The three sources of knowledge 3

[khalib]

From The Theory of Knowledge and Human Behavior, The al-ummah project, free edition: “…hence creation itself occurred “in truth” in a manner that allows us to investigate, understand and verify it against our corresponding experiences so that we may learn from it. Thus we were able to learn about gravity because of the systematic nature of the information by which it was created, which allows us to investigate and learn about its characteristics. We are able to verify the truth of this information because we can see that what goes up must come down. This is one of the marvels and miracles of the Quran; every word is precisely used to convey what was intended as intended. Therefore the word (Be!) connotes God’s intention, which contained the knowledge needed for fulfilling what was intended in the form of information and laws through stages derived from this knowledge, and it is the means by which everything was created, functions, and its existence managed. Because creation occurred through information derived from His knowledge guided by laws, and in stages, everything is in sequence; systematic and thus in perfect evolutionary harmony. Night does not overtake day and day does not overtake night. It’s almost like magic. You look up at the sky high above, like a big roof over our heads, protecting us against celestial debris and omissions capable of causing us serious harm and you can’t help but wonder. The “word” is as the words “clean your room” uttered as a command to a child to go tidy their room. Once uttered, the parent need not specify what goes where or how, or hold the Childs hand to guide them through the cleaning. The child hears the words, obeys the command and tidies the room, because the child already possesses the knowledge of how to do so through learnt information either through observation and/or direct instruction from the parents. So too is the command of God. In the “word” was the knowledge of how to create the universe and everything in it, just as a seed containing all information or DNA of a particular plant so that once it is planted it metamorphoses into that plant. The universe and everything found in it came about through this, which as a seed is still metamorphosing and will do so until the end of time (51:47). We have already seen that creation occurred in stages and lives its existence in stages. The combined total of each stage of a creation comprises what we call the sequence for that creation. Each sequence is driven by information that is based on laws through stages. There is a definite beginning and end indicating the beginning and end of existence or term that was appointed for that creation at whatever stage it may be, which no one except Allah can know. We know this from the many verse in the Quran that indicate a beginning and an end for every creation: “And He it is Who giveth life and causeth death, and His is the difference of night and day. Have ye then no sense?” (Quran, 23:80) “O mankind! if ye are in doubt concerning the Resurrection, then lo! We have created you from dust, then from a drop of seed, then from a clot, then from a little lump of flesh shapely and shapeless, that We may make (it) clear for you. And We cause what We will to remain in the wombs for an appointed time, and afterward We bring you forth as infants, then (give you growth) that ye attain your full strength. And among you there is he who dieth (young), and among you there is he who is brought back to the most abject time of life, so that, after knowledge, he knoweth naught. And thou (Muhammad) seest the earth barren, but when We send down water thereon, it doth thrill and swell and put forth every lovely kind (of growth).” (Quran,22:5) “He it is Who hath created you from clay, and hath decreed a term for you. A term is fixed with Him. Yet still ye doubt!” (Quran, 6:22) These above verses and the previous verses explaining how everything was created in stages and goes though its existence in stages, clearly show that Allah’s creation progress through their existence in a sequence, meaning one stage after another, until the time of Allah’s choosing has come and they cease to exist. From the following verses however, we further learn that not only do individual creations have a sequence of existence but that this applies to groups and as well as creation in its entirety. “And every nation hath its term, and when its term cometh, they cannot put it off an hour nor yet advance (it).” (Quran,7:34 ) “There is not an animal in the earth, nor a flying creature flying on two wings, but they are peoples like unto you. We have neglected nothing in the Book (of Our decrees). Then unto their Lord they will be gathered.” (6:38) “We created not the heavens and the earth and all that is between them save with truth, and for a term appointed. But those who disbelieve turn away from that whereof they are warned.” (Quran,46:3)

We have thus far seen that creations, such as a human being, go through their individual sequence of existence in stages of physical development. Obviously we can verify this truth with our corresponding experience of how infants around us develop and change into men and women. Something else we can verify however is that each stage of the sequence is also characterized by distinct behavior. In the above verses something else that we learn is that a human society (nation) also has a definite term determined by Allah. Therefore it is justified to assume that it too goes through various stages characterized by technological, cultural, and other behavior until its appointed term. From verse 46:3 we also learn that the heaven and earth including everything else found between them has an appointed term. Verse 6:38 further tells us that even animals live in community that is similar to our society. These are all significant because what we can then assume is that not only do individual creations and groups of creations go through a sequence of existence, but that there is a sequence of existence for species and the entire creation collectively. The question now is, do groups and entire species, whether human or living or not, go through physical changes in their sequence of existence over time? In other words do species and other creations go through evolution? The following verses from the Quran will help us in answering this: “O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who created you from a single soul and from it created its mate and from them twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and women. Be careful of your duty toward Allah in Whom ye claim (your rights) of one another, and toward the wombs (that bare you). Lo! Allah hath been a watcher over you.” (Quran, 4:11) “And of His signs is the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colors. Lo! herein indeed are portents for men of knowledge.” (Quran, 30:22) It clearly states in the first verse above, that our human species originates from two pairs of individuals who were male and female. The next verse than tells us that despite originating from the same two male and female, we have developed differently both physically and culturally (language). Therefore, yes, I believe creations have and do evolve over time. Evolution which is the process of change over time however, needs to be distinguished from Darwinism, which is the belief that all life originated from the same organism. I do not believe that all life originated from the same organism. I do however believe that all creation, including the living and non-living, originated from information and laws through stages. Would it be wrong for a fellow Muslim to believe in Darwinism? This is something for our esteemed teachers to discuss. Each attribute of knowledge (the word) is distinct, serves a unique purpose. Therefore, heeding God’s exhorting to observe and investigate the knowledge of his “truth”; a cursory observation of human development from inception to birth is enough to prove this and leave one in awe. First fertilization takes place and the egg and sperm become what is known as a zygote, than an embryo which later develops into a fetus, each totaling up to a sequence of about nine months. Just as traces of ingredients can be identified in the final product, so too the “prints” (Quran, 30:50) or signs of knowledge can be found in all creations. The information aspect of knowledge for instance can clearly be identified in animals in their DNA. Again when we look at human conception we see that the fetus is nothing more than a product of information carried by a sperm and egg cell. The egg and sperm cell themselves are nothing more than information-carrying vessels created in stages, whose existence is also managed by laws in stages. Most creations of course exist as groups that are united and guided by laws for the survival of each unit of the group and the whole, which we refer to as a system. A system serves as the evidence for the existence and importance of law even in nature. For instance, our universe is one complex system within which is every creation. Our universe is made up of galaxies, comprised of billions of stars and within them solar systems. Our planet earth is found within our sun’s solar system and it too is one complex system which is further made up of complex systems such as climatic systems, food systems (food web/chain), and mountain systems. If we take an organism such as a plant or animal here on earth, we find that it too is a system further made up of systems. For example: respiration system, nervous system, reproductive system and immune system. Looking closer we will find that each system is made up of organs, which in turn are made of tissues, than eventually further divided into cells; again a complex system of information in the form of nucleic acids consisting of DNA and RNA. Each a system working within a system for the greater good of the whole and the unit, of which the greatest – the universe, to the smallest – cells, are all created, united and guided by the same principles, information and laws through a sequence. Like a living and thinking organism, the three aspects of the “word” themselves work together as a perfect harmonious system using the same principles that they themselves are based on to create. They use this to manage functioning entities and systems that are part of a larger system, independent and yet dependent on one another for the survival of the entity and the whole, through cyclic behavior or activity that repeats itself each time until the appointed time of each arrives…”

[zamadesigns]

great information.

[Hulk]

What are the three sources of knowledge?