Allah Almighty challenges the atheists
Selections from the Book The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him …
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (16)
Allah Almighty established a decisive intellectual argument against the atheists and polytheists, challenging their minds and all their powers in denying atheism and partners. This is done by affirming the principle of creation in His saying: {Or were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of themselves]? (35) Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain. (36) Or have they the depositories [containing the provision] of your Lord? Or are they the controllers [of them]? (37)} [At-Tur: 35-37].
Muhammad ibn Jubair ibn Mut'im reported from his father that he said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) reciting in the Maghrib prayer from Surah At-Tur. When he reached the verse: {Or were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of themselves]? (35) Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain. (36) Or have they the depositories [containing the provision] of your Lord? Or are they the controllers [of them]? (37)} [At-Tur: 35-37]], my heart nearly flew.
This verse refutes the principle of atheism by compelling the existence of a Creator. Since they were not created out of nothing, every created thing must have a creator. In Allah’s saying:{Or were they created by nothing, or were they the creators [of themselves]?}, it is clearly stated that their existence from nothing is something that the innate logic rejects from the start, and it does not require much or little debate. As for them being the creators of themselves, it is something they have not claimed, nor does any creature claim.
And if these two assumptions do not hold according to the logic of innate nature, then only the truth stated by the Holy Quran remains: that they are all created by Allah Almighty alone, who has no partners in creation and initiation. Therefore, no one else should share in His Lordship and worship; this is a clear and simple logic. They are also confronted with the existence of the heavens and the earth: did they create them? Naturally, they did not create themselves, just as the heavens and the earth did not create themselves: {Or did they create the heavens and the earth? Rather, they are not certain.}.
And they—nor any intellect that adheres to the logic of innate nature—do not claim that the heavens and the earth created themselves, or were created without a Creator. Nor do they claim that they themselves created them. The existence of the heavens and the earth stands before them as a living question that demands an answer. When asked who created the heavens and the earth, they would say Allah. However, this truth was not clear to them to the degree of certainty that affects the heart and leads to a precise and clear belief: {Rather, they are not certain.}. Then, it brings them down a level from the creation and innovation of themselves or the heavens and the earth, and asks them if they possess the treasures of Allah and have control over providing and withholding, and causing harm and benefit?
{Or have they the depositories [containing the provision] of your Lord? Or are they the controllers [of them]?}: And if they do not have these and do not claim this, then who possesses the treasures? Who controls the affairs? The Holy Quran says it is Allah who withholds and extends, who manages and directs. This is the only explanation for what happens in the universe in terms of withholding, extending, managing, and directing, after ruling out that they are the owners of the treasures and controllers of the affairs. Then, it questions them further by asking if they have a means to listen to the source of revelation: {Or have they a stairway [into the heaven] upon which they listen? Then let their listener produce a clear authority [i.e., proof].} [At-Tur: 38].
Indeed, Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) tells them that he is a messenger to whom revelation is sent, and that this Quran is descending upon him from the highest assembly. They deny what he says, so do they have a means to listen in order to know that Muhammad is not being revealed to, and that the truth is different from what he says? {Then let their listener produce a clear authority [i.e., proof].}; meaning a strong proof that inherently has authority over the souls, compelling them to believe. This implies the authority of the Holy Quran, which presents its verses and arguments to them, while they stubbornly reject and oppose it.
And Allah Almighty said: {Blessed is He who sent down the Criterion upon His Servant that he may be to the worlds a warner – (1) He to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and who has not taken a son and has not had a partner in dominion and has created each thing and determined it with [precise] determination. (2) But they have taken besides Him gods which create nothing, while they are created, and possess not for themselves any harm or benefit and possess not [power to cause] death or life or resurrection. (3)} [Al-Furqan: 1-3]. And the Almighty also said: {This is the creation of Allah. So show Me what those other than Him have created. Rather, the wrongdoers are in clear error.} [Luqman: 11].
Allah Almighty made the reminder of the principle of creation a gateway to the requirements of believing in Him and His oneness in worship, and that He alone is worthy of it, and no one else, this is mentioned in many verses in the Holy Quran. For example, His saying: {O mankind, worship your Lord, who created you and those before you, that you may become righteous –} [Al-Baqarah: 21]. And His saying: {What is [the matter] with you that you do not attribute to Allah [due] grandeur (13) While He has created you in stages? (14)} [Nuh: 13-14]. And other verses scattered throughout the Holy Quran.
Episode references:
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him, pp. 137-141.
- The Story of Creation, Al-Kharaan, previous reference, p. 18-170.
- In the Shade of the Qur’an, Qutb, previous reference, 6/3400.
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
