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Human Being’s Divine Nature (Fitrah)
Fitrah refers to the distinctive spiritual capacity embedded by God in human creation that sets human beings apart from other animals and inclines them to seek perfection and virtue. All human beings possess this common human element, and so they are all predisposed to strive for perfection and truth. It is due to this inherent spiritual capacity that human beings sense intuitively a gravitation toward the true human perfections, for these human perfections are consistent with the needs and tendencies of the fitrah. Furthermore, as a result of this inherent spiritual component. the human being is predisposed to seek perfection. As God is Absolute Perfection and since through the fitrah the human being is subconsciously aware of the existence of Absolute Perfection, he is perpetually seeking the highest manifestation of perfection and the loftiest degree of existence. That is, prior to consciously apprehending and articulating arguments to prove God, the human being inherently intuits God's existence by virtue of his innate fitrah and is thus always seeking to find a way toward Him, to draw closer to Him.
In a very fundamental way, all depression and anxiety is rooted in estrangement from Absolute Perfection. Human being's divine nature (fitrah) longs for absolute perfection and shuns deprivation and imperfection. Although human beings are innately inclined to seek perfection, we err in determining the objects that truly exemplify perfection. One may, for instance, fall in love with something or perfection, we err in determining the objects that truly exemplify perfection. One may, for instance, fall in love with something or somebody, and this love provides a transitory illusion of satisfaction, but this satisfaction fades in time and that same sense of deprivation and depression returns, if one fails to make the connection with Absolute Perfection. In the inner depths of our existence, we long for the Absolute, we seek God, and the surrogate objects of love and satisfaction that we cherish can never provide a permanent replacement for the true object of our souls. But if we answer to the inner calling of our soul and strive toward the True Beloved, who possesses all perfections and goods, our hearts shall be filled with hope, happiness, and serenity, and this is because the true inclinations of our souls are truly satisfied only in this way.
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Defining Design
Design contrasts with chaos, confusion, and random accumulation.
Design describes a whole that is composed of qualitatively and quantitatively determined components, such that the components contribute collectively to achieving a common, determinate end.
The Argument from Design
The Argument from Design invokes the immanent order in the world to demonstrate the existence of God. In this argument, when we speak of design and order, we intend teleological and purposive order. We perceive phenomena moving in an orderly fashion toward a fixed end. The phenomena themselves lack any form of intelligence or knowledge. There must, consequently, be a wise and intelligent being who guides phenomena in their movements toward their respective ends.
This argument consists of two premises, one of which is empirical and the other purely rational.
The first premise highlights the various observations conducted on the most sensitive and subtle questions in the different fields of empirical and natural sciences-which only corroborate the average person's perception of nature-and affirms that these observations clearly demonstrate the existence of an amazing and marvelous order in nature and the world. The tiny cells that make up our bodies, incorporating within themselves a mindboggling complexity of living material; the organs that are the larger constituents of our bodies (heart, brain.nervous system, circulatory system, etc.), exhibit a perfectly harmonious collaboration among themselves; the amazing adaptability of living creatures which enables them to adjust adequately to varying circumstances, which in certain eases leads to evolutionary mutations in a species; the astonishing variety of ecosystems that provide a matrix in which numerous life cycles can thrive; the incredible ability of the natural order of existence in providing for all the needs of the inhabiting creatures, from the tiniest organisms to the most complex ones.
When we say that the cosmos is purposeful, we mean that the cosmos pursues an objective that is determined by a set of universal laws which follows a general course. The laws that determine the purpose of things in the cosmos are all universal laws; they are not particular or individual so as to justify a discussion on the purpose of particular, individual beings.
The fact that unintelligent beings exhibit a discernible, purposive progress toward realizing their inherent objectives is clearly on display in the great array of phenomena that surround us.
A common instance of this truth, which we tend to overlook, is the amazing concurrence between the birth of a baby and the emergence of milk in the mother's breast. It is true that this is a natural process, but this does not answer the question of how the mother's breast-an apparently inanimate and mindless organ-succeeds in detecting the newborn's need for food and how it manages to arrange the natural process in such a way as to provide the necessary nourishment for the infant at its birth, thus ensuring the survival of the species. This objective is one which can be accomplished only by an intelligent being, although this in no way is meant to deny that natural and instinctual processes are at work.
John Smith, an able and renowned architect and a strong believer in God, was given a project to construct a huge dam mainly to coordinate irrigation for farming. The supervisor of the project, Adam Carnegie, though a close friend of John, was an avowed atheist. And the two did occasionally engage in friendly quarrels over the subject of God. The plan John Smith offered for building the dam seemed very appropriate, and he competently implemented the plan, thus constructing a very admirable edifice. After the completion of the project, Adam wrote an email to John praising his expertise and competence and admiring the dam he succeeded in building. In reply, John quipped that his three-year-old daughter created the design of the dam. Adam, who was at a loss at reading this remark, wrote back that John must be kidding. And John, expecting to see this reply, retorted, “Yeah, I was just kidding. But if it is impossible to believe that a three-year-old is capable of designing a dam, how is it possible to believe that the intricate, universal order governing this world is the result of blind and random chance.”
Stormy Seas
A cool and mild breeze rushed through Peter's hair, caressing his face gently as he stood on the deck of the ship, ready to set sail. The sea birds, flying above, produced a keen yet enjoyable melody that increased the beauty of the scene.
The passengers and cargo safely aboard, the sails rushed open, giving the ship its starting push. A voyage on the sea, when the waters are calm and the sky is sunny, can be very pleasing. Peter tried to make the best of it as it was his first time on the sea. Staring down in the clean and transparent water, he could see the colorful fish swimming about and playing in their pools.
Peter was not a religious man, but a successful businessman, who was on vacation. Tired from the long days of work and the hustle and bustle of the business life, he was here to rest.
The gentle sun put him to a pleasant sleep. He couldn't tell how long he had slept when the violent shaking of the ship forced him awake. The first thing he caught sight of as he opened his eyes was a hellish lightening that pierced the dark of the sky. The thunder followed shortly thereafter.
In a short span of time, his beautiful vacation spot had turned into a dark and tempestuous ocean that wildly cast the ship about. The massive waves drove madly at the ship, as though the sea was fighting mercilessly to devour its prey. A few hours ago, Peter couldn't have imagined such a turn of events and such a swift change in the atmosphere. His hope for a pleasant vacation was utterly shattered, and now he was filled with absolute fear and despair.
The helplessness of his state was overwhelming. Girls and women screamed and wept. The men ran about wildly. trying to do whatever they could to increase the hope of their survival. But alas! Safety seemed a swiftly receding phantom that relinquished the passengers of the ship to the mercy of the turbulent sea. With the onrush of every wave, Peter-who had by now retreated to the back of the deck where there were rails that he could grab on to, giving him a faint feeling of relative stability-felt the encompassing grip of death closing in on him.
Yet, when submerged in the deepest pits of despair, Peter remembered his mother, Fatimah, whose prayers in times of distress were a sweet and enduring image in his mind. With this image, a warm and nourishing feeling suddenly filled his heart. The coldness of fear was now being counteracted by the warmth of hope in a savior, a powerful and transcendent God, whom he had long neglected.
It was amazing that though he had for so long considered himself an irreligious man, almost an atheist, he was now deriving comfort from the thought of God. In his heart, he turned to God, begging Him to spare their ship. He pleaded that if he were saved; he would certainly become a better man, one who would be pious, kind and generous. It was as though his essence was telling him that he could rely on God in the midst of the turmoil that engulfed him. He somehow knew that he could count on God. This trust was emerging from within him.
Hours later, the ship had sailed to safety. The passengers were exultant. There wasn't a better feeling in the world than that which they were experiencing in those moments of deliverance. Peter, happy to have survived, was only thinking of leaving the ship.
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Order in the Creation of Nature
Our natural environment is permeated with an amazing degree of order. The following passage from one of Imam Alī ibn Abī Ṭālib’s (a.s.) speeches eloquently characterizes the intricate design on display in the creation of the peacock:
“and of the most amazing of bids in point of creation is the peacock, whom He designed in the firmest constitution and whose colors He arranged in the finest arrangement. ... It is as though the amazing circles and suns formed on it were of pure gold and pieces of emerald. If you would liken it to what grows from the earth, you should say it is a bundle of flowers collected from the flowers of spring. And if you would liken it to apparel, it is like the brilliant and colorful fabrics or like the beautiful curtains from Yemen. ”
What makes the peacock even more amazing is that the peacock sheds its feathers periodically, like trees in autumn. Their feathers grow anew and mesh together, once again displaying their unique brilliance and beauty. The new feathers replacing the old ones exhibit the exact same color patterns. Such brilliant and beautiful design is beyond the comprehension of reason and the expression of language.
These are only a few of the infinite embodiments of natural beauty. Every day more natural mysteries are uncovered, inspiring us with awe and wonder. But. what is the purpose of all of this beauty and design inherent in the natural order? Are we justified in holding the view that there must be a designer, who has produced this beauty and design? The name that occurs to our minds, when we speak of the beauty and design that permeates the world is, God.
He is the source from whom all beauty derives.
Any living creature you look at has a distinct lifestyle. Have you ever wondered how many different types of animals live in this world? How many years would it take to count all of them?
If one day human beings were given the task to care for the animals and provide for their needs, how many experts and scientists would be required to manage the lives of all these animals? Considering this question, would it be reasonable if someone claimed that the wonderful and limitless diversity of life came into existence without any foreknowledge and merely as a result of the change collisions of particles? Is it not absurd to attribute to chance a magnificent order of life that thousands of intelligent human beings are incapable of replicating or even managing?
Many natural scientists are devout believers in God. They proudly affirm their belief in God as the Wise Designer of the world. The religious fervor of sonic of these scientists is-accordin own claims-even more intense than many other believers. But there are also other scientists who. while refraining from openly avowing their belief in God, express their worldview in such as implies their monotheistic belief. It might not be an overstatement to claim that most scientists arc believers, the materialists and atheists constituting the minority among them.
Newton, the famous scientist and celebrated discoverer of gravity, remarks:
“Studying the car, we infer that its creator must have been aware of the physical laws governing sound. The creator of the eye must have known the sophisticated laws pertaining to light and the visual sense.
Contemplating the celestial spheres, we infer the existence of the Magnificent Truth that governs them in accordance with a unique order. ”
“This most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets, could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being.”
Albert Einstein:
“The human mind is not capable of grasping the Universe. We are like a little child entering a huge library. The walls are covered to the ceilings with books in many different tongues. The child knows that someone must have written these books. It does not know who or how. It does not understand the languages in which they are written. But the child notes a definite plan in the arrangement of the books-a mysterious order which it does not comprehend, but only dimly suspects.”
Sir Michael Faraday (1791-1867), founder of Electronics and Electro-magnetics said:
“The book of nature which we have to read is written by the finger of God.”
William Thomson Kelvin, the famous mathematical physicist and the founder of Thermodynamics says:
“Overpoweringly strong proofs of intelligent and benevolent design lie all around us; and if ever perplexities.
whether metaphysical or scientific, turn us away from them for a time, they come back upon us with irresistible force, showing to us through Nature the influence of a free will, and teaching us that all living things depend on one ever-acting Creator and Ruler.” “We feel that the power of investigating the laws established by the Creator for maintaining the harmony and permanence of His works is the noblest privilege which He has granted to our intellectual state. As the depth of our insight into the wonderful works of God increases, the stronger are our feelings of awe and veneration in contemplating them and in endeavoring to approach their author.”
“I have long felt that there was a general impression in the nonscientific world, that the scientific world believes Science has discovered ways of explaining all of the facts of Nature without adopting any definite belief in a Creator. I have never doubted that that impression was utterly groundless. Science can do little
positively towards the objects of this society.” “But it can do something, and that something is vita! And fundamental. It is to show that what we see in the world of dead matter and of life around us is not a result of the fortuitous concourse of atoms.”
Materialism:
The view that everything that actually exists is material (i.e., physical). This view leads to the denial of all immaterial realities, including God.
Robert Boyle:
“All the loveliness imparted to the creature is lent it.
to give us enlarged conceptions of that vast confluence and immensity that exuberates in God.”
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Instinctual Compass
Today, navigational devices are an integral pan of humans’ lives. The flight of airplanes, launching of satellites.
sailing of ships, the walks of hikers and even finding the homes of friends would be difficult or impossible without these devices. This knowledge was obtained as a result of continuous efforts of scientists over the years. However, it is interesting that we are perhaps the last creatures to use navigation systems. From thousands of years ago, other creatures on this planet have been using their own navigation systems. Of course their systems of navigation have no cost and do not pollute the environment or cause physical harm for themselves or others.
The robin, domestic doves, butterflies, termites, flies, blind mice, ants, elephants, eels and even small bacteria are among the animals that can detect the Earth’s magnetic force to identify their route. For years scientists have investigated how animals use this power. On the beaks of some birds are tiny structures in the nanometer range, which by being sensitive to the Earth’s magnetic field, helps them to navigate.
Migratory birds, for instance, have an instinctual compass that guides them on their migration paths. Red knots are a type of migratory bird common lo Canada. When cold weather sets in, rendering their Canadian home inhospitable, these birds travel to South America. The distance they travel in this yearly migration is approximately 16,000 kilometers. In spring. Red knots travel the same distance back to Canada. How do these birds succeed in traveling such a great distance without getting lost? Some scientists are of the opinion that they can sense the magnetic field that exists between the North and South Poles and utilize it in tracing their migratory path. Insects are relatively tiny creatures, yet they employ spectacular methods of aviation. Scientists now know that butterflies and moths are capable-like birds and mammals-of traveling over long distances that may span hundreds of kilometers. To cover such long-distance migration, these insects ride the winds.
Many insects embark on seasonal migration. Certain butterflies, for instance, migrate from the British Isles to the Mediterranean region in autumn, returning back in spring. How these butterflies traveled such long distances without losing their bearings was long a mystery for the scientific community. Tracking these butterflies over a seven-year period, British scientists realized these butterflies enjoyed an internal compass, which enabled them to maintain their orientation, and used different streams of wind to achieve speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour, hastening their travel.
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A Splendid Co-Existence
It is very enlightening to reflect on the inborn defense mechanism animals possess. Some animals change color when confronted with danger; some change shape; some escape from their enemies with startling speed; and yet others avoid danger using clever concealment techniques. But on the other hand, some predators are also naturally equipped with stealth capabilities that help them in their attempt to catch their prey. Stingrays, for instance, blend into their seabed background when they sense danger or want to hunt. If the seabed is covered with sand, the stingray camouflages its skin so that it looks like sand. If the seabed is rocky, the stingray makes its skin to resemble small rocks, thereby eluding detection.
Spotting frogs in forests and jungles is usually a difficult task, as frogs usually blend in with their environment.
There is however, a type of colorful frog in the rainforests of South America that is easily perceivable.
Although, it is very easy to spot them, these colorful frogs make no effort to conceal themselves. The reason is that they feel no danger. If hunted by birds or snakes, their hunters soon change their mind, sparing their easy prey. These beautiful frogs are poisonous. Their poison is in some cases so lethal that it can kill 50 people. Therefore, predators try to avoid these frogs, and it is for this reason that they lead such a careless life.
The animal world provides numerous instances of a splendid coexistence, like the two mentioned above.
Observing how animals live in such an intricate and delicate order in their natural habitats, which duly accommodate their inhabitants’ physical features and properties, we cannot but feel wonder and awe. From the most gargantuan to the most minute, all marine and land animals somehow find a way to secure their necessary nourishment, guaranteeing the survival of their species.