RENAISSANCE DECEMBER 2021

22 Monthly Renaissance December 2021 Faith & Beliefs Essence of Monotheism (3) Am ī n A ḥ san I ṣ l āḥī Spiritual Arguments for Taw ḥī d Man looks first at the external and the visible, and when he develops maturity and wisdom, at his internal and invisible self : the soul. This is a postponement only until he turns his attention to it, because in reality, it is this inner self that reveals his outer self to him. The reason for remaining oblivious of his soul is not that it is very far from him. But his inattention is due to the fact that his soul is very close to him. In other words, the heavenly arguments for taw ḥī d are founded on those within the human soul. There is no argument on earth or the skies that does not have its basis on some spiritual argument. The edifice of all of our reasoning is founded on this. If these spiritual arguments did not exist, just as this entire universe is useless for beasts and inanimate objects, it would have been a universe of darkness for humans too. Hence the universe is meaningless and purposeless for the ignorant people who do not ponder over the signs of the earth and the heavens. The Qur’ ā n has declared them to possess even less intelligence than quadrupeds. Now we look at the internal self that has arguments closer and clearer to us; they are strong and beautiful as well. The Qur’ ā n has spoken of these in the following words: 0n و ٌ ﻵۡﻹرۡض ٰﻳٰﺖ ۡ ﻟﻠۡﻤﻮۡﻗﻨ . و ۤۡ 0n ﻓﻶﻹ t ۡ ۡﻔﺴﻜﻢ ‚ وۡن r ۡ ﺗﺒ . )٥١: ٢٠ ٢١( “And there are signs on the earth for those who believe and also within yourself. Do you not look?” (51:20-21) This verse speaks to the fact that arguments of the spiritual state are both close and clear. Hence God has expressed amazement at a