) [35:27-28]
Allah has informed us about some of the creatures in this universe,
while not informing us of others. Allah says:
(Exalted is He who created all pairs - from what the earth grows, and
from themselves, and from that which they do not know.) [36:36]
There is no doubt that there is a force which brought about this
universe, and protects it. This force can only be Allah, the Creator,
who created this universe. This is what Muslims believe. As for
atheists, they waver in doubt. Allah says:
(Were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of
themselves]? Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather,
they are not certain.) [52:35-36]
It is from the innate human nature that humans feel and
acknowledge the presence of a Creator Who created them as well as
the universe they live in. This is what some scientists call “Religious
Instinct.” Allah says:
(So direct your face toward the Deen, inclining to truth. [Adhere to] the
●● Pondering upon
these creatures would
increase and deepen
one’s belief in Allah,
and this is a trait of the
intellectual people of
understanding.
●● Allah, the Exalted, has
informed us that all
creatures within the
universe have been
created in pairs.
Belief In Allah
.
26 27
Allah then eased it even further, saying:
(And if you are in doubt about what We have sent down upon Our Servant
[Muhammad], then produce a chapter the like thereof and call upon your witnesses
other than Allah, if you should be truthful.) [2:23]
This Qur’an is the revealed Words of Allah, and it can never be disproved. Allah says:
(And it is not [possible] for this Qur’an to be produced by other than Allah, but [it is] a
confirmation of what was before it and a detailed explanation of the [former] Scripture,
about which there is no doubt(11), from the Lord of the all that exists.) [10:37]
If it was written by humans, it would contain many contradictions. Allah says:
(Then do they not reflect upon the Qur’an? If it had been from [any] other than Allah,
they would have found much contradiction in it.) [4:82]
Our basis for the discussion about . of creation and its end will be the
saying of Allah:
(Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is, over all things, Disposer of affairs. * To Him
belong the keys of the heavens and the earth.) [39:62-63]
(11) This phrase refers back to the Qur›an.
The creation cannot create something without a soul. In a Hadeeth
Qudsi, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم narrated that Allah says:
“And who is more unjust than one who tries to create something
like My creation. Let them try to create the smallest ant, let them
try to create a seed, let them try to create a fiber of barley.” [Bukhari]
The inability of humans to do as they please in this universe. This
is another evidence of the presence of the Creator who created and
continues to dispose of its affairs. Allah says:
(Have you not considered the one who argued with Abraham
about his Lord [merely] because Allah had given him kingship?
When Abraham said, ‘My Lord is the one who gives life and causes
death,’ he said, ‘I give life and cause death(10).’ Abraham said, ‘Indeed,
Allah brings up the sun from the east, so bring it up from the west.’
So the disbeliever was confounded, and Allah does not guide the
wrongdoing people.) [2:258]
Another proof of His existence is His challenge to all humanity:
to bring something like the Noble Qur’an, the final Book revealed
to mankind. This challenge will remain unmet until the Day of
Judgment. Allah says:
(Say, ‘If mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like
of this Qur’an, they could not produce its like, even if they were to
each other assistants.) [17:88]
Whoever doubts the existence of Allah or the prophethood of
Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم let him produce something similar to the Qur’an.
The Arabs, who were the most eloquent orators at that time, tried
their best to produce something similar to the Qur’an, and they
could not; even though it was revealed in their native tongue
(Arabic). Allah then eased this challenge, saying:
(Or do they say, ‘He invented it?’ Say, ‘Then bring ten chapters
like it that have been invented and call upon whomever you can
besides Allah, if you should be truthful.) [11:13]
(10) Qataadah and others reported: “That two men are brought to me who deserve to be
sentenced to death. So I order that one of them be killed and I pardon the other.. so
he is not killed.” [ibn Katheer].
●●Whoever doubts the
existence of Allah or
the prophet-hood of
Muhammad let him
produce something
similar to the Qur’an.
●● Another proof of
His existence is His
challenge to all
humanity: to bring
something like the
Noble Qur’an, the
final Book revealed
to mankind. This
challenge will remain
unmet until the Day of
Requital.
Belief In Allah
Dr. Abdul-Rahman Al-Sheha
29
THE CREATION
THE CREATION OF THE HEAVENS, EARTH AND
WHAT IS IN BETWEEN
Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم says:
(And it is He who created the heavens and earth in truth. And the day He says, ‘Be,’ and
it is, His word is the truth.(1) And His is the dominion on the Day the Horn is blown. [He
is the] Knower of the Unseen and the seen, and He is the Wise, the Acquainted.) [6:73]
The following are examples of some of the creations found within the heavens and
earth:
Allah says:
(And We made the sky a protected ceiling, but they turn away from its signs. And it
is He who created the night and the day and the sun and the moon; all (heavenly
bodies) are swimming in an orbit.) [21:32-33]
Allah says:
(Are you a more a difficult creation or is the heaven? He constructed it. He raised its
ceiling and proportioned it. And He darkened its night and extracted its brightness.(2)
And after that He spread the earth. He extracted from it its water and its pasture. And
the mountains He set firmly. As enjoyment for you and your grazing livestock.) [79:27-
33]
Allah says:
(And We have sent the fertilizing winds(3), and sent down water from the sky and given
you drink from it. And it is not you who are the owners of its stores.) [15:22]
There are different types of winds; some are a mercy from Allah. Allah says:
(And it is He who sends the winds as good tidings before His mercy until, when they
have carried heavy rainclouds, We drive them to a dead land and We send down rain
therein and bring forth thereby [some] of all the fruits. Thus will We bring forth the
dead; perhaps you may be reminded.) [7:57]
While others are a punishment. Allah says:
(1) When interpreted as the “Day” (of Resurrection), the sentence would read: “And the Day He says, ‘Be,’ and it is,
His word will be the truth.”
(2) i.e., created the day from within the surrounding darkness.
(3) Winds causing precipitation in rain clouds or carrying pollen.
THE
BEGINNING
THE FIRST CREATION OF THE TANGIBLE WORLD
Since man’s knowledge and understanding is limited only to the tangible world in which
he lives, there is no need for him to comprehend the unseen world; except in matters
that would lead him to knowing the greatness of his Creator, and bring him closer to
His pleasure and reward. For this reason, Allah, the Exalted, sent Messengers to mankind
continuously and He gave them knowledge of the unseen world such that the goodness
of man could be attained. If the human intellect is unable to realize what occurs in the
next room, then by extension, it would not be able to comprehend the unseen world.
Allah says:
([And] who created seven heavens in layers. You do not see in the creation of the Most
Merciful any inconsistency. So return your vision [to the sky]; do you see any breaks?
Then return your vision twice again. Your vision will return to you humbled while it is
fatigued.) [67:3-4]
