Why can I not see God?
The entire purpose of this life is to worship Allah. This life, called dunya, is a test of our belief, a test as to whether we obey the guidance set forth by Allah. If we could see God, if we could see paradise and hell fire, dunya would no longer be a test of our belief and obedience. If a teacher were to provide you with the answers before an exam, would the exam still be a valid test?
When could I see God?
Paradise and hell fire are results of our work in this life. Allah informs us “[And it will be said], “Indeed, this is for you a reward, and your effort has been appreciated” (76:22). It is then that the believers who achieve Paradise as their final abode will have the pleasure of meeting Allah. To see God is a reward for man’s appreciated energies and abilities in dunya.
How Can I believe in that which is Unseen?
We find even in our general daily life that there are many examples of that which is unseen yet we accept them without question. For instance:
Aeroplane in Flight
Aeroplanes in the sky are so far away that there is no possibility for the naked eye to see the pilot. The pilot therefore is unseen but logically we know that there is a controller, a pilot steering the plane through a set course. Allah controls the entire universe and beyond. He is Al Basit, Al Qabid – The Expander and The Constrictor.
A White Cat in the Snow
The white fur on white snow creates a camouflage and as such the cat is hidden. This exemplifies that things are not always as they appear and although we cannot see the cat, the cat is there. An attribute Allah describes himself as in 67:14 is the All Subtle, the All Aware.
There is beauty in this relationship, also, because although Allah is hidden from mankind, nothing of human can remain hidden from Allah. The creation may remain unaware of itself, but the Creator cannot ever be unaware of His creation.
Ancestors
Throughout our lives we talk about our ancestors, our grandparents, great grandparents, great great grandparents, great great great grandparents. We never met our 4th, 5th, 6th and beyond generation grandparents and in this dunya we never will meet them, but logically we 100% believe that they existed. We thus have a belief in the unseen.
A House
Below is a house built during 1860. We know with absolute certainty that the house had to have a builder; a person who laid the bricks, a person to plumb the pipes and a person to fit the windows. We never saw the house being built and we never saw any of the labourers who constructed the house but we know with absolute certainty that human cannot bring a house into existence without it being created by the hands of human. Should not the earth, in all its complexity, uncountable different species and diverse organisms have a creator?
We Know there is a God
We know that there is a God based on our observation of the things that God created. Trees, flowers, soil, and water, all of these things originated from a source. Logic dictates to us that everything except God was created. This is because everything created requires a creator except the ultimate almighty that does not have a creator and that ultimate almighty can only be God.
Evolution
Even if we choose to believe in evolution we understand that the evolutionary process and the organisms that evolve had to originate from a living source. The energy of life had to originate from a life and this source of life had to be infinitely greater than what it created. Evolution in its entirety at the start of the world does not fit with the reality of the first ever atoms and gas being created out of nothing.
‘Test Tube’ Reproduction
Scientists are able to reproduce human and animal life through artificial processes like in-vitro fertilization and cloning, however Scientists cannot accomplish these feats without initiating the reproduction with the basic elements of human life that consist of genes and cells and other organic properties. Scientists need a catalyst, a piece of human cells, and Scientists are not able to create these things.
Even the processes that are used by scientists to accomplish various procedures originated from a source whose intellect is obviously far greater than those who seek to discover and imitate the creative processes. So have the scientists really created?
‘O people, an example is presented, so listen to it. Indeed, those you invoke besides Allah will never create [as much as] a fly, even if they gathered together for that purpose. And if the fly should steal away from them a [tiny] thing, they could not recover it from him. Weak are the pursuer and pursued’ (22:73).
Allah says that nothing can create even something as small and insignificant as a fly.
‘Blessed is He who has placed in the sky great stars and placed therein a [burning] lamp and luminous moon. And it is He who has made the night and the day in succession for whoever desires to remember or desires gratitude’
Observation and deep consideration reveals a proof of Tawhid and Allah’s providence to mankind.
Allah is the Originator
The desire to learn, discover, duplicate, innovate and progress was also created by God and instilled in us as innate attributes or qualities. God facilitated these urges by creating humankind with intellect, imagination, intuition and reason. Man can discover, innovate and duplicate, but only with God do things originate. Originating, making something out of nothing, is a monopoly that belongs only to Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.
Allah is the Creator
The Qur’an declares;
‘It is He (God) who hath created for you all things that are on earth; then He turned to the heaven and made them into seven firmaments. And of all things He has perfect knowledge. Behold thy Lord said to the angels; I will create a vicegerent on earth. They (the angels) said, Wilt thou place one in the earth who will make mischief and shed blood, while we do celebrate thy Holy name? God said, I know what you don’t know. And God taught Adam the names of all things; then He placed them before the angels and said ‘Tell me the names of these if you are right.’ The angels said, Glory to God, of knowledge we have none, save what thou hast taught us: in truth it is thou who art perfect in knowledge and wisdom. Then God said, Oh Adam, tell them the names. When Adam had told the names to them, God said: ‘Did I not tell you that I know the secrets of heaven and earth, and I know what you reveal and what you conceal. Then God said to the angels, ‘bow down before Adam’ and all bowed down except the Satan. Satan was haughty and one of those who reject faith’ (2:29-34).
