Islamic Intellectual Theology Lesson 4 – Tawheed The Proof of Necessity and the Possibility of Existence Sources : ELAHIYAAT (Arabic) of Sh Ja’far Sobhani, vol. 1 (Summary) Notes: Dr. Sayed Fadhil Al-Milani International College of Islamic Studies (ICIS) Islamic Collage for Advanced Studies (ICAS) Edited: May 19, BHD

Old method: 1. The Proof of Necessity and the possibility of Existence 1. Arabic: BURHAAN AL-WUJUB WAL IMKAAN  This proof was used by the wise men and the theologians (AL-HUKUMAA’ AL-ILAAHEYYEEN)  The claim: God must exist, His existence is necessary intellectually, and all the other things existence is possible, i.e. God’s existent is essential and does not come from other than him.  In other words every thing requires a cause in its existence (Gained existence) therefore can exist (possibility), except for the God Who is self existent and must (necessary or essential existence)

The difference between the Essential and the Possible  In the possible thing (MOMKIN ALWJUOOD) the existence and non existence are equal, unless if an external factor interrupts and brings the possible thing into existence, or annihilates the exiting possible thing and puts it back to non existence, therefore possible is transient.  That external factor which causes the possible to exist or to annihilate must be necessary to exist (WAJIB ALWUJOOD)  Why? Because it will initiate an endless chain or circulation.  How? Think about it and the discussion will be in our next lesson.

Why Endless Chain?  If we assume God is possible, then it will require an external cause to bring Him into existence, and that will have to be superior to this God, thus that will be the God and not this because of His superiority in being the cause of the next one.  If we assume that the cause God is also possible then He will also require an external factor in His existence, there fore we will have to assume another superior cause, and it will continue in endless chain unless  If we end the chain with a God whose existence (WUJOOD) is not possible (MOMKIN) but it is essential (WAJIB), i.e. does not require any cause in His existence, and is self existing by him self, then the logical problem is solved.

Why Circular “DAUR”? A) If God was possible, then He requires a possible cause to gain His existence, B) But All the possible require a God in its existence It is a circulation A depends on B in its existence, and B depends on A in its existence = Circular argument = FALSE - Because “a” is contingent upon “b” and “b” is contingent on “a”.  In this proof we either end up with: a. either an essential existent that is necessary and is the first cause of all the possible things. b. Or, we end up with an infinite series of causes in an endless chain, which that is logically absurd.

Conclusion:  Either A or B must be essential in its existence to break the absurd or illogical circulation.  Logic indicates that all the possible things (B) cannot be essentials, because they are possible by experience. Conclusion: God (A) has to be essential and necessary in His existence Who is the cause of the existence of every possible. And If he is essential in His existence then His infinity is proven i.e. He was always there.

Example: the Viscosity of Oil The viscosity of oil is essential (self), and any other oily thing is gained.  If you take some oil, pour on a glass table top, pour some flour on it, let the oil soak in the oil, then take some of that flour in your hand and rub it, after that take a paper towel and wipe your hand with it.  If someone asks you how did that paper towel become oily, you will answer: My hand, and if he continues to ask about the source of viscosity on each and every thing became oily, you will answer the source, until the question reaches to the Oil, and he will not ask you how did the oil become oily, because the oil is oily in its self and its viscosity is not gained by any other oily thing. The chain has to end to a self in viscosity, because oil will be no more called an oil if the viscosity or oiliness is taken away from it.

Existence Cannot be Taken Away from God  Therefore asking from where God came? Or how did He exist ? Or what made Him exists? All questions are absurd because His existence is self and essential infinitely, all the possible things gain there existence from Him because He is the cause of the existence of every existing thing.  Possible things can never be the cause of His existence.  Nor we can say when was God or where is God, because He is the cause of time, matter and space, therefore he can never be under its affects (an affect can never be the cause of its cause)

Summary  All the existing things end up into three possibilities: 1. Circular argument (absurd) 2. Infinite argument in series (absurd) 3. The Necessary Existence  Since 1 & 2 are absurd logically, then 3 must be true.