Nature Or The Creator

If you have an eye, look, for example, at the human face. You will see that from the time of Ādam (as) until today, and even until the end of time, every face possesses a distinguishing mark and unique features in relation to all others, although they resemble one another in their essential structure. Each face, therefore, may be regarded as a separate book. Simply to arrange the artistry of each of these books requires different writing materials, a different order, and a different composition. And in order to bring the materials of each face to their place, arrange them within it, and include all that is necessary for its existence, a different workshop is required.

Even if we were to regard the impossible as possible and imagine nature functioning as a printing press, capable only of arranging and printing what has already been placed in order upon its bed, there would still remain the need for the power and will of an All-Powerful One to create, in precise order, the materials that make up the body of a living being and to bring them from the farthest corners of the universe to that body—something far more difficult than creating the living being itself. All of this shows that the idea of nature as a printing press is an empty and meaningless superstition.

As explained earlier through the comparisons of the clock and the book, Sāni-i Dhu’l-Jalāl, Who has power over all things, has created the causes, and He also creates the results that arise from them. Through His wisdom, He connects results to causes. Through His will, He has determined both a manifestation of the universal laws concerning the orderly process of the universe and the nature of beings, which is only a mirror and reflection of that manifestation. He has also, through His power, created the aspect of nature that possesses external existence; then He created all things according to that nature and connected the two together.

Is it easier to accept this perfectly reasonable truth, which is the result of countless proofs? Is it not a necessary requirement? Or is it easier to hand over the endless equipment and instruments required for the existence of every creature to the lifeless, unconscious, created, and simple things you call causes and nature, so that they may perform these wise and purposeful works by themselves? Is this not utterly beyond the limits of possibility? We leave the decision to your unreasonable mind.

The unbelieving naturalist then said: “Since you invite me to fairness, I must admit that the path we have followed until now contains countless impossibilities and is extremely harmful and dreadful. Anyone with even a trace of intelligence can understand from your explanations in this treatise that attributing creation to causes and nature is excluded and impossible. It is indeed necessary and required to attribute everything directly to Wājibul-Wujūd. I say:

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ عَلٰى الْاٖ يمَان

and I believe in Him.

Yet I still have one doubt. I accept that Allah is the Creator, but I wonder what harm could come to His lordship if insignificant causes were to have some involvement in acts of creation. Would His lordship be diminished or harmed by this?”