The Reasonings (Continuation, page 135)-
“An Indication
Whoever wishes a lasting success must follow the way established by God and know His way of acting. Otherwise, God’s way of acting that manifests itself in “nature” will respond by causing any attempt to go to waste and condemn those who oppose it to extinction in the deserts of nothingness. “
I am thinking:
- Why do I need answers to my existential questions?
- Why do I want God to speak to me?
Which questions do I seek answers to?
My expectations of what I expect in life and what I see, and experience is contradictory. I see end, death… and yet I want Eternal Satisfaction and Happiness and nothing of this universe can satisfy them. Because of these needs that I have which has no end, nothing of this transient universe can satisfy them.
Not finding the answers to existential questions within this universe is an answer from the Creator of the universe.
- Transience of things make me question my existence.
- I have eternal needs and nothing of the universe can satisfy me.
- If we could find answers from the created world, there would be no need for the Creator to be speaking to me?
How come this universe came into existence? I know that the universe exists, but I do not know how to explain the existence of the universe. There is no knowledge within the universe which answers my questions, that is why I need extra information from my Creator. Why do I need it? Because as a human being, I am given the ability to ask the question. This ability forces me to ask the question. It is nothing extra, that is how I am made. Whoever made me with this ability must answer. Universe is a source of explanation to how existence itself happened, what existence is all about? That answer I cannot get from the universe. How come the universe exists and what is the purpose in its existence?
Why must God speak to me? This was missing in my reasoning. Because I am given the ability to ask questions and I am asking questions for which I cannot get answers from the universe. In the existence of the universe, nothing is contradicting, everything is purposefully and wisely created. There must be wisdom in its creation. Since you enabled me to ask questions and there is no answer within the universe, I say what is going on? You must ask the Source of Existence of this universe to provide you with answers. That is why we need the answer and the one who carries it to me, Messengership.
Messengership means the way I receive the message. Since I am made to understand the speech, since I am made to speak and communicate through conversation, there is wisdom in this ability. We can speak and understand. Why am I created with this capacity? This capacity is very simple to understand. I can communicate with other people, but when I am communicating with other people through speech, I cannot get the answer from other people. If there was no explanation, disclosure from the Creator of the universe with how the universe came into existence, what is the purpose in the existence of the universe and what is the purpose in my existence because the answers to these questions are not found within the universe, then existence would be meaningless. That is, human beings cannot answer these questions, but still I am able to speak and understand the speech. Why should not this ability to communicate be utilized to get answers to my questions for which I cannot find the answers within the universe?
That is why, as a human being, I expect an explanation in the form of speech from the Creator of the universe because he enables me to communicate and understand through speech. Hence, an explanation from the Creator of the universe is expected to be in the form of Speech, clearly and simply stated that anyone can understand.
- The message of the Quran, the main fundamental answers to human questions are very simple. “You are here to acknowledge the Source of Existence of the universe, who made you, where you came from and where you are going in your life story.”
Comment: How do we see that the Creator must speak and how to establish that?
In the act of creation in the universe, there is no answer to my human questions. The nature of the universe does not answer certain human questions. I must need another type of explanation, not in the form of action (nothing is missing in the act of creation, everything is perfectly created in the universe), but there must be another type of venue where I can receive answers to my questions.
- You can learn something through experience by following the principles in the creation of this universe.
- You can also learn through hearing speech. By acting, universe is perfect but does not answer certain questions i.e. existential questions for me to hear in the form of speech and make sense of it.
Within the universe, there is no answer to my existential questions, but I am enabled to communicate and understand through speech, so why not utilize that. However, in my communication with other human beings, I still cannot get the answers to my human existential questions. What is the benefit between the communication or the speech that we practice within ourselves then since there is no answers to our existential questions? This type of creation must be utilized as far as human wisdom understands to expect answers from my Creator because the Creator must speak to me and disclose the answer to my questions.
We have two ways of learning:
- Experiment
- Narrating what mind produces (transferring of knowledge)
Transferring the knowledge between human beings does not help me understand my existential questions. It is still a venue but why not expect the Creator to speak to me directly. That is why I expect from the Creator to speak to me which is called Divine Speech. Otherwise, I would not need Messengership, why messengers should bring information from the Creator in the form of Speech?
Why do you believe that the Quran is the Speech of God? What is the Speech of God?
Comment: I have certain human expectations which cannot be met by the universe around me because of the nature of this universe. I long for Eternal Happiness and everything is transient. Within me, I have questions and those questions lead me to search for something that can satisfy my human desires. The human desires are Eternity i.e. Eternal Happiness and Satisfaction in everything that I enjoy, including purpose and meaning in my existence, otherwise, if I am transient in my creation, no matter what I strive for, it seems meaningless.
Death is a beautiful creation. Only because of creation of death, we look for Eternal Happiness and Eternal Existence. If there were no death, we will be left with this creation only where there is no satisfaction in its full. Thank the Creator for creating death and showing us that this is a temporary dwelling for our existence.
What else do I wonder about and there is no answer here in this universe? I need to know how things are coming into existence? How the universe itself came into existence? That is the fundamental human question together with the questioning of the reason of existence.
Materialists never ask the question of the Source of Existence. Where does Existence come from? If you insist on interpreting existence in terms of taking the existence of matter for granted only, then there is no answer. Human mind asks where existence came from? Then the universe says that I cannot be the Source of my own existence. The question is with me and the universe says that I am not going to tell you, as if it is pushing me to search for it, ask for it, I need it. What is the Source of Existence of anything, what is the Source of Existence of the whole universe?
It is as if the universe says in a sarcastic way that I am not going to tell you, you must find out, there must be a Source of my existence and you must find it. That is why we need an external explanation which should not contradict what the universe says. Example: the universe says that I am transient, the extra information should not contradict what the universe tells me, so that I will be confident that this external information is from the One who created the universe in which I am also created. It means that I am created. Hence, there should be no contradiction between what I learn from the universe and the external information (existential answers) while I cannot learn from the universe. This external information must be in conformity with the message that I receive from the universe.
In the form of act, I cannot find the answers to my certain questions. What are ways of receiving message for human beings? Through expressions, someone may transfer message to me. Some human feelings are created as well. Example: a mother loves her baby and treats the baby with utmost compassion. This is from creation as well, called intuitive knowledge. Some people think that intuitive knowledge is enough. They do not notice that intuitive knowledge is within creation. Example: animals acts in a certain way i.e. intuitively or with their instincts. It means it is already encoded in their creation and it is an action i.e. action wise speech. Example: human beings want to help, you do not need to learn that from teachers. That is already in you. Even if you haven’t been taught that you need to help, you would act accordingly. Let’s say that a child sees a kitten on the street without mother and no one told them that you must help the needy ones, what do they say? “Mom let us take this one home and feed it”. That is part of creation.
Any knowledge that we receive intuitively is a form of act of creation. Again, intuitive knowledge is a knowledge in the form of action that I can speak and understand. I would expect from the Creator of this intuition to answer my existential questions. Some people call intuition as sixth sense which is a part of creation. Just like dream is a part of creation. Now, what is left? Getting extra information through speech which is open and clear. That is what the Quran says that I am “Mubeen,” clear speech from your Creator. The external information is transferred to you through speech explaining everything and I can understand it.
We should not reduce our abilities to be used in this universe only until I die. If someone says that we can communicate through speech, that is why the ability of speech is given to us, then that understanding ends with meaninglessness. Rather, when I die, the ability finishes, and it does not bring any benefit to me i.e. answers my questions. If this ability is only used to communicate with human beings, then it is a reduction to say that we can speak to communicate between ourselves. Reduction is a materialist interpretation of creation because anything that comes to extinction with my death becomes useless for me to get my answers to my existential questions.
Being able to speak to people becomes extinct when I die, but human beings expect eternal satisfaction and happiness. Hence, the purpose of being able to speak and understand the speech cannot be reduced only to human communication. What else is left? The Creator must speak to me and give me the answers to my questions. That is why we human beings are in desperate need of Divine Speech. We can get it in us, only through verbal transferring of knowledge.
Comment: Creation tells me something about myself, it alludes to something but does not clearly state it. It is through reasoning from our human questions that we conclude that there must be a verbal speech.
We can write down the speech, but the speech is in the form of verbal explanation. We do not need written papers coming down from Divine Source. Verbal revelation is needed and afterwards, human beings are able to write it down and it becomes in the form of book.
Comment: In a way, everything is a verbal speech i.e. the meaning that you extract from the universe and there is a communication going on and then you express it out either verbally (say it out) or written format.
You transfer message/information which is sent to you through action in any format i.e. verbal or written. Here, the agent is you but in the revelation from the Divine Source, the agent is God. That is why, some people can say that my understanding of this Revelation, or Speech is my interpretation.
Ontological reality: The universe is wonderful, speaks to me but does not satisfy my human expectations. The universe in its nature is transient and I want Eternal Happiness. Through this contradiction, I use reasoning based on my urging need for satisfaction. Example: the order of the universe is wonderful, and I am created with expectation of Eternal Happiness and the universe is created with no quality of Eternal Happiness. I am urged to look for the satisfaction for my need and the universe says that I cannot provide it, you must look for another Source. This is a beautiful scenario. Whoever made this universe, please do not joke with me.
Closed universe is for materialists where they think that everything consists of this universe only and there is no eternal existence. They ask questions to this universe and this universe tells in a sneaky way that I cannot tell you. I do not have the answer, but I am forcing you. That is, the universe cannot be the source of answers to my questions (Lailaha) i.e. universe cannot satisfy me, and it cannot be the source of reality for me. Now, what can be the source of my reality? Materialist Philosophers claim that there is no Absolute truth/reality. Yes, there is no absolute reality within the universe, but I need absolute reality. Universe encourages us to search, the Source of Existence of its existence and the Source of Existence of your need for Absolute reality.
Example: you saw a bird chirping on the street and you like it. Stop and ask, what is the Source of Existence of this feeling? Don’t say that I would like to have a house with trees and birds chirping, so what?
- Any understanding, interpretation which extinct with your death is useless as far as human expectations are concerned.
You love the garden, birds and house and when you die, your sense of love extinct and garden is not there anymore, and it is useless which means that it is not the answer to your human expectations. Hence, this interpretation is wrong that I love beautiful gardens. Ask: What is the Source of Existence of this sense of love of beauty? The answer cannot be found within the universe, but the universe says that there must be something that gave me existence, look for it. Universe forces human capacity to go beyond the limitations of this universe, that is why we need Divine guidance.
This Divine guidance better be in the form of speech because this is the only venue that is open, the other venues are limited to the universe.
Intuition is another form of information. We can follow this information, but we will find out that this is not sufficient as you will be left with no answer from an Eternal Source.
Comment: What you are saying is that intuition is not Divine Speech.
Yes, it is not Divine Speech, but it is created by Divine Source like any other being in the universe. If someone says that the universe is speaking in a negation way i.e. although I am made perfectly, I cannot answer your questions, but you must look for my source of existence, in this sense only, the universe speaks, and intuition speaks as well. However, as far as expectations for the answers to my existential questions are concerned, intuition is a part of the universe. Also, intuitions are open ended, not definite and varies from person to person i.e. it is your interpretation. Example: there is a picture here and something comes to your mind or feelings, that is your intuitive interpretation of what you have seen, which is totally different from the person next to you.
- Intuition is personal, not universal. Although, universal intuition (Verbal expression of the answers to human questions, called Revelation) exists but human experience of intuition is personal. Personal interpretation cannot provide me with universally valid/confirmable answers.
Why is it difficult to grasp this method for the general public? This is not our usual way of thinking and we do not base our reasoning on the need for why do I need God to speak to me? Why don’t I follow my human feelings instinctively?
Comment: I have human expectations that cannot be met by creation around me. However, when I look at creation, I see wisdom, purpose in the way it is created and so there must be answers to my questions and answers must be given to me by the One who gave me the questions to begin with. The answers must be in a very simple and clear speech.
If you want to do something in this world, you must do according to the way the universe has been created (including your creation in it.) Example: I need water, that is my creation. I need answers to my existential questions, that is my creation, too. That is another established order. Any lasting success must fit my reality. When scientists say that we are scientists and we do not deal with theology by asking the Source of Existence of things, is that success? Is that a correct attitude?
Comment: No, it ignores their reality of focusing on the Source of Existence of matter.
The reality of human being is the ability that I am created with the need to ask for answers to my existential questions. This attitude out rules materialist view point. Theology means talking about the Source of my Existence which is my reality. Scientist says that we study the universe (and human beings), and human beings ask questions that cannot be found in the universe. I say, so provide me with such answers since you study the universe. I need answer to my human questions, I want to be satisfied in my existence.
- What is the mystery in the existence of death?
Let us solve this, why do we die? If everything is perfect, then why do we die at the end? I need answers to this. What is going on in this universe? It should not be like this, I need Eternal Happiness, where is it? Scientists are biased because they know that as soon as you ask existential questions and the expectations of human needs, you must go to the bounds of this creation and ask for the Source. When you ask for the Source, you end up with there must be a Creator. Now, this concept goes to theology and they do not want to submit to this reality. They must confess that they limit themselves to this universe and they do not have the answers to anything. Science must declare that I am sorry, I am no good for you, I can provide you with technology and discoveries, but I cannot provide anything for your humanity. They claim that science explains or will explain everything within the condition of this universe, this is such an obvious contradiction.
- Scientism is cheating humanity by investigating how things work and thinking that they are answering all questions that human beings need to get answers. As long as they insist to be materialist scientist, they do not have the answers to human questions, because of their biases, they block themselves to human existential questions, for mater cannot provide the answer for these questions no matter how much you dig into it.
Anyone who claims that science will answer all human questions is cheating himself/herself, that is impossible! That is why we need to be comfortable to be looking for Divine Speech.
“Nature” includes non-verbalized Divine Speech i.e. everything must be in conformity with Divine Speech. Practically speaking (simply), if you want to satisfy your thirst, you must drink water. That is the order in creation. If you want to go faster to your destination, you must follow the order in creation of the universe. Similarly, if you want to get answers to your existential questions, then you must go through the universe and the universe says to look for a Source of existence of your questions. That is the established way and I must be fully open to everything in the universe. Yes, I must study the order but at the same time, I must use the universe to relate it to my reality. Human beings want Eternal Satisfaction and universe says that there is no Eternal Satisfaction here.
“Lasting success” = Satisfactory answers to my questions.
“Established order” = I need water and water is there. I need answers to my existential questions, where are they?
- I need meaning in my existence, I need purpose in my existence. Where is it? Nature is dump in this sense.
“So, based on this fact, see and consider what subtle, genuine, and sensitive truths and realities there are on which the rules of the Shari‘a are based and how impossible it is for human reason to discern these, and how sensitively the Shari‘a preserves the balance among what exists in the existing laws of creation and the operation of the universe.”
What do you understand from Shari’a?
Sharia is a Divine order that aligns with the way that I can be fully satisfied in my existence here in the universe within the scope of whatever I do.
What is the essence of it or the fundamental thing you expect from Shari’a?
Answer: Connecting me to my Creator and acquainting me with the Source of my Existence.
- Shari’a must acquaint me with my Source of my existence (SOE).
Answer: Sharia is explaining the knowledge of my SOE and providing me with guidance in a way to understand my existence and acting according to the way that satisfies my human qualities in this world.
- How can I satisfy my human expectations while I am living in this universe?
I can drink water when I am thirsty, it satisfies my need for my body. How about my need for Eternal Satisfaction, Happiness? I need an Eternal message while I am drinking water, that is what I am. Drink water and die, is that the ultimate result? Are you happy with this idea? Then the universe becomes torture if there is no answer from my Creator and the universe alone is a prison for human beings when they use their human qualities without any ultimate purpose. When you use your human qualities by not interpreting that there must be something beyond this universe, then this universe becomes a prison and you are hopeless. We need to understand this human psyche. Unless you find the Source of Existence by understanding the signs in creation, rather than becoming a religious person, you then conclude that there must be a Source of Existence who creates everything, and It must be not part of the universe and so I belong to the Absolute. So, when you drink water, your thirst is satiated and if you go beyond the limits of creation, then you understand that the One who provides you with water is introducing Itself to you by saying that I love you and I care for you and I will provide you with what you need.
- And so, while drinking water, you start smiling as you are with the Source of your Existence. Divine Speech gives explanation of this that while you are doing any act, I am the One providing you with all that you need.
If we drink water only to satisfy our thirst, that is animalistic. That is Shari’a which says that through drinking water, you must get to know the Source of the existence of water, i.e. bodily satisfaction and satisfaction in your existence. We must get to know the Source of Existence of the water that we are drinking.
What else do you expect from Shari’a? The Source of satisfaction of your human expectations must provide a way of life i.e. how are you going to utilize your senses within the prison of this universe? How are you going to utilize yourself or obey Its order because you are Its product? Example: computer does not have consciousness and it automatically obeys order of its Engineer, but human beings are not like computers. Shari’a teaches me how to use my freewill to choose to obey the order of creation because I have freewill i.e. I can choose to deny my human needs as materialists do and I can choose to follow the negative way, or I can choose to follow my innate disposition.
- Sharia’ must tell me how to live in my existence to comply with the order of my Creator. How can I communicate with the universe through the usage of my own freewill and not to contradict my human nature and the order of the universe?
- Sharia’ guides us how to live in this world, although the universe is transient and human experiences desires eternal happiness while we are living in this transient universe.
Finally, I want Eternal Happiness through water and experiencing Eternal Happiness while living here.