Thoughts of Ibrahim Hakim al-Shaghouri

a dear friend (and professor of french at UVA) forwarded me these 3 questions, and wanted to know my answers to them. tell me what you think:

Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim

Allahumma Salli ala Sayyidina Muhammad, wa aalihi wa sallim  

1-The Language of God, Francis Collins (2006) asks “In an era of
cosmology, evolution, and the human genome, is there still the
possibility of a rich satisfying harmony between the scientific and
spiritual worldviews?” What is your response to this question?

Ans:

The first point in answer to this important timely question is that in reality, there is no conflict or barrier between science and spirituality except those that the specific questioner introduces themselves. Therefore, for the traditionally trained and educated Muslim scientist, this question would never arise. What has happened in over more recent history in regards to the dynamic between science and spirituality is as two children who grew up closely together, then were separated for a few decades, so that now they have a difficult time recognizing each other. We as fathers of these two children are responsible for ameliorating our neglect of these children and seeing to it they are truly united again.  

The key to the union of spirituality and science is a spiritually-informed world view and responsible usage of science. A spiritually-deprived science is what leads to atomic bombs, space programs in the billions of dollars while millions of poor and needy go hungry, eugenics programs, new exotic war weapons, and so on.  

I fail to see how one can study cosmology and fail to be spiritually uplifted – which means spiritually humbled and grateful. When one’s scientific knowledge of cosmology grows and appreciates the placement and ordered movement of the celestial bodies – understanding for example how the sun and the earth are placed in perfect relationship to each other, the heart flutters in humble gratitude and reverence for the One Who made earth a suitable space for us to live.  

Evolution does not “disprove” the existence of God, evolution as a theory only details and describes *how* God creates His creation and is intimately involved with them. “And He is the One Who grants to every thing its created measure, then guides it along” (Qur’an).  

One can develop similar understandings with the other sciences, putting them in the proper perspective through keeping the spiritual worldview at the forefront.    

2-Can a religion’s claim to spiritual truth be separated from its
factual claims? Is there fear that reason will undermine religious tradition?

Ans:

Let us begin answering this question by illustrating the difference between the irrational and the supra-rational. A “square-circle” is irrational; the definition of each necessarily excludes the other, and thus it is impossible for such a thing to exist. Angels (and their qualities) are supra-rational; there is no rational reason why it is impossible for them to exist, and thus the only basis one has in denying their existence is that the subject himself has never perceived them in their life. It is enough to look at the physical world to understand that one’s five senses – and the experiences based upon them – encompass only very little of physical reality. Therefore it is the height of arrogance and ignorance to deny the existence of something due to its being irrational simply because one’s five senses have not perceived it before.  

So what then constitutes a “factual” claim? And why further is that even relevant? The Creator did not reveal religion and spirituality to humanity to explain laws of physics and observable nature. People do not subscribe to a religion because its tenets can be scientifically proven, but because it *works*. If one observes his or her own behavior with honest objectivity, one sees that even within the confines of this physical existence one takes many things for granted and does not seek out scientific testimony and proof for every act and interaction. When we walk into a building, do we demand to study its blueprint and design before taking a “leap of faith” and stepping inside?  

Therefore, there should be no fear of rationality “undermining” religious or spiritual truth. It is illogical to employ rationality in the spiritual realms, because it is not meant for that and will not work, just as one does not measure the temperature of an object with a ruler.   

In addition, the five senses are not the only means by which one gains knowledge of things and events. According to religious epistemiology, the spirit (the fundamental faculty of the human) is also able in its own way to know things, and disparate people throughout history who lived in different places and spoke different languages all came to similar realizations thru their spirits… that there is an Afterlife, that there are angels and other non-physical beings, that there are parallel universes and dimensions, and so on.  

Finally, a God that can be proven and explained by physical science is not a God worthy of worship. For if science could prove a God, then this means such a God must have physical dimensions and limits, be confined within time’s course, be composed of parts, have a beginning (in time and space) and an end… in other words, be in need of a creator itself. Because of this, scientific rationality has no place in Divine or spiritual matters, for in those realms it ceases to function.    

3- If science focuses on the verifiable and faith on the
unverifiable, can reason play a part in faith at all? 

Ans:

In my view, reason plays its role in the beginning of faith, and in understanding faith. It is still necessary that faith not contradict the rational and logical… for example, we would not have faith in someone who claims that God created a “square-circle”, or that God created another god, and so on.  

As another example: When the materialists denied the resurrection, God in the Qur’an told them (paraphrased): “you state that you reject the resurrection from the dead as irrational because once something dies, then it is inconceivable based on your life experiences that it come to life again. Yet look around at the creation and the cycles of life and rebirth that constantly occur, and you will see there is nothing irrational about that claim.” In other words, God is explaining that belief in the resurrection is congruent with rationality, and is giving a similitude within our rational existence to help us understand an idea or picture of the future resurrection. So He says: “the (disbelieving) human says, ‘Who is it who will bring these bones to life when they have become dust?’ say: “He Who will bring them back to life is the same One Who gave them life (from nothingness) in the first place, and He has full knowledge of all creation… Is He Who created the heavens and the earth not able to create the like of them again?” (Q36:78-79, 81).  

After this all it comes down to is whether or not the human trusts that the Creator is speaking the truth, and thus believe in what He says about things which are unseen to us. So far, He hasn’t shown us a reason to doubt Him…    

Ibrahim Hakim al-Shaghouri  October 31^st, 2007