Download Intellectual Theology

Islamic Intellectual Theology
Lesson 3 – Tawheed
Arguments for the Existence of God
Sources :
ELAHIYAAT (Arabic) of Sh Jafer Sobhani
, vol. 1 (Summary)
Notes: Dr. Sayed Fadhil Al-Milani
International College of Islamic Studies
(ICIS)
Islamic Collage for Advanced Studies
(ICAS)
Edited: May 19, 2009 - BHD
Arguments for the Existence of God
Ontological (WUJOODI) argument
Two main theories in cosmological
(KOUNI) arguments:
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The uncaused cause
2. The unmoved mover
1.
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Teleological (GHAAEE) argument
From: Notes of ICAS theology:
http://www.muslimphilosophy.com/
http://74.125.77.132/custom?q=cache:QAYACp2zX
www.muslimphilosophy.com/ip/pg1.pdf+arguments+majid+fakhr
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Ontological (WUJOODI) Argument
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God is conceived in the mind of every one who questions
His existence, that He is assumed to be (assumption):
Infinite, perfect and necessary
Thus nothing greater than the assumed perfect God can
be conceived
But if God exists only in the mind and not in reality, then it
would not be the most perfect being, for the one exists in
reality would be more perfect. Because existence is better
than non existence (WUJOOD is better than U’ADM)
Therefore there has to be a God out of the mind in order
to be most perfect than any one else, because if He is
assumed in the mind only than who ever or what ever
exists out is more perfect than Him.
The conceived perfection is incomplete unless if its reality
exists outside of the mind, then only the perfection is
completed.
Cosmological (KAUNI):
1. Uncaused Cause
Every affect has a cause
 That cause is an affect of a cause
as well
 Until it reaches to a cause which is
not an affect of a cause i.e.
uncaused cause and that is God
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Cosmological (KOUNI):
2. Unmoved Mover
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The universe is flux and constantly in movement
as according to Aristotelian Physics
Every movement has a mover which causes its
movement
The movement must end to an unmoving cause
or initiator or the generator of all such movements
in the universe
The initiator or the prime mover is what we call it
God
He created the movement thus cannot be under
its affect
Teleological (GHAAEE) Argument
The universe is designed in a way that it indicates a
designer Who designed it to serve a purpose.
 In other words the design of the universe indicates
an intellectual purpose behind it creation, which
indicates that an intelligent designer has designed it
with an aim and purpose, and not out of blue.
 Example: Every single feature in a laptop indicates a
purpose, and not made random, from its slots, the
look, the design, the buttons, the keyboard, the
screen. If this is a small device in a universe
indicates that every small feature in it has made for a
purpose. Or look at the airplane, or any other man
made thing, then who can all the observed features
in the universe not indicate an intelligent designer ,
who is God

From the Notes of ICIS:
A. The Old method
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The Proof of Necessity and the
possibility of Existence. (WUJUB WA
IMKAAN)
The Proof of Motion (AL-HARAKA)
The Proof of Detachment (ALTAJARRUD)
The Proof of Occurrence (ALHUDUTH)
The Proof of MULLA SADRA (ALSIDDEEQEEN)
B. Modern Method
Contemplation in the Existence of the
Universe
2. Method of Desecrate
3. Proof of the system (AL-NIDHAAM)
1.
C. Ahlul Bayt (as)
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Here will explore some proofs from
Ahlul Bayt (as).
Logic: Endless Chain: “TASALSUL”
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The logicians declared and proved that the
endless chain is absurd and there must be an
end to any chain of existing things.
1 is caused by 2 , which is caused by 3 which is
caused by 4,…………. It has to end some where
and some point which is essential and is not
caused by any other thing.
Almost all the proofs use this concept, where the
end is at the master source of the characteristic
discussed in the chain whether such
characteristic is:
The movement, or the cause of existence or a
change. (These will be discussed further).
Logic: Circulation “DOUR”
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Circulation or closed loop in Logic is absurd and must
have a way out, if not then the argument depending on
the circulation is intellectually absurd as well.
Example1 : Q: Who are you? A: My father’s son, Q:
who is your father? A: the one who begot me, Q: Who
are you…and it continues.
Example 2: Who is Mohammad ? Son of Abdullah, Q:
Who is Abdullah ? A: Father of Mohammad Q: Who is
Mohammad?.....
Example 3: Q: What is the Sun, A: a star which rises in
the day, Q: What is a day? A time indicated by the rise
of the Sun, Q: What is the Sun?.....
A narrator narrates the praise of an Imam (as) without
an external verification is useless, because it is self
praising due to the circulation or loop.
A. Old method: 1. The Proof of Necessity
and the Possibility of Existence
1.
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Arabic: BURHAAN AL-QUJUB WAL-IMKAAN
This proof was used by the wise men and the
theologians (AL-HUKAMAA’ AL ILAAHEYYEEN)
The claim: God must exist, His existence is
necessary intellectually, and all the other things
existence is possible , i.e. God’s existence is
essential and does not come from other than him.
In other words every thing requires a cause in its
existence (Gained existence) therefore can exist
(possibility), except for the God Who is self
existent and must have necessary or essential
existence.
The Difference Between the
Essential and the Possible
In the possible thing (MOMKIN ALWUJOOD) the
existence and non existence are equal, unless if
an external factor interrupts and brings the
possible thing into existence, or annihilates the
exiting possible thing and puts it back to non
existence, therefore the possibility is transient.
 That external factor which causes the possible to
exist or to annihilate must be necessary to exist
(WAJIB ALWUJOOD)
 Why? Because it will create an endless chain or
circulation.
 How? Think about it and the discussion will be in
our next lesson.
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