What is Denial?

Denial means not approving the prophet about the issues he preached in the name of religion. Allah (swt) has given humans the choice to have faith or to deny. Simultaneously, it’s His test in this world and his decree upon mankind. However, He is not content with the denial of a person. (Zumar 39/7)

Deniers exist since the beginning of mankind. As proof, they put forth the claim that God cannot be perceived with the senses. Naturally, this is a very weak claim to make, because the domain of organs - like the eye and ear - are limited. Senses only perceive material beings. And even that in a limited way, because mankind cannot see and hear everything in this world. It is therefore impossible to perceive Allah (swt) -who is beyond this physical world - with the eyes and ears. However, if one brings together the knowledge he gains through his senses with his thoughts and experiences, one will be able to attain the concept of God.

With respect to the belief in God, it is important that a person has no prejudices. Only when a person approaches the vast knowledge on this topic with an open mind will he realize that this belief is truth. 

Generally, mankind has a natural inclination towards belief in a divine being. But people denying this belief have always been present throughout history. The Qur’an addresses these people and asks them these vital questions:

“Is there doubt about Allah, Creator of the heavens and earth? (Ibrahim, 14/10)

“Or were they created by nothing, or were they the creators of themselves? Or did they create the heavens and the earth (e.g. the universe)? Rather, they certainly do not believe in Allah (Tur, 52/35-36)

Denying that the universe has a creator brings forth an unsolvable problem. If this premise is true, then there are three possibilities: One, “the universe is not created, it has no beginning”. Two, “the universe created itself”. And three “the universe is created by mankind”.

Saying “the universe is not created” would be contradictory. Otherwise we would make the following claim: It is possible that a perfectly working factory, a well-thought detailed computer and an extraordinary piece of art exist without a designer, engineer and artist.

Saying “The universe created itself” cannot be accepted either, because –using the examples given above- it would mean that the factory, computer and piece of art created themselves. Which gives rise to the following question: How can something that does not exist bring itself into existence?

“The universe is created by mankind” is as meaningless as the previous claims, because mankind does not control all aspects of its own life. He does not decide when he comes into the world and when he departs it; neither does he decide his biological and physical structure. As we have seen, all these claims regarding the creation of the universe are unacceptable.