Majesty in All Allah's Creation
If all types of organisms
were displayed on your wall
in a large collage
with each point containing a picture
of a complete organism or part of one
then you close your eyes and place
your finger randomly on a single point;
science can discuss —for hours
the greatness
and fine-tuning of design
in this single point!
Peace & Mercy of Allah
be upon you
Dear viewers, when we discuss the
deductive arguments for Allah's existence
the arguments from existence
and fine-tuning top the list
We discussed the argument from existence
in the episode
"Why is the Existence
of a Creator a Necessity?"
In this episode, we'll start discussing
the argument from fine-tuning
In truth, I'm in awe of discussing
the precision in creation
because it is an easy
yet difficult task
Yes, it is easy to talk about
the precision in creation
because, if all types of organisms
were displayed on the wall
of your room
in a large collage
with each point containing a picture
of a complete or partial organism
then you close your eyes and place
your finger randomly on any point;
science can discuss, for hours
the greatness and
precision of design
in this single point!
But at the same time
talking about fine-tuning is difficult
because presenting one, two,
ten, or even twenty examples
isn't enough to give it justice!
Fine-tuning is expressed
in every detail of this existence!!
Indeed
fine-tuning = existence
Allah, Exalted be He, says
what can be translated as,
“(That is) the design of Allah, Who has
perfected everything.” (Quran 27: 88)
And, "That is the Knower of the unseen
and the witnessed, the Exalted in Might,
the Merciful, Who has perfected
everything He created..." (Quran 32:6-7)
When I say: "Let's see
some examples of fine-tuning."
it's the same as saying:
"Let's see some examples of existence."
Because fine-tuning
equals all existing things
Fine-tuning in creation appears in the
configuration of my tongue, jaw and teeth
enabling me to talk to you
about fine-tuning
It appears in your ability to see me,
hear my voice, understand my words,
and retain what I say in your memory
It appears even
in the movements of the denier
who is getting ready to mock
or deny what I say
even though the processes he uses
to do so are —in themselves—
examples of fine-tuning in his creation!
We do not appreciate the state
of design, order, and precision
that we live in because we
have not tried the alternative!
Allah, the Exalted, says
what can be translated as,
“Indeed, Allah keeps the heavens
and the earth from falling apart.”
(Quran 35: 41)
Truly a magnificent sign!
More than ninety natural elements
have been discovered in the universe
Their neutrons and protons are
arranged in precisely-sized nuclei
which attract electrons
orbiting in precise orbits
These elements interact through
fixed chemical laws to produce
compounds which create
the right environment for life:
An atmosphere with
the appropriate height and density
containing gases in exact ratios
and transmitting sound waves
at a controlled speed
Soil prepared to nurture seeds
and retain rainwater
Water with specific viscosity
and solvent properties
that evaporates at a certain temperature
to form clouds and
condenses at another to come down as rain
All of this is in the appropriate amounts
necessary for its cycle in nature
Light travels at the right speed
Gravity is at the right level
so that we do not float in the air
nor do our feet stick to the ground
Earth rotates at a precise speed
producing day and night;
allowing time for work and sleep
Four seasons to renew the soul
and produce varieties of fruits
A precise distance from the sun
so that we neither burn nor freeze
Trillions of planets and stars
traveling at the right speed
in pre-determined precise orbits
so that they do not collide!
We grew up experiencing the universe
thus, so we got used to it
We cannot imagine how amazing it is
because we've
never experienced a situation
without order
We know the meaning of fullness
because we've experienced hunger
We know the meaning of rest
because we've experienced fatigue
In contrast with their opposites
do things stand out...
So, we do not appreciate the greatness
of order and fine-tuning
because we've never experienced
a situation without fine-tuning
In other words, we do not appreciate
the greatness of Allah's existence
because we've never experienced
a state where Allah does not exist!
If the earth did not rotate and
we were stuck permanently in
the illuminated part where
nothing obscures the sunlight;
we'd never know
the meaning of light
because we never experienced darkness
If anybody, then, talked to us
about the importance of light
we wouldn't understand
because we would be unable
to imagine
the darkness that this light would dispel
Likewise, we've never experienced
a situation without fine-tuning
and we've never experienced a situation
where Allah does not exist
“Allah is the light of the heavens
and the earth...” (QTM 24:35)
His light never fades
Because He is "...the Ever-living,
the Sustainer of all that exists.
Neither drowsiness overtakes
Him nor sleep..." (QTM 2:255)
Therefore, in this series
when we discuss what atheism says
we need to paint the darkness
in order to appreciate
Allah’s Light in comparison!
We paint a darkness that we've
never witnessed nor will ever witness:
the darkness of the absence of Allah!
In the episode:
"How Atheism Contradicts Mind and Science"
we showed that the existence of Allah
is the basis
upon which the truth of things
is established
and that denying His existence
devalues mind and science
and leads to statements like:
'Things have no absolute truth.'
In the episode that followed
we showed that the existence
of a Creator with Attributes of
Absolute Perfection
is the only basis
upon which morality can be established
Many viewers found it difficult
to understand this concept
because they simply
could not conceive of a situation
where the light of Allah
is not present!
In the coming episodes, as we talk about
some aspects of fine-tuning in creation;
what are we doing exactly?
We're darkening the total picture
of the universe
and focusing the light
on a specific spot
so that we can perceive it clearly
and give it due attention;
after our familiarity with it
made us take
its fine-tuning for granted!
What we mentioned or skipped over
in terms of laws that
provide the right environment for life;
if any of them slightly malfunction
then life would stop and
the state of order and harmony
in the universe would end!
Who hold the particles in atoms
so that they do not scatter?!
Who prevents the release
and explosion of atomic energy
like what happens in atomic bombs?!
Who keeps the creatures on
Earth from breaking apart?!
Who prevents the planets and stars
from colliding?!
"Indeed Allah holds the heavens
and the earth lest they fall apart.
and if they should cease
no one could hold them after Him."
(Quran Translated Meaning 35:41)
You might say:
"It's held together by natural laws."
These laws: are they living
doers with intention?!
Is the law of gravity, for example
a god who intends, chooses
and consciously knows
what it's doing?!
Laws are only descriptions
of what happens
They're not doers who choose
and cause things to happen
They are only descriptions
of the manifestations of
Allah's actions in His creation
Our conviction that Allah keeps the
Heavens and Earth from ceasing
is not just because the Quran says so
but also because it is
a necessary mental deduction
as laws are mindless descriptions
which cannot establish themselves
Laws are just descriptions of
the manifestations of Allah's actions!
They are not a replacement
for Allah's sustenance of His creation
For example, the sentence:
Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius
is an abbreviation
Which of the following
would be the correct completion
of the sentence?
'Nothing' created the water and
by chance, made it boil at
100 degrees Celsius?
Or:
Water created itself and made
itself boil at this temperature
by chance?
Or: Allah created water and made
it boil at this temperature
with His Knowledge and Wisdom
to perform a function in a universe
created for a purpose?
Again: Laws are just descriptions
of the manifestations of Allah's actions
The existence of laws and
properties for things
does not mean that
this precisely-designed
state has become autonomous
and independent from its Creator
Who is the First Cause of everything!
If I say: So-and-so types at a speed
of 100 words per minute;
is this a governing law that
controls this typist?
If the typist decides to stop typing
would the keys of
the computer automatically
push themselves
at a speed of 100 words per minute?
Laws are descriptions of
the actions of a deliberate doer
We grew up watching
the order in this universe
so we perceive it as
the only possible state
We view the properties of things
as autonomous and spontaneous
as if inanimate objects
knowingly and intentionally
chose to have these properties!
If we reflect
we would see the manifestations
of Divine Power in all that exists
and that the only One
with real influence is Allah!
We would know that the only truly
autonomous being is the Creator
He is the First Cause, the
Originator of all creatures
and the One Who gives
inanimate objects their properties
Therefore, you see the Quran
attributing many actions to Allah
even though they are governed
by laws and forces of nature:
“He sends down from
the sky water...” (QTM 13:17)
"Do you not see that
Allah drives clouds..." (QTM 24:43)
"He (Is) the One Who
enables you to travel
in the land and the sea..."
(QTM 10:22)
He sends down water from the sky
with the property of condensation
that He created in water
He drives clouds by the winds
formed by the properties of
compression and rarefaction that
He created in air
"Do they not see the birds above them
with wings outspread
and [sometimes] folded in? None holds
them [aloft] except the Most Merciful
Indeed He is, of all things, Seeing."
(QTM 67:19)
The reins of all matter, all laws,
and all properties
are in His hands
Glorified is He
and all that exists
—from the smallest particles to the most
massive bodies—
are contingent on Him
They are not autonomous, spontaneous
or independent of Him
—Glorified is He—
even for a split second
For He is "Allah - there is no deity
except Him, the Ever-Living,
the Sustainer of [all] existence..."
(QTM 2: 255)
He is the One who sustains
all that is in the Heavens and Earth
"Neither drowsiness overtakes Him
nor sleep..." (QTM 2: 255)
Because if this happened, the Heavens
and the Earth would collapse!
But, "Indeed, Allah holds
the Heavens and the Earth,
lest they fall apart..."* (QTM 35:41)
Once we understand this
we'll know that there is no
'normal' creation or
'amazing' creation; in itself
but rather, familiarity is what causes us
to consider some things as normal
However, everything in existence
is amazing!
Once this concept settles in our souls
we'll stop using phrases
like 'Divine intervention'
because there is nothing
that is truly autonomous or
spontaneous in this universe
that Allah would need
to 'intervene' in;
as everything is absolutely
contingent on Him
This was an important introduction
as I would not have allowed myself
to show examples of fine-tuning
in creation without it
In light of this introduction
we'll present some examples in
the upcoming episodes
Allah willing
Peace of Allah be upon you