Islamic Intellectual Theology Lesson 3 – Tawheed Arguments for the Existence of God

1. Islamic Intellectual TheologyLesson 3 – TawheedArguments 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

2. Arguments for the Existence of God • Ontological (WUJOODI) argument • Two main theories in cosmological (KOUNI) arguments: • The uncaused cause • The unmoved mover • 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+fakhry&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk

3. Ontological (WUJOODI) Argument • 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.

4. 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

5. Cosmological (KOUNI): 2. Unmoved Mover • 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

6. 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

7. From the Notes of ICIS:A. The Old method • The Proof of Necessity and the possibility of Existence. (WUJUB WA IMKAAN) • The Proof of Motion (AL-HARAKA) • The Proof of Detachment (AL- TAJARRUD) • The Proof of Occurrence (AL-HUDUTH) • The Proof of MULLA SADRA (AL-SIDDEEQEEN)

8. B. Modern Method • Contemplation in the Existence of the Universe • Method of Desecrate • Proof of the system (AL-NIDHAAM)

9. C. Ahlul Bayt (as) • Here will explore some proofs from Ahlul Bayt (as).

10. Logic: Endless Chain: “TASALSUL” • 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).

11. Logic: Circulation “DOUR” • 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.

12. A. Old method: 1. The Proof of Necessity and the Possibility of Existence • 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.

13. 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.