The Ontological Argument in Islamic Metaphysics
- Updated On Monday, 11 August 2014
- Written by Dr. Mohammad Ali Shomali
- Editor Kawther Rahmani
- Supervisor Sayyed Roohullah Musavi
- Published on Saturday, 05 February 2011
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- Hits: Please explain the endeavors made within the Islamic school of thought regarding the reality of God and the best ways that have been introduced for proving His existence
Many arguments have been cited for the existence of God in Islamic theology and philosophy, among which, the ontological argument (the argument of the truthful), holds a special place. In this argument, it is not the contingents that are used to prove the existence of God; rather it is existence itself that is demonstrated by existence. However, the other arguments proceed from the contingent being to the Necessary Being (God). But as we already indicated the ontological arguments have a special place in Islamic culture. Imam Husayn (as) says in Prayer for the Day of Arafah: 'How can You be demonstrated by that which is in need of You for its existence? Can anything other than You be self-manifesting so that it may manifest You, while You are [self-manifesting]? When have You ever been hidden so that You may need a proof that demonstrates You, and when have You ever been distant so that You may be sought by the signs which lead to You?' Ibn Sina was the first who posed this kind of ontological argument and call it (the argument of the truthful). Ibn Sina's ontological argument has been espoused by most philosophers and theologians (mutakallimun) following him. Though it is preferable to the other arguments formulated before him, it rests upon a number of premises which seem to be more than enough. For this reason, Mulla Sadra sought to make the argument shorter and formulated another version of it. Thus, he offered a new version, which he regarded as an instance of the path of the sincere. In this argument, he does not use quiddity, quidditive or whatish contingency, motion or temporal beginning. He based his version upon the reality of existence and its specific properties and upon such philosophical principles as the principality, simplicity and gradation of existence. After him, some other Muslim philosophers, such as Hajji Mulla Hadi Sabzawari, sought to reduce some of its premises. However, the version as expounded by Allamah Tabataba'i first elucidates the absoluteness of the Essence and then proves its necessity by relying on eternal necessity. This means the unconditional affirmation of the predicate of the subject in the light of the absoluteness and infinitude of the Real, its other attributes such as unity, knowledge, and the like can be dealt with one after the other.