Page 204 - Allah is Known through Reason

nquestionably, nothing can be more important than the creation of
man and his knowing his Creator. What we have done throughout
the book is to try to comprehend a subject that is an issue of the
utmost importance for every person.
We think it necessary to remind the reader at this point that one does not
need reams of information to grasp that the universe and everything in it, includ-
ing oneself, have been created. It is as much within the scope of the conscience
and reason of a small child as it is within that of an adult to grasp that he was
created. The prophet Ibrahim's words in the Qur'an are a very good example of
what we mean.
The Prophet Ibrahim once lived in a community that did not believe in Allah
and worshipped totem poles instead. Although he had never received any teach-
ing about the existence of Allah, he had grasped with his reason and conscience
that he had been created–moreover, that he had been created by Allah, Who cre-
ated the heavens and the earth. In the Qur'an it is related like this:
When the night covered him over, he saw a star. He said: "This is my Lord."
But when it set, he said: "I love not those that set." When he saw the moon
rising in splendour, he said: "This is my Lord." But when the moon set, he
said: "Unless my Lord guides me, I shall surely be among those who go
astray." When he saw the sun rising in splendour, he said: "This is my Lord;
this is the greatest (of all)." But when the sun set, he said: "O my people! I
am indeed free from your (guilt) of giving partners to Allah. For me, I have
set my face, firmly and truly, towards Him Who created the heavens and
the earth, and never shall I ascribe partners to Allah." (Surat al-Anaam, 76-
79)
As we see in the example of the Prophet Ibrahim, everyone who has rea-

204 Allah is Known Through Reason