Proofs of God's Existence in the Universe

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

   Everything that exists apart from Allah (Glorious is He) is called the ‘ālam (the universe). The universe is a sign (‘alamah) of the existence of the Creator. The term ‘ālam means mā siwā Allāh — everything other than Allah. What we perceive with our senses belongs to this domain. For something to be visible to our eyes, it must have limits; that is, our vision must be able to encompass it. However, Allah cannot be encompassed by sight.

لَا تُدْرِكُهُ الْاَبْصَارُۘ وَهُوَ يُدْرِكُ الْاَبْصَارَۚ وَهُوَ اللَّط۪يفُ الْخَب۪يرُ

“No vision can grasp Him, but His grasp is over all vision. He is the Subtle, the All-Aware.”(Al-An‘ām 6:103)

   The universe can be considered in two aspects: ‘ayn (substance) and ‘araḍ (accident/attribute). The ‘araḍ depends on the ‘ayn, but the ‘ayn manifests through ‘araḍ. For example, “redness” is an ‘ayn (a concept), but for the color red to appear in the world of existence, it must be manifested through different substances — such as a rose or blood.

   Thus, everything we see in the universe (‘ayn or ‘araḍ) is part of creation (‘ālam), that is, everything other than Allah. In all of creation there are signs pointing to the Creator. The artistry in things points to an Artist; the order and harmony in creation point to an Organizer; the precise calculations in existence point to a Calculator (al-Muḥṣī); the existence of living beings points to the Giver of Life (al-Ḥayy); and the countless blessings point to the Bestower (al-Mun‘im). The beauty found throughout creation points to the Beautiful One (al-Jamīl).

Rational Reflection on the Universe

   The states of beings in the universe, when examined with sound reason, clearly indicate to those of intellect that there must be a being who created them all.

   For example, when we see a well-made camera, we immediately understand that it must have been designed by an engineer. Likewise, the human eye — far more complex than any camera — must have been made by an incomparable Engineer. Moreover, the heavens and the earth contain countless other masterpieces and wondrous creations.

نَّ ف۪ي خَلْقِ السَّمٰوَاتِ وَالْاَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ الَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ

لَاٰيَاتٍ لِاُو۬لِي الْاَلْبَابِۚ

“Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of sound intellect.”(Āl ‘Imrān 3:190)

   When we see a beautiful painting, we know there must be a painter. Likewise, the marvelous patterns and colors of parrots and peacocks point to an extraordinary Artist. The harmonious orbits of the planets in the solar system, the stunning order of galaxies, and the elegant arrangement of protons and electrons in atoms are all examples of beauty and order — in both the macrocosm and the microcosm.

   When we observe something carefully calculated for a purpose, we know there must be an accountant or measurer. In the same way, the movements of the moon around the earth and of the earth around the sun follow an extremely precise calculation. Thus, there must be a Knower of Infinite Knowledge who determines all of this.

اَلشَّمْسُ وَالْقَمَرُ بِحُسْبَانٍۖ

“The sun and the moon move according to a precise calculation.”(Ar-Raḥmān 55:5)

   When we encounter an event arranged with wisdom for a specific purpose, we understand that there is someone who organized it. If we enter a building on a cold day and find it pleasantly warm, we recognize that it was arranged for the comfort of its occupants. Similarly, when we observe that the Earth — existing in the freezing void of space at -270°C — maintains a temperature suitable for life, we realize that this has been finely adjusted for our benefit. Moreover, the Earth is full of features designed for human well-being — the oxygen ratio in the atmosphere, the exact amount of sunlight, the variety of fruits and foods — all of which point to a Being who made them serve us.

 هُوَ الَّذ۪ي خَلَقَ لَكُمْ مَا فِي الْاَرْضِ جَم۪يعًا

“It is He who created for you all that is on the earth.”(Al-Baqarah 2:29)

Conclusion

  The examples are endless. Everything we encounter, if we know how to reflect upon it, tells us about its Creator — it whispers His presence to us.

   May Allah, the Most High, grant all people the ability to use their intellects, to comprehend, to recognize Him, and to be among the believers.

Peace be upon you.