Promised Messiah (as)<\/a> genuine?<\/p>\nThis young seeker\u2019s approach aligns with the hadith that states, \u201cIf you seek God by a hand\u2019s length, He will come to you double that distance.\u201d His earnest contemplation led to a strengthened faith that lasted a lifetime, never again questioning God\u2019s existence.<\/p>\n
The search for God isn\u2019t limited to Islamic tradition. Socrates, who is considered a prophet sent to the Western world based on Ahmadiyya Muslim theology, left a treasure trove of proofs for God\u2019s existence. One of Socrates\u2019 students, Aristotle, famously outlined the \u201cfour causes,\u201d which provide a framework for understanding existence and purpose.<\/p>\n
1. Material Cause: The physical components that make up a human body.<\/p>\n
2. Formal Cause: The form or structure of the human body.<\/p>\n
3. Efficient Cause: The process of evolution that led to our current form.<\/p>\n
4. Final Cause: The purpose or function of human existence.<\/p>\n
When applying these causes to the universe itself, we reach a point where nothing existed before. This leads to the conclusion that there must be something:<\/p>\n
\u2013 Immaterial (as material began after this point)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Infinite (as all forms came after)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Everlasting (as there was nothing before)<\/p>\n
\u2013 Unchanging<\/p>\n
In Islam, this entity is recognized as God. According to Islamic tradition, our purpose is rooted in God\u2019s desire to be known. The Prophet Muhammad (sa) stated that God created us out of a desire to be recognized. This aligns with our innate tendency to seek and search, whether scrolling through social media or contemplating the divine.<\/p>\n
The Holy Quran states: \u201cI have not created men and jinn but that they should worship Me.\u201d However, this worship extends beyond mere prostration. It involves a deeper understanding and recognition of God, as exemplified by the Prophet\u2019s preference for scholars discussing faith over those engaged in physical prayer alone.<\/p>\n
The Promised Messiah (as) emphasized that every word of the Quran points to God\u2019s existence. He applied Aristotle\u2019s four causes to explain the Quran\u2019s purpose:<\/p>\n
1. Material Cause: The Quran is made of God\u2019s knowledge.<\/p>\n
2. Formal Cause: This knowledge is in the form of a book.<\/p>\n
3. Efficient Cause: Unlike flawed previous scriptures, the Quran is without doubt or contradiction.<\/p>\n
4. Final Cause: It serves as guidance for the righteous.<\/p>\n
The Quran describes itself as \u201cguidance for the righteous,\u201d which might seem paradoxical. However, righteousness in this context refers to an open-minded, unbiased approach to seeking truth. The Promised Messiah (as) has stated that this initial state of openness is the first step on the path to true righteousness and a deeper connection with God.<\/p>\n
In conclusion, the Islamic perspective on God\u2019s existence and human purpose offers a rich tapestry of philosophical thought, spiritual insight, and practical guidance. By combining ancient wisdom with revealed knowledge, it provides a comprehensive framework for those seeking to understand their place in the universe and their relationship with the divine.<\/p>\n
Listen to the Podcast: Aristotle\u2019s Four Causes: The Quran & Existence of God<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In an age where belief in God seems to be waning, with more people turning to atheism or agnosticism, the story of Hadrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmud Ahmad (ra) offers a compelling example of spiritual inquiry. At just 11 years old, he embarked on a profound journey to answer the fundamental questions: Does God exist? Is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5667,"featured_media":1221,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[217],"tags":[246,243],"class_list":["post-1158","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-american-muslims","tag-faith","tag-philosophy"],"yoast_head":"\n
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