Second Method: Experiment Beyond Sensation
ThesecondwayofknowingGodisbystudyingthesignsofHispresence
andpowerintheworldwithinusandaroundus.TheQur'ānhasmen-
tioned both these signs as follows:
“WeshallshowtothemOursignsuponthehorizons(i.e.,space)and
intheirownselves sothatitmaybecomemanifest tothemthatHe is
the Truth.”(41:53)
ThismethodofknowingGodisbasedontheprincipleof“cause”and
“effect”.Thesignsofnaturearetheeffectsofwhichtheultimatecauseis
God.
Now, let us try to understand the nature andscope of thismethod
more clearly.
* * *Nature & Scope of this MethodWheneverweseeabeautifulbuildingofgreatsplendouranddesign,
wecaneasilyunderstandthatitsarchitectwasanexpertinhisowncraft.
Similarly,bylookingatacar,anairplane,acomputeroranyotherwell-
designedproductorartifact,weareinvariablyguidedtowell-informed
andknowledgeableinventors,designersandmanufacturers,andweare
also made aware of their skill and learning.
Innoneoftheseinstancesisitnecessarytoactuallyseethebuilder,the
manufactureror the designer ofsuch anartifactwith our own eyesto
testify to his existence.
Moreover,whenobservingallthesethings,itisnotwithanyofourex-
ternal senses that we perceive the knowledgeand skillof the builders
and manufacturers. But, nevertheless, we believe in his expertise and
knowledge.Why?Becausethedesignandorderwhichweperceivedin
theartifactsforcesustorecognizetheknowledgeoftheirbuilders.And
fromthiswereachtheconclusionthatitisnotnecessarythatsomething
whose existence we wish to believe in should be visible or tangible.