SCIENTIFIC PRINCIPLES FOR GOD’S EXISTENCE

I n the Quran, God addresses the Prophet in these words: “It may well be that your Lord will raise you to a station of praise and glory.’ (17: 79) In Baghdad, in the year 317 AH, this verse became the centre of a serious dispute between two Muslim groups. On one side were the followers of Abu Bakr al-Marwadhi of the Hanbali school, and on the other, a section of the general public. The Hanbali group interpreted the verse to mean that on the Day of Judgement, God would seat the Prophet above the Throne. The opposing group maintained that it referred instead to the concept of the “great intercession”. The disagreement intensified to such an extent that it turned into open conflict, resulting in violent clashes and the loss of many lives. (AlBidayah wa al-Nihayah, Vol. 11, p. 162) Such episodes have not been limited to the past; they continue to occur in different forms even today. Witnessing such incidents, some people have formed the opinion that disagreement and debate themselves are harmful, and that the only safe course is blind conformity, avoiding all forms of difference. However, this conclusion is itself mistaken. Rather than calling for the elimination of disagreement, NO EXTREMISM TOWARDS GLOBAL PEACE We often talk of peace in the context of war. But this is a very narrow and restricted notion of peace. Peace is deeply linked with the entirety of human life. Peace is a complete ideology in itself. Peace is the only religion for both—man and the universe. It is the master-key that opens the doors to every success. Peace creates a favourable atmosphere for success in every endeavour. Without peace, no positive action—small or big—is possible.