We are continuing with our study of Section Al-Furqan of the Qur’an. We last investigated the verse that mentioned the bringing together of two seas where one is fresh and sweet and the other salty and bitter. There is a barrier between them where they do not mix or merge together. We related it to belief and unbelief, denying and confirming, which cannot be mixed. We also studied other interpretations of this phrase by scholars which are also correct. The most fundamental aspect is that we are given feelings which can confirm the truth and there is also the arrogant denying side within us which cannot be mixed with my modest believing side. It may seem that our human feelings seem to be mixed with our egotistical side, but they are very distinct from each other if we carefully study ourselves under the light of the Quran and the Prophetic teachings. They are distinct from each other, never mixing with each other. Although they exist within my spirit, they keep their distinct characteristics.
We will investigate the following verse which goes back to the evidence in creation:
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ بَشَرًۭا فَجَعَلَهُۥ نَسَبًۭا وَصِهْرًۭا ۗ وَكَانَ رَبُّكَ قَدِيرًۭا
25:54 And He it is who has created man from water and established for him bonds of lineage and marriage. For your Lord is All-Powerful
The verse mentions pondering over the fact that everyone is created with the same elements, mainly water. The phrase “مِنَ ٱلْمَآءِ” is translated as “from water”. Water is the main element in living beings’ bodily existence. The verse gives evidence of the kind of creation we experience here based on what we observe. The atomic structure of the human body is made of matter, but unimaginable feelings emerge from such creation. We know that without water living beings are not created, that is how we observe it. The sunlight, earth, air, atmosphere are there but it is only after water comes do living beings emerge, including plants, animals and humans. That is how the orderly creation is taking place from our perspective.
We know that water cannot be a source of existence of anything, it does not have life nor free will to produce anything, it has no power to create anything. However, the order of the universe is established in such a way that water cannot escape that order at all, it is subjected to the way the order of the universe is created. Something else must be operating which must be conscious. The order observed cannot be the source of existence.
Materialist scientists say that things have causes, for anything to exist they attribute to material causes. For example, water is the cause of life’s existence. A free-minded person must think, can water have any quality to choose, to bring something into existence, particularly life. Can a material being give existence to feelings, can it establish bonds of lineage and marriage, where we care for each other? It may appear to us that way, however, it is obvious that water does not have such qualities. One may look from their human perspective and say that it appears to be in that way without ever questioning whether matter has these qualities that we observe, can they be coming out of water? We need to be aware of the tricky language used by materialist scientists. There is no way to confirm this “appears to be” by anyone, to in fact be reality. As a human being, my mind says: it is impossible for water to give existence to anything. No one can show any evidence of human consciousness, intelligence, feelings especially compassion for their young, relatives, and fellow human beings and animals, plants etc. are coming out of material elements. The only way to claim this is by using phrasing such as: “it seems to be coming out of matter, that is how we observe it.” This “appearance” is then presented to the general public as “scientific fact”.
After realizing that water cannot be the source of existence, I start investigating what can be the source of existence of life. I see that neither soil, minerals nor sunlight can be the source of the existence of life. One must be free to investigate with an open mind rather than being bigoted in terms of not accepting a creator of the universe. When one investigates the existence of a human being, it extends to the whole universe as in whoever made the human being must be the Creator of the whole universe. No one in this universe can create as they are all the same kind, in need of being given existence.
Does God use water to create living beings? We do things by using materials. Does God do the same? Why does the Qur’an speak in this way? Water is there and according to the literal meaning of the verse God uses water to create living beings. The Qur’an speaks to me in a human language but paying attention to how I observe the world and educates me accordingly. It invites me to investigate whether it is possible, which in this case is to see whether water has any qualities to create. These verses must be read as an invitation to see whether what is being stated is true or not, by investigating and confirming. The Qur’an allows me to make sure that my conclusion that I arrive at is certain. I can come to the comfortable conclusion that this universe belongs to Him, and I belong to Him. He is the One who creates everything perfectly, existing in harmony.
The way we see the universe, we see it as continuously changing, renewed. The universe is not developing from its previous stage but renewed. I don’t need to go into billions of years in history as I am changing at every moment, renewed in my existence. My previous stage has no power to change me. The One who is continuously changing me doesn’t need anything to create as He is the creator of water, sunlight, air, mineral, earth, etc. They are all in need to be given existence by a One who is the Creator of the entire universe as one perfectly functioning body. He is not using those elements but creating them. Continuous creation is constantly happening. Every moment we experience continuous orderly creation. This type of creation is constant in the universe. Whoever creates continuously in an order cannot need anything to create. All the elements of living beings are created. The cells are created, so is the plan within DNA is created, it must be written by the One who gives existence to that thing and the whole universe. Material elements cannot choose to learn, to record, transfer from one type of creation to another. The feelings of any living being are not of the nature of matter. How can any material element be the source of existence of a non-material being?
The words “قَدِيرًۭا” and “قَدرَ” are usually translated as “All-Powerful” referring to the Lord being All-Powerful. However, there is a difference between them where the word form changes the meaning. When I see any adjective or nouns having the “ee” sound as in “قَدِيرا” , “رحيم”, “فقیر”, “کریم”, “عليم”, “ٱلْبَصِيرُ”, it adds continuity to those qualities, the “kasra” diacritical mark indicates the infinite and eternal aspect to them. For example, “عَالِم” is one time and limited knowledgeable, whereas, “عَليم” is infinitely All-Knowledgeable. In the verse, one can be “قَدِر” by using their free will in what they are doing within their own capacity but one cannot be “قَدِيرا” which refers to the infinite quality of Power.
The Qur’an may refer to the parent’s sperm which seems to develop into a baby. By using the drop from water to become a human being is mind boggling. The Qur’an tries to grab our attention thus to what we do not pay much attention to. If the Qur’an was revealed in this age, it would say that “He it is who has created man from ‘DNA’”. The language of Biology makes it sound as if we are created out of cells. Just like we questioned water to be the source of existence of life, we would question the cell as well, can it be the source of existence of life of a human being? The cell, along with all its inherently contradictory elements, must be created in a perfect form.
The verse continues with mentioning that bonds of lineage and marriage, such as brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, spouses are established by the All-Powerful Lord. Bonds of lineage and marriage need emotional connection. We are intricately connected with the rest of our fellow human beings, especially family members. Who has created the feelings of love and affection between the parents and the children? Even all the animals, the birds, for example, are so emotionally charged with each other’s bondage. Who has taught the birds how to take care of their young? How do they know that they need to build nests out of twigs in preparation of their new arrival, they are like architects? What school did they attend to learn that they are carrying babies in their bodies? Who has given them the sense and courage to protect their young ones from predators? There is no way to explain this by attributing it to the environment or their parents bringing them up in that way. All different kinds of ants are learning from where? Where are the birds learning from? Are they learning from the influence of the environment or taught by their parent birds? There are 11,000 known species of birds in the world now living and all their lives are different. There is no evidence that any living being (besides human beings) is learning acts by learning from the environment, from their parents or from randomness. Impossible! The creation is continuously being renewed moment after moment, generation after generation. How is that possible without the existence of an Infinitely Powerful Conscious Agent?
Finally, as we investigated, we can comfortably say that water, sperm, DNA or any material things cannot be the source of the existence of feelings. We have no excuse not to believe in an Absolute God, His Messengers, the purpose of existence in creation, and a continuity to our existence (i.e. Resurrection). If someone still chooses to deliberately deny all this evidence, then such choice is deserving of Hell. That is why God keeps warning us in His verbal speech via Revelations about the creation of unbelief which leads to Hell, so that human beings get out of their ignorance and betrayal of reality, and choose the path of the truth that acknowledges the Source of existence to be the creator of all things.