| "The
answers to ‘why’ all this order and these patterns
in mathematical and physical schemes have been explored in
‘Metaphysics’, which, in Greek philosophy, originally
meant ‘that which comes after physics’. Aristotle's
metaphysics was not titled and placed after his treatise on
physics. The metaphysical ideas were critically questioned
in nineteenth century by scholars like David Hume and Immanuel
Kant. But recent scientific advancements in physics, cosmology,
computing etc., have revived widespread interest in meta-physics.
The study of ‘artificial intelligence’ reopened
debate about free will and the mind-body
problem. The discovery of the `Big Bang’
triggered speculation about the need for a mechanism to bring
the physical universe into being in the first place. Quantumn
mechanics exposed the subtle way in which observer and observed
are interwoven. Chaos theory revealed that the relationship
between permanence and change was far from simple”..
‘I think, therefore I am’, said Rene Descartes.
Thinking is a process. Being is a state .. When I think my
mental state changes with time. But the `me' to which the
mental state refers remains the same.. On the one hand, the
world continues to exist; on the other hand, it changes…Super-imposed
on this constant backdrop of being is continual change.. The
present (changes) into the past , the future `comes into being':
the phenomenon of `be-coming'. Therefore `existence' is the
paradoxical conjunction of `being' and `becoming'.
Harun Yahya, in ‘The Truth of the Life of
this World’, (p.181) deals with the concept of destiny
in time and space already determined. “Destiny is the
eternal knowledge of Allah and for Allah, Who knows time like
a single moment and Who prevails over the whole time and space;
everything is determined and finished in destiny.” Past,
future and present are all the same to Allah, for Him everything
has already taken place, and finished in His `programming
package’, with Only His Own Ever All Power-Ability
to alter, amend and direct in any manner and at any time.
He goes on to elaborate the point: “We also understand
from what He (Allah) relates in the Quran that time is one
for Allah: some incidents that appear to us to happen in the
future are related in the Quran in such a way as if they had
already taken place long before.. In ‘The Universe and
Dr Einstein’, Lincoln Barnett explains how the Theory
of General Relativity leads to this conclusion. According
to Barnett, the universe can be `encompassed in its
entire majesty only by a cosmic intellect.’
The will that Barnett calls the `cosmic intellect’ is
the wisdom and knowledge of Allah, Who prevails over
the entire universe…”
Besides metaphysics, physicists have started discussing
the idea that all physical laws could be unified into a single
mathematical scheme with a focus on the nature and unity of
physical laws (monotheism). They discuss actual laws of the
universe as `classes of laws', besides the `laws about laws',
which act to `select' the laws of our universe from some wider
set. Earlier few were prepared to consider the real existence
of other universes with other laws. The Quran had already
invited attention to the existence of plurality of heavens.
“It is He (Allah) Who created seven (several)
heavens,
closely fitting one another.
No want of proportion will you see,
in the creation of One
Who created things within a specified pattern.”
67-3
From plurality of the term `seven heavens’,
several universes are interpreted. They all are created harmonized,
existing one over the other or existing in their respective
planes of existence and their laws governing them in those
planes, one over the other. Reference to these and many other
facts and phenomena of nature, at work in harmony and unison,
in service for mankind, spontaneously raises sincerely thankful
praises for their Creator and Sustainer – Allah Alone.
Advancement
of Science Helps Understand the Quran:Lately
it is assuming greater importance to examine and interpret
facts and phenomena of nature scientifically. They are becoming
clearer under ever enlarging spot light of science, gradually
enhancing power of lenses of micro- and tele- scopes and increasing
intelect and insight into mysteries of unexplored worlds –which
were disclosed and discussed much earlier by the Quran and
the Scripture. According to Charles Townes, a noted physicist,
who shared the 1964 Nobel Prize in Physics, "Recent discoveries
in cosmology reveal a universe that fits the religious views
that some Intelligence must have been involved in the Laws
of the Universe." According to Martin Lings, "Harmony
is the imprint of Oneness upon multiplicity, and
the Quran draws attention to that harmony for man's
meditation". According to the renowned scientist
Einstein, "God reveals Himself in the harmony
that exists in the creation." John Polkinghorne,
a prominent physicist says: “..the universe did not
just happen. But that there must be a purpose behind.”
The Prophet (Peace be
upon him ) said:
"Contemplation over and study of Allah's creation for
a while is better than a year's prayers."
Providence:After
‘Hamd’ and introduction to the concept of ‘Uluuhiyah’,
a new chapter is opened in the same verse, i.e., ‘Rubuubiyah’.
The All- Encompassing Providence of God provides all that
is needed by all creation; one and all, individually and collectively,
materially, morally and spiritually, for their existence,
enjoyment and evolution to the ultimate stage. All these aspects
of Rubuubiyah will be discussed at appropriate places.
Universality
of the Theme:Verse No.2 of Al-Faatihah reflects
the universality of Divine design, distribution of bounteous
resources and unity of mankind through fraternity. No more
argument is required to emphasize the importance of the statement
of this verse than the fact that it has been placed at the
top of the theme of Al-Faatihah!
“O mankind!
We (Allah) have created you,
from a male and a female,
and made you into nations and tribes, that you
may know one another.
Verily, the most honourable of you, with Allah,
is the most righteous of you.
Verily, Allah is Ever All-Knowing, Ever All-Aware”.
49-13
Tradition:
All of you are from Adam and Adam is from earth.
For Lexicography of the term “Alhamd”,
see Appendix-8.
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