Our Creed
On the
Universe
and Its
Creator
By Dr. Maulana Mateen A. Khan
In the previous article of this series, we discussed the
obligation of recognizing Allah (ma`rifa) and the means
of acquiring practical knowledge (asbab al-`ilm) from the
lens of the masters of Islamic doctrine (mutakallimun). We
summarized it by noting that it is impermissible that Allah
remains unknown to a person gifted with the intellect.
We also discussed that in our current time a need arises to
defend principles of belief using logic and reasoning.
The ma`rifa of Allah can come through many ways. For
example, it may occur innately as a result of a pure natural
disposition (fitra salima). Everyone is born with a fitra that
calls to his or her Creator. Allah says, “So Prophet as a
man of pure faith, stand firm and true in your devotion to
the religion. This is the natural disposition Allah instilled
in mankind- there is no altering Allah’s creation- and this
is the right religion, though, most people do not realize it”
(30:30). When this disposition is uncorrupted, it seeks out
its Creator but calls on Him more so when it is met with
severe distress. Allah says, “When you get into distress at
sea, those you pray to besides Him desert you” (17:67).
In other words, even a non-believer is forced by natural
disposition to forget all that he/she worships and call
on the one Creator alone. This is a connection forged
from our very genesis. When the natural disposition
is corrupted, then the call is muffled or goes mute. As
societies have moved away from fostering a pure fitra, we
find this mode of ma`rifa rare today.
Divine guidance in the form of messengers and divine
books are a source to foster ma‘rifa through gentle
arguments, practical examples, and a vivid display of
miracles. “They will say, ‘If only we had listened, or
reasoned, we would not be with the inhabitants of the
blazing fire’” (67:10).
The verse highlights the regret of those who rejected the
messengers. If only they had listened to the messengers
and contemplated their words. Additionally, the ayah
points to a third method of ma`rifa, rational arguments.
There are several rational arguments for the existence of
22 March - April 2020 | AL-MADINAH